Why is my Face Swollen?

Mask liners work largely by silencing small leaks, not by stopping them.
Zero leaks is an impossible goal; and not necessary--close is often good enough.
The main disturbance from leaking is the noise.
Nobody wants a whoopee cushion on their face.

FatBruno wrote: ↑

Sun Jan 23, 2022 10:15 pm

Miss Emerita wrote: ↑

Sun Jan 23, 2022 12:46 pm

...watch videos on how to fit your mask.

I've tried looking this up. Can you recommend a particular video, or a source to find one?

Try googling "Airtouch F20" and then click on "video" up at the top. You'll see quite a few options.

FatBruno wrote: ↑

Mon Jan 24, 2022 10:12 am

So, I decided to approach my new routine differently last night: I laid down and put the mask on loosely and got into a sleeping position (on my side) and attempted to adjust the mask. My BiPAP machine is currently controlled by my doctor; I have no way of seeing or changing the settings for the air pressure. The only thing I can control is the Ramp feature, which I've set to 5 minutes. Last night, I decided to turn OFF the ramp feature so that I could adjust my mask to the actual pressure.

There is the Mask Fit feature that helps with adjustment.
It blows at the max pressure to which your machine is set.
See Page 7 of the User Guide.
https://document.resmed.com/documents/p ... ow_eng.pdf

You can get the clinical manual below:
https://www.respshop.com/manuals/37212_ ... n_menu.pdf
Page 12 describes how you can access the clinical menu to adjust the machine youself.
Please read the whole manual. There are a lot of adjustments available.

GrumpyHere wrote: ↑

Tue Jan 25, 2022 1:08 am

FatBruno wrote: ↑

Mon Jan 24, 2022 10:12 am

So, I decided to approach my new routine differently last night: I laid down and put the mask on loosely and got into a sleeping position (on my side) and attempted to adjust the mask. My BiPAP machine is currently controlled by my doctor; I have no way of seeing or changing the settings for the air pressure. The only thing I can control is the Ramp feature, which I've set to 5 minutes. Last night, I decided to turn OFF the ramp feature so that I could adjust my mask to the actual pressure.

There is the Mask Fit feature that helps with adjustment.
It blows at the max pressure to which your machine is set.
See Page 7 of the User Guide.
https://document.resmed.com/documents/p ... ow_eng.pdf

You can get the clinical manual below:
https://www.respshop.com/manuals/37212_ ... n_menu.pdf
Page 12 describes how you can access the clinical menu to adjust the machine youself.
Please read the whole manual. There are a lot of adjustments available.

Thank you so much! I just learned about clinician mode yesterday, but I did not have the manual. This will definitely help me. Thanks again!

Regarding swelling, you may have received an insect bite during the night that caused swelling, and then the swelling was exacerbated by the pressure from the mask and headgear.

Regarding ResMed AirTouch F20 Full Face Mask, boy, I remember that mask! I started XPAP about one month ago, and spent the first two weeks on that mask. I was miserable, and many of your complaints about it mirror my own. Finally, I switched to a ResMed AirFit P10. It's a minimalist pillow mask. Smooth sailing every since the switch.

Did you know, many DME will allow you to switch masks free of charge within 30 days after purchase/receipt? If you are unhappy with this mask, as I was, ask them to switch it out for something else. Do your research online so you'll know what to ask for.

BuckarooBanzai wrote: ↑

Tue Jan 25, 2022 11:00 am

Regarding swelling, you may have received an insect bite during the night that caused swelling, and then the swelling was exacerbated by the pressure from the mask and headgear.

Regarding ResMed AirTouch F20 Full Face Mask, boy, I remember that mask! I started XPAP about one month ago, and spent the first two weeks on that mask. I was miserable, and many of your complaints about it mirror my own. Finally, I switched to a ResMed AirFit P10. It's a minimalist pillow mask. Smooth sailing every since the switch.

Did you know, many DME will allow you to switch masks free of charge within 30 days after purchase/receipt? If you are unhappy with this mask, as I was, ask them to switch it out for something else. Do your research online so you'll know what to ask for.

I talked to my doctor today, and they think the mask leaks in my eye were the problem. They are going to send me Philips DreamWear Full Face Mask to try next.

I've heard that on high pressures, the Philips DreamWear mask does not perform well if you're a side sleeper since it will cut air off on one side and then not run fully on the other side. I also worry that high pressure settings will continue to create mask leaks for me.

Does anyone have experience with high pressure using the Philips DreamWear Full Face Mask? Any success stories? I love my BiPap but I need to find a way to stop the leaks. I also have liners on the way from PadACheek.com, but they may not arrive for another couple weeks.

My first mask was the Philips Dreamwear full face mask because I thought I needed a full face mask. I sometimes slept on my sides, and never had any trouble while sleeping that way. The air pressure never felt any different to me compared to sleeping on my back. It was fine. When I switched to the ResMed version of the same thing, I had no trouble with it either. I liked having the hose attached at the top.

Deborah K. wrote: ↑

Tue Jan 25, 2022 5:29 pm

My first mask was the Philips Dreamwear full face mask because I thought I needed a full face mask. I sometimes slept on my sides, and never had any trouble while sleeping that way. The air pressure never felt any different to me compared to sleeping on my back. It was fine. When I switched to the ResMed version of the same thing, I had no trouble with it either. I liked having the hose attached at the top.

Out of curiosity, how high was the pressure setting on your machine with the Philips mask?

