could it be my mask

Blackneto · Post by **Blackneto** » Sat Aug 02, 2008 10:32 am

I think this mask is leaky.
I was offered a Opus 360 when I picked my CPAP stuff up last month.
It seemed reasonable. and it worked well the first month.

After the incident on Monday with the doctor changing my machine settings from APAP to CPAP and not being able to sleep. I started experimenting with settings.

Now that my initial pressure isn't 4 on the auto pap, I'm noticing whistling sound , the nasal pillows don't seem to seat properly and I'm wondering if i have the wrong mask. I am noticing less seal when the pressure is around 7 now and it seems to get worse.

I have GERD and a hiatal hernia. I already have enough problem with excess gas in my stomach. So I'm supposing a full face mask is out of the question, but what about a full nasal mask like that SleepNet IQ thats emblazoned across the top of the pages right now?

thanks for any advice.

Wulfman · Post by **Wulfman** » Sat Aug 02, 2008 11:09 am

Blackneto wrote:I think this mask is leaky.
I was offered a Opus 360 when I picked my CPAP stuff up last month.
It seemed reasonable. and it worked well the first month.

After the incident on Monday with the doctor changing my machine settings from APAP to CPAP and not being able to sleep. I started experimenting with settings.

Now that my initial pressure isn't 4 on the auto pap, I'm noticing whistling sound , the nasal pillows don't seem to seat properly and I'm wondering if i have the wrong mask. I am noticing less seal when the pressure is around 7 now and it seems to get worse.

I have GERD and a hiatal hernia. I already have enough problem with excess gas in my stomach. So I'm supposing a full face mask is out of the question, but what about a full nasal mask like that SleepNet IQ thats emblazoned across the top of the pages right now?

thanks for any advice.

OK.....I'll bite......why did your doctor change your therapy/settings and to what?
A starting pressure of 4 is really pretty low, but I would think a little higher pressure would work, too.
Is the machine YOURS or is it a loaner?
What were your machine settings in APAP mode?
Why would a full face mask be out of the question? (the UMFF is a good one)

I'm not sure what to say about the "whistling" noise.

Den

Blackneto · Post by **Blackneto** » Sat Aug 02, 2008 11:38 am

Wulfman wrote: OK.....I'll bite......why did your doctor change your therapy/settings and to what?

Doc had me on auto for 3 few weeks, i took the card to my DME who relayed the info to the doctor.
The doctor saw that my pressures were at 13 most of the time and had the DME reprogrammed the card so that my M-Series with A-Flex was set to CPAP mode with the pressure at 13. He made this change even though I told him that the machine kept waking me up when it went above 9.
Not what i needed at all according to the doc that read my study originally. This doc is a family friend but is not treating me because of the insurance needs. He's also been a client for 10 years.

Wulfman wrote:Is the machine YOURS or is it a loaner?

The machine is a loaner. I will be purchasing after my next doctor visit.

Wulfman wrote:What were your machine settings in APAP mode?

Pressures in APAP mode were:
Auto:Min=4.0
Auto:Max=14
Flex=2
Auto:Ramp=4
Ramp Timer=30

Wulfman wrote:Why would a full face mask be out of the question? (the UMFF is a good one)

I'm not saying it's out of the question
From what i read here, people with GERD have problems with full masks and Aerophagia.
And if I can get along without a full mask I would prefer it. I'm kinda claustrophobic.

more info on my situation is here:
viewtopic.php?t=33540&highlight=

I only noticed the whistling today because i was messing around with the lower pressure and ramp time.
I still napped good but it was annoying till i fell to sleep.
With an A-PAP would pressure go artificially high because of leaks?

Wulfman · Post by **Wulfman** » Sat Aug 02, 2008 12:19 pm

Blackneto wrote:With an A-PAP would pressure go artificially high because of leaks?

ABSOLUTELY!!!
APAPs will chase snores and leaks and can make for very disturbed sleeping.
Nothing "wrong" with APAPs, but the user needs to be aware of their benefits and limitations......and know when/how to use which mode and settings.

I can't recall reading that about GERD and full face masks.......

So, are you still at 13 and is your GERD still a problem?

If GERD is still a problem......
Have you tried raising the head of your bed? (like with some 4 x 4's)
Do you take anything for the GERD before going to bed? (I've also read where eating within 3 hours before going to bed can make it worse)

Den

Blackneto · Post by **Blackneto** » Sat Aug 02, 2008 12:37 pm

my GERD isn't superbad.
I slept on a wedge for a while and it didn't help.
So i just keep taking my Prilosec, avoid my trigger foods, don't over eat and i maybe have a problem twice a month.
My dad has had surgery twice for the problem with no relief. So I just watch myself.

I might call up the DME and see if i'm still in the trial period for my mask and can still get a swap.
if not i'll just order one from the hosts of this board and try it out.
see if I can get a better fittng one.
I have big nostrils. the pillows for my mask are large, but they might not be large enough.

Perchancetodream · Post by **Perchancetodream** » Sat Aug 02, 2008 8:22 pm

Perhaps a nasal mask like the ComfortGel might work better for you than one with pillows.

And I have GERD, controlled with Prilosec, and use a full face mask without any problems, so I wouldn't let it stop you from trying one. Aerophagia was only a problem for me when I did some mouth breathing while wearing a nasal mask.

