When leaks are under control & there's still a difference..?

Thought I'd try asking this question again, to all who have any understanding of the "science" of OSA/cpap or those with any educated guesses. Throughout my first year, I successfully used a nasal pillow mask & mouth taping with pressure at 10. Maintained a straight-line leak rate as specified by mfg, and AHI pretty rapidly settled consistently between 0.5 and 1.5, usually right around 0.8.

For the past year I have tried several FFM's over a number of months for each. I was sort of forced to do so because my skin suddenly started reacting to the taping. What a disappointment! I have narrowed down to 2 masks that are acceptable, but have rarely had AHI below 1.8 with straight & appropriate leak line. Even worse is that with the FFM's I always have Apneas, and with the nasal pillows, I rarely had more than 0-2 per night.

With each of the FFM's, I have had to raise my pressure a full point--to 11.0--to even achieve the 1.8--3.0 nightly AHI's; and Apneas are still around 3-8 per night. UGHH!! Raising pressure above 11.0 does not seem like a good idea, as I then introduce leaking which I've not been able to resolve without tightening my FFM uncomfortably.

Anyone have clues about why FFM's are creating a very different and (for me) unacceptable result?

I had been expieriencing similar isses with the ffm the only way that I have been able to control the leak rate is to tighen the mask down more than is comfortable resmed say the skirt on the quatro should expand for me it didn't seem to seal until I tightened the straps a bit more than ussal but I am keeping after it continually trying a difent configuration
I am watching to learn as well
Chris

I started using a simple football mouth guard ($0.99 at WalMart) instead of the taping and consistently get 0.0 leaks with a Swift FX................might be an alternative to the FFM.

scrapper wrote:I started using a simple football mouth guard ($0.99 at WalMart) instead of the taping and consistently get 0.0 leaks with a Swift FX................might be an alternative to the FFM.

Good idea. I think that will help to keep from breathing thru your mouth which could be why 66 is having troubles.

Which tape are you reacting to? Ever try the painters tape?

plr66 wrote:Thought I'd try asking this question again, to all who have any understanding of the "science" of OSA/cpap or those with any educated guesses. Throughout my first year, I successfully used a nasal pillow mask & mouth taping with pressure at 10. Maintained a straight-line leak rate as specified by mfg, and AHI pretty rapidly settled consistently between 0.5 and 1.5, usually right around 0.8.

For the past year I have tried several FFM's over a number of months for each. I was sort of forced to do so because my skin suddenly started reacting to the taping. What a disappointment! I have narrowed down to 2 masks that are acceptable, but have rarely had AHI below 1.8 with straight & appropriate leak line. Even worse is that with the FFM's I always have Apneas, and with the nasal pillows, I rarely had more than 0-2 per night.

With each of the FFM's, I have had to raise my pressure a full point--to 11.0--to even achieve the 1.8--3.0 nightly AHI's; and Apneas are still around 3-8 per night. UGHH!! Raising pressure above 11.0 does not seem like a good idea, as I then introduce leaking which I've not been able to resolve without tightening my FFM uncomfortably.

Anyone have clues about why FFM's are creating a very different and (for me) unacceptable result?

Which ones? (have you tried and narrowed it down to?)


Den

GumbyCT wrote:

scrapper wrote:I started using a simple football mouth guard ($0.99 at WalMart) instead of the taping and consistently get 0.0 leaks with a Swift FX................might be an alternative to the FFM.

Good idea. I think that will help to keep from breathing thru your mouth which could be why 66 is having troubles.

Which tape are you reacting to? Ever try the painters tape?

Hmm--I think you may have mis-read my post. I have no leak problems with the FFM, or with the nasal pillow mask using blue delicate painter's tape for a year each. I have a dental appliance for TMJ, so cannot use one of the cheapo types from sporting goods. The "troubles" center on the higher AHI with the FFM.

Edit: Den, the best two for me are the UMFFM (best) and (not quite as good a fit) the Quattro.