Just got my new AirFit F30i

[Becca8104]

Awesome! I am so happy for you. I highly recommend to anyone struggling with their current FF mask to give the F30i a try.

[gv280z]

My CPAP said I had a good fit -- and I did! It was more comfortable, no trouble breathing through the nose and the CPAP said it was a good fit with no leaks all night. I hope I just remember how to do it tonight!

Use a magic marker to mark on the velcro strap at the very tip of the "adjustment" strap on all the straps (ie left right upper / lower / crown top head straps) to give you a reference point, letting you know where your quality adjustment settings are at, then you can fine tune from there to make tiny adjustments either way. Once set, leave them there. Only need to adjust when you start getting minor leaks, your headgear letting you know it's getting a little stretched out. It happens, headgear (non head hose type, I'm not sure on the F30i / Dreamwear style) don't last much more than 6 or 7 months before they kinda run out of adjustment or the velcro just looses it's sticky-ness.

[zoocrewphoto]

BTW, for some who were worried about me changing my max setting from 12 to 11 and from manual to autosense, I got a call from my doctor's office last night. They were going to send me to the DME for exactly those settings, so all is well.

Keep in mind that doctors are happy with an ahi below 5 and at least 4 hours a night. Many of them don't really care about the details. Your data means you are still being bothered 4 times an hour all night. Since you slept 10 hours, that means you had 43 sleep disturbances that night. And you have no idea how long each disturbance was, if they were clustered together, etc. My Air is a program designed to encourage new users to feel good about their therapy, but it doesn't actually score the *quality of your sleep*. Most of the score is based on the seal, how many times you took it off, and how many hours you used it. It will still give a good score despite poor treatment. You really need to look at the Oscar data to see the real data. You need to know if your events are longer, what type they are, and if they are clustered together. And you really need to get them below 2 per hour. You may need to work the pressure back up over time, but you will far better off in the long run if you allow the machine to do what it needs to get therapeutic results.

Most of us have found that we feel better with an ahi below 2. If I had a 4.3, I would be wondering what the heck went wrong. I had a few nights above 1.5 during my first month, and maybe a few in the 1.5-2 range in the last 8 years. But usually, my ahi is between 0.2 and 1.4. If I were to get an ahi above 2, I would be pulling the data to see what I need to adjust.

[Chris8243]

Have you tried the AirTouch f20 cushion? Fits the same frame as the AirFit, but is soft foam, and at least for me, it needs less tension from the headset to work while not leaking.

I have not. I'd prefer not to get into a mask that needs replaced montly. Some on this site say it doesn't even make it 1 month. I'm not going through insurance or dealing with a DME.

My AirTouch F20' lasts longer than one month. I think the replacement schedule for all masks is once a month. I get at least several months, never kept score.

[tsduke]

Awesome! I am so happy for you. I highly recommend to anyone struggling with their current FF mask to give the F30i a try.

I know that mask cushion itself is a little different than the F30, but do the F30 and F30i have the same design in how it sits on the nose? I'm struggling to find a full face mask. The F30 didn't seal great, but worse yet the pressure feel is so much higher and I couldn't get to sleep with it.

[shragae]

Most of us have found that we feel better with an ahi below 2. If I had a 4.3, I would be wondering what the heck went wrong. I had a few nights above 1.5 during my first month, and maybe a few in the 1.5-2 range in the last 8 years. But usually, my ahi is between 0.2 and 1.4. If I were to get an ahi above 2, I would be pulling the data to see what I need to adjust.

My AHI was lower with the F20, but this was only the 4th night with the F30i. It is also only my 2nd week on CPAP. I'm hoping mask adjustments will improve the AHI on the F30i as I can't use the F20 because of my damaged nose... I see my doctor in 2 weeks. If the AHI doesn't improve over the next few days I may ask if I should increase the max pressure back up to 12 and see if that helps the AHI. Won't do anything without my doctor's approval.

[zoocrewphoto]

Most of us have found that we feel better with an ahi below 2. If I had a 4.3, I would be wondering what the heck went wrong. I had a few nights above 1.5 during my first month, and maybe a few in the 1.5-2 range in the last 8 years. But usually, my ahi is between 0.2 and 1.4. If I were to get an ahi above 2, I would be pulling the data to see what I need to adjust.

My AHI was lower with the F20, but this was only the 4th night with the F30i. It is also only my 2nd week on CPAP. I'm hoping mask adjustments will improve the AHI on the F30i as I can't use the F20 because of my damaged nose... I see my doctor in 2 weeks. If the AHI doesn't improve over the next few days I may ask if I should increase the max pressure back up to 12 and see if that helps the AHI. Won't do anything without my doctor's approval.

