Are there many on 17+ pressure?

[mon]

I am trying to help a friend who many years ago was diagnosed with OSA. He used one of the earliest CPAP machines in 1991. He couldn't stand the noise and had no real support as not many were in the know back then. We live on an isolated island where there are no clinicians but we have started a support group as there are now between 25 & 30 with OSA. Because of the support group, this man has decided to try out a newer machine and is trialling the ResMed S9 AutoSet. He used the machine on automatic last night and the pressure hit 17.6 so it is obvious he needs to use a CPAP machine. He found that the leeks became a problem after the pressure built up. He used the machine for 5.8 hrs. Do most people with such high pressures experience leeks once the pressure builds up there? He is trialling the ResMed Quatro Air.

[library lady]

The Quattro Air is an extremely leaky mask, and it is the mask I use. My upper pressure is set at 17, but my machine never goes that high... I had a lot of trouble with leaks at first, until I discovered mask liners. The liners reduced the number of leaks, plus made them so quiet that I only feel a blip once in a while and I'm able to sleep through them. Two brands I know of are RemZzzzs, which are available from most DMEs as well as cpap.com; there's also Pad-A-Cheeks, available online, google pad a cheeks - she has a website. No RX needed for those, at least in the US. I use the RemZzzzs. It's also important to be sure the mask is properly adjusted; some machines have a mask fit feature on them, but I readjust after I get into bed and the machine is on... you don't want it too loose or too tight, so it takes some getting used to to get the proper adjustment. Once it's adjusted properly I take the mask off by unhooking the lower straps and it will usually fit for several days before it needs an adjustment again. Hope this helps!

[old dude]

I, on the other hand, couldn't make my Quattro Air leak if I smacked it with a hammer. Different strokes I suppose.

My pressure started out at BiPAP 17/13, and I had leaks aplenty with 12-13 FFMs I tried. Now I have taken my pressures down to 11/7, and my AHI has decreased every time I lowered my pressures. I have no idea why.

Your friend will just have to keep trying until he finds a mask that "likes" him. It can be a real process...

[jencat824]

Before I got my current auto machine I was on 19cm straight CPAP using an IQ mask that didn't leak. I'm now using an auto machine & I spend most of the night at 18 to 20cm using the AirFit P10 nasal pillow mask, again no leaks.

Remember no two faces are alike, so maybe your friend just needs to find the right mask. Higher pressure should not mean you have to accept a leaky mask.'

[Bill44133]

I have a bi-level machine and my pressure is at IPap 23 EPap 19. Leaks are a battle, but with the right mask leaks have not been issue for a while now.

[Madalot]

I am using an IPAP range of 18-23 and use the F&P 431 FFM. Leaks are minimal and within acceptable range for my machine.

[biker]

The Quattro Air is an extremely leaky mask, and it is the mask I use. My upper pressure is set at 17, but my machine never goes that high... I had a lot of trouble with leaks at first, until I discovered mask liners. The liners reduced the number of leaks, plus made them so quiet that I only feel a blip once in a while and I'm able to sleep through them. Two brands I know of are RemZzzzs, which are available from most DMEs as well as cpap.com; there's also Pad-A-Cheeks, available online, google pad a cheeks - she has a website. No RX needed for those, at least in the US. I use the RemZzzzs. It's also important to be sure the mask is properly adjusted; some machines have a mask fit feature on them, but I readjust after I get into bed and the machine is on... you don't want it too loose or too tight, so it takes some getting used to to get the proper adjustment. Once it's adjusted properly I take the mask off by unhooking the lower straps and it will usually fit for several days before it needs an adjustment again. Hope this helps!

I challenge the sweeping statement about the Air mask. Mine gets almost zero leaks every night. My pressure is 19.

[old dude]

The Quattro Air is an extremely leaky mask, and it is the mask I use. My upper pressure is set at 17, but my machine never goes that high... I had a lot of trouble with leaks at first, until I discovered mask liners. The liners reduced the number of leaks, plus made them so quiet that I only feel a blip once in a while and I'm able to sleep through them. Two brands I know of are RemZzzzs, which are available from most DMEs as well as cpap.com; there's also Pad-A-Cheeks, available online, google pad a cheeks - she has a website. No RX needed for those, at least in the US. I use the RemZzzzs. It's also important to be sure the mask is properly adjusted; some machines have a mask fit feature on them, but I readjust after I get into bed and the machine is on... you don't want it too loose or too tight, so it takes some getting used to to get the proper adjustment. Once it's adjusted properly I take the mask off by unhooking the lower straps and it will usually fit for several days before it needs an adjustment again. Hope this helps!

I challenge the sweeping statement about the Air mask. Mine gets almost zero leaks every night. My pressure is 19.

You put it more directly than I did, but I couldn't agree more.

[chunkyfrog]

I concur. Each mask is made to fit a certain group of people.
I am unable to wear any full face mask by ResMed, because my face is not in the group they design for.
Yours may fit their paradigm.

[Intercostaldrama]

I can't find a place to ask questions about my ResMed S9 Auto but I do have experience with such high pressures. I think they are a recipe for disaster. In fact I have gone to the other extreme of using the lowest pressure that does the job, this, mainly because having the machine breathe for you all night means that TOMORROW, ... when your diaphragm has to begin working again, it simply refuses and you are left breathless and yawning to the jaw dislocation stage.

Leaking? Well of course it's going to leak and maybe even blow itself off your face. I expect that the machine should fly-wheel to your breathing rate and then the auto pressure rise should fill in the gaps but I've no idea what to expect of my Auto S9 after years of use. For the price I'd expect a lot more of the Automatic S9, but the machine is only communicating with me on a superficial basis. For example, what is the AHI count actually telling me? Why is there no humidity adjustment? What is the ratio of diaphragmatic inhalation to forced inhalation?

[LSAT]

Boy...is this guy out of touch with reality

[chunkyfrog]

@intercostaldrama: What machine do you use?
If it is an Autoset, like mine, your diaphragm and other breathing muscles
continue to work all night--EXACTLY as they would otherwise. The cpap pressure does NOT breathe for you--
it merely props open your internal tissues to prevent air blockage.
It is not uncommon to be titrated at a higher pressure than is necessary, but your apneas need to be prevented.
If you have a machine that reports AHI, you can find the best pressures at home.
LSAP: please try to be nice to the newbies--how much did you know with only 6 posts?

[LSAT]

@intercostaldrama: What machine do you use?
If it is an Autoset, like mine, your diaphragm and other breathing muscles
continue to work all night--EXACTLY as they would otherwise. The cpap pressure does NOT breathe for you--
it merely props open your internal tissues to prevent air blockage.
It is not uncommon to be titrated at a higher pressure than is necessary, but your apneas need to be prevented.
If you have a machine that reports AHI, you can find the best pressures at home.
LSAP: please try to be nice to the newbies--how much did you know with only 6 posts?

He mentioned 3 times that he had an S9 Auto and that he has had it for years.

[chunkyfrog]

We still don't know if it is an Autoset or an Escape auto.
For all we know, it could be an auto bipap or even a vent--
If a vent, naívely fooling around with pressures could be disastrous.
I do wish noobs would fill in their equipment--but some are lucky to know what brand they have.

[Denial Dave]

I'm on Bilevel/ bipap. Started at 21/15. Currently at 19/ 14.5. The mirage quattro is my bedtime friend.