Changed masks 5 times

[craiga]

I am a relatively a new user to the CPAP. I have been using CPAP since Oct 23.

I am on my 5th mask: Quarttro Air, Fisher Paykel Simplus, Mirage Liberty, Mirage Quattro Full Face, and the Swift FX Nasal Pillow. For me the Air and Simplus were light and comfortable but leaked the most; and, both moved up on my face. I used the Mirage Quarttro the most; however, leaked the least; but fit was not that comfortable. The liberty was ok. I have been on the Swift FX nasal pillow with chin strap, and it feels the best and seems to work well for me (for 3 nights).

I am using the Resmed S9 with APAP mode. The Mirage Quarttro has a pressure at about 13-14 and AHI at 3-4 (from the last 30 days). The Swift FX showed pressure levels at 9-9.5. At this point in time, I do not know what the AHI. I will bring the chip in to the DME see what the AHI is after about 2 weeks of usage.

Any idea what I should suspect and any question I should ask?

Thanks for any feedback.

[squid13]

With the full face masks that you used, you may want to try a leak strap from PadACheek.com to control those leaks and keep it from riding up.

[LSAT]

I am a relatively a new user to the CPAP. I have been using CPAP since Oct 23.

I am on my 5th mask: Quarttro Air, Fisher Paykel Simplus, Mirage Liberty, Mirage Quattro Full Face, and the Swift FX Nasal Pillow. For me the Air and Simplus were light and comfortable but leaked the most; and, both moved up on my face. I used the Mirage Quarttro the most; however, leaked the least; but fit was not that comfortable. The liberty was ok. I have been on the Swift FX nasal pillow with chin strap, and it feels the best and seems to work well for me (for 3 nights).

I am using the Resmed S9 with APAP mode. The Mirage Quarttro has a pressure at about 13-14 and AHI at 3-4 (from the last 30 days). The Swift FX showed pressure levels at 9-9.5. At this point in time, I do not know what the AHI. I will bring the chip in to the DME see what the AHI is after about 2 weeks of usage.

Any idea what I should suspect and any question I should ask?

Thanks for any feedback.

I don't understand this statement...Your machine is set with a pressure.....the mask is not. Once the machine is set, the pressure should be close to the same for any mask that you use. You say that you don't know your AHI...With the S9 Elite you can look at AHI every day on the LCD screen or put the SD card into your computer to read it.
ss

[craiga]

The last report from the DME showed me I when I was using the the Mirage mask. I check my machine and I cannot find how to read the AHI. How do you find the AHI for the machine? And, I do not have the software that read the SD card. Any Ideas?

[Julie]

Pull up any of Pugsy's notes and DL Sleepyhead software from one of her signature lines, then go to the first note on the main forum page and get her tutorial about using it. You should also be able to read your AHI from the machine screen, but better see what she says in her notes.

[SleepyToo2]

I am a relatively a new user to the CPAP. I have been using CPAP since Oct 23.

I am on my 5th mask: Quarttro Air, Fisher Paykel Simplus, Mirage Liberty, Mirage Quattro Full Face, and the Swift FX Nasal Pillow. For me the Air and Simplus were light and comfortable but leaked the most; and, both moved up on my face. I used the Mirage Quarttro the most; however, leaked the least; but fit was not that comfortable. The liberty was ok. I have been on the Swift FX nasal pillow with chin strap, and it feels the best and seems to work well for me (for 3 nights).

I am using the Resmed S9 with APAP mode. The Mirage Quarttro has a pressure at about 13-14 and AHI at 3-4 (from the last 30 days). The Swift FX showed pressure levels at 9-9.5. At this point in time, I do not know what the AHI. I will bring the chip in to the DME see what the AHI is after about 2 weeks of usage.

Any idea what I should suspect and any question I should ask?

Thanks for any feedback.

I don't understand this statement...Your machine is set with a pressure.....the mask is not. Once the machine is set, the pressure should be close to the same for any mask that you use. You say that you don't know your AHI...With the S9 Elite you can look at AHI every day on the LCD screen or put the SD card into your computer to read it.
ss

LSAT, if the mask is leaking, the machine is going to struggle to maintain the pressure - "events" may be occurring so that the machine will try and raise the pressure. The pressure will only be the same with each mask if the leaks are under control. I do not have enough knowledge of the S9 Elite to be able to guide craiga on how to see the AHI on the LCD screen.

[craiga]

Thanks for the feedback I will give that a try..

[LSAT]

I am a relatively a new user to the CPAP. I have been using CPAP since Oct 23.

I am on my 5th mask: Quarttro Air, Fisher Paykel Simplus, Mirage Liberty, Mirage Quattro Full Face, and the Swift FX Nasal Pillow. For me the Air and Simplus were light and comfortable but leaked the most; and, both moved up on my face. I used the Mirage Quarttro the most; however, leaked the least; but fit was not that comfortable. The liberty was ok. I have been on the Swift FX nasal pillow with chin strap, and it feels the best and seems to work well for me (for 3 nights).

I am using the Resmed S9 with APAP mode. The Mirage Quarttro has a pressure at about 13-14 and AHI at 3-4 (from the last 30 days). The Swift FX showed pressure levels at 9-9.5. At this point in time, I do not know what the AHI. I will bring the chip in to the DME see what the AHI is after about 2 weeks of usage.

Any idea what I should suspect and any question I should ask?

Thanks for any feedback.

I don't understand this statement...Your machine is set with a pressure.....the mask is not. Once the machine is set, the pressure should be close to the same for any mask that you use. You say that you don't know your AHI...With the S9 Elite you can look at AHI every day on the LCD screen or put the SD card into your computer to read it.
ss

LSAT, if the mask is leaking, the machine is going to struggle to maintain the pressure - "events" may be occurring so that the machine will try and raise the pressure. The pressure will only be the same with each mask if the leaks are under control. I do not have enough knowledge of the S9 Elite to be able to guide craiga on how to see the AHI on the LCD screen.

