The Perfect Mask Doesn't exist... does it have to?

Notsoclever wrote: ↑

Thu Aug 01, 2024 1:40 am

Equipment: Resmed 11 Autoset Cpap
Mask: Dreamwear or F20 Full Face with memory foam
So, my sleep apnea is bad, just under 120 events an hour without the machine,[...]
But I need help, I can't just keep waking up over and over again, sometimes I'm barely asleep 20 minutes before the pressure is so high it wakes me up again.
[...]
Addendums:
* I also hack a lot in my sleep from a Gerd issue. Enough that I've noticed the masks pop.
* The pressure gets up to about 18-19 before it wakes me up, and it gets there fast.
*Leaks with the dreamwear are the lowest so far, at 61.9 l/min. It was around 72-80 with the f20, but it didn't matter because it stayed in place. It only became a problem when that leak climbed above 100.

Notsoclever wrote: ↑

Thu Aug 01, 2024 1:40 am

The machine wakes me up every hour, sometimes sooner than an hour, with air leaks and increased pressure, or by squirting water at me because the pressure is so high that the heated hose can't handle the humidity necessary to keep me from drying out.

Notsoclever wrote: ↑

Thu Aug 01, 2024 1:40 am

Equipment: Resmed 11 Autoset Cpap
Mask: Dreamwear or F20 Full Face with memory foam
So, my sleep apnea is bad, just under 120 events an hour without the machine, but I'm having so many issues with the machine that I might as well sleep without it if I want quality sleep because:

The machine wakes me up every hour, sometimes sooner than an hour, with air leaks and increased pressure, or by squirting water at me because the pressure is so high that the heated hose can't handle the humidity necessary to keep me from drying out.

It feels like every step I take forward brings another issue, my current one is this.

I found a mask that almost works, the Dreamwear full face. Before this I used the airtouch f20 (which was perfect except that ut couldn't keep up with my tossing and turning and developed a leak where it connected to the house). Right now, my big old nose keeps dislodging from the nasal pillow. I could keep replacing the f20 everytime it breaks, but the Dreamwear seems perfect for my active sleep style... except I apparently need something that holds my nose rather than tests under it.

Is there something I can do? I need to stop this air leak issue, I've had it with literally every mask I have tried and it's making the machine useless. I check the fit every time, but in my sleep it keeps getting dislodged as I roll and shift. The f20 with memory foam was amazing while it lasted, maybe I had had a bad one (leaked where it connected to the mask from the hose feed line after twoish weeks of use). But I need help, I can't just keep waking up over and over again, sometimes I'm barely asleep 20 minutes before the pressure is so high it wakes me up again.

Thank you in advance to anyone who takes the time.

Addendums:
* I also hack a lot in my sleep from a Gerd issue. Enough that I've noticed the masks pop.
* The pressure gets up to about 18-19 before it wakes me up, and it gets there fast.
*Leaks with the dreamwear are the lowest so far, at 61.9 l/min. It was around 72-80 with the f20, but it didn't matter because it stayed in place. It only became a problem when that leak climbed above 100.

Julie wrote: ↑

Thu Aug 01, 2024 7:38 am

Are you doing anything about the GERD?

vandownbytheriver wrote: ↑

Thu Aug 01, 2024 2:48 pm

Notsoclever wrote: ↑

Thu Aug 01, 2024 1:40 am

Equipment: Resmed 11 Autoset Cpap
Mask: Dreamwear or F20 Full Face with memory foam
So, my sleep apnea is bad, just under 120 events an hour without the machine, but I'm having so many issues with the machine that I might as well sleep without it if I want quality sleep because:

The machine wakes me up every hour, sometimes sooner than an hour, with air leaks and increased pressure, or by squirting water at me because the pressure is so high that the heated hose can't handle the humidity necessary to keep me from drying out.

It feels like every step I take forward brings another issue, my current one is this.

I found a mask that almost works, the Dreamwear full face. Before this I used the airtouch f20 (which was perfect except that ut couldn't keep up with my tossing and turning and developed a leak where it connected to the house). Right now, my big old nose keeps dislodging from the nasal pillow. I could keep replacing the f20 everytime it breaks, but the Dreamwear seems perfect for my active sleep style... except I apparently need something that holds my nose rather than tests under it.

Is there something I can do? I need to stop this air leak issue, I've had it with literally every mask I have tried and it's making the machine useless. I check the fit every time, but in my sleep it keeps getting dislodged as I roll and shift. The f20 with memory foam was amazing while it lasted, maybe I had had a bad one (leaked where it connected to the mask from the hose feed line after twoish weeks of use). But I need help, I can't just keep waking up over and over again, sometimes I'm barely asleep 20 minutes before the pressure is so high it wakes me up again.

Thank you in advance to anyone who takes the time.

Addendums:
* I also hack a lot in my sleep from a Gerd issue. Enough that I've noticed the masks pop.
* The pressure gets up to about 18-19 before it wakes me up, and it gets there fast.
*Leaks with the dreamwear are the lowest so far, at 61.9 l/min. It was around 72-80 with the f20, but it didn't matter because it stayed in place. It only became a problem when that leak climbed above 100.

Auto humidity and hose temp are available... this prevents rainout.

I'm a big fan of Fisher & Paykel masks... the Vitera is great for higher pressures. The Evora FF mask is a 'hybrid', it goes below the nose but covers the mouth... at higher pressures I need FF to stop mouth-leaking. I tape my mouth still.

I tried the Resmed F20 AirTouch. The foam seems to sink down and let leaks happen, just as you'd imagine memory foam to do. Be aware that these cushions are recommended 1 month replacement... they don't last near as long as the normal ones. I have both the N20 and F20 AirTouch... don't like either.

Your leak measurements sound like peak leaks... not mean/average/whatever. We need to see graphs of the leaks to determine what's really going on... I recommend SleepHQ... use your machine's SD card and upload data to SHQ, start a free account, that's the best way to share data here, you just post a link. Here's a night of mine:

https://sleephq.com/public/89ff1ac0-dda ... e1c14b5c7f

Note how all my settings and statistics are displayed... also note you can zoom in using the mouse, see every breath I took. Also note that the link is anonymous.

If you go on your back your pressures will rise... that might be what's happening. For these stratospheric pressures a bi-level machine is best... we'll know more when we see your graphs.

Weld3z wrote: ↑

Thu Aug 01, 2024 3:18 pm

It took me almost 3 years to find the perfect mask, Have you tried F&P Vitera before?
My current pressure 14/20 this mask can handle more than that easy.

Good luck

Notsoclever wrote: ↑

Thu Aug 01, 2024 10:53 pm

Oh wow, I'm a data wonk and I had no idea that my machine was capable of giving me all that. I've just been using Resmed's myair app. I'll go out and grab an SD card after my camping trip this weekend and then grab what data I can. Thank you for the advice. And maybe it wasn't the part what it joined that busted the most after all given what you said about the f20, it has been about a month of use. I just thought it was possibly my fault since it stopped working after I rolled over and dislodged the machine yanking the hose connection loose in the commotion. Woke me with wire a fright, I thought for a moment I must have broken this machine I'm still paying on.