Twenty years on cpap and now at 19 setting and problems

tvfrfireguy · Post by **tvfrfireguy** » Fri Mar 28, 2014 8:07 pm

In 1994 started out with a pressure of 7 and nasal pillows. Now, all these years later I have a bipap with a setting of 19 with a face mask. The problem I have now is the mask leaking. To get a seal, I have to crank it down on my face so hard it is painful. What other options are there? Will one off these mouth pieces I have been reading about (made by a dentist) used in conjunction with my mask help? What can be done to get a seal and a good nights sleep. Thanks for any help in this matter. David

Pugsy · Post by **Pugsy** » Fri Mar 28, 2014 8:26 pm

Have you tried any mask liners?
There are liners you can make yourself or you can buy pre-made.

http://www.padacheek.com/PAC_Maskliners.html Padacheek liners will last for months and months.

Remzzzs has disposal mask liners

djhall · Post by **djhall** » Fri Mar 28, 2014 8:33 pm

I run BiPAP at your pressure and mask leaks vs. painful mask tightness is just an inevitable struggle at these pressures in my experience. Yes, I know many people say they work better when looser.... but I don't think most of those people have much experience trying to tame masks at 20!

I only have a few suggestions from my own experience. One, try lots of different masks in different sizes. I have some I'm offering to lend and I have been trying to encourage others here to do so as well in order to help people deal with these kinds of situations without spending a fortune buying masks. Two, try using a pad-a-cheek liner. I was skeptical myself, but the Mirage Quattro seals well for me at 20 as long as it is tight enough to make my nose bridge bleed. With the pad-a-cheek liner it doesn't even make my nose red and sore, let alone bloody. I'd be a happy user of the Quattro with a pad-a-cheek liner if at 20cm it didn't practically blow my partner out of bed when I turn her direction.

jencat824 · Post by **jencat824** » Fri Mar 28, 2014 8:34 pm

What mask are you using? If you go to the User Control Panel & fill in your equipment info that would help us help you better.

jencat824 · Post by **jencat824** » Fri Mar 28, 2014 8:46 pm

djhall wrote:I run BiPAP at your pressure and mask leaks vs. painful mask tightness is just an inevitable struggle at these pressures in my experience. Yes, I know many people say they work better when looser.... but I don't think most of those people have much experience trying to tame masks at 20!

I only have a few suggestions from my own experience. One, try lots of different masks in different sizes. I have some I'm offering to lend and I have been trying to encourage others here to do so as well in order to help people deal with these kinds of situations without spending a fortune buying masks. Two, try using a pad-a-cheek liner. I was skeptical myself, but the Mirage Quattro seals well for me at 20 as long as it is tight enough to make my nose bridge bleed. With the pad-a-cheek liner it doesn't even make my nose red and sore, let alone bloody. I'd be a happy user of the Quattro with a pad-a-cheek liner if at 20cm it didn't practically blow my partner out of bed when I turn her direction.

I was at 19cm straight CPAP until last March, when I went to Auto. I still average pretty high pressure & had a mouth breathing problem I have overcome. That said, I'm doing very well using the AirFit P10. I've been at a high pressure so long it seems normal to me. I only tried a FFM briefly (a few nights). Perhaps a nasal pillow mask would work for you? The P10 might help diffuse the output on your bed partner.

watergauge · Post by **watergauge** » Sat Mar 29, 2014 4:22 pm

Sorry to hear about this, my condolences. FWIW, I run straight CPAP at 9 cm and have minimal or no mask sealing problems. However, for years I have liberally applied a face or skin cream around my nose, over the bridge and under my nostrils each evening, not rubbed in. I contend that it helps the seal, but I have no real proof. And, of course, it does not harm the face, quite the reverse in fact!
I really hope you solve your problem.
Cheers,
WG

