UMFF fans! Need tricks of the trade on taming this beast!

Den,

Good thought, with my toggling back and forth between masks. As I was pretty beat when I went to bed last night, I just took a look at that setting again, and I did have it set to "Mir Full" (looks like "Ultra" would work too by my S8 manual).

Ken

Ken,

ResMed gives their leakage in seconds and Respironics does their's in minutes. So, multiplying your leakrate of .35 x 60 gives a leak per minute of 21.

http://www.internetage.com/cpapinfo/leak-rates-1.html

According to ResMed's chart for the UMFF, a leak rate of about 39 lpm would be "typical" for that setting.
Are you SURE you're BREATHING??

By the way, are you using EPR?

Anyway, hang in there.

Den

Wulfman wrote:Ken,
According to ResMed's chart for the UMFF, a leak rate of about 39 lpm would be "typical" for that setting.
Are you SURE you're BREATHING??

By the way, are you using EPR?

In a post I made earlier this year (viewtopic.php?t=12030&highlight=), some members helped me understand what Resmed does with the mask setting. Let me try to explain it the way I think it works based on that discussion. When my head goes clearly up my backside, feel free to correct me; it is the only way I will learn.

The mask setting parameter, in this case "Mir Full" or "Ultra", tells the machine that it is connected to that kind of mask, ie a full face mask. Based on this setting, the curve depicting the vent flow rate (l/m) versus mask pressure (cm/H2O) for that mask is used in the machine to "null out" the mask's inherent leakage, or whats going out the vent by design.

If I had a perfect face to mask seal, when I read my efficacy data, I would see a reading of 0.0 l/s, even though the mask is venting off, for example 35 l/m (at 11 cm/H2O it would be around this for a medium UMFF). I believe the reading I'm getting through my efficacy menu for leakage of 0.35 l/s (or 21 l/m) is strictly face to mask seal leakage.

As far as EPR, I'm slowly weaning myself off of it. When I received my machine, it was set at 3. After reading a post (I think by MandoJohnny) that stated the user was seeing lower AHI etc without EPR, I decided to try to "play" with this parameter. I lowered my EPR from 3 to 2 which improved my AHI, AI and HI and increased my "sensed" pressure from 9 ish to around 10.2 for a treatment pressure of 11 cm/H2O.

Ken

Went to a mask fitting clinic last week after being retested and discovering that not only were my settings astronomically too high (nearly double what they needed to be, generating centrals regularly), but in deep sleep my mouth blew open. So on to trying a FF mask. (Not a fan of taping, though I've tried it.)

Wisdom of guy doing the fitting: everyone's face is different, and there is no best mask in general, only masks that fit a person specifically. The UMFF hurts the bridge of my nose - and I had fitted it correctly and well at home - so I needed to explore others. F&P 431 leaked, as did Hans Rudolf and Respironics. The only one that didn't - though it, too may prove to have other problems - was the Tiara Advantage FF. It's being sent to me.

If you can find a mask fitting clinic connected to your sleep center, it can sure save you some time, expense, and inconvenience.

Wulfman wrote:
ResMed gives their leakage in seconds and Respironics does their's in minutes.

Except on the newResMed ASV, its in L/minute...which confused me at first, switching from a Respironics Synchrony and knowing ResMed always measured it differently, so I was trying to 'convert' it...kind of like when I came back from living in Ireland and found myself convertng US prices to Irish pounds and then back to US $$

Morpheus wrote: The only one that didn't - though it, too may prove to have other problems - was the Tiara Advantage FF. It's being sent to me.

Please let us know what you think of that mask after you try it.
The Tiara Full Advantage looks like it *could be* comfortable.....

Hi, Ken and welcome to the wonderful world of UMFF! That's been my #1 mask since I started on XPAP back about 20 months ago.

