N30 vs N20 mask effectiveness

Hello, I am a brand new CPAP user. Was fitted with a Philips Dreamstation with a humidifier. I have what the sleep lab calls 'moderate obstructive apnea' (around 18 AHII when tested)

I have a question for folks who have experience with the N20 and N30 masks.
The N30 is a much smaller and comfortable mask - sits below the nose.

However, after testing both for a few days, the N20 brings my AHI down to 4.x while the N30 doesn't seem to go below 8. Would anyone have comments on their experience on the effectiveness of the N30? I'd love to make the N30 work if I can.

Thank you.

Welcome to the forum. You have not given us enough information for us to offer any help. Please see the following post, and then post a screen shot.
viewtopic/t172378/Sticky--Newbies-PLEAS ... STING.html

When you post the screen shot, do so on this same thread, then keep all of your posts on this same thread until you get your settings maximized.

I have not yet tried the N30. I use the N20 if you have any specific questions about that mask.

Hello Okie bipap,
Thanks for the welcome. I did read that thread and added my equipment to my profile.
Given this question was about people's experience about the N30 mask vs the N20, I did not think it was necessary to post Oscar data about the sleep (yet). Should I?
If I missed anything else, happy to correct!

best

Okie bipap wrote: ↑

Tue Feb 18, 2020 10:39 am

Welcome to the forum. You have not given us enough information for us to offer any help. Please see the following post, and then post a screen shot.
viewtopic/t172378/Sticky--Newbies-PLEAS ... STING.html

When you post the screen shot, do so on this same thread, then keep all of your posts on this same thread until you get your settings maximized.

babydinosnoreless wrote: ↑

Tue Feb 18, 2020 2:25 pm

I have not yet tried the N30. I use the N20 if you have any specific questions about that mask.

Thank you babydinosnoreless, The N20 seems to be working well (albeit clunkier than the N20), but I keep getting bruises on my nose! See image in attachment. Is this normal? I use the L size and am wondering if I need M. When they did the fitting, M was the right fit based on the card, but I found L more comfortable, so went with L.

My apologies for the cropped image, but I put some text on where are eyes are so you get an idea of the bruise spot. It seems to be formed by the top edge of the rubber mask.

DustyDoozeer wrote: ↑

Tue Feb 18, 2020 3:08 pm

babydinosnoreless wrote: ↑

Tue Feb 18, 2020 2:25 pm

I have not yet tried the N30. I use the N20 if you have any specific questions about that mask.

Thank you babydinosnoreless, The N20 seems to be working well (albeit clunkier than the N20), but I keep getting bruises on my nose! See image in attachment. Is this normal? I use the L size and am wondering if I need M. When they did the fitting, M was the right fit based on the card, but I found L more comfortable, so went with L.

My apologies for the cropped image, but I put some text on where are eyes are so you get an idea of the bruise spot. It seems to be formed by the top edge of the rubber mask.

That is not normal. Are your straps maybe too tight ? I find the N20 seals best when I leave the straps pretty loose. My straps are loose enough that I hold the cushion away from my face when it fills with air and then gently set it down on my nose. Resmed has some fitting videos on you tube.

Another thing you might think about is the size. I fit right between a medium and a small. I found going with the smaller "for her" size really helped. The medium was just too many leaks.

It might be useful to know what kind of events you are seeing with the rather dramatic changes/increases in the AHI.
This is where seeing the OSCAR reports would be helpful.
Just what category of event seems to have increased?

Okay sure. Here is a comparative. I just installed OSCAR today, so I'm not sure what you really want to see, but here is a daily view of the N20 vs N30 for a particular day each:

N20: N30:

Pugsy wrote: ↑

Tue Feb 18, 2020 3:37 pm

It might be useful to know what kind of events you are seeing with the rather dramatic changes/increases in the AHI.
This is where seeing the OSCAR reports would be helpful.
Just what category of event seems to have increased?

Tell us how did you sleep over all last night? Wake up often fiddling with the new mask or sleep soundly with minimal wake ups for the most part.
Did you happen to be on your back more last night?

When you have time review this thread for future image sharing.
viewtopic/t158560/How-to-post-images-for-review.html
There is no need to redo these images for me though...I see what I wanted to see in terms of AHI and event categories and overall spacing of the events through the night.

Pugsy wrote: ↑

Tue Feb 18, 2020 4:25 pm

Tell us how did you sleep over all last night? Wake up often fiddling with the new mask or sleep soundly with minimal wake ups for the most part.
Did you happen to be on your back more last night?

I don't sleep on my back at all. In general, my night start with me sleeping on the right side and then switch 2-3 times (right/left) over the night. Last night there was no fiddling with the N30.

When you have time review this thread for future image sharing.
viewtopic/t158560/How-to-post-images-for-review.html
There is no need to redo these images for me though...I see what I wanted to see in terms of AHI and event categories and overall spacing of the events through the night.

Thank you. I read that thread - it looks like the instructions evolved over time, from sleepyhead wiki to imgurl to attachments. I went the attachment route (imgurl removes images at will, and presents ads that I try and avoid) and the attachments were inserted inplace in post to make it contextual. I looked at the same format of the images to be posted in your thread and I think mine look similar, but I'm new - I might have missed some nuances. Please let me know what you would have liked to see different and I'll be happy to oblige in subsequent posts.

Thank you.

DustyDoozeer wrote: ↑

Tue Feb 18, 2020 6:22 pm

wiki to imgurl to attachments. I went the attachment route (imgurl removes images at will, and presents ads that I try and avoid) and the attachments were inserted inplace in post to make it contextual. I looked at the same format of the images to be posted in your thread and I think mine look similar, but I'm new - I might have missed some nuances. Please let me know what you would have liked to see different and I'll be happy to oblige in subsequent posts.

Thank you.

maybe more like this-

wiki/index.php/Oscar:organize

babydinosnoreless wrote: ↑

Tue Feb 18, 2020 3:34 pm

That is not normal. Are your straps maybe too tight ? I find the N20 seals best when I leave the straps pretty loose. My straps are loose enough that I hold the cushion away from my face when it fills with air and then gently set it down on my nose. Resmed has some fitting videos on you tube.

Another thing you might think about is the size. I fit right between a medium and a small. I found going with the smaller "for her" size really helped. The medium was just too many leaks.

Thank you - I'm going to experiment. If I keep it looser and sleep on the side, I feel air leaking into my eye area.

DustyDoozeer wrote: ↑

Tue Feb 18, 2020 6:33 pm

babydinosnoreless wrote: ↑

Tue Feb 18, 2020 3:34 pm

That is not normal. Are your straps maybe too tight ? I find the N20 seals best when I leave the straps pretty loose. My straps are loose enough that I hold the cushion away from my face when it fills with air and then gently set it down on my nose. Resmed has some fitting videos on you tube.

Another thing you might think about is the size. I fit right between a medium and a small. I found going with the smaller "for her" size really helped. The medium was just too many leaks.

Thank you - I'm going to experiment. If I keep it looser and sleep on the side, I feel air leaking into my eye area.

You're welcome . For sure, go smaller with the cushion size. That is exactly the problem I had with the bigger cushion. I'm a side sleeper. Smaller cushion and smaller headgear really helped me. Although I am a larger sized woman I found that when it comes to fitting masks, I had to go smaller. Now if only that were the case with the rest of my clothing.

Btw the videos from resmed on adjusting the mask show that if air is leaking up from the cushion into the eyes, adjust the top strap. If air is leaking down from the bottom of the cushion adjust the bottom straps. I have found this to be spot on.

Good luck. Keep us updated on how it goes.