I think I indicated that the pressure would be "close to" the same.

[TonyG]

I am a relatively a new user to the CPAP. I have been using CPAP since Oct 23.

I am on my 5th mask: Quarttro Air, Fisher Paykel Simplus, Mirage Liberty, Mirage Quattro Full Face, and the Swift FX Nasal Pillow. For me the Air and Simplus were light and comfortable but leaked the most; and, both moved up on my face. I used the Mirage Quarttro the most; however, leaked the least; but fit was not that comfortable. The liberty was ok. I have been on the Swift FX nasal pillow with chin strap, and it feels the best and seems to work well for me (for 3 nights).

I am using the Resmed S9 with APAP mode. The Mirage Quarttro has a pressure at about 13-14 and AHI at 3-4 (from the last 30 days). The Swift FX showed pressure levels at 9-9.5. At this point in time, I do not know what the AHI. I will bring the chip in to the DME see what the AHI is after about 2 weeks of usage.

Any idea what I should suspect and any question I should ask?

Thanks for any feedback.

I use the Simplus and have had none of your issues. Maybe you are just giving up too soon and it is only a matter of getting it properly adjusted. It can take some time.

[vic]

Could it be that when you start cpap, the ramp is active, thus no leak at 4 cm. As the pressure gradually increases to the prescribed pressure the mask leaks........say at about 8cm. Try placing your mask on and note the pressure. A ramp will be active for about 20 minutes. If you wear the mask for the full 20 minutes or so.....your cpap should be at the prescribed pressure. If a leak occurs, slightly tighten the masks. Note the pressure at that time.

Your smart card should help your provider assist you.

[sleepyb]

It sounds like the Swift FX is working for you, that's great. Finding a mask is one of the hardest parts of this whole cpap thing.

If it were me I would ask my DME what my leak rate was?
I would ask him to show me my graphs of leaks, pressure, Flow limitations and events, and explain to you what they mean.
Of course he won't be able to because your machine only records compliance, which won't help you determine if you have leaks or other problems

I would then ask him to give you a machine (S9 autoset) that has this data that you and they can use to optimize your therapy.
If you are still renting the machine, you can insist they take it back and go to another DME (that you called ahead of time that agree to sell you the autoset)
If the DME works with you, and it sounds like they might since they have gotten you a variety of masks, then you would be able to pull the information you need to
improve your therapy.

BTW, the DME gets the same from the insurance company for selling you a compliance only brick that they get for selling you a machine with data. (Don't let them lie to you)
Also, think about this when you are talking to them. CPAP.com sells the S9 autoset with humidifier for under $900. Your insurance company is probably paying the DME double that
(Ask you insurance company how much they are giving the DME) and that doesn't even include your copay. They can give you what you want and still make a huge profit.

[robysue]

craiga,

There's some confusion here about exactly which S9 you are using.

Your equipment signature says: S9 Elite™ CPAP Machine with EPR, which is a straight fixed pressure CPAP that does record full efficacy data, including both AHI and leak data.

Your original post says:

I am using the Resmed S9 with APAP mode.

The Elite has no APAP mode. So the question becomes: Are you using the S9 AutoSet or the S9 Escape Auto if your machine is indeed set to Auto mode?

It makes a difference. The AutoSet records full efficacy data; the Escape Auto does not. The Escape Auto records limited data about the AHI and it records no leak data.

The people who have responded to your post are making assumptions about the machine you are using. Some are assuming that you're using an AutoSet, others are assuming you're using either the Escape Auto or (in one case) the Escape, which is the bottom-of-the-barrel S9 that is a fixed pressure machine that records nothing but usage hours.

So can you clarify exactly which S9 model you are using? The named of the machine should be on the blower unit right above the big On/Off button on the LEFT side of the machine's LCD panel.

[DEXSUZ]

Three things might be needed for you to have success.

1) BE PATIENT! Took many of us on here months and months before we could get all the little things modified for our use. Your brain is accustomed to years of awakening many times a night when your breathing became bad. It'll take awhile for it to get used to not thinking you're suffocating or asphyxiating.

2) The Pad-A-Cheek products are superb at both softening the impact of the mask on your face and also helping prevent little air leaks.

3) If possible, give the Quattro FX a try. I used several of the masks you mentioned and they were not kind to my 63 year-old face. The upper bridge of my nose was bruised by one of them and the others that were unsatisfactory caused leaks of air when I moved my head during sleep.

Best of luck and a belated Merry Christmas!

[craiga]

see post below....

[craiga]

Sorry about the last post (I messed up). I recently loaded sleepyhead software and still getting used to it. I attempted to paste the grafts, no luck; anyone know how to past graft on this site

Details Most Recent Last 7 Days Last 30 Days Last 6 months Last Year
AHI 2.07 2.86 2.61 2.57 2.57
Hours per Night 05:48 06:02 06:23 06:23 06:23
Average Pressure 8.51 9.09 9.39 9.38 9.38
95% Pressure 10.28 12.12 12.54 12.50 12.50
Average Leaks 9.57 8.28 4.91 4.79 4.79
95% Leaks 39.60 39.60 26.40 25.20 25.20

I am still not sure how to read this data. However, It looks like a lower AHI (number of Apena incidents)that the sleep study showed. I think the sleep study showed 13-15; and I was severe on my back.

The Doc order the APAP mode and the DME said it was set up on APAP mode.

While using the full face mask my nose bridge and forehead also got bruised and raw.

My CPAP is Resmed S9 Autoset.

Thanks for the tips and feedback