At Max Frustration

[rmh996usa]

Can you go to your DME or see a sleep tech to see if they can help you out?

I am trying the suggestions from this forum and trying the potential remedies on the market before going for another study. I have been keeping the Sleep Lab and my DME in the loop as to what I am doing. Once we find what variable(s) can be successfully tweaked for me, then they will have a better understanding of a direction. We have talked about lowering the pressure, but the pressure requirement was revealed during the titration. As such I am leery of lowering it UNTIL i have been using the device for a long period of time to get used to it and I have a mask fit that we have a best fit/least leakage. Once we have that, I will ask to repeat the tritration but look at using my equipment (machine, humidifier, pillow, mask, hose, etc) as a custom study a see if reducing the pressure is safe to do.

[rmh996usa]

Hi,

I struggled the same way with the Quattro full face mash when I first started. I was on 14/21 with BiPAP, so not quite as high as you see, but still pretty far up there. I would get mask lines etched into my face so badly that it would develop into a rash. The worst part was the air blowing into my eyes.

The solution for me was the Swift LT nasal pillow mask. I was repeatedly told by my DME that it was out of the question to use nasal pillows due to the high pressure levels. I was also told that I wasn't a good candidate because my nares are not exactly round. Nevertheless, I tried it, and it worked out very well. The lightness and freedom of nasal pillows are worth whatever learning curve and hassle level it is to get them to work. For me, the hassle factor was preventing mouth leaks, which ended up taking a Ruby chin strap and 3M micropore tape. I ran that way for 4 years with AHI numbers that were consistently in the 1.0 to 1.5 range.

I won't promise that this will work, but I will suggest that it might be worth a try.

-john-

Thanks John. I did try a nasal pillow hybrid that includes the mouth in the pressure boundary. When the machine went to 25, my left ear drum "equalized", but the DP across the eardrum was the 25cm on one side and atmospheric on the other - much pain. I slapped the machine off and snatched the mask off. While I have not tried the mask you speak about, I am a bit leery. But, I will put it on the list to try as I am open to figure the mask leakage issue out.

[cosmo]

Can you go to your DME or see a sleep tech to see if they can help you out?

I am trying the suggestions from this forum and trying the potential remedies on the market before going for another study.

I was suggesting dropping by and ask for help in mask fittings.

[JohnBFisher]

Greetings! Hope you find some relief pretty soon.

Unfortunately, I found the gel masks tend to cut off my airflow through my sinuses. The pressure just seems to close off my nasal passages.

I find that I do have to tighten the Quattro FX Full Face Mask more than they recommend. But I have it loose enough that my nasal passages are not closed. If I have a cold, I find that using one of the "Breathe Rite" strips helps keep my nasal passages open - even with the mask pressing down.

One thing about the QFX is that it needs to be settled the right way. You place the bridge of the nose first and swing it down toward the face. It seems to work best to help keep leaks from occurring. It's not perfect, but it helps.

What made a HUGE difference for me is using a mask liner. But other things also help. If you are a guy and clean shaven, then keep your beard fairly short. Those beard hairs tend to allow more leaks. It's also important to clean your face. And if you reuse a mask liner (as I do), then if it gets too oily / dirty ... it's time to change to a new one.

Hope that helps.

[rmh996usa]

Greetings! Hope you find some relief pretty soon.

Unfortunately, I found the gel masks tend to cut off my airflow through my sinuses. The pressure just seems to close off my nasal passages.

I find that I do have to tighten the Quattro FX Full Face Mask more than they recommend. But I have it loose enough that my nasal passages are not closed. If I have a cold, I find that using one of the "Breathe Rite" strips helps keep my nasal passages open - even with the mask pressing down.

One thing about the QFX is that it needs to be settled the right way. You place the bridge of the nose first and swing it down toward the face. It seems to work best to help keep leaks from occurring. It's not perfect, but it helps.

What made a HUGE difference for me is using a mask liner. But other things also help. If you are a guy and clean shaven, then keep your beard fairly short. Those beard hairs tend to allow more leaks. It's also important to clean your face. And if you reuse a mask liner (as I do), then if it gets too oily / dirty ... it's time to change to a new one.

Hope that helps.

Thanks John. I have been attempting to follow your advice. I shave before going to bed as well as washing my face. I do think the next move is as Cosmo suggested in going by the lab and have them walk me through putting on the mask using my mask, machine, hose, etc. The mask liners came in today and I will know more in the morning.

Thanks again to everyone for your comments and suggestions.

Mike