Mask for high pressure

[angelbyte]

Hi.

I need to use 19 cms of pressure, and at that pressure, it is almost impossible to find a mask that doesn't leak. Any suggestions? I've tried the Activa and Activa LT, the Mirage, and the comfort gel full face mask. My CPAP provider is useless.

[McSleepy]

I have used my Breeze with 20cm of IPAP, even before I made some modifications (e.g., adding elastic straps). My machine at the time did not have data-recording capabilities, so I cannot vouch for the amount of leaks, but it worked for me. I am currently at 15cm with the same mask and the leaks are nearly non-existent, according to the data.
McSleepy

[Angelbyte]

I've tried the Breeze in the past. I couldn't get the stupid headgear to fit. I have a ridiculously small head and usually have to use safety pins and old knee his to make headgear fit. I think I threw the Breeze across the room after a couple of hours. Of course that was in my early days of CPAP use.

[avi123]

If its nazal only than this should take the pressure:

https://www.cpap.com/productpage/resmed ... dgear.html

[BleepingBeauty]

I use the Respcare Hybrid, and it seals well at my variable IPAP pressures (range is 10-20 cms). I like this mask because it's considered a FFM, but no part of it covers my nose. (I've tried several typical FFMs and had trouble with nose-bridge comfort and/or getting them to seal well.)

Disclaimer: I have to use a "fix" to keep the Hybrid's nasal pillows in place, like many others who use this mask. Small price to pay, IMO, for a good seal on a comfortable and effective mask.

[McSleepy]

I've tried the Breeze in the past. I couldn't get the stupid headgear to fit. I have a ridiculously small head and usually have to use safety pins and old knee his to make headgear fit. I think I threw the Breeze across the room after a couple of hours. Of course that was in my early days of CPAP use.

Everyone hates their masks in the beginning. If you're willing to try it again (maybe you have kept it, and it didn't break from being thrown across the room), then you could try a few things to make it fit better. I find it to be highly adjustable - the slots on the front and back retract quite a bit. One thing to adjust is the steel bar - it can be bent (with a bit of effort) to fit the contour of your head. But the major one - and I couldn't use mine without it - is to add some straps. I made mine from elastic band (there is one kind for underwear that is quite soft). Once you have adjusted the slotting sliders (I sure don't know what to call them, but if you're interested, I can give more detail) so that the platform is right on top of your head, then you can run straps from the back to the front so that the nasal shell is kept firmly against your face (under the nose, above the lips). Then, you could add an (optional) strap from the top to your chin that will hold it in place.
I should mention, however, that I sleep exclusively on my stomach and nothing else would work for me; but in the rare instances when I lay on my back (as I briefly do in the morning when I am waking up) it can get uncomfortable because the hard part of the headgear is between my head and the pillow, and it can get bothersome if you had to lay in that position for a long time. If you sleep on your back there are other options.
McSleepy

[Janknitz]

My personal opinion is that nasal pillows are ideal for higher pressures because the higher the pressure the more they inflate and seal against the rim of the nostril.

[DaveMunson]

The Activa LT is made for high pressure. Of the other masks I tried, it works the best.

[BleepingBeauty]

Well, I'm your man. I can say that high pressure was my game. I had an Rx of bipap pressure of 25/21. That means that my
inhalation pressure was 25 and my exhalation was 21. 25 is max pressure! Does not get any higher than this.

On your machine. There are machines out there that go to 30cms.

I started with a nasal mask, a total joke. Then went to a Mirage Quattro FFM, also a joke, it leaked. Don't listen to people telling you to let the mask inflate, let it "float" and then gently adjust the strap. It's crap. I had to crank the strap with vice grips to get it to stop leaking.
The people who give advice have pressures of 5 to 10, total pussies... sissies!!
Guess what I found that worked? The Swift FX Nasal Pillows!!! Believe it or not. I don't care. But, they work great. Supposedly to be tested only to 20 pressure. But, I've since my first diagnosis three months ago have self titrated myself down to 18/14 pressure.
My Swift FX Nasal Pillows work great. No leaks, they are a dream! Hope you find what works for you!

You're walkin' on thin ice around here with comments like those, lars. And you were doing so well after such a rough start...

[Madalot]

Well, I'm your man. I can say that high pressure was my game. I had an Rx of bipap pressure of 25/21. That means that my
inhalation pressure was 25 and my exhalation was 21. 25 is max pressure! Does not get any higher than this.

On your machine. There are machines out there that go to 30cms.

This is very true, BB. My machine, in basic bipap S/T and AVAPS Modes, my pressure can go as high as 36.