high pressures?

sleepy gal · Post by **sleepy gal** » Thu Aug 09, 2007 6:26 pm

Hi everybody,

Is anyone using higher pressures (15-20?) and if so, how is it going?

My DME just left me a message that they are sending me a new card as they need to increase my pressure to 20! per my sleep lab results!

As I can barely keep the mask on my face at 10-14, I don't know how it is going to work at high pressures.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

I am currently using a Quattro (which seems to seal better than any of the other FF masks) and have a comfortful as well as an UMFF and a F&P 431 available also.

Thanks.

AdmiralCougar · Post by **AdmiralCougar** » Thu Aug 09, 2007 6:48 pm

Hi I'm a total newbie but the only time I've gotten to use a machine was at my sleep study on Monday but it I ended up being set on a BiPap at 20-16 for almost 7 hours (after my study was over they wouldn't let me leave cause I was to tired to drive home in their opinion so they put me back on the machine to get enough sleep to drive). All I can say is that if it hadn't been alternating between the 2 pressures on breathing out I couldn't of handled it. Besides the fact there was a slightly high pitch sound that the Tech told me was only because the pressure was so high, but for a decent sleep it was something I got used to fairly quickly.

TxDreamseeker · Post by **TxDreamseeker** » Thu Aug 09, 2007 7:18 pm

Welcome to the forum, Sleepygal!

The first thing is Cpap at that pressure will be extremely tough to breath out against. Even with CFlex, you may not be able to tolerate it. Be prepared to tell your doctor it's not working and you need a bipap.

I was placed on a bipap at 20/16 and told I could not wear nasal pillows at that pressure, but just couldn't tolerate a nasal mask (like you mentioned, wouldn't stay on my face) and claustrophobia ruled out a ff mask. But persistence and all the tweaks listed on this forum got me comfortable and sleeping all night. It will leak, you can't stop all of them, but remember your machine has leak compensation and don't sweat the little ones, just focus on the big ones. You will probably have to tighten the straps a little more to make it stop leaking. Try this web site http://www.padacheek.com for help with the marks the straps will leave on your face.

Forum members that use that mask will probably offer more suggestions,

Good luck.

TxDreamseeker · Post by **TxDreamseeker** » Thu Aug 09, 2007 7:22 pm

Oops, I meant to say welcom to AdmiralCougar. Sorry!

shippy · Post by **shippy** » Thu Aug 09, 2007 9:00 pm

I have been on straight cpap at 16cm's since i started treatment 8 months ago, its tough controlling the leaks i have purchased and tried these masks.

Comfort FF
Hybrid
Soyala FF
UMFF

and currently am using my Quattro FF which i like so far, the Soyala gave me good AHI's with a low leak rate but it is a nosebridge killer.

Dale

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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): CPAP, AHI

Goofproof · Post by **Goofproof** » Thu Aug 09, 2007 9:53 pm

At a pressure of 20 cm, you need to jump them and get a Auto Bi-PAP, It would make your success more likely. Jim

AdmiralCougar · Post by **AdmiralCougar** » Thu Aug 09, 2007 10:55 pm

TxDreamseeker wrote:Oops, I meant to say welcom to AdmiralCougar. Sorry!

LOL thanks, though I suppose it would be better for me not to need to be a member here but I'm happy to have found this place. though no one should have to deal with this, I'm so glad to know that I'm not alone anymore.

sleepy gal · Post by **sleepy gal** » Fri Aug 10, 2007 3:54 am

Thanks everyone for your replies. I think I will talk to them about a bipap.

Good sleeping to you all!

ozij · Post by **ozij** » Fri Aug 10, 2007 11:49 am

I don't know this from my own experience, but we've had memebers here using nasal pillows masks at high pressures. As a matter of fact, the Breeze - according to its literature - is good for up to 30 (!).

Welcome, CaptainCougar! While having OSA is no fun, having OSA and being member of this board is something else - and the membership part can even be fun, and funny sometimes.

O.

AdmiralCougar · Post by **AdmiralCougar** » Fri Aug 10, 2007 10:01 pm

Yes very glad to be a member of this board. I've learned so much since I stumbled across it. I'm very thankful for everyone here

GeneS · Post by **GeneS** » Sat Aug 11, 2007 1:46 pm

I use a respironics cflex auto at 18-20 and do not notice the pressure and do not have difficulty breathing. I do not use the ramp feature. My ultra Mirage ll mask seals very well and leaks very little. I have checked my pressure with a pressure gage and with software so I know the pressure is correct. I have not tried a full face mask for a long time. They might be harder to seal since they are larger and the outward force on the mask is pressure x area. I have had problems in the past but my equipment is working well now even at a high pressure. Since I am close to 20cm I may need to get a bipap that goes to 25 for the future. I think I started around 10cm 25 or so years ago. I think the longer you use cpap and a mask the more you get used to the pressure.
GeneS

lilsheba · Post by **lilsheba** » Sun Aug 12, 2007 8:50 am

I'm using nasal pillows on a Mirage Swift II at a pressure of straight 16. I'm on CPAP -- the dr didn't think I needed BiPap. It was hard to get used to at first, and I used the ramp up feature for the first week. Then I quit using the ramp up, and I do fine. I've been trading off with a Comfort Classic nasal mask (I'm still on the search for a perfect mask, only been using the CPAP machine for a month), but I find it leaks more than the nasal pillows. But then it's a medium and maybe I need a small one? I'd like to try the Comfort Gel mask, and have been bidding on ones here and there on Ebay, but keep getting out bid. The competition for masks on there is insane!

Anyway I'm used to the pressure, breathing out against isn't difficult luckily. I find that when I get the mask on and start that deep breathing it forces me to do, I end up crashing within 10 minutes. Puts me right out!

Jeanine

sleepy gal · Post by **sleepy gal** » Sun Aug 12, 2007 8:54 pm

Thanks again for all of your replies.

I am now not at all sure that I even need a high pressure of 20. I have finally gotten the encore program working again and have tracked my progress the last couple of nights. It shows that my average pressure is 10.7 and 90% pressure is at 12. I am still registering an AHI of 4.8 to 5.6 And high variable breathing from 40 to 70% with an average of 53.1%. Although I have no idea what normal is supposed to be!

Something is wrong somewhere as I really feel terrible, tired and falling asleep a lot. But I don't really think it is due to a need for higher pressure

I don't understand how my night at the sleep lab (which was truly awful, hardly slept) could indicate that I need higher pressures. Per the RT they feel it is OK to put the apap from 10-20 on the theory that it won't go higher than it needs to......

At the moment I am thinking of leaving it as it is at 10-14.

sleepy gal · Post by **sleepy gal** » Sun Aug 12, 2007 8:58 pm

P,S. Jeanine...just wishing you luck in getting a winning bid for a mask. Keep up that search. It's important to have the best mask you can find for yourself!

lilsheba · Post by **lilsheba** » Sun Aug 12, 2007 9:07 pm

Thanks sleepy gal I'll keep trying. I got outbid again cause I don't want to pay a ton of money for one lol. Sometimes I win stuff on a second chances cause the person who outbid me ends up not buying it for some reason.

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high pressures?

high pressures?

May not need those higher pressures