I found several things that worked well for me. #1, I push the forehead adjustment button on the bridge of my nose all the way in. #2, I keep the upper straps almost, kinda sorta loose and have used paper tape on the bridge of my nose to prevent leaks. #3, keep the lower straps only medium tight, just enough so that you don't have leaks when you put the mask on and have your pressure at your upper limit. #4, adjust the tightness of all straps using your max pressure and while you are laying down. When I tried to adjust mine at minimum pressure at the beginning of my ramp, it would leak when it got up to around 13 or 14 cm H2O. #5, when you put the mask on and turn on your XPAP, pull the mask straight away from your face for just a fraction of an inch to let the seal inflate properly and then place it back on your face gently (NOTE: At this point, do NOT let go of the mask when you have it pulled away from your face! It will give you such a smack on the face if you do! LOLOL). #6 Be sure both your face and the mask seal are clean before you put it on. It seems to make the mask seal much better.

I think the main 2 things are to NOT overtighten the straps and to give it that little pull just after you turn on your XPAP. Like I said earlier, the UMFF is my mask of choice and I've been using it successfully for almost 20 months now.

Good luck and keep trying!

Kajun

This therapy WORKS!!!

_________________

CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): Ramp, seal, clean

Like Knightfall, I'm trying to get used to the UMFF (or any FF mask, for that matter) because of bouts of nasal congestion. But if I could get used to it, that would be good because I do some mouth breathing too. I'm lucky to have an amazingly patient RT at my DME because I've been "trialing" for almost 2 months now!

I tried the HC432 and loved it except that as soon as I go on my back, it starts fluttering, farting and leaking around my chin area. I finally gave up on it.

I love the UMFF but the problem I'm having is that I'm stuck between too much and too little humidity. Too little because I'm constantly coughing and getting an irritated through (I have a bottle of water & throat losenges on my night table). Too much because as soon as I start coughing, the exhaust valve start whistling away. The latest thing we're trying is that the RT changed the exhaust valve on the UMFF and I've ordered a CPAP tube wrap from http://www.cpaptubewrap.com (it should be coming in any day now). Once I get the tube wrap, I'll try the UMFF again, with pressure at 3 and we'll see what happens.

Even if I finally give up on FF masks, the tube wrap should be helpful since I often had rainout with my beloved HC406.

France

TXKajun wrote: #1, I ush the forehead adjustment button on the bridge of my nose all the way in. #2, I keep the upper straps almost, kinda sorta loose and have used paper tape on the bridge of my nose to prevent leaks.

TXKajun,

Two quick questions: 1. Do you have that the forehead piece straight up and down (pos #1) or on almost a 45 degree angle (pos #4)? 2. Give me a little more detail where you are applying the paper tape, ie on your skin under the mask?

Thx, Ken

Hi Ken.

The forehead piece is straight up and down, I think. To expand on what I said, I just take the tip of my index finger and press the adjustment button between my eyes all the way toward my face till the last click. That seats the top of the mask closest to my face. Then, I tighten the top straps until I can barely feel them holding the forehead part against my forehead.

As for the tape, I've tried it across the bridge of my nose, sticky side against my nose and with the sticky side up against the mask. It seems, at least for me, that it works best with the sticky side against my nose. I use Johnson and Johnson paper tape from Walmart. I think it's 1 inch wide. I tear a strip about 2" long and just put it over the bridge of my nose where the mask touches. Well, at least I used to. Now my nose is used to the mask and tape is no longer needed. I get a little red mark on my nose, but it's gone by the time I get dressed and drink a cup of coffee in the morning. No soreness, however! Also, I tried moleskin, but that was a tad too thick. Also, with the moleskin, it has to be fastened to the mask, not the face. When I tried attaching it to my face, it was a bit painful to peel off. Not to mention more expensive than the paper tape.

Hope this helps! Stick with it.

Kajun

This therapy WORKS!!!

frapilu wrote: I'm lucky to have an amazingly patient RT at my DME because I've been "trialing" for almost 2 months now!

Whoa, that is patient. My RT gave me a week, which I thought was pretty generous. Hopefully your RT can get your humidity issue solved.

Morpheus wrote:If you can find a mask fitting clinic connected to your sleep center, it can sure save you some time, expense, and inconvenience.

I'll have to contact my sleep center to see if they sponsor such a clinic. Thanks for the info.

Ken