Need mask suggestions for BiPAP

kevder · Post by **kevder** » Tue Jan 24, 2006 9:15 am

First of all, I want to thank everyone who has posted information here. This is my first actual post but I’ve been a frequent reader. The information has been invaluable.

Here is a little background. I was diagnosed over a year ago with severe sleep apnea (138 apnea events / hour). I was having some other medical issues and my GP doc suggested a sleep test after a battery of other test turned up nothing.

I was started on CPAP treatment and then my real troubles began.

I have very disrupted sleep totaling an average of 4 – 5 hrs per night. That’s while being on a CPAP AND taking a sleep aid (currently Ambien Cr). With out the sleep aid I get zip-zero, nada.

I’ve tried a plethora of masks including: Comfortfull, ComfortGel, and ComfortClassic from Respironics as well as the Aurora and the Mirage Swift. So far, I’ve only been able to moderately tolerate the Mirage Swift. I’m an extremely light sleeper and the variable noise from the Aurora is very disturbing to me. The constant sound from the Swift is better but not great. I could not get any kind of seal with any of the Respironics masks. They kept leaking into my eyes.

I’m currently using an Auto CPAP machine and the Swift mask.

I’m feeling worse than I ever have. I’ve tried seeing other sleep docs but they in the end refer me back to the one I’m currently seeing (I guess he is supposed to be The Man)

My doc suggested that I might be more tolerant to a BiPAP type system and I had a second sleep study so they could titrate the system. I have not had my follow up appointment yet but the tech mentioned that she settled on a pressure of 11 / 6.

Now we come to my question at last. IF I do switch to BiPAP, what masks can you all recommend given my intolerance to any external stimuli especially noise? I can stay with my Swift but the pressure changes were really loud in the lab. I’m leaning toward trying another nasal mask like the Ultra Mirage II. I know the Activa is well represented but I don’t think it will work with the fluctuating pressure from a BiPAP.

I realize that asking for mask suggestions is like putting a match in charge of dynamite but I’m going to do it anyway. My two biggest factors are obviously comfort but also how quite the mask is on a consistent basis. Also, any suggestions for an actual BiPAP system would be welcomed.

Thanks in advance for any input.

rested gal · Post by **rested gal** » Tue Jan 24, 2006 9:43 am

Kevder, the quietest nasal mask (covers the nose) I've ever tried was the SomnoPlus made by Somnotech. Using a pressure of 10 I heard virtually no sound from that mask at all.

It was a pretty good mask as far as not being too leaky on me and having a reasonably comfortable cushion and nice fitting headgear.

Sound doesn't bother me the way it does you, so I didn't keep using that mask. There are others, like the Aura, I like better. But if sound is your major make it or break it treatment issue, I'd go out on a limb and recommend the Somnotech mask for you.

People also have posted that the F&P masks are very quiet. I've tried a couple of them, but was not particularly listening to them. I was trying them for comfort and leakiness - they were too leaky on me, but might be fine for you...worth a try, soundwise.

Puritan Bennett's DreamFIT (not the DreamSeal) is a very quiet mask that I use occasionally just for a change. Very good about not leaking.

If I were getting a bi-level machine, my first choice would be the Respironics BiPAP Auto. If I couldn't get that one, I'd get the Respironics BiPAP Pro 2. ResMed's VPAP III is a good bi-level too, but it takes considerably more tweaking, imho, to "dial in" settings to get it in synch with your breathing. I also don't like ResMed's Autoscan software.

I love my PB 420E Auto, but I've not tried any of PB's bi-level machines. As far as I know, PB has not redone their SL software to get full data from their bi-levels. For that reason alone (lack of data via software) I haven't been interested in trying them.

Barnaby · Post by **Barnaby** » Tue Jan 24, 2006 10:40 am

Before you get into spending all the monery...inves t a few bucks and the pharmacy for a pair of ear plugs. That should cut out the noise and stick with the nasal pillows by swift... that worked for me.
Barnaby

Barnaby · Post by **Barnaby** » Tue Jan 24, 2006 10:41 am

Before you get into spending all the monery...inves t a few bucks and the pharmacy for a pair of ear plugs. That should cut out the noise and stick with the nasal pillows by swift... that worked for me.
Barnaby

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Tue Jan 24, 2006 11:04 am

Hey Barnaby--when you get double posts you can go back and delete one of them. Just click on the big blue x button to the far right of where you see the posted date and time. The x will only appear as an option if no one has posted after you yet. So now that I've written this, you won't see the x but otherwise you would.

Now that I've posted after you, you can just use the EDIT button to erase your dupe post.

kevder · Post by **kevder** » Tue Jan 24, 2006 11:50 am

Thanks Barnaby.

I've actually tried the earplug thing. Call me strange but it actually makes matters worse as I "hear" the vibrations from the mask and it causes an amplification effect. As a child I could not sleep on my side because the sound of my heartbeat in my ear, that was covered by the pillow, would keep me awake.

If I were new to this I would think I justed needed to adjust to the new sound but after 1 year +, I need to try something else. Thanks again for the suggestions.

Kevder

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Tue Jan 24, 2006 2:23 pm

i dunno ???? there i no X or edit on my window of this mac

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Tue Jan 24, 2006 2:36 pm

It will appear in your post itself... to the far right at the top.

NeurosurgeryNP · Post by **NeurosurgeryNP** » Tue Jan 24, 2006 4:01 pm

I would give the Activa a try - It is my favorite mask! I use c-flex which varies exhalation pressure a bit and have never had a problem with this mask. I wou;d give it a try - have never heard any negatoves on the board regarding bipap affecting the seal.