"Best" mask for BiPAP

General Discussion on any topic relating to CPAP and/or Sleep Apnea.
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Mask2sleep
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"Best" mask for BiPAP

Post by Mask2sleep » Thu Aug 19, 2010 11:09 am

Opinion question - which mask style works with BiPAP and why? I am probably replacing my Quattro FFM due to leak issues that in my newbness think may be partially as a result of the different inhale exhale press
in your experience would a nasal pillow or mask do better for BiPAP?

Of course mask choice is unique and individual to each person.
"I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that don't work." - Thomas Edison

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deerhound
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Location: Corrales, NM

Re: "Best" mask for BiPAP

Post by deerhound » Thu Aug 19, 2010 11:32 am

Now is a great time to train yourself not to mouth breathe, with the football season starting. A couple of years ago I got me a Swift II nasal pillow mask and watched a good deal of football on TV with my machine and my mask on. I held my tongue up against the roof of my mouth and practiced breathing with my nasal mask. Holding your tongue against the roof of your mouth keeps you from mouth breathing. It finally became something I automatically do when my mask is on and I started sleeping with the nasal pillow mask. Both the Swift II and the Swift FX which I now use, handle my BiPAP pressures of 10 and 18 very well. With the pressure of the machine forcing air into my nose I don't need to mouth breathe at night while I am sleeping. I still mouth breathe during the day when I am awake because my nose is rather restricted.

Dale

_________________
Machine: AirCurve™ 10 VAuto BiLevel Machine with HumidAir™ Heated Humidifier
Mask: AirFit™ P10 Nasal Pillow CPAP Mask with Headgear
Additional Comments: Home made ceiling mounted hose hanger, Backup machine: AirCurve 10 VAuto. settings EPAP 8 IPAP max 20
AHI:
Untreated 156
Treated 1.1

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Catnapper
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Re: "Best" mask for BiPAP

Post by Catnapper » Thu Aug 19, 2010 1:56 pm

Stay away from the Activa. It will do push-ups on your face with a bi-pap.

Catnapper - Joanie

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Mask2sleep
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Re: "Best" mask for BiPAP

Post by Mask2sleep » Thu Aug 19, 2010 3:39 pm

Thanks for the suggestions.

Maybe i'll see if I could adjust to a pillow. The Quattro is also quite a tease and likes to bounce about unless I tighten it a good deal. This morning I still had marks on the bridge of my nose when I got to work. I only tried a pillow for about 1 minute, a respironics Optilife. It was pretty intense and hard to breath but maybe I could get used to it. I did not like the Optilife headgear, though, and so was considering the Resmed LT and the FX.

The DME sent me a replacement SD Card because my display kept coming up with "SD Card Error" and the new one arrived yesterday. I just checked and it reads the same message with the new card. I'll have to call the DME again tommorow since it looks like my machine came with defective electronics. Fun! Nothing is ever easy!
"I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that don't work." - Thomas Edison

jnk
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Re: "Best" mask for BiPAP

Post by jnk » Thu Aug 19, 2010 4:42 pm

I loves me my Swift LT nasal pillows with my bilevel.

cpapquuen1

Re: "Best" mask for BiPAP

Post by cpapquuen1 » Thu Aug 19, 2010 5:52 pm

You need a new unit, not just a card. You could use any mask with the bipap. ACtiva LT is good.

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elena88
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Re: "Best" mask for BiPAP

Post by elena88 » Thu Aug 19, 2010 6:00 pm

hi there!
I picked up my malibu barbie vpap today, so I will be using my new swift fx nose pillow mask with that..
I keep the machine two weeks to see if I like it.

so maybe tomorrow I can tell you!

Hey, I truly believe you can train yourself to use those nose pillows, even if youre a mucous ball with sinus problems and blocked up
nose like me.. and taping really does work, but I DO have to put that tiny slit in the tape..

anything I should know about the bipap when I try it tonite? Its on v set auto, so I guess it will find a ipap and epap range for me?

Im not sure how that works???

thanks!
elena

_________________
Mask: Swift™ FX Nasal Pillow CPAP Mask with Headgear
Humidifier: S9™ Series H5i™ Heated Humidifier with Climate Control
Additional Comments: sleep study: slept 66 min in stage 2 AHI 43.3 had 86 spontaneous arousals I changed pressure from 11 to 4cm now no apap tummy sleeping solved apnea

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Mask2sleep
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Re: "Best" mask for BiPAP

Post by Mask2sleep » Fri Aug 20, 2010 5:18 am

I don't remember what the normal CPAP was like at titration since I think they moved me to BiPAP pretty early on. For me, it is difficult to get used to because with the different pressure at inhale / exhale, it makes me concentrate on my breathing too much. Also, with the Quattro at least, it won't seal because of the different pressures. I can't wait until Thursday and I get a new mask.
"I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that don't work." - Thomas Edison

dunkonu23
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Re: "Best" mask for BiPAP

Post by dunkonu23 » Sun Aug 22, 2010 8:20 am

I have a similar issue to yours. My bipap issues started Friday when I got my machine. I have the same mask as you and I can't get the fit right to stop leaks at 20/16 pressures. I can't use my favorite mask (Resmed Mirage Liberty) because the pressure blows out the nasal pillows, so I'm feeling stuck. Good luck, sir. I'll be following this thread to see what you come up with.