CPAP tends to be an area where many doctors do not understand how the machines work or even that we need to be below 2 rather than 5. So, if your doctor says that 4.3 is fine, you will need to step up and do it on your own despite what the doctor says. A lot of people join this forum because their doctor didn't really help them. Many doctors just set the machine wide open and figure it will do what it needs to. Some don't even look at the detailed data. They just look at compliance and ahi below 5. This is why WE need to look at the full data. My mom used to have an ahi of 3.4,and her doctor said it was great. It didn't look bad, but after I looked at the data, it was bad. She had clusters of events, 8 of them in 15 minutes, all over 30 seconds each. One over a minute long. We changed her pressure from straight 10to 10-15. Now, it is really good. Her previous doctor had no idea about the clusters or long events.

[shragae]

Thanks Zoocrew.

[ChicagoGranny]

Awesome! I am so happy for you. I highly recommend to anyone struggling with their current FF mask to give the F30i a try.

+1

[Jroze410]

Do you feel air coming out of the top of your nose at all? Im wondering if is just me or maybe i got my air pressure to high because I have had the same issue with the F30. My pressure is at 16. Or maybe my cushion is too small? Any vets with any suggestions?

[raisedfist]

All of the under the nose FFM masks seem to annoy the skin on the bottom of my nose that's between the nostrils. That's the only caveat I can find.

[jimbud]

All of the under the nose FFM masks seem to annoy the skin on the bottom of my nose that's between the nostrils. That's the only caveat I can find.

On the F30i,the part of the cushion that goes under the nose is very thin (to the point I am very careful when cleaning it).
There are two holes in the membrane for you to breath through with a narrow strip between them where the septum will be.

It is so thin that it will get a crease or wrinkle in it when you put it on. I have to adjust and slightly stretch that part on the cushion during and after it inflates. If you don't make sure it will cause discomfort.

I kind of pull up on the arches on the top front of the cushion and let it kind of snap back. Give it a little stretch.
Once I get it right I am good for the night.

JPB

[ChicagoGranny]

Do you feel air coming out of the top of your nose at all? Im wondering if is just me or maybe i got my air pressure to high because I have had the same issue with the F30. My pressure is at 16. Or maybe my cushion is too small? Any vets with any suggestions?

It can be difficult to get the ResMed AirFit F30i FMM fitted and adjusted so that air does not leak out of the upper slots and shoot over a side of the nose into the eyes. Even if you get it adjusted properly, the adjustment can be lost when moving around in the bed. The best I can suggest is to go to youtube and search "ResMed AirFit F30i". Find a few of the videos and watch them. They talk about adjusting and fitting.

When you do that search in youtube, it will return videos for F30i and F30. Select the F30i.

You might need a different size cushion. It can be hard to tell without trying a different size.

[shragae]

Do you feel air coming out of the top of your nose at all? Im wondering if is just me or maybe i got my air pressure to high because I have had the same issue with the F30. My pressure is at 16. Or maybe my cushion is too small? Any vets with any suggestions?

It can be difficult to get the ResMed AirFit F30i FMM fitted and adjusted so that air does not leak out of the upper slots and shoot over a side of the nose into the eyes....

Boy, is this ever true! I had a horrible time in the beginning using the F30i. I had one good night, and then back to an AHI of 35 (no kidding!) and constant fiddling with the mask. It was horrible and I was beginning to think I had to look for another mask. Then about 4 nights ago I somehow got it right -- and I've gotten it right every night since then (so far). My AHI dropped to about 1.2.

I think I was trying to put the nose piece below my nose... you actually have to press the middle piece up against your nose and the sides have to go up the side of the nose. Sometimes I do get a little air aimed at my right eye, but a quick adjustment solves that. I've had a good fit, it's comfortable, I can breathe through my nose (which is rare for me) and my mouth -- and no "hurricane" effect either. Chicago Granny is right (I sure wish this forum had a 'like' button!) that it can be difficult to get the F30i to fit properly, but when you do it is a thing of beauty. Good luck!

[jeffdanger]

I just switched to an F30i from an F30. I really liked the F30 but moving around would cause leaks as the hose attaches to the mask and the weight of the hose and movement would cause leaks. The F30i totally eliminates this but I have two issues so far. The F30i is noisier than the F30. Also, the F30 has a fantastic air port where you can barely feel the air releasing through the pressure relief holes. The F30i emits the air through the front of the mask in a steady stream so if you sleep facing your partner you may annoy them with the air blast. But I'm sticking with the F30i for now as the top of head hose attachment makes it totally worth it for me. One other thing on the F30i-the mask frame rests on the top of your head so if you don't have hair on your forehead it creates a cold spot on your scalp when you first start using it. Goes away after your humidifier heats up but if you don't use a humidifier you may need a small piece of soft fabric there to eliminate the cold.