New to the forum

[SirGaspAlot]

I am new here, looking forward to learning a lot.
My diagnosis confuses me, since the readouts from my first Dr. visit said I had complex apnea when just connected to the wires, then it said obstructive only (with cpap) on the second test paperwork only, then on the 3rd visit consultation the Dr. just said I had "some" central sleep events. I have a dreamstation Auto-Bipap machine and was told due to high pressures required, I MUST have a full face mask.

I just started my CPAP on June-2018, still adjusting to everything. It seems like every time I change anything, I'm wreched for 2 days at least. The mask they gave me at the start was a Fisher full face, I just couldn't deal with that bar stabbing me in the forehead, so I asked for a change, they set me up with a Dreamwear that your nose just sits over a hole in the top of the mask, that ruined me for about a week, so I had to grovel for a new mask, an Airfit F20. I wake up like clockwork around midnight with that awful silicone to face itch and I go put on lotion (unscented because I also have eczema) and I'm back out cold. Every.. single... night. It got so bad one night last week that I threw my mask across the room. Funny how youll behave in exhaustion. I bought mask liners and it only made it worse.

I would love to hear from others in my situation to see what worked for them all around. Thanks for listening to me windbag.

[Okie bipap]

Have you considered trying a liner for the mask? You can find a pattern for a face mask liner at this site:
http://montfordhouse.com/cpap/diy-cotton-mask-liner.pdf

I made my liners out of an old, well-used tee shirt. I have also made them out of paint rags I purchased at either Lowes or Home Depot.

This pattern will work for small or medium sized masks, and can be enlarged for large masks. The hole in the center can be enlarged as long as you leave enough material to go under the mask. My wife crocheted a small bag with a draw string on it that we put the dirty mask liners in for cleaning them. We would throw the bag in with the whites when doing laundry then iron them dry which returned them to the original size and shape.

You can also purchase mask liners from pad-a-cheek. These are easier to use since they are held in place with small pieces of velcro.

[D.H.]

Just how high is your pressure set?

[SirGaspAlot]

My pressure is supposed to be between 6-18 cucm H20, all I know its its like a hurricane coming out of it when I disconnect for restroom visits. I did try a nose mask just on my own and had to make up for it in 3 days afterwards, so that was no good.

I bought a couple mask liners but they made the leaks worse. My ahi is around 15 rounded out throughout this whole experience with the Airfit F20, Id be willing to try a new full face if I knew others that were good. I will look at that DIY site though.

[Pugsy]

all I know its its like a hurricane coming out of it when I disconnect for restroom visits.

It will always feel like a hurricane blowing until you actually put the mask up against the skin and a seal gets created.
Without the mask being actually attached and sealed the machine blows hard but once you get the seal then all it does is gently blow enough to maintain whatever pressure it is set to maintain.
Without you being attached it can't form a seal and have a pressure to maintain so it will blow like at hurricane even at a setting of 4 until the seal is made so that a pressure number actually can be determined.

What you might feel on your hand blowing out the mask isn't going to be what your nose or mouth will be experiencing once you actually create a seal.

[SirGaspAlot]

Gotcha, thank you. Hadnt thought of that.

[zonker]

hi and welcome to the forum. i love your user name!

there's something you said that i don't understand-

I did try a nose mask just on my own and had to make up for it in 3 days afterwards, so that was no good.

what does this mean?

[palerider]

My pressure is supposed to be between 6-18 cucm H20, all I know its its like a hurricane coming out of it when I disconnect for restroom visits.

Pressure is a resistance to flow. when you take the mask off, the resistance disappears, and the pressure drops.

The machine is programmed to maintain a pressure, so it increases flow to try and get the pressure back (like what it does for a mask leak, bigger leak, more flow, and you just created the biggest leak). It ends up spooling up to maximum flow, maximum speed, trying to get that pressure.

put your ear up against the machine, and put the mask on, you'll hear the blower slow WAY down... then speed up and slow down as you breathe, when you inhale, there's less resistance, till your lungs are full, so the fan speeds up, when you exhale, there's more resistance, and so the fan slows down.

In other words, the 'hurricane coming out when you disconnect' the mask, is totally and completely immaterial.

[SirGaspAlot]

My pressure is supposed to be between 6-18 cucm H20, all I know its its like a hurricane coming out of it when I disconnect for restroom visits.

Pressure is a resistance to flow. when you take the mask off, the resistance disappears, and the pressure drops.

The machine is programmed to maintain a pressure, so it increases flow to try and get the pressure back (like what it does for a mask leak, bigger leak, more flow, and you just created the biggest leak). It ends up spooling up to maximum flow, maximum speed, trying to get that pressure.

put your ear up against the machine, and put the mask on, you'll hear the blower slow WAY down... then speed up and slow down as you breathe, when you inhale, there's less resistance, till your lungs are full, so the fan speeds up, when you exhale, there's more resistance, and so the fan slows down.

In other words, the 'hurricane coming out when you disconnect' the mask, is totally and completely immaterial.

I understand. I just hadn't thought about that. As for the nose mask, Its a nose only mask that only goes over the nose which I was already told I needed a full face but full face masks are sooo uncomfortable. So I gave it a try and it didn't work out.

[palerider]

I was already told I needed a full face

There's a lot of ignorance spouted about needing a FFM,.. my pressures range up to 22 at times, and I use a P10 nasal pillow, with minimal leaks.

[SirGaspAlot]

My Dr, although vague about my reports and diagnosis apparently, seems to think, and has passed on to the medical supply folks that I had to have the full face because of pressure loss when my mouth is opened. That's all I know at this point.
I tried taking a nap with it and it was as if I couldn't catch my breath. Might have just been allergies, I do have a bit. At least with a full face, I don't have to worry about that running through filters and my mouth blocked. Ill give it another go.

[SirGaspAlot]

So one more important item I should/could have mentioned. My Dr. diagnosed me with both Apneas. Would a nose mask still be acceptable? Or better still, is there someone who has complex apnea that only uses a nose mask?

[palerider]

So one more important item I should/could have mentioned. My Dr. diagnosed me with both Apneas. Would a nose mask still be acceptable? Or better still, is there someone who has complex apnea that only uses a nose mask?

It doesn't matter.

Your listed machine doesn't treat central apneas, if that's what you mean, it ignores them.

[SirGaspAlot]

It's an autobipap for complex apnea so I'm not sure what you mean?

[palerider]

It's an autobipap for complex apnea so I'm not sure what you mean?

Whoever told you that was wrong... Unless you put the wrong thing in your profile.