Mask Change Affecting AHI stats???

birdiebaby · Post by **birdiebaby** » Sun Jul 09, 2006 9:25 pm

Prior to two nights ago I had been using the UltraMirageII. My average stats over the last month have been:

Pressure: 7.8
AHI: 2.6
Leak: .02 l/s

For the last two nights, I have been using the Hybrid mask. My stats over the first two nights have been:

Pressure: D1 - 9.8 (due to congestion) D2 - 7.0 (no congestion)
AHI: D1 - .9 D2 - .5
Leak: D1 - .42 l/s D2 - .54 l/s (fiddling with the S8 mask settings)

I'm amazed that my AHI dropped to almost nothing. How would the mask change affect the AHI? Would it be due to the nasal pillows?

Shelley

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Jul 10, 2006 12:06 am

you can vary by that amount easily using the same mask. Higher leak rate from the Hybrid could be from a higher exhaust port intentional leak.

Set your machine on Standard mask type, then compare again.

Stryker5777 · Post by **Stryker5777** » Mon Jul 10, 2006 12:28 am

Yes.. I believe there is an effectiveness difference that shows up as an AHI difference between FF and a nasal pillow interface. However I think it varies from person to person as no two people are exactly alike this is even more apparent in sleep apnea complex. A FF (Full face mask) and a nasal pillow interface in different ways. Nasal pillows tend to hold the nasal passages open in concentrated manner. Whereas the full face mask keeps pressure the same on the exterior and interior of the nose and nasal passages. Also since the nasal mask pressure is concentrated more so than the full face mask it delivers pressure more effectively and allows for a better flow signal (for Auto machines).

I noticed a drop in my AHI levels as well when I switched from The Ultra Mirage FF to the swift. A drop of 8-9 AHI to a 2-3. Though there are numerous factors and one should be carefull when drawing conclusions from my or anyone else's accounts and ideas.

Stryker5777

inacpapfog · Post by **inacpapfog** » Mon Jul 10, 2006 5:10 am

As Stryker points out to be careful about drawing conclusions from one person's experiences, I just want to join birdiebaby in reporting that my experiences with the new Hybrid are the same!
Last night was my 3rd night with the Hybrid and the data contiues to show:

decreased AHI, decreased pressure and increased leaks.
2.5 to 1.5 / 10 to 7.5 / .05 to .35

I will change my mask setting tonight to standard (was on mirage) and see if it will bring the leak rate down. The funny part is I am not hearing or sensing any leaks, at least while I'm conscience! I slept (8 hours!) like a rock last night! Haven't done that in months! Feel wide awake this morning!
Ahhh, now this is what therapy results should feel like!

_________________

CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): AHI

_________________

CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): AHI

OwlCreekObserver · Post by **OwlCreekObserver** » Mon Jul 10, 2006 5:32 am

I started out on a ComfortFull full-face mask but recently bought the ComfortCurve nasal mask. My numbers dropped dramatically with the new mask. On those occasions when I *have to go back to the ComforFull for a night or two, as I did last night, the numbers jump again, though not as high as before for some reason.

* Note to self: When removing tape from mouth, do it s-l-o-w-l-y next time!

me woozle · Post by **me woozle** » Mon Jul 10, 2006 8:27 am

I agree re: mask differene and ahi difference - I had opposite effect - had to go from nasal to ffm and my ahi went up - not hugely, still under 5, but it did go up, so I messed around with the pressure and increased it by a .8 and now am on about same level for ahi's - I can only assume with the nasal interface, it's going right up there! but with the ffm, the air is dancing around, and maybe a little more pressure is needed to compensate for extra air in face mask
who knows - and I did change the mask setting on my machine

oldgearhead · Post by **oldgearhead** » Mon Jul 10, 2006 8:43 am

birdie,
The main difference between the 2 masks is with the UM2 air pressure in applied to the outside of the nose, and, of course the Hybrid has nasal pillows, so the air is applied to the inside of the nose. I wonder if you have tried a Breathe-Right strip with the UM2? When I was trying to use the UMFF
I found that a Breathe-Right strip made inhaling more comfortable.

birdiebaby · Post by **birdiebaby** » Mon Jul 10, 2006 9:55 am

Well that makes a lot of sense!

The first night my settings were on Full Face, second night on Standard, last night on Swift. The Standard setting was the worst as far as reported leak rates. I'm not too concerned about that due to the vent flow rates for this mask.

Thanks, all!

Maryb · Post by **Maryb** » Mon Jul 10, 2006 1:03 pm

Hey birdiebaby-
how was the leak rate with the Hybrid using the Swift mask setting on the S8?
Better than for the full face setting?
I emailed ResMed asking them which mask setting to use but I will be really suprised if they reply other than to say "We don't recommend using a nonResMed mask....etc."

Maryb

birdiebaby · Post by **birdiebaby** » Mon Jul 10, 2006 1:46 pm

The leak rates wth the Swift setting were smack dab in the middle of the FF and Standard settings. We'll see what tonight brings!

Maryb · Post by **Maryb** » Mon Jul 10, 2006 3:06 pm

Birdie-
I just talked to my RT and he said that ResMed gives them a cheatsheet list of which mask setting to use for each non-ResMed mask(!).
However, the Hybrid is so new that they haven't given them info on it yet.
For what it's worth, my RT thought that the full-face setting might be the best to use.

Maryb

oldgearhead · Post by **oldgearhead** » Mon Jul 10, 2006 3:27 pm

Hybrid CO2 Flush:
__10cm/H2O = 48 liters/minute (.8 liter/second)

__15cm/H2O = 60 liters/minute (1.0 liter/second)

__20cm/H2o = 70 liters/minute (1.2 liters/seconD)

'Cheat Sheet?' Its usually in the manual that comes with the mask!

Bob... · Post by **Bob...** » Mon Jul 10, 2006 3:42 pm

ResMed machines require you to select your mask from a list in a menu during setup. However, they only list ResMed Masks in that list. The "Cheatsheat" refered to is a cross referenced list of non Resmed masks to the ResMed mask to select in that menu.

Bob

papa12 · Post by **papa12** » Mon Jul 10, 2006 3:44 pm

i'm new at this. what does ah mean and what do numbers mean?

Bob... · Post by **Bob...** » Mon Jul 10, 2006 3:54 pm

papa12 wrote:i'm new at this. what does ah mean and what do numbers mean?

At the bottom of some posts you will see a line of text like the following:

CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): AHI

Click on the blue text, in this case "AHI" and you will be presented with the definition. Give it a try on "me woozle's" post above.

Bob

Mask Change Affecting AHI stats???

Mask Change Affecting AHI stats???

Hybrid Passive Exhalation Port Flow

glossary of terms

Re: glossary of terms