How to Change Mask Settings on Dreamstation Bibpap?

With my old resmed there was a window that allowed me to change from nasal pillows, to nasal mask to full mask. Where can I find it on this new machine. The only thing I could find was a mask fit with numbers from one to five! There has to be away. Thanks.

Jeff

Respironics machines don't have a mask type setting like ResMed machines do.
All that the Respironics machines have is that Resistance setting thing where you are seeing the numbers and the resistance numbers are only available for Respironics masks. If you are using a ResMed mask you don't have a Resistance setting number to go by.
It's not that big of a deal. We are told that if you are using a ResMed mask just turn off the Resistance setting (turn to 0).
The Resistance setting doesn't do anything with leak or have anything to do with leak calculations.

That is good to know. I will turn that number to 0. Last night it was in 4 but probably didn't make a difference. I am using a ResMed Mirage activa mask. Thank for the help.

Jeff

FWIW I tried all the various Resistance settings when I was using the Respironics machine with my ResMed mask and I couldn't tell it did anything at all. No change in therapy or how it felt to me blowing the air nor in the leak numbers.

Thanks again! I am new to all of the BIPAP stuff. Been on straight CPAP for 11 years, then after a sleep study (which medicare demanded) my sleep doc put me on BIPAP. Must say it is working fine at a 18/14 pressure. My AHI's are now for the most part under 2! No more restless legs and I am sleeping better!

Hmmm, Pugsy, it makes me wonder if the Respironics "settings" are actually functional . . .
Or maybe just window dressing.

chunkyfrog wrote:Hmmm, Pugsy, it makes me wonder if the Respironics "settings" are actually functional . . .
Or maybe just window dressing.

No, not window dressing but maybe touted as being more of a big deal than it really is.
Masks have different resistance (not to be confused with intentional venting) levels but the differences are really all that different.
Supposedly having the machine anticipate the mask resistance helps with pressure delivered somehow but from what little I could find explain just how it helped...it sure wasn't anything earth shattering.
I played with all the settings and with it off and I tried really hard to find something that felt or showed differently somewhere and I never could tell it did anything.

chunkyfrog wrote:Hmmm, Pugsy, it makes me wonder if the Respironics "settings" are actually functional . . .
Or maybe just window dressing.

respironics copied part of what resmed does with their mask type settings.

masks with smaller holes for airflow cause more resistance, and the resistance affects the pressure in a dynamic environment, like when you're breathing in and out.

I've measured the pressure differences on the resmed at different mask type settings, and setting pillow vs full face does result in a little more pressure at the machine when inhaling. that's to compensate for the resistance in pillow masks vs full face masks, when you start to inhale, you're pulling air through a smaller hole, and that causes the pressure to drop more... so the machine boosts the pressure a little, it wasn't much, not enough that I'd expect anybody to be able to feel the difference.

respironics says they're doing the same thing, more pressure, a little earlier in the breath, to compensate for pressure drops in the mask.

the whole idea, as documented by them, is to get the *right* pressure, at the mask, and just compensate for the mask losses.

I would really be surprised if anybody could feel the changes... now, if they had a pressure logger set up to it, it should be pretty easy to see, just not big enough changes to feel.