Mask Help

[motorgeek]

Hello All,

I was recently diagnosed with mild sleep apnea and stumbled across this site. I've learned so much invaluable information here. I've tried searching for my question, but came up empty.

Here's my mask situation. I was given a machine for a one week trial, and the sleep lab recommended a nasal mask so I got the FP Eson. The mask is very comfortable, but I feel like I'm re-breathing my exhaled air. I find my self exhaling very slowly and then taking in very large breaths to feel like I'm not suffocating. I'm pretty sure I'm breathing exhaled air because when I open my mouth to exhale (making sure to not leak out) and inhale through the mask, the air feels just fine. I know there's a diffuser on the eson, but when I place my hand over the exhaust port, I feel almost no air venting out. Is this feeling because my prescribed pressure is too low for this mask?

I also have a Mirage Quattro for allergy season, and I can breathe great in the mask. The only problem with the Mirage is that the harder inner lip digs into my face, and I can't tolerate it for the whole night so I wake up and rip the mask off.

I just received my machine and have been using it for a week with the mask combinations. Do I just need to tough it out and adapt? Or should I try another mask? I want to try a nasal pillow, but I'm concerned that it may have the same effect as the Eson.

I believe my insurance won't pay for another mask until about April.

Thanks.

[violetpro]

If you'd like to continue experimenting with your Mirage Quattro for allergy season, I suggest you try padacheek.com for a comfortable liner. I use one for my Quattro FX, and the comfort is greatly enhanced.

[Julie]

Or even just try some very thin padding under the area (enough to help, but not cause large leaks).

[DoriC]

Is your machine set wide open to 4-20? A low pressure can make you feel like you're suffocating.

[motorgeek]

If you'd like to continue experimenting with your Mirage Quattro for allergy season, I suggest you try padacheek.com for a comfortable liner. I use one for my Quattro FX, and the comfort is greatly enhanced.

That's a great idea. I'll check it out.

Is your machine set wide open to 4-20? A low pressure can make you feel like you're suffocating.

I was prescribed 5.0cmH2O so I have the machine set on Auto with upper/lower pressure of 5.0 to look at flow limitations (I'm looking at FL because I think I may have UARS due to my symptoms and relatively low AHI). I wonder if 5.0cmH2O may be too low for the Eson nasal mask?

[Julie]

I believe 5 cm (just one up from 4) is too low for any normal human to breathe at.

[motorgeek]

I believe 5 cm (just one up from 4) is too low for any normal human to breathe at.

This was what I was thinking also during my "auto" titration for a week where the pressure was wide open from 4-20 using the nasal mask.

I was hoping that the prescribed 5.0cm would be enough for the nasal mask, but I'm glad to know that the pressure may be too low. Should I contact the sleep lab and ask them about maybe increasing my pressure? Also, would the sleep lab frown on me for switching my machine to auto with upper/lower pressures at the prescribed level?

I'm curious of why I don't have the same breathing issues at 5cm with the FF?

[TonyG]

Hello All,

I was recently diagnosed with mild sleep apnea and stumbled across this site. I've learned so much invaluable information here. I've tried searching for my question, but came up empty.

Here's my mask situation. I was given a machine for a one week trial, and the sleep lab recommended a nasal mask so I got the FP Eson. The mask is very comfortable, but I feel like I'm re-breathing my exhaled air. I find my self exhaling very slowly and then taking in very large breaths to feel like I'm not suffocating. I'm pretty sure I'm breathing exhaled air because when I open my mouth to exhale (making sure to not leak out) and inhale through the mask, the air feels just fine. I know there's a diffuser on the eson, but when I place my hand over the exhaust port, I feel almost no air venting out. Is this feeling because my prescribed pressure is too low for this mask?

I also have a Mirage Quattro for allergy season, and I can breathe great in the mask. The only problem with the Mirage is that the harder inner lip digs into my face, and I can't tolerate it for the whole night so I wake up and rip the mask off.

I just received my machine and have been using it for a week with the mask combinations. Do I just need to tough it out and adapt? Or should I try another mask? I want to try a nasal pillow, but I'm concerned that it may have the same effect as the Eson.

I believe my insurance won't pay for another mask until about April.

Thanks.

I also use the Eson although as a spare and found that at times I had trouble breathing with it as well especially at lower pressure. For that reason I never use the ramp feature with this mask but start with full pressure (9) and it is much better. One of the sleep technicians at the Clinic that I use told me to try removing the filter on the diffuser which should help with the problem you are facing. I have never tried it but it is worth a shot. As you said the Eson is a very good mask

[Julie]

You don't have the issue with a FF mask because if you sleep with your mouth open, you're less likely to lose the Cpap air to the room. There are so many masks out there, and I'm sure you could find one that didn't dig in.

[hyperlexis]

It may be that the cushion on the nasal mask is squeezing the sides of your nose, restricting airflow. I'd try a night using a breathe-right strip on your nose and see if that helps. With the large FF mask the pressure on the sides of the nose may be less.

Even at 4 or 5 you will not actually suffocate. It may not feel great, but if you can breathe at room air pressure, you can breathe at a slightly higher pressure after all.

[motorgeek]

I want to thank everyone for their responses. I'm finding that 5cm is too low for the nasal mask. I took out the diffuser which helped, but I still feel that the Eson doesn't vent off the exhaled air fast enough at my prescribed pressure.

I'm slowly tolerating the FF more and starting to see improvements when I wake up. I'm still waiting on my SD carder reader to see how my treatment is going.

This forum is a really great resource!