Help w/ some things for my dad--comfortgel mask & leak/vent

[2girlsmom]

My dad is trying to get used to his cpap. He's congested right now and trying to work that out but he is making an attempt. I was able to see his data and he's wearing it sometimes 7 hours, sometimes 5 and sometimes 3... but he is trying. My mom is concerned about how he is doing and she's asking me tons of things and learning a lot. He is not as willing to learn, but he said right now he is frustrated with his congestion and trying to work that out. I did tell him about the sinus rinse so hopefully he'll check into that.

He was given a ComfortGel FF mask size L and an Elite II. His pressure is 4. He is barely having any apneasright now, but, his AHI was only 5.6 at the study, but his O2 sats were the reason they want to be sure he uses it, he had desats in the 50s. His AHI is mostly 7-8 a night with maybe 0.2 AI at most, so it is mostly HI which the Resmeds can overcount. He is not feeling tons better, but he also is not using it all night long every night... but the pressure concerns me. I thought you needed a 6 for your mask to vent properly? Also, what is a good leak rate for his mask? I tried the CG out but hated it, so I don't know too much.

Any help is appreciated. He's opening up to me more about how things are going so I may finally be in a position to give him some advice.

[Wulfman]

My dad is trying to get used to his cpap. He's congested right now and trying to work that out but he is making an attempt. I was able to see his data and he's wearing it sometimes 7 hours, sometimes 5 and sometimes 3... but he is trying. My mom is concerned about how he is doing and she's asking me tons of things and learning a lot. He is not as willing to learn, but he said right now he is frustrated with his congestion and trying to work that out. I did tell him about the sinus rinse so hopefully he'll check into that.

He was given a ComfortGel FF mask size L and an Elite II. His pressure is 4. He is barely having any apneasright now, but, his AHI was only 5.6 at the study, but his O2 sats were the reason they want to be sure he uses it, he had desats in the 50s. His AHI is mostly 7-8 a night with maybe 0.2 AI at most, so it is mostly HI which the Resmeds can overcount. He is not feeling tons better, but he also is not using it all night long every night... but the pressure concerns me. I thought you needed a 6 for your mask to vent properly? Also, what is a good leak rate for his mask? I tried the CG out but hated it, so I don't know too much.

Any help is appreciated. He's opening up to me more about how things are going so I may finally be in a position to give him some advice.

YIKES! That's really LOW. I would be suffocating down there. The thing that comes to my mind is what his leak rate might be. If he's using a nasal mask and with that low of a pressure, do you know that he's not mouth-breathing? Significant leaks (including mouth-breathing) could possibly mask/distort the AHI numbers.

Den

[cflame1]

Den,
She said that he's using the Full Face comfortgel.

[rippersmom]

He was given a ComfortGel FF mask size L and an Elite II. His pressure is 4. He is barely having any apneasright now, but, his AHI was only 5.6 at the study, but his O2 sats were the reason they want to be sure he uses it, he had desats in the 50s.

I have the Elite II also and a Quattro ff. Due to my desats during the sleep study, I was prescribed 2 liters of oxygen with the cpap. A pressure of only 4 doesn't do much, I wouldn't think. Does he have morning headaches? If so, that would be a sign of hypoxic events during the night. I'm a newbie and certainly no expert in any way, but logic tells me that a higher pressure (10?) should be tried for comfort and therapy. JMO

Nancy in AZ

[2girlsmom]

Yes it is a FF mask. He told my brother it was leaking around his eyes. I mentioned to him that he should call the DME and ask for another mask and he said oh it's fine... and that he didnt want to bother them. I am wondering about his leaks though... what is a good # for l/min for leaks with a comfortgel FF mask and an elite II?

[Wulfman]

Den,
She said that he's using the Full Face comfortgel.

Oops.....I was reading too fast. It's still an awfully low pressure. I would recommend getting the doctor to prescribe an overnight pulse oximetry study to see what kind of blood oxygen levels he's having. It should be "free".


Den

[2girlsmom]

I know. 4 seems really low to me. He is still having plenty of hypopneas and if he wore it all night every night he would probably have more apneas I would guess. Maybe not. I am concerned that the mask won't even vent properly at a 4. I will suggest an overnight oximetry to him.

[Goofproof]

At 4 cm, for me I'd do better with a plastic shopping bag duct taped over my head. My AHI would be zero, but I'd still be dead. Jim

No wonder he's having trouble using it. At 4 cm, I'd throw it in the closet too.

[2girlsmom]

A 4 would make me feel suffocated too. Sigh. He cannot comprehend that people get into their machines and adjust things themselves. He needs to come here and read up on OSA more but I am trying to be sure I am not pushy.

[SleepyDragon]

Yes it is a FF mask. He told my brother it was leaking around his eyes. I mentioned to him that he should call the DME and ask for another mask and he said oh it's fine... and that he didnt want to bother them. I am wondering about his leaks though... what is a good # for l/min for leaks with a comfortgel FF mask and an elite II?

I used to use a ComfortGel. If the leak is around the eyes there is a slider adjustment on the part of the mask over the bridge of the nose that attaches to the forehead cushion. Moving the slider "down" decreases the angle of the mask on the face, moving the top of the mask closer to the bridge od the nose. This adjustment is used to "ballance" the mask on the face. Have him try that and let us know how it works.