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sat Mar 29, 2014 7:07 pm

more pressure under a ffm mask just
increases the force to lift it off your face
nasal pillows cover less skin surface
so are much easier to seal

why not try one of your old nasal pillows
or new pillows even
why not

LSAT · Post by **LSAT** » Sat Mar 29, 2014 8:10 pm

Guest wrote:more pressure under a ffm mask just
increases the force to lift it off your face
nasal pillows cover less skin surface
so are much easier to seal

why not try one of your old nasal pillows
or new pillows even
why not

It's still 19 whether it's FF mask or pillows

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sat Mar 29, 2014 8:26 pm

LSAT wrote:
Guest wrote:more pressure under a ffm mask just
increases the force to lift it off your face
nasal pillows cover less skin surface
so are much easier to seal

why not try one of your old nasal pillows
or new pillows even
why not
It's still 19 whether it's FF mask or pillows

nasal pillows cover less skin surface area so are less prone to leaks

bwexler · Post by **bwexler** » Sat Mar 29, 2014 8:33 pm

I am beginning to learn what you Guys are talkinG about.
I used an S9 Autoset for 3 years and my SleepWeaver Élan cloth mask worked well but my pressure seldom hit 10.
Now I am on ASV and my ipap is never below 8 and goes up to 12 on occasion the pressure support is seldom below 3 but has been over 6. That can get me up to 16 or 18 at which time my poor little cloth mask seems to turn into a sieve.
I am just starting the research phase of looking for the perfect replacement mask. I am not due for the next new mask until June. That should be just enough time for one of the companies to release that NEW PERFECT mask for me. If I miss the news maybe one of you can prod me.

jencat824 · Post by **jencat824** » Sat Mar 29, 2014 8:37 pm

OK, let me say that some DME's & Dr's say that at a high pressure you should not use nasal pillows. Based on my experience & others in this group, this is not always true. Its about the individual and how it works for them, not just a general NO when you want to use nasal pillows at a high pressure. If there are significant leak issues at that pressure, THEN it becomes a problem, as with any mask, if its not working, try all the tricks you can then move on.

Just wanted to be clear that nasal pillows can be used at any pressure. I use the AirFit P10 and my pressure on auto rises to 19-20 at times each night.

bwexler · Post by **bwexler** » Sat Mar 29, 2014 8:56 pm

I have used nasal pillows, and they worked OK, albeit at the lower pressures. My problem is my nostrills are sensitive and were always red and raw. I could not tollerate the pillows.

sleepy guesty · Post by **sleepy guesty** » Sun Mar 30, 2014 12:51 am

bwexler wrote:I have used nasal pillows, and they worked OK, albeit at the lower pressures. My problem is my nostrills are sensitive and were always red and raw. I could not tollerate the pillows.

that can come from a small fit or movement
or a reaction to the silicone
try a dab of lansinoh on each nostril before bed

tvfrfireguy · Post by **tvfrfireguy** » Sat Apr 05, 2014 11:32 am

To those of you who think I should use nasal pillows, I did. The result was air flowing out my mouth even with a chin strap. Nineteen is a lot of pressure. My original post had the question of the mouth pieces made by dentists that move the chin forward and help open the airway. Would this help and maybe my pressure could be lowered? Have any of your tried this? Thanks

ubnoxus · Post by **ubnoxus** » Sat Apr 05, 2014 11:59 am

tvfrfireguy wrote:Nineteen is a lot of pressure.

I run 18-24 cm h2o every night using nasal pillows with minimal leaks. I don't have the headgear all that tight on my face, I use lansinoh now which allowed me to loosen the fit.

Twenty years on cpap and now at 19 setting and problems

Twenty years on cpap and now at 19 setting and problems

Re: Twenty years on cpap and now at 19 setting and problems

Re: Twenty years on cpap and now at 19 setting and problems

Re: Twenty years on cpap and now at 19 setting and problems

Re: Twenty years on cpap and now at 19 setting and problems

Re: Twenty years on cpap and now at 19 setting and problems

Re: Twenty years on cpap and now at 19 setting and problems

Re: Twenty years on cpap and now at 19 setting and problems

Re: Twenty years on cpap and now at 19 setting and problems

Re: Twenty years on cpap and now at 19 setting and problems

Re: Twenty years on cpap and now at 19 setting and problems

Re: Twenty years on cpap and now at 19 setting and problems

Re: Twenty years on cpap and now at 19 setting and problems

Re: Twenty years on cpap and now at 19 setting and problems

Re: Twenty years on cpap and now at 19 setting and problems