Changing mask settings

For those who have read the Previous Adventures of Mnementh and the xPAP Machine, feel free to skip ahead to the next paragraph. For those whom have escaped my previous posts, read on. I currently have the Mirage Quattro full face mask, and am struggling with keeping it on. Self-diagnosing it to my extreme nose sensitivity, I have called and asked my DME to send me a new mask, this time an oral only model. This will completely avoid my nose entirely, excepting an optional nose plug that will probably stay in the box. It will ship tomorrow, and will hopefully be here early in the week. Now to my question:

I have an S8 Autoset II, and the settings show it to be set for MIR Full as the mask type. Makes sense, as it's a mirage full face mask. What does that actually control, and do I need to change it when I put on my new mask? It's a Fisher & Paykel Oracle HC452, and no option in the menu fits that.

since the machine uses predetermind leak rates of that particular mask on that setting your machine would be giving you inaccurate data using a different style mask than the setting calls for. I think you will need to find a mask setting that would closely match the rate of that mask you are getting.

Does anyone know what that setting might be for the Autoset II? I've been looking all over, but can't really see anything that tells me what to change the setting to for that mask. The only thing that talks about it at all is Resmeds site which lists mask settings for the Elite II, but it doesn't include oral masks at all.

I suppose I don't really need the numbers to be accurate in magnitude as long as it's accurate in showing the leak on the detailed graph. I'll know the numbers are probably not accurate, but I'll know a leak occurred, so that's the important part. I'll call me DME and ask them, as well. It might bring to their knowledge that I've got access to the clinical menu they told me I couldn't have access to, but oh well.

Hi Mnementh,

The idea is to match the leak rate represented by the ResMed mask selected in "mask setting" on the AutoSet II as closely as possible to the "exhaust flow" (aka "intentional leak rate") of the mask you're using. In theory, if the two numbers are the same and you have no leaks, then the machine-reported leak rate would be zero. That is the ultimate goal.

You can find the "exhaust flow" for the Oracle mask in the brochure that should come with the mask. You can find that here: http://www.fphcare.com/userfiles/file/O ... ctions.pdf. Look at the Technical Specifications/Exhaust Flow Information chart. Find your machine pressure there, and right below that will be the flow rate.

Then, look at this chart, which shows the expected flow rates for the ResMed masks: http://www.resmed.com/assets/documents/ ... sa_eng.pdf. See which flow rate most closely matches your mask's "exhaust flow". On the second page you will see the equivalent settings for the machine. It looks to me like your closest match would be the ResMed Ultra Mirage II mask, which uses the "Ultra" mask setting on the S8 machine.

I hope that helps. And I hope that you find this new mask to be more tolerable. I know that you've had a difficult time.

It has arrived! I'll check the numbers you mentioned (not that I don't trust you, I just like to find them and confirm) and am hopeful that I can wear this one.

I've tried it on, and it definitely feels weird! With it, I cannot speak, but it's for sleeping anyway, so I'm not worried about that. Just have to remember to tell my wife goodnight before I put it on. I think I'll drool a lot with this one as well. Once again, not a problem, but something I'll have to get used to.

Most important of all, it doesn't touch my nose at all! I'll put the noseplugs on my nightstand, and try them if I absolutely have to, but just having the mask on doesn't trigger my nose sensitivity at all.

The only problem now? A thunderstorm is headed right for us. I don't have a battery backup. Shucks. Well, here's hoping the power stays on.

I hope that you sleep well tonight, Mnementh.

Drooling is one of the symptoms of OSA.. so hopefully that'll disappear once you get your pressure/mask/etc all set up correctly.

Good luck with the new mask!

The morning report:

Definitely something I'll have to get used to. The nose plugs, unfortunately, will be required, at least at first. I could force myself to keep my nasal passages closed while I was awake, but as soon as I started to fall asleep, a great gushing of air would erupt from my nose. VERY weird feeling! Fortunately, the nose plugs are not as bad as I feared, and I can wear the mediums with minimal leakage and without wanting to rip them off my face. Not something I'll be doing for fun, of course, but I'll do it.

After a while, I noticed a gurgling coming from the hose that sounded like a coffee pot percolating. I turned over and got a mixture of drool and condensed humidifier water in the mouth. Had to take the new mask off, and examined it. The mixture had soaked the diffuser, so decided to let it dry out. I changed back to the Quattro, and went back to sleep. Woke up at some unknown time and have a vague memory of turning the machine off.

Here's the graph from last night.
http://www.dragonflights.net/images/newmask.jpg

I think if I can get used to the nose plugs, this mask will eventually do well for me. It's not nearly as face covering as the Quattro, and I was doing ok till the diffuser got soaked. I'll have to devise something to solve that problem. The humidifier wasn't full, but I'd never had it on that high of a setting before. I'd set it to max in anticipation of the dry mouth that goes with this mask. I'll have to think of some solutions, but tonight I'll try a lower setting.