Scott

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elena88
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Re: "Best" mask for BiPAP

Post by elena88 » Sun Aug 22, 2010 4:20 pm

Well, I couldnt use the swift fx pillows with the bipap because I felt like I was suffocating and had no idea
how to raise the pressure.. it starts off at four to six..

so back to the opus, and I could manage..

tomorrow Im going to a new dme to try a bunch of masks on, so I will take the bipap with me.. I will let ya know if they have any tips..

I took an allegra D 12 hour last night, and both nostrils were working about sixty percent when I woke up... so that was much better than ususal

I like the different exhale pressure a lot, its sooooooooooooooooooo much easier to pretend youre a normal breathing person..

Im sorry your different exhale pressures are distracting you.. this malibu vpap is very smooth, and it doesnt distract me at all..

I think Ill ask my doc for a scipt for a bipap when Im done with this test machine.. it totally sucks that I cant get into it to see the data, or raise the starting
pressure above four though..

_________________
Mask: Swift™ FX Nasal Pillow CPAP Mask with Headgear
Humidifier: S9™ Series H5i™ Heated Humidifier with Climate Control
Additional Comments: sleep study: slept 66 min in stage 2 AHI 43.3 had 86 spontaneous arousals I changed pressure from 11 to 4cm now no apap tummy sleeping solved apnea

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deerhound
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Location: Corrales, NM

Re: "Best" mask for BiPAP

Post by deerhound » Sun Aug 22, 2010 6:06 pm

One other thing I do is, I don't have the ramp feature on. I start out at my full pressure so that I can fit my mask and take care of any leaks right away.

_________________
Machine: AirCurve™ 10 VAuto BiLevel Machine with HumidAir™ Heated Humidifier
Mask: AirFit™ P10 Nasal Pillow CPAP Mask with Headgear
Additional Comments: Home made ceiling mounted hose hanger, Backup machine: AirCurve 10 VAuto. settings EPAP 8 IPAP max 20
AHI:
Untreated 156
Treated 1.1

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rubymom
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Re: "Best" mask for BiPAP

Post by rubymom » Sun Aug 22, 2010 6:50 pm

The Mirage Liberty works well for me and my pressures are between 14-11. I do have to tie a shoelace around my head and under the pillows so that the pillows stay in place. Good luck to you!

_________________
Mask: Mirage Liberty™ Full Face CPAP Mask with Nasal Pillows With Headgear
Additional Comments: Pressure: generally between 12 and 14 though originally titrated at 20!

jgl71

Re: "Best" mask for BiPAP

Post by jgl71 » Thu Jul 24, 2014 6:49 am

I love the Mirage Liberty but can't use it often because it makes my nasal passages frrl as though they have been "drilled".
Mt other mask is a Quatro and it leaks under my eyes so I have these huge bags under my eyes from the leaks.
I am going to try a new mask called a Mojo gel mask.
Anyone tried this mask?

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Krelvin
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Re: "Best" mask for BiPAP

Post by Krelvin » Thu Jul 24, 2014 7:27 am

Mouth breather since I was a child.... to long to bother to change.

I have two masks (one is a backup) really only use the primary though. A F&P HC432. Unlike the previous version HC431 which comes with 3 sized inserts, the 432 is for one size and has an extra pad like thing in it that helps keep the seal.

The second mask is a Comfortfull 2, but it doesn't seal as well as the HC432 especially for long periods of time.

BTW I got one of the Sleepweaver Anew ones which I thought would be really good, minimal around the face. Worked great the first night and went down hill from then. Didn't work out.
Current Settings PS 4.0 over 10.6-18.0 (cmH2O) - Resmed S9 VPAP Auto w/h5i Humidifier - Quattro Air FFM
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Kevin... alias Krelvin

sawinglogz
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Re: "Best" mask for BiPAP

Post by sawinglogz » Thu Jul 24, 2014 9:24 am

Just another vote for the Liberty. I still sometimes have some leaks (the current cushions seem more leak prone than usual), but it handles bi-level reasonably well, at least with a mask liner.

I'll try my nasal mask again at some point, but every time I've tried I've had a substantial percentage of the night in large leak due to mouth breathing.

_________________
Mask: Mirage Liberty™ Full Face CPAP Mask with Nasal Pillows With Headgear
Additional Comments: EEP=5-15, PSmin=4, PSmax=19, Max=25 cm H2O, SleepyHead software