ResMed AirFit N20 mask versus Respironics Wisp nasal mask (Gary Aikin)

I started using CPAP (with a ResMed AirCurve 10 VAuto) on December 8th. I quickly accepted the masks and air pressure, and each night I've become more comfortable sleeping with CPAP.

I've been experimenting with two masks: the ResMed AirFit N20 nasal mask and the Philips Respironics Wisp nasal mask. During the night I like to sleep part of the time on my side (sleeping on my side part of the time has had the added benefit of reducing my AHI values), and it seems the N20 seems to me more secure for this than the Wisp. However, when using the N20 the leakage rates reported by my AirCurve 10 are very high. Last night I tightened both the upper straps and the lower straps on my N20 (the straps seemed too loose to me), but during the night the high leakage alarm went off twice. When my wife woke me to tell me about this, the only air I felt coming out from the mask was from the vent -- I couldn't feel or hear any air escaping from the silicone cushion around my nose. My AHI last night (4.0) was higher than the previous night before I tightened the straps (2.5).

For anyone who uses an N20 or similar mask, can you give me any advice about what I might do to reduce or eliminate leakages with this mask?

If I can't fix the problem, in early January I will meet with the Respiratory Therapist at the DME company where I got the N20 to seek his help. He himself is a CPAP user, uses the N20 and recommended the N20 to me as an excellent mask for side sleepers. However, I would very much like to resolve this issue before January.

GaryAikin wrote: ↑

Mon Dec 24, 2018 7:41 am

reduce or eliminate leakages

Here are some general instructions. Make sure to watch some of the videos.

To reduce unintentional mask leak -

- Make sure the mask is fitted properly. (See mask manufacturer's video.)

- Make sure the headgear is adjusted properly (See mask manufacturer's video.)

- If you use a low ramp pressure or a low minimum pressure, you should fit and adjust your mask at the higher pressures it is operating at for most of the night. You would temporarily change the machine pressure settings while you do the fitting and adjusting. It's best to do this well before bedtime before you are tired and ready for sleep. Don't forget to change your settings back to the ones you prefer.

- Make sure to use good hose management - the hose should not pull on the mask. Notice how your hose is positioned between machine and mask. It should be positioned to minimize any pull on the mask. Hose management is an individual practice. How it is done depends on the mask, the position of the machine, your sleeping position and other factors specific to the individual.

- If you still have problems, learn from the forum what mask liners are available.

- Start a thread in cpaptalk asking for help. Subject: Need Help with Mask xxxxxx

- If your mask still has excessive leak, try other masks. Many people report trying several masks before they find one that works well for them.

Note: Links to just some of the mask manufacturers' instructional videos can be found on the forum host's website - https://www.cpap.com/cpap-masks.php and https://www.youtube.com/

- CG