Two questions about pressure?

[resistance]

I'm feeling less pressure lately with my Resmed S9 (4-12 H2O) and have two questions in mind. I need your comments.

1) My stock hose of Resmed S9 was torn, I purchased a new hose. It's a little larger in diameter than stock. My hose management system also take the hose up from bed level, than brings it down to my face as shown in the photo. May this cause the machine to lose pressure?


2) When I bought the hose, I also tried different masks. The sales person connected the mask to some simple machine and said it was a bipap (I don't remember the brand name). He first set the pressure to 7, and I couldn't believe it. The pressure felt so hard and unbearable that I could hardly exhale. Even if he reduced the pressure, it felt like swallowing an industrial air compressor. I couldn't take it anymore and took the mask out. It felt bad, but seemed like something that would surely keep your airway open!

On the other hand, when using my Resmed S9 at 6-7 H2O I don't even feel anything more than a mild air flow When I wake up, I sometimes see even 11 H2O and it feels nothing strong like that machine in the shop? Which one is right, S9 or that machine? Is it possible that I may be losing pressure because of some reason?

[jdm2857]

Hose resistance can indeed reduce the delivered pressure. But a larger hose has less resistance, so that's not a problem.

Your S9 has ResMed's EasyBreathe and EPR features that make breathing against the maschine easier. EasyBreathe is on all the time. It's part software and part the design of the blower. EPR (exhalation pressure relief) is adjustable. It has levels 1, 2, 3, and off.

These features may account for the difference you experienced. It's not likely that your machine is not producing the correct pressure, but your DME can easily check its pressure output with a manometer.

[chunkyfrog]

My S9Elite runs on 14cm with 3 EPR
I totally am used to it.
I only notice the airflow when there is a mask leak.
9 cm for me would just barely let me breathe.
It's all perspective--and our S9's ROCK!

[chunkyfrog]

My machine has a hose setting for either slimline or standard--hope you have it set on standard tubing.

[jweeks]

2) When I bought the hose, I also tried different masks. The sales person connected the mask to some simple machine and said it was a bipap (I don't remember the brand name). He first set the pressure to 7, and I couldn't believe it. The pressure felt so hard and unbearable that I could hardly exhale. Even if he reduced the pressure, it felt like swallowing an industrial air compressor. I couldn't take it anymore and took the mask out. It felt bad, but seemed like something that would surely keep your airway open!

Hi,

I wonder if the sales person was confused about the settings on the BiPAP. I can just see him or her setting the "pressure support" level to 7, thinking it was the pressure setting, and ending up with something like 14 exhale 21 inhale. Pressure support is the difference between the pressures, not the absolute pressure coming out the hose.

In my first sleep study, the tech ran the pressure all the way up to 29 in CPAP mode. That really did feel like breathing into an industrial air compressor. My current levels on BiPAP are 13 exhale and 20 inhale. After 6 months or so, I no longer even noticed the pressure. I couldn't tell you if the machine was on or off other than the noise that it makes.

-john-

[Goofproof]

As you use your machine your body builds it's self up, like weight lifting would. you get used to the pressure. Sometimes at night I wake up and check if the machine is still working and I use 15 CM Cflex 1. Neat hose support, the only thing I would think about it is where the hose attaches to the life cord, by making a cloth sleeve about 4 inches in length out of jeans material slipped over the hose and hooked to the strap, it would better support the hose from kinking and cutting, may be just me over engineering things, I do that! Jim

[resistance]

Thank you for your replies, which have been really helpful:

My machine has a hose setting for either slimline or standard--hope you have it set on standard tubing.

Chunkyfrog, I completely forgot that setting. It was on slimline, and now it's on standard, thank you:)

As you use your machine your body builds it's self up, like weight lifting would. you get used to the pressure. Sometimes at night I wake up and check if the machine is still working and I use 15 CM Cflex 1. Neat hose support, the only thing I would think about it is where the hose attaches to the life cord, by making a cloth sleeve about 4 inches in length out of jeans material slipped over the hose and hooked to the strap, it would better support the hose from kinking and cutting, may be just me over engineering things, I do that! Jim

Jim, you may be right. Perhaps I'm so used to it that I don't feel the pressure anymore. My only concern is about getting the correct amount of pressure; because I still wake up tired in the mornings. BTW, you think my hose position won't effect the pressure, right? Thank you for the cloth sleeve idea, I'm thinking about making one.

I wonder if the sales person was confused about the settings on the BiPAP. I can just see him or her setting the "pressure support" level to 7, thinking it was the pressure setting, and ending up with something like 14 exhale 21 inhale. Pressure support is the difference between the pressures, not the absolute pressure coming out the hose.

Jweeks, that may be possible. Because the pressure was terrific; nothing like 6 or 7 H2O that I know of. You could easily inflate a truck tyre with that machine!

So you all think that my "V" shaped hose which is bent, climbing up and hanging down again won't reduce the pressure, right?

[rested gal]

So you all think that my "V" shaped hose which is bent, climbing up and hanging down again won't reduce the pressure, right?

I don't know about everyone, but that's what I think. That it won't. Right.

Nifty hose hanger arrangement, btw.

[resistance]

Nifty hose hanger arrangement, btw.

Thanks, rested gal. You should also see my home made power source

I think I also have problems with my mask, too. I had chosen Mirage Softgel as my first mask. Well it is comfortable, but the big soft gel part stretches and flexes too much, causing leaks. This big gel part is also detached so easily from the mask body that it causes leaks again, no matter the fit is tight or loose. At least this is the case for me, I have tried every option until now, but no, I'm not ok with it.

[echo]

You might want to try the Activecell cushion, which is from the Activa LT mask but is apparently interchangeable with the Softgel. This way you would just have to get a new cushion. The Activa mask is pretty well known as being resistant against leaks even for active sleepers (though a few here would disagree!). This mask needs to be worn a bit looser.

Are you sure you're not mouth breathing?