Calibrating your machine based on mask type

Is it necessary to recalibrate your CPAP machine if you change types of masks?

Katholtz wrote:Is it necessary to recalibrate your CPAP machine if you change types of masks?

just set the mask type properly.

Is instruction on changing the mask selection generally something a new user gets these days? i don't remember having it explained the 2 times years ago I got machines through providers as opposed to privately acquiring them. Now that it's brought to my attention, I realize I have no idea what mine is set on or how to change it.

Respironics resistance numbers discourage using any brand of mask but their own, (marketing BS)
while Resmed's selection is more straightforward.
It is possible the mask settings do not affect therapy, but are intended to facilitate more accurate data.
This may or may not be related to pressure levels, but your choice.
My opinion--it might not matter either way.

It is discouraging to try and figure out what resistance number should be used on a Respironics machine with a ResMed mask. Personally I haven't changed mine and haven't noticed a difference. Maybe some of the engineering / tech people could make up a list of Resmed mask resistance numbers, or at least a formula we could use. You would think if it really made a difference to our treatment one of the companies would have made a comparable list.

kteague wrote:Is instruction on changing the mask selection generally something a new user gets these days? i don't remember having it explained the 2 times years ago I got machines through providers as opposed to privately acquiring them. Now that it's brought to my attention, I realize I have no idea what mine is set on or how to change it.

all you should have to do is tap the setup button, mask selection should be right there on the patient set menu

OkyDoky wrote:It is discouraging to try and figure out what resistance number should be used on a Respironics machine with a ResMed mask. Personally I haven't changed mine and haven't notice a difference. Maybe some of the engineering / tech people could make up a list of Resmed mask resistance numbers, or at least a formula we could use. You would think if it really made a difference to our treatment one of the companies would have made a comparable list.

as best I understand it, the mask settings are to help compensate for the resistance to airflow that different types of masks introduce into the circuit between the machine and your face. the more resistance added, the lower the actual pressure you'll have at your face.

humidifiers, hoses, Antibacterial filters (that fit in the hose) and the mask all have an effect on the flow of air, and thus the final pressure. of course, the humidifier setting is automatic since the machine knows when you've hooked up the humdifier. and heated hoses set their size properly, but getting the setting for a non heated hose wrong will affect things. I'd bought a used vpap auto and hooked it up with my regular size hose, but forgot to change the hose setting from the default slimline setting. I thought the machine was broken it was blowing that much harder. I fixed the hose setting and all was well.

the mask settings also adjust the final pressure, but to a smaller degree.

I don't have any proof of this theory, but it's logical.. and one of these days, I'm going to rig up something and do some tests, to see if it the mask settings actually change the pressure by a measureable amount, or if I'm just full of crap with my theory

I do know that with resmed machines, the wrong mask setting can keep the smartstart from working, ie, set your machine to full face and attach a pillow mask, and it may not automatically shut off when removing the mask. both pugsy and I have seen this. switch the setting to pillows, and smartstart shuts off the machine when you take off the mask, like it should.

Thanks PR for the info. So is the Respironics resistance settings a comfort setting or does it change the amount of pressure to make a difference in treatment? It's hard to believe that, if it makes a difference, one of the companies wouldn't have a chart for ResMed masks. I know we are talking about two different competing companies but I wish they would take us into consideration.

OkyDoky wrote:Thanks PR for the info. So is the Respironics resistance settings a comfort setting or does it change the amount of pressure to make a difference in treatment? It's hard to believe that, if it makes a difference, one of the companies wouldn't have a chart for ResMed masks. I know we are talking about two different competing companies but I wish they would take us into consideration.

it makes a difference, but it's a *small* difference. I'd GUESS it's less than a cm difference either way, but they're trying to get things just right, compensate for everything along the way from machine to face.

I think the prs1 resistance is a reaction to resmed's mask settings on the s9.

of course, persperonics doesn't bother to come up with a chart for "other companies" masks, for the same reason that talk show hosts always say "a show on 'another network'"

you can look at the mask chart and kind of make a guess, or just do what they suggest and leave it on 0, which was the default before they came up with their "we don't play well with others" method.

My treatment is going well so I'm not going to change anything now. But I certainly might consider " the other company" when it's time for a new machine.

I think the difference in results between masks is rather small. It probably affects things like EPR, Flex, and bilevel more than absolute pressure.

The mask may affect your pressure needs a bit, just like many other things like sleeping position, so check your results after the change in case you need more or less pressure. I suspect this is also usually a small change.

Thanks everybody

My thought, since I use a pressure range instead of a single pressure, is that
the computer in the machine pretty much gives me what I need, whatever that is,
and the data, along with how I feel, confirms that. I think I can trust it.
Having on occasion run my old S9 with the wrong mask setting, I could not tell the difference.

chunkyfrog wrote:My thought, since I use a pressure range instead of a single pressure, is that
the computer in the machine pretty much gives me what I need, whatever that is,
and the data, along with how I feel, confirms that. I think I can trust it.
Having on occasion run my old S9 with the wrong mask setting, I could not tell the difference.

one of these days, I'm going to rig up a home brewed manomoeter taking readings both at the machine and the mask, and see if I can spot any differences.... I just lost my tuit... it was round, and it prolly rolled away under the furniture.

palerider wrote:

chunkyfrog wrote:My thought, since I use a pressure range instead of a single pressure, is that
the computer in the machine pretty much gives me what I need, whatever that is,
and the data, along with how I feel, confirms that. I think I can trust it.
Having on occasion run my old S9 with the wrong mask setting, I could not tell the difference.

one of these days, I'm going to rig up a home brewed manomoeter taking readings both at the machine and the mask, and see if I can spot any differences.... I just lost my tuit... it was round, and it prolly rolled away under the furniture.

I've got one of those dial manometers.

Problem is for those of us who use the pillow mask, wouldn't you have to take the measurement from the other side (nose side) of the pillows?

Otherwise, you wouldn't be compensating for the pillow size.

Additionally, if your titration study was performed with a F10 and you're now using a P10, wouldn't the measurements be a good deal different. Not that I'm using the original settings but just seems like there is a pretty large bug in the methodology.