Follow-up on AirTouch mask

I've found a downside to using the AirTouch mask: my AHI is way up, sometimes as high as 10. This isn't good, and I don't know what could be causing it. Could be that the mask has leaks I can't detect (I've been told that the CPAP machine reading 100% fit is unreliable, and more leaking is seen in a lab titration). I have a small size of the mask, and it could be that I need a bigger size. The bottom rim of the mask is right below my lower lip, and presses there. It feels odd.

Also, I do sometimes still feel uncomfortable restriction at the top of my nose. I even reverted to my Amara View a few nights, and a few nights I couldn't tolerate either mask. Wound up with about an hour of therapy.

Let me ask something: how many readers experience alternating stuffed-nose between nostrils? Usually, one of my nostrils is stuffed up--no air exchange--when I go to bed, and often the other is stuffed up when I wake up. I often find it very difficult to use the CPAP with a stuffed-up nostril--I just feel like I'm smothering. I read somewhere that our noses naturally alternate during the night, which I found frankly bizarre. But it seems to be true in my case. I did a scan for nasal polyps recently and there were none, and I don't suffer from major allergies (minor hay fever, bad at this time of year in CA).

I'm sad to hear that the mask has to be replaced relatively often. The one I have is a free sample my doctor gave me, and my usual supplier doesn't carry them. I don't know what I'll do when this one wears out. I don't care about discoloration, but I don't want the foam to deteriorate, obviously.

Thanks for all your replies, folks!

The alternating stuffiness is rather common. I had that problem for most of my life until I had septoplasty surgery. I had a badly deviated septum and could never breath out of both sides of my nose at the same time. I have had very little problem with sinus congestion or breathing through my nose since the surgery.

I have been using the F20 for about 2 months and have been waking up in the middle of the night with my nose closed completely up and my mouth feels like I swallowed a bail of cotton. I had my machine humidifier checked and it is fine. I am going back to my silicon mask tonight and see if that helps. Anyone else having allergy problems with this mask?

Jdporter221 wrote: ↑

Thu Mar 15, 2018 4:37 pm

I have been using the F20 for about 2 months and have been waking up in the middle of the night with my nose closed completely up and my mouth feels like I swallowed a bail of cotton. I had my machine humidifier checked and it is fine. I am going back to my silicon mask tonight and see if that helps. Anyone else having allergy problems with this mask?

I wonder; The AirTouch foam cushion is supposed to be replaced every 30 days. Have you changed it in that time? How are you cleaning it?

The mouth dryness is indicative of mouth breathing. Your humidifier can't compensate for that, nobody's can. There are fixes once your nose gets opened up like using a chin strap, tape or cervical collar.