Babette · Post by **Babette** » Sat Aug 02, 2008 9:14 pm

Oh yeah. Clearly it's your mask. You need to be using MY MASK! Tsk!

LOL,
Babs

Goofproof · Post by **Goofproof** » Sat Aug 02, 2008 10:07 pm

The only reason I can see a nasal mask helping you not have gerd, over a full face mask, is with the nasal mask, you may be loosing your treatment pressure out of your mouth, and that would make treatment ineffective with a nasal mask.

The FF mask would cover the mouth and nose, and you would get the treatment tha was needed. Jim

jsmythe · Post by **jsmythe** » Sun Aug 03, 2008 6:29 am

I had this mask, and the whistling occurs because you may be using the wrong size pillows on it. You did not specify what size you are using, but my guess is, that if you go up a size, the whistling will quit and you will have no leakage. I could not use the small size, whistled terribly and leaked. The medium was great. If you are using the Med, go to Large. If you are using Small, go to Medium. I bet you will see a huge difference in the way it fits and in the way that you can breathe more freely with a larger size pillow.

DreamStalker · Post by **DreamStalker** » Sun Aug 03, 2008 8:57 am

Key mistake that most make is adjusting pressures when the obvious culprit is leaks. Leaks are taken care of first then pressure adjustments come next if leaks do not solve the problem.

Are your nares slotted or round? Most people with slotted nares don't have leak problems with nasal pillow masks.

Blackneto · Post by **Blackneto** » Mon Aug 04, 2008 5:47 am

Hrmm,
My nares are round. and I use large pillows.
does anyone make extra large pillows?

I found out the last few nights that if I wash my face before bed I'm good for about 5 hours till (according to my perception) the leaks start. At least there was no discomfort till then.

I think I'm going to order a full face mask today, as the selection tool on cpap.com didn't have a nasal mask as a recommendation when I used the utility.
I'm not sure I could use the prongs.

Just more and more info everyday. I lub U folks.

I have slept better the last few days and I'm grateful for that. at least a good 5 hours straight through till my lower back starts bugging me.

BadBreath · Post by **BadBreath** » Mon Aug 04, 2008 11:36 am

The Opus pillows are notorious for leaking when they (or your face) gets slick, or when they soften due to age and/or warmth.

The short term fix is to wipe them and your face with a baby wipe when you wake up from the leak. The long term fix is the o-ring/dental floss/velcro around the underside of the pillows. Some kind of strap that doesn't squeeze them together but does keep them from spreading apart.

I use the correct size o-ring and have no problem until the pillows get extremely slick, then it is time to clean them. The o-ring and a weekly cleaning and the problem doesn't suface.

Blackneto · Post by **Blackneto** » Mon Aug 04, 2008 11:47 am

BadBreath wrote:The long term fix is the o-ring/dental floss/velcro around the underside of the pillows. Some kind of strap that doesn't squeeze them together but does keep them from spreading apart.

I'm having a hard time visualizing what you are describing

birdshell · Post by **birdshell** » Tue Aug 05, 2008 4:20 pm

I have slotted nares and unless I get a large enough nasal pillows, the tip of the nares has a small leak.

That said, PLEASE do not take the mask selector recommendations on cpap.com as the gold standard for mask fitting. Some of my favorite masks have been contraindicated by those guidelines.

So, I would go more by recommendations on the forum. (Just ask and believe me, SOMEONE will be happy to tell you about theirs.)

I must say that the Opus nasal pillows are a bit angled and seem perfect for my nares. The tip area is longer which is perfect, and now, if we can ONLY get some other folks to do nasal pillows that are similar in design, we of the slotted nares will be much happier.

That said, WHY are there not different nasal pillows for slotted and rounded nares? I mean that there should be options, i.e. for each mask: nasal pillows for round nares--S, M, L, XL; and, nasal pillows for slotted nares--S, M, L, XL.

It is easier to get custom ski boot liners than to get a custom CPAP mask. It is also easier to find latex-free CPAP equipment than it is to find silicone-free (for those of us with silicone sensitivity). We pay a fortune for these things already.

Maybe there are some really good financial reasons that prevent these from happening, but I keep wondering about the reduced cost of doing things properly from the beginning. I know, it is revolutionary, but it IS a thought!

Karen

sharon1965 · Post by **sharon1965** » Tue Aug 05, 2008 4:56 pm

[quote="Blackneto"]Hrmm,
My nares are round. and I use large pillows.
does anyone make extra large pillows? yes, the headrest comes in xlarge; others will probably weigh in with more but that's the one i know for sure cause i use it, though i use the large pillows myself
I found out the last few nights that if I wash my face before bed I'm good for about 5 hours till (according to my perception) the leaks start. At least there was no discomfort till then. i find it helps to keep the citrus cpap wipes around and give the pillows a good wiping before bed; helps too if i wake up in the middle of the night with leaks, as my skin gets super oily while i sleep

I think I'm going to order a full face mask today, as the selection tool on cpap.com didn't have a nasal mask as a recommendation when I used the utility.
I'm not sure I could use the prongs. babette uses the prongs: nasalaire II, and she loooooves that thing!
Just more and more info everyday. I lub U folks. this made me LOL
I have slept better the last few days and I'm grateful for that. at least a good 5 hours straight through till my lower back starts bugging me. have you tried sleeping with a body pillow? really helps with lower back pain

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could it be my mask

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