Quite possibly a couple of months of excellent diet as per the suggestions of Joel Fuhrman, M.D., would enable your body to deal with strap pressure much better. Fuhrman advocates getting lots of nutrients for each calorie (which means not wasting calories on bread, etc) as the way to give the body the nutrients its needs to prevent (and heal!) most disease processes. Perhaps his best book is /Eat to Live/. He says his patients achieve "thrilling" results. Myself, in ten weeks I've seen his recommendations remove all symptoms of chronic bronchitis and completely heal swelling and pain that had persisted for twelve months, for which regular physicians had not offered any hope of cure. And I've seen his recommendations increase stamina by 150%, increase mental clarity by an unquantifiable but sincerely felt amount, and prevent the common cold throughout one winter.
(If anyone is interested, I'd like to have one or more buddies for communication and encouragement in doing the at-home food preparation that's usually required for following Fuhrman's "Nutritarian" recommendations.

hill617, welcome, it's a difficult one and I sympathise, I assume you are using a full face mask, if you can let use know the brand and model if possible. If you are using a FFM or nasal mask are you using mask liners? They can sometimes help the marks or help leaks so you can lossen the straps a little. Another thing I suggedt to new users is to have the hose coming from above your head either over a bed head or you can buy or make a product called a 'Hoselift'. This way the pressure of the mask is pulling up not down and saves you getting tangled and causing leaks.
You can have some small leaks as long as they are not distrubing you or effecting your treatment.
Are you using any software to check your data and see what your leaks are?

Hi Tez62, thanks for the response! I am on a Res Med and use the quattro fx mask. Not using software to record data, they removed the chip from my machine after the first six weeks on the machine. But my machine does show me if there is leakage. While I am not really new to sleep apnea as I have been on the B-Pap machine now for about a year and a half, I hate to admit that I am somewhat ignorant about my machine and my stats. I know my Blood Oxygen is back to normal after dropping into 50's at night since using the machine and that has been my main goal. I haven't really gained any knowledge about the machine itself or what data I can track. Any thoughts or info would be helpful. I have seen the Hoselift and thought it was interesting but wasn't sure what it did besides keep the hose out of the way.

hill617, have you tried putting some material around the straps to try to keep them from touching your face. On the data, can you have a look at the power button, next to it it should have the model of your CPAP. I can help you if you want to view your data, I think you will be Ok if you have a BiPap. You will need a new data card, you can buy them from the shops or do you have a DME that supplies you with your equipment?
The data card is just a basic 1gigabyte card, you could get one from a camera shop, you will also need a card reader, new computers have the built it, it is just one that is used for a digital camera and costs about $10.
If you want to do It, I can send you the link to free software you can use and the instructions.
On the hoselift, it you have a bed head just drape it over it, I made one very cheaply, I found it helps with leaks so you may be able to loosen the starps a bit, have you tried or do you use mask liners?

Hello Hill,

Here is a website that the owner, Karen, makes strap covers for the exact reason you have brought up: http://www.padacheek.com.

I have bought products from her and she is 100% reliable. I am not associated with this website in any way except that I shop there.

Good luck,
TheWino

Thanks! My machine model says VPAP S next to the start button. I can pick up a card at the office supply store. I would love to know how to pull up and read data. I would love the link, please send. Yes, I was just thinking maybe I could wrap something like a small piece of fabric at least around the fasteners to help. My mask has the built in pillow so there is no liner or liner use.
Thanks so much for your help!

Awesome, thanks Thewino!

hill617, below is the link to sleepyhead (free software) I have also included some links to Youtube video's on it, if you want to watch them.
Once you get your SD card, card reader and download the software, let me know and I'll help you further, if you need it.
I use a Resmed Autoset as I dont need oxygen so our data will be slightly different but I can try and help you read the data.

http://sourceforge.net/projects/sleepyhead
Link to Sleepyhead

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AuAnzBVWYD4
Link to Sleepyhead Youtube Video part 1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bmhXkmeJDIM
Link to Sleepyhead Youtube Video part 2

I'm right there with you Hill, I'm not sure about anything about my BiPAP machine. I wish I knew more but I get excellent help here. I've bought strap pads from pad-a-cheek and I also say they are great to work with. I made my own strap pads by buying flannel and wrapping it around the strap that hits my face. I used to get really bad marks, hated them! Good luck, and Tez, you rock!

Thank you Rascal, we are all in this together and should be able to help each other.

Thanks Everyone for all the great advice!

Tez, thanks again. I will keep you posted after I get the sd card and check out the free software. I don't use oxygen either so hopefully the data is easy to figure out.