Need a new mask, I think...

lburton · Post by **lburton** » Tue Jul 10, 2007 9:33 am

I have been using a combination of a Flexifit 407 and a Mirage Swift II but I've been finding by checking my stats in my S8 Elite that my AHI still bounces between about 15 and 25 on any given night. The Flexifit seems to be a more comfortable mask for me, as the Swift II even with the humidifier jacked up to maximum makes my nose feel like its burning after only about 2 hours. I always end up switching back to the Flexifit.

I am pretty certain that I mouth-breathe (which would explain the crappy AHI) and having read posts here, I may look into a hybrid. I'm not sure if I have the right face structure to support a full face mask, although I would certainly give it a go.

Any suggestions would be welcomed,

-Lee

Bogof · Post by **Bogof** » Tue Jul 10, 2007 9:45 am

How about this funky piece?

It's the resperonics Total.

Slinky · Post by **Slinky** » Tue Jul 10, 2007 12:53 pm

I had liked the ComfortLite 2 nasal pillows much better than the Swift but did find after some time that nasal pillows are more inclined to chapping and irritating the nasal passages and the sinuses which is understandable given all the air pressure is aimed directly into the nostrils.

Do you know if you are actually mouth breathing at times or it is is just a matter of the "lip flutters" where you'll find your mouth and cheeks filling w/air and the air escaping thru your lips even tho you don't open your mouth or try to breathe thru your mouth?

I found a thin layer of PoliGrip gel (tube) or the PoliGrip strips prevented the "lip flutters" but proved no problem w/easily opening my mouth when and if I needed or wanted to. You might want to try either form of PoliGrip before going to the expense and frustration of finding a full face mask that will work for you.

Given your high AHIs, are you finding mostly HIs w/very few AIs?? What kind of leak rates are you running into? That could give a pretty good indication whether you are mouth breathing or if its more likely the "lip flutters". What is your pressure?

lburton · Post by **lburton** » Tue Jul 10, 2007 1:03 pm

My HI always seems to be considerably higher than my AI numbers.

Linda3032 · Post by **Linda3032** » Tue Jul 10, 2007 2:24 pm

lburton wrote:My HI always seems to be considerably higher than my AI numbers.

For mouth breathing, you need to try a full face mask or seal your mouth closed.

A high HI, might mean that your pressure isn't correct. It probably is too low, but also might be that it's too high.

If it were me, I would bump my pressure up one and see how it goes for a few days.

What is your leak rate? That would be a good indication if you are mouth breathing.

DreamStalker · Post by **DreamStalker** » Tue Jul 10, 2007 6:40 pm

Have you tried one of these? ...

lburton · Post by **lburton** » Wed Jul 11, 2007 8:28 am

LOL! Thanks Dreamstalker. needed a laugh

Anyways, my leak rate is usually somewhere between .5 L/s and .8 L/s

-Lee

Vader · Post by **Vader** » Wed Jul 11, 2007 8:50 am

DreamStalker wrote:Have you tried one of these? ...

Isn't that the one that Resmed is offering for those that have low income or no insurance?

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Jul 11, 2007 9:01 am

Poligrip? What do you do? Do you put it across your lips to keep your mouth closed? Please tell me you are joking. Now I've heard everything.

Snoredog · Post by **Snoredog** » Wed Jul 11, 2007 9:13 am

Bogof wrote:How about this funky piece?

It's the resperonics Total.

that thing looks like it would strap to your butt

...sort of a back-flush device

GaCRT · Post by **GaCRT** » Wed Jul 11, 2007 9:25 am

Bogof wrote:
How about this funky piece?

It's the resperonics Total.

that thing looks like it would strap to your butt

...sort of a back-flush device

LOL!! We actually have one of these in the office on a dummy head. I got a good kick out of it when I first saw it and thought about what snoredog wrote. Thanks for the humor I needed a good laugh today.

Slinky · Post by **Slinky** » Wed Jul 11, 2007 9:39 am

Nope. NOT joking. Apply just a thin strip of the PoliGrip gel on your lips from corner to corner. Then close your mouth. Your lips will stay very well sealed - but - if you need or want to open your mouth you can do so w/o ripping or irritating the skin as you would/could if you used some form of tape. You will see mouth taping mentioned often in the forum to control mouth breathing. The PoliGrip gel or strips are not as strong as taping so work better for the "lip flutters" than for mouth breathing.

What problems are you having w/the Flex-Fit that you feel the need to change during the night to the Swift even tho the Flex-Fit is the more comfortable? Minor leaks that you can feel around your eyes or on your facial skin? Tender bridge of the nose? Irritating the bottom of your nose? Irritating the bridge of the nose skin? I can make some suggestions to correct or alleviate these. Does it seem a shade too long or too short from bride of nose to bottom of nose?

I would take a guess that the Swift either dries your nasal passages too much or irritates the skin under your nose and above your lip due to moisture.

I've used both the FlexFit 407 and the Swift. Those were the problems I had been having w/them.

My understanding is that today's CPAPs and most assuredly the S8 Elite are quite capable of handling and compensating for a leak rate of .5L/s to .8L/s.

You didn't clarify for us the breakdown of AHIs. Are you AIs above 5.0? Or is it the HIs that are the prime result of the high AHIs? I would be inclined to "guess" that a slight increase in pressure "might" reduce the HIs considerably. The Elite increases in pressures in .2cm steps. If you make a pressure change I would stay at that pressure for 7 nights before attempting any other changes.

If AIs are a strong contributing factor to the AHIs then a full 1cm change in pressure might be worthwhile.

For instance: Leak .76 - AHI 10.7 - AI 0.0 - HI 10.7 (One of my weekly averages). I would suggest a SLIGHT increase in pressure, less than 1cm.

Leak .72 - AHI 18.6 - AI 1.0 - HI 17.6 (Another of one of my weekly averages). I would suggest a 1cm increase in pressure.

Notice the above were WEEKLY averages, not just one night's. Others might see things differently but I tend to be cautious.

DreamStalker · Post by **DreamStalker** » Wed Jul 11, 2007 11:22 am

lburton wrote:Anyways, my leak rate is usually somewhere between .5 L/s and .8 L/s

-Lee

I think Linda may have asked the right question ... since ResMed provides the residual leak rate ... 0.5 to 0.8 seems a bit on the high side for your masks. Do you know what the mask setting is on your machine (I assume it is set to Swift).

Before you try pressure adjustment you need to get mouth leaks under control. Have you tried taping or gluing (polydent)? ... have you considered a full face mask?

Need a new mask, I think...

Need a new mask, I think...

AI vs HI

Re: AI vs HI

Mask