FatBruno wrote: ↑

Tue Jan 25, 2022 5:32 pm

Deborah K. wrote: ↑

Tue Jan 25, 2022 5:29 pm

My first mask was the Philips Dreamwear full face mask because I thought I needed a full face mask. I sometimes slept on my sides, and never had any trouble while sleeping that way. The air pressure never felt any different to me compared to sleeping on my back. It was fine. When I switched to the ResMed version of the same thing, I had no trouble with it either. I liked having the hose attached at the top.

Out of curiosity, how high was the pressure setting on your machine with the Philips mask?

Initially I was set at the standard 5 - 20. But as I look back over Oscar to the beginning, I see that the pressure I was at most of the time was about 10.

This CPAP journey is kicking my tail.

I woke up very early this morning in pain. The elastic band of my AirTouch F20 is tearing up my skin, esp. around the back of my neck. I am breaking out and it's driving me up the wall. It was BURNING this morning. I'm not sure if I'm allergic to the headband, but it definitely appears that way. I put the headband in mask in my Sleep8 cleaner the first several days, but now I'm wondering if the ozone is hurting my skin. I'm not sure what the culprit is -- the elastic band or the ozone.

I have ordered PadACheek neck liners and mask liners but they won't show up for a few more days. My wife stitched together a soft fleece wrap around each elastic strap that connects around the back of my head across the neckline. We will see how that goes. But then I got sleepy today and took a nap tonight. I hate napping because I've been doing that for so long with sleep apnea already.

The mask leaks. The skin irritation. I've hardly had time to even get used to just wearing something on my face each night because I feel like I'm trying to put all these other fires out.

My AHI yesterday was 8.7. That doesn't seem very good. I'm already at max pressure -- 25. Am I just a lost cause? Can I even get down below 5 AHI? This whole thing has me depressed today. I never would have guessed this would be such a challenge. Please tell me it's worth all the pain somehow in the end.

First, do NOT use ozone anything, however much Bill Shatner yaks! They can void warranties on Cpaps if used as they do nothing to 'disinfect' anything and can cause respiratory and other problems (can't believe you haven't heard yet .
Second, overtightening the mask (that should just hover) is counterproductive and you're hurting yourself... loosen up, wrap the strap with something soft (your wife has the right idea) and use baby wipes on yourself (not the straps - but do keep them relatively clean).

AND, if you nap (from now on anyhow) use the machine!

Julie wrote: ↑

Wed Jan 26, 2022 9:43 pm

First, do NOT use ozone anything, however much Bill Shatner yaks! They can void warranties on Cpaps if used as they do nothing to 'disinfect' anything and can cause respiratory and other problems (can't believe you haven't heard yet .
Second, overtightening the mask (that should just hover) is counterproductive and you're hurting yourself... loosen up, wrap the strap with something soft (your wife has the right idea) and use baby wipes on yourself (not the straps - but do keep them relatively clean).

AND, if you nap (from now on anyhow) use the machine!

If I don't tighten the straps, there is mask leaks all night long. It is loud and obnoxious. I'm trying to find a middle ground.

Why should I not use wipes on the straps? I've only done it once, but I'm curious what harm that would even do.

I did use my machine when I napped.

If you can't get the mask to fit even after watching UTube videos (they made some) then get another mask - there are lots out there and we've all gone through many when starting out (and since then). Plus warm water and a little Dawn (or whatever) is how to clean the straps... if keeping them covered doesn't work.

And good for using the machine when napping.

But you need to give yourself a little time, not with your MD or DME or whoever is giving bad advice out of ignorance of the machine, etc, but lots of people here who are experts x yrs of helping with the whole process. And AHI isn't everything - how you feel when awake (or at least 'up') counts as much if not more... you didn't know about AHI's before you went to get tested, just knew you felt like crap, so while it's important to keep an eye on Oscar and all it gives you, relax a little, do one thing at a time (mask fit, pressure adjustments, etc. etc) and it can only get better, right? Well, most here would agree, anyhow.

FatBruno wrote: ↑

Wed Jan 26, 2022 9:27 pm

This CPAP journey is kicking my tail.... My AHI yesterday was 8.7. That doesn't seem very good. I'm already at max pressure -- 25. Am I just a lost cause? Can I even get down below 5 AHI? This whole thing has me depressed today. I never would have guessed this would be such a challenge. Please tell me it's worth all the pain somehow in the end.

It'll be worth it! You're having the experience many people have -- that at the beginning, there's just one problem after another that needs to be solved. But you're doing a great job of tackling the issues that are coming up for you. You've come to this forum, where people can help you. You've checked back with your sleep clinic. Your wife has made strap covers for you. You're trying out masks.

As the comfort problems subside, we can take a look at what's going on with your AHI. Do you know its breakdown into obstructive apneas, central apneas, and hypopneas? If not, you can go into the clinical menu on your machine and select Essentials Plus. Be sure you're using a reporting period of one day.

To get into the clinical menu, hit the home button, then hold the home button down while pushing in the dial at the same time. After a few seconds, you'll see the option of entering the clinical menu. Once you're there, select Settings.

Once you have Essentials Plus on, you'll be able to see your AHI breakdown -- and other information too -- on your screen.

Thank you for the encouragement! I had a better night last night. I am posting yesterday's Oscar data. Not sure if this helps answer your questions about the AHI breakdown. It was better though. My best night so far @ 5 AHI.

Let me know what you think!