Need help with pressure settings (newbie)

[ChicagoGranny]

Yep, my DME told me that

[palerider]

How often do I actually need to change my filter? I was instructed to change it every 2 weeks which I forgot to do. I've used the same one for a month now. Is it time for a change?

The clinical manual for your machine says "Every six months or as needed.. So check it, and change it when it starts looking dirty.

[palerider]

Who told you that? Let me guess...the DME or people who supplied the machine. That way they get to sell you a bunch of filters.

ResMed actually says in their manual.....6 months or sooner if it gets dirty.

Have you looked to see how the filter looks?

How often depends on how quickly it gets dirty.

Yep, my DME told me that
The filter looks like new. I'll just let it be for now and check on it every now and then. Thank you!

many DMEs are unethical money grubbing sleazes.. their "replacement schedule" is "oh, medicare won't pay for stuff more often than x months, so we'll tell people to buy more stuff at x months, so we can get more money".

Ignore the "replacement schedule", replace things *as needed*, not on a schedule... *everything*. including the filters. Also, you can get filters on ebay/amazon for *FAR* less than the DME sells them for.

[Okie bipap]

In order to keep track of things, I set up and follow a schedule for our equipment. I wash the mask cushions every Monday. On the first Monday of the month, I clean the water reservoirs, strap pads, and mask (frame, cushion, and head gear). I check the filters after cleaning everything on the first Monday of the month. If they look dusty, I will shake them off. If they look dirty, I change them.

[total_nonsense]

Hey all!
I've been using my CPAP for 5 months now and things are slowly getting better. I recently switched to Dreamwear full face mask and I feel fantastic when sleep the whole night with it. My problem is that I'm a side or a stomach sleeper and I end up with leaks. Here are two typical nights




Is this something that I need to worry about? What can I do to minimize leaks? I suspect most of them are due to me sleeping on my side and the pillow pushing the mask. I've seen CPAP pillows for side sleepers on amazon. Are those worth the price tag?

[realshelby]

I am no expert, but the "leaks" you mention are not going to effect therapy! I sometimes think I feel/hear a leak with the Dreamwear, when it is actually just the narrowing of the air passage opening into the nostril. That occurs when you lay on your side and shift the nose piece a bit. My leak rates are less with the Dreamwear than they are with the P 10.

[zonker]

Hey all!
I've been using my CPAP for 5 months now and things are slowly getting better. I recently switched to Dreamwear full face mask and I feel fantastic when sleep the whole night with it. My problem is that I'm a side or a stomach sleeper and I end up with leaks. Here are two typical nights




Is this something that I need to worry about? What can I do to minimize leaks? I suspect most of them are due to me sleeping on my side and the pillow pushing the mask. I've seen CPAP pillows for side sleepers on amazon. Are those worth the price tag?

most excellent!! that's some good looking therapy you screen shot.

now, are the leaks waking you up? sorry if you said so already, but i was just so dazzled by your charts that i had to start replying immediately!

if the leaks aren't waking you up and your are getting restful sleep, i say you have nothing to concern yourself about.

heh. never mind, i just read where you say your sleep is great. so again, if they aren't waking you up, your leaks are fine.

[total_nonsense]

most excellent!! that's some good looking therapy you screen shot.

now, are the leaks waking you up? sorry if you said so already, but i was just so dazzled by your charts that i had to start replying immediately!

if the leaks aren't waking you up and your are getting restful sleep, i say you have nothing to concern yourself about.

heh. never mind, i just read where you say your sleep is great. so again, if they aren't waking you up, your leaks are fine.

Thanks for the reply! And you are right that it's some good looking therapy! It's entirely because of this place. You guys rock! I'd have given up if I had to rely on my DME for help
I'm still getting used to the mask so every now and then a leak will lake me up and I'll just take the mask off in my sleep. It doesn't happen often and I don't think there's much I can do about that

[zonker]

Thanks for the reply! And you are right that it's some good looking therapy! It's entirely because of this place. You guys rock! I'd have given up if I had to rely on my DME for help
I'm still getting used to the mask so every now and then a leak will lake me up and I'll just take the mask off in my sleep. It doesn't happen often and I don't think there's much I can do about that

yup, that taking the mask off thing is something that will stop once your brain gets really used to the "alien on your face" feeling. just a matter of time.

[Pugsy]

That is such a small amount of time in large leak that I wouldn't worry about it at all as long as I slept through it.

Now any leak, big or little, that wakes us up needs to be worked on because it disturbs our sleep. Anything that disturbs our sleep is unwanted.

[total_nonsense]

I might have jinxed myself by saying that my transition to a full face mask is going fantastic

I've been removing my mask ~1h after I fall asleep in the past week and not surprisingly I don't feel dreadful. I have not changed any of my settings and I remove the mask with or without a liner. I forgot to return my SD card after downloading my data last weekend so no sleepy head data. MyAir does not report anything useful (as expected). I'm considering going back to my nasal mask for some time because some therapy is better than none. Do you guys have any advice on how I can tackle this?