Do you need to adjust pressure depending on style of mask??

[Abby]

Hi all,

I had a sleep study last week using my flexifit nasal pillow mask and they adjusted my pressure to 8.0 (previously 9.0). I have since discovered that the Quattro full face mask is much more comfortable than my mask with nasal pillows. I've actually slept 2 full nights in a row using the Quattro -- a new record!!

Does the pressure need to be adjusted depending on the style of your mask (ie. nasal pillows vs full face mask)? My thinking is this -- 8.0 was recommended when I used the nasal pillows and the air was forced over a smaller surface area. Obviously the the full face mask has a larger surface area, so will the pressure need to be adjusted with the full face mask so that I get the same treatment results that I had with the nasal pillows?

I was also wondering if a setting of 8.0 was considered high or low.

Thanks!
Abby

[jules]

I have found my pressure needs mask specific (so yes it does vary for me) but it isn't supposed to work that way.

[gasp]

I was told that soft plastic hoses require more pressure delivery than those that have reinforcement coils, since the soft wall absorbs some of the pressure instead of providing resistance. This makes sense to me. So, if this makes sense then it would also make sense that if the mask is large there is less resistance and it would require more air pressure to keep airways open than if the air is delivered through smaller nasal prongs or pillows that provide more resistance. But I don't know for certain.

[plr66]

In my limited experience (about a month), I found immediately when trying out 5-6 masks that the full face and nasal masks had me gasping for air all night. (My titration sleep study night was done with nasal pillows).