Best airflow nasal mask

[Lee3333]

Hi I am new to this, and my first mask was a ResMed N30. My problem is that I am not getting enough airflow. It feels like I am suffocating; like I am wearing trying to breath through a towel. A tech told me that the problem could be the exhaust, restricting the airflow. Does anybody know a better mask for that? He uses a full mask and had suggestions for those, but I would prefer to stay with a nasal one.

One that he showed me was the Philips Dream Wear Nasal cpap mask
But he is not sure if it would be an improvement
Any ideas??? Thanks

[Pugsy]

What machine are you using?
Using any exhale relief?
What are your pressure settings?
Using ramp?

I have used the N30. What you are describing happening with this mask isn't what my experience was.
Perhaps it's related more to settings than mask type or model.

[Dog Slobber]

As Pugsy suggests, it may not be the mask, but the pressure.

Too low pressure feels like suffocation. What is your pressure setting? Ramp pressure?

[Lee3333]

ResMed 11 Setting is 6 to 14 Was 4 but I increased it hoping it would help. I tried making the 2 nasal holes bigger, and that helped a little but not enough

[Pugsy]

What machine are you using?

Using any exhale relief?

Using ramp?

[Lee3333]

Machine is the ResMed11 It automatically ramps from 6 to a max of 14 if needed Do not know what exhale relief is

[Pugsy]

Do not know what exhale relief is

On the ResMed machine it is called EPR or exhale pressure relief

[Lee3333]

what does it do, and is it adjustable if I go into that mode?

[Pugsy]

Machine is the ResMed11 It automatically ramps from 6 to a max of 14 if needed Do not know what exhale relief is

Sounds like the settings are
minimum pressure of 6 and can go to 14 if needed.

Ramp is a separate function. Default ramp setting is 4. Are you using ramp? Meaning is ramp on or off? And does it start at 4 or 6.

When the machine increases the pressure from 6 to whatever (up to 14) that's just the machine increasing the pressure.
It's not the ramp function. Ramp is when it starts at 4 and takes a set amount of time to increase up to 6 (the minimum pressure) after that ramp ends when the time frame for ramp use is over with.

If you are using the ramp feature (meaning ramp function is turned on) and it's starting at 4 cm then it can sure feel like not enough air is moving.

[Pugsy]

what does it do, and is it adjustable if I go into that mode?

It drops the pressure by whatever you have it set at (1, 2 or 3 cm) during exhale and makes for a more comfortable breathing experience for a lot of people.

I suggest you give it a try at least.

Minimum 6
Max 14
EPR turned on full time....set it to 2 and give it a try and see how it feels.

Better yet....set the minimum to 7 and EPR to 3 and see how it feels to breathe at those settings.

As for ramp....turn it off. That's a separate setting.

[Lee3333]

It starts at 6 now. I will check but I believe the ramp is turned on I guess I should try it off and see if it helps

[Pugsy]

When ramp is turned on the machine starts blowing air at 4 cm pressure which can sure make a person feel like there isn't enough air moving for comfort. We won't suffocate but it sure can feel like we are.

Depending on which ramp setting (regular ramp or auto ramp) the machine takes its time ramping up to the minimum pressure.
Example...suppose the ramp is set to 45 minutes (which is the default when ramp is turned on) and the minimum pressure is set to 6 cm. It takes 45 minutes to go from 4 cm to 6 cm and for some people that is simply not enough air movement to be comfortable breathing. This can happen no matter which mask a person is using.

Auto ramp is a different setting....it will start at 4 cm and stay there until the machine thinks you are asleep or 30 minutes passes...whichever comes first.

[onward60]

I agree. It's probably a pressure thing. I'm using an N30 without any feeling of restricted airflow unless the pressure is too low. I start at 7 now. I do have an EPR of 3.

[Lee3333]

Thanks for all the help For some reason, I was hesitant to play around with the settings- I was afraid that since my doctor and the company get information from my machine, it could cause a problem. Plus, I thought the only way to change things was to get a script from my doctor, fax it to my supplier, and then wait for them to change it remotely. That was how I got it from 4 to 6, and it took close to a week.

I have been trying different things now, and it looks promising. Thanks to you for giving me the confidence

[onward60]

Thanks for all the help For some reason, I was hesitant to play around with the settings- I was afraid that since my doctor and the company get information from my machine, it could cause a problem. Plus, I thought the only way to change things was to get a script from my doctor, fax it to my supplier, and then wait for them to change it remotely. That was how I got it from 4 to 6, and it took close to a week.

I have been trying different things now, and it looks promising. Thanks to you for giving me the confidence

Glad to hear it! I have found it is best to not tell my doctor anything. I messaged her a question once, and she changed my settings without asking my permission. The system flipped to the new settings in the middle of the night and woke me up. Took me a long time to figure how to get it back the way it was. So, I am done talking to her.