New Breeze mask, exhale problems looking for a few tips.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sat Apr 29, 2006 1:35 am

I gave up on my HC431 full maks, gave it away today, less then two weeks old. So I'm down to making a nasal pillow system work, or throwing in the towel.

I ordered the new breeze with dialators. Gave it a test drive today during a nap and it started out well. Much to my surprise, it kept my sinuses wide open. This is the first time in as long as I can remember, that i was able to easily breathe through my nose. It felt GREAT. For those who sinues close off, those dialator adapters for the breeze, work and work very well.

So I started dosing off, about an hour later, my auto unit was pumping at 11, up from my start of 6.5. This where the problem started. At this pressure, I felt like i was under water. I woke up with a bit of a panic but rather then rip the mask off, I calmed myself down. However, my exhaling was very labored. I felt as if I was really pushing to breathe out. I have C-flex, and it is set on "2", but still, the exhale was labored. I eventually felt short of breathe and had to take off the mask.

Any tips folks? I really need this mask to work.

ozij · Post by **ozij** » Sat Apr 29, 2006 2:21 am

Getting used to exhaling against pressure might take time - and since some pap is better than no pap, if it were me I would try gradual training. Lower the top pressure during the first week, get used to it, bump it up a half or whole number for a week or two, etc. It means not getting optimal therapy in the beginning, but that certainly beats throwing in the towel.

You might also want to consider stopping the C-flex. It helps many, but really goes against the breathing pattern of some - search for "breath stacking" to read about it.

If neither of those (or none of those) helped, I would do my best to get a trial on another company's APAP. The machines have different algorithms = different ways of understanding your breathing and reacting to it - and its just possible that the one you have is not the best for you. The majority of people seem to get great treatment from any machine, a minority does not.

It might be a long road to travel, but don't give up.
Good luck,
O.

fredw · Post by **fredw** » Sat Apr 29, 2006 7:02 am

I use the Breeze, and I know what you are talking about. When I switched to the breezefrom a mask, I noticed an increase in exhalation effort. I think it has to do with the small vent hole and small volume of the nose piece (less area in the mask area to distribute the pressure when you exhale). You might try upping the c-flex to 3. I don't know why you chose the breeeze, but the dream seal option (with a standard mask) did not seem to increase the exhalation effort for me, but I am still prefer the nasal pillows.

Ms. Piggy · Post by **Ms. Piggy** » Sat Apr 29, 2006 9:00 am

I seem to remember when I first started I read that it was good to sit watching t.v., or whatever, with your mask on and hooked up to get used to it, and condition yourself to breathing. maybe you could try that.