Best Mask for High Pressures....

[joeljjk11]

I struggle with this.

Every FFM I have tried leaks at high pressures and wakes me up in the middle of the night, pretty much the same goes for nasal masks.

I feel like I am suffocating with nasal pillows and not getting enough air every time I use them, I have experimented with EPR at different levels and have not discovered a great solution.

I have been using the new Airfit N30 nasal mask lately with mixed results, For those with high pressures, what type of mask do you use?

Joel

[raisedfist]

F&P Simplus is a FFM that holds a fantastic seal for me. Leak levels are always very low to non-existent.

[LSAT]

F&P Simplus is a FFM that holds a fantastic seal for me. Leak levels are always very low to non-existent.

I agree..it's a great mask. F&P just came out with the Vitera which is said to be an improvement to the Simplus. It would be nice to know what Joel considers a "high pressure".

[chunkyfrog]

There are people who use nasal pillows with pressures in excess of 20 cm.
Full face masks can be appropriate for any use, but only if they FIT.
If they do not fit, they are not useful for anybody at any pressure.

[zonker]

I struggle with this.

Every FFM I have tried leaks at high pressures and wakes me up in the middle of the night, pretty much the same goes for nasal masks.

I feel like I am suffocating with nasal pillows and not getting enough air every time I use them, I have experimented with EPR at different levels and have not discovered a great solution.

I have been using the new Airfit N30 nasal mask lately with mixed results, For those with high pressures, what type of mask do you use?

Joel

i don't know what you consider high pressure as you don't state what yours may be.

i use a P10 nasal pillow and my pressure is currently min of 16.8 and a max of 20.

seems to work well for me. no feeling of suffocation. just regular breathing.

good luck!

[dreamingofdreaming]

I use a Dreamwear Nasal mask and my pressure is 15-20. I don't have a problem with leaks.

[Pugsy]

I did a 30 minute test with the Bleep to see what would happen at 25 inhale and 17 exhale.
It didn't move off my nose or lose the seal.

[loggerhead12]

I struggled with a Simplus when I first started this thing and my minimum pressure was 20, routinely maxing out at 25. I could sometimes get it to work by sneaking up the pressure using ramp, but ultimately ditched it for the Dreamwear Gel Pillows. Those were better but would still leak when I moved the wrong way.

Unfortunately there just aren't a lot of good seal solutions for high pressure masks on our old lumpy faces.

[Rob K]

It would be good to list what masks you have tried so people know what has not worked for you. I won't give any mask suggestions because every person is different, which is part of the reason why there are so many masks. Another reason I can't suggest any full face masks is because I have not found any that seal well. Even at low to moderate pressures they all tend to leak due to the large surface area that has potential to cause leaks. Currently using nasal masks.

[Rob K]

Do you have trouble breathing through your nose? I suspect you breath more through your mouth which is why you feel like you are suffocating and prefer full face masks.

[joeljjk11]

I have been using the Airfit N30 which I like so far but my AHI is horrible for some reason with it. This may have more to do with stress with everything is going on in the world right now.

My pressure is 15-20. If I go lower than this pressure then I do not feel well, start to get heartburn and just don't have energy.

Before that I used the Airfit P10 which is a good mask but I feel like I can't breathe with nasal pillows, I have also used the Respironics Nuance nasal pillows. I have experimented with EPR at different levels and also no EPR but have not felt this helped with the breathing problems. Do you use EPR Zonker?

I will try to remember all of the masks I have tried:

Simplus FFM
Airfit F10
Airfit F20
AirTouch F20
Resmed N10
Resmed N20
Airfit N30
Respironics Nuance
Airfit P10
Swift FX Nasal Pillows

[paultn]

F&P Simplus is a FFM that holds a fantastic seal for me. Leak levels are always very low to non-existent.

I agree..it's a great mask. F&P just came out with the Vitera which is said to be an improvement to the Simplus. It would be nice to know what Joel considers a "high pressure".

I have been using the Vitera for a few days and my pressure is 15. I have had some leakage but according to people here they are minor leaks and I am not worried as the mask is quite comfortable.

[DreamDiver]

I don't require high pressure, but I do have major problems with large leak. Simplus FF is excellent. I'll have to put Vitera on the list of masks to try.

[Lifeisabeach]

I struggle with this.

Every FFM I have tried leaks at high pressures and wakes me up in the middle of the night, pretty much the same goes for nasal masks.

I feel like I am suffocating with nasal pillows and not getting enough air every time I use them, I have experimented with EPR at different levels and have not discovered a great solution.

I have been using the new Airfit N30 nasal mask lately with mixed results, For those with high pressures, what type of mask do you use?

You didn't say what your "high" pressure was, but when I started out, I was at 22 or so and the only mask type that worked was nasal pillows. Every other style, without exception, leaked.

I started to talk about EPR and overlooked that you said you have experimented with it. This other tip probably won't help since I don't think the feature is on your model, but the AirCurve 10 series in particular has an optional comfort setting (EasyBreathe) that makes the transition from low-to-high and back again more natural and can further reduce sensations of suffocation.

Have you tried using a different size pillow to see if that helps with leaks?

[Rob K]

This is just an observation and you maybe know this already. Different masks will require slightly different pressure settings so achieve the same results. My experience is that full face masks require the most pressure, followed by nasal cushion and then nasal pillow. My P10 mask requires the least amount of pressure. I'm not trying to talk you into staying with nasal masks because I know everyone has different needs. Wish I had some more full face mask suggestions for you.