Dreamwear FFM us

[jimbud]

Ok . . . . all these reply’s and I got nothing. Thanks.

Well I got something.
You are not the only person on here learning.
These posts were informative to many.
No one is being paid to answer questions here.
A little patience is sometimes required.
Snotty posts aren't.

You got help.
Listen to it, and ask more questions.
All will be made clear.

JPB

[Grace~~~]

Hey RichieC ~~~

I'm a dreamwear devotee and I never worry about one side being crushed. I am under 1% AHI average year after year.

I saw in a dreamwear post a while ago that someone felt wearing their dreamwear "as small as possible" was the way to go. I had to laugh because *I* couldn't disagree more.

We're all individuals with individually shaped heads and sleeping patterns. I am pretty feminine with a smaller head and very high cheekbones. I like to wear my dreamwear HUGE. So I use a small nose piece and the largest frame. There's enough room for a huge mound of "messy bun" to sit beneath my mask up top and the sides are all the way back at my ears. Tucked behind my cheekbones and really in a position where the tube won't crush. My face is completely open and free around my eyes. I was getting lots of air blowing in my eyes when I was wearing it "properly". It was causing some puffiness but that's all gone now.

You can buy just the frame on Amazon or ebay. I love that the dreamwear can be bought in pieces. I only use the full facemask when I have a cold as I can keep my mouth shut while sleeping. I prefer the "cushion" style (not the pillows).

I'd suggest playing around with pieces and customizing it to your own needs.

Have you ever really looked around and seen the different sizes and shapes of heads?
It's crazy to think one mask would work the same for everyone.



Find your own glass slipper for a happy ending ~~~


There's too many ugly stepsisters cramming their feet in the wrong slippers -- limping and pissed at the world.



~~~grace

[RichieC]

Well, when I lay on my side I stay in that position fully awake for quite some time. When I breathe and open my mouth I can feel the air pressure has diminished considerably and stayed that way. As far as setting the mask type, my dreamstation doesn’t have that feature.

[ragtopcircus]

Well, when I lay on my side I stay in that position fully awake for quite some time. When I breathe and open my mouth I can feel the air pressure has diminished considerably and stayed that way. As far as setting the mask type, my dreamstation doesn’t have that feature.

I sent instructions for how to find it in the Provider menus, and how to make it show up in the Patient menus.

[ragtopcircus]

Per Respironics:
The “proper” resistance (aka Mask Type) setting is X1. At 50 L/m, pressure drop is 0.9 cmH2O. At 100 L/m that increases to 3 cm/H2O. Note that it does not scale linearly with velocity. This is normal. At higher air velocity, bends and boundary effects at the inner surface of the tube cause turbulence.

When asleep, my peak rate normally drops to around 30. When awake, it’s around 60. In REM or a catch-up breath, I can spike to over 100.

So, let’s go with 50 L/m for simplicity. With both tubes open, the pressure drop is 0.9 cmH2O. With one tube closed, the velocity in the remaining open tube must roughly double to deliver the same volume (not quite that simple, but let’s stay with napkin numbers). That means that the pressure drop in one tube at 50 L/m is roughly comparable to the drop in both tubes at 100 L/m. In other words, closing one tube increases the pressure drop by roughly 2ish cmH2O (from 0.9 to 3ish).

What about my peak flow of roughly 100? The pressure drop starts at 3 for both tubes. With one tube, it’s literally off the chart. Since the curve is asymptotically approaching 100ish with both tubes, it’s clear that forcing 100 L/m through one tube would require significant effort.

Of course, exhaling forcefully may expand the tube a little. Inhaling forcefully (trying to hit that 100 flow number) is going to collapse the tube a little, making the situation worse.

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[ragtopcircus]

Of course, you can’t change the mask setting during your sleep, and flow rate is normally lower in sleep, except during REM. X1 is clearly the intended setting if sleeping on your back. X0 is likely to be uncomfortable at higher flow rates. If sleeping with one tube completely closed, X2 or even X3 might be more suitable. Unfortunately, those settings are poorly documented. Regardless, if X2 for example, feels better with one tube completely closed, it might be too much on your back with both tubes open. You have to compromise and pick the setting that feels best most of the time (but X0 is never correct).

However, the tube under your head may not be completely closed. Readjusting the headgear slightly to keep the tube away from your cheekbone may help. Changing pillows could help too, by reducing the pinching of the tube.

[ragtopcircus]

Also, note that mask compensation is a flow-dependent pressure adjustment within the cycle. If you can’t get enough air, the machine will respond by increasing the static pressures. That will not feel the same.

[RichieC]

Maybe I should’ve phrased that a little differently. So many replies, Way too many technical terms that I’m not aware of, I couldn’t get anything out of it, Wasn’t meant to be disrespectful in anyway, just trying to make this work having too many bad nights. Thank you

[ragtopcircus]

The instructions I sent you are short and simple with no theory. Let’s start by just checking those settings to see where you are at now. What are your tube type and mask type set to in the Provider menu? What is the diameter of the tube you are using?

A 15mm tube will be around 5/8” in outside diameter. A 19mm tube will be around 3/4”, and a 22mm tube will be almost 1”. It may also be indicated on the rubber cuff at the ends of the tube.

[Grace~~~]

Maybe I should’ve phrased that a little differently. So many replies, Way too many technical terms that I’m not aware of, I couldn’t get anything out of it, Wasn’t meant to be disrespectful in anyway, just trying to make this work having too many bad nights. Thank you

I don't think you can trust your "open mouth sensations".

Have you downloaded OSCAR and are you monitoring your actual therapy?

Without that real information it's impossible to tell how you're doing.

[chunkyfrog]

Just a wild hair up the frog's backside, but check for blockage in one of the
silicone tubes on either side of the face.
They are DESIGNED to EACH allow enough airflow.
If not blocked, there should be no problem--unless it causes ANXIETY,
which, of course, can affect breathing.
If this is the case, then that is the wrong mask for you.
The right mask should be a good fit physically AND mentally.

[zonker]

Find your own glass slipper for a happy ending ~~~


There's too many ugly stepsisters cramming their feet in the wrong slippers -- limping and pissed at the world.



~~~grace

OOOHHH! i LIKE that.

well said, indeed.

[ragtopcircus]

They are DESIGNED to EACH allow enough airflow.

What do “allow” and “enough” mean? They document EXACTLY what it is designed to do. It’s right there in black and white in the user guide, in the part nobody reads.

But no, with one tube closed you will not suffocate. That does not mean you won’t feel the difference. However, if the machine is configured properly, it should not be uncomfortable.

[chunkyfrog]

They are DESIGNED to EACH allow enough airflow.

What do “allow” and “enough” mean? They document EXACTLY what it is designed to do. It’s right there in black and white in the user guide, in the part nobody reads.

But no, with one tube closed you will not suffocate. That does not mean you won’t feel the difference. However, if the machine is configured properly, it should not be uncomfortable.

But some people can have a panic attack, even when they are completely safe.
Not everyone has the same "programming".
They need to find equipment that is compatible with their anatomy AND BRAIN.
We have to consider that fit may go beyond the physical
As for reading documentation--reading is essential, but appears to be dying out.

[ragtopcircus]

But some people can have a panic attack, even when they are completely safe.
Not everyone has the same "programming".
They need to find equipment that is compatible with their anatomy AND BRAIN.
We have to consider that fit may go beyond the physical.

Yes, I totally agree. Small changes that some may not even notice can be very uncomfortable to others.