Hello my friends...It's been three years and they have returned.  I am blessed that this is only my seventh round of dealing with these suckers.  I'm 60 years old, live in Virginia, and I have a family who is understanding of what I go thru during my 6-8 weeks of agony.  Mine typically come at night, 2-4 each night is pretty standard.  As I enter the cycle, exhaustion catches up and I do have them during the day at times.  Duration of "headache" is from 30-90 mins.  I do know that as these go, I am very, very fortunate.

I have a question and any help would be greatly appreciated.  I purchased the non-rebreather mask/Cluster 02 kit from CH.com.  This system is new to me.  I am very impressed with the product quality, quick shipping and price.  THANK YOU DJ.  My question is regarding the exhale.  With the mask held firmly in place, when I exhale, the air is not able to escape effectively forcing the mask away from my face, breaking the seal between the mask and my face.  I am now in the habit of pulling the mask slightly away from my face on my exhale.  I then need re-position to form a seal and inhale oxygen.  And that is the pattern.  Is this normal?  Or should the exhale happen (able to escape) while maintaining a good seal with constant contact with my face? 

Thank you for reading this post and thank you very much for your help.  Peace.

Bill

Hi there,

No, that's not normal. Check how you assembled it to see if the flow direction is set up correctly. By that I mean that the mask is on the correct side of the T-Joint.....see picture below. (Note the direction of the arrows).

Let us know how you get on,

Peter.

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Thank you Peter, I appreciate the pic and advice.  The check valves on my mask are in the proper position, I guess the exhale is just a longer process, air passing out thru the port.  I think I just need to get used to the system.  Last night, five hit me, spaced two hours apart and thankfully each was aborted.  Before using oxygen.... I don't even want to think about it.  Thank you again.

Many of us lift the mask to exhale. I had one of the masks with a sticky seal. Try blowing thru the mask a bit hard to see if it releases. I had to clean the seal.

Don

You can also practice with it when not having a CH, which will make it easier to get the technique right.

Great advice Mike, Skyhawk and Peter.  Thank you very much, seriously.  I'm working with it and I think all is now good. I wish I had tried oxygen years ago.  I better stock up, have gone thru 1/8 of a large tank over just a couple days.  Thank you again.

Bill

I've sometimes found that the valve can become sticky due to humidity taking the valve flap off and dusting with a non perfumed talc can help :)
zany

Hiya...

Another mask lifter here...not sure why but it seems a rote routine helps distract me....

Also...good idea on the talc for valve zany...they tend to get "sticky" with age...tho I'd substitute
corn starch baby powder for the talc as I am allergic... and talc in the lungs is probably not
a good idea...

Best

jon

The check valves come out of the "T" manifold... Wash them and the "T" manifold with a mild detergent solution, rinse well with fresh water, then soak up any leftover moisture with a clean tissue before reinstalling...

The interior of the green reservoir bag should be clean and dry...  If it feels slimy or has an odor... the one-way check valve above the reservoir is not working properly.  Wash the interior of the reservoir bag the same way as the check valves then hang upside down by the nipple to drip dry.

Take care,

V/R, Batch

If you must clean the inside of the bag, be very gentle with it, as it is veddy easy easy to put a hole in one and it really sucks waiting a couple of days for a new one, if yer in the middle of a cycle.

Thanks to all you responded.  Great advice and some if not all will be used.  Really appreciate the help everyone.

Bill