Quick AirFit F30i question

Does anyone here using the AirFit F30i sleep on their stomach and use high pressures? I recently found out about this mask and it seems like it may be one of the few available masks suitable for stomach-sleepers. Because of my high pressures and particular sleeping positions, I have been limited to a rigid nasal-pillow mask, but it is discontinued now and I thought I may give the F30i a try. I am also a little concerned that it is a full-face mask, so I was wondering if any of you have made that particular transition (nasal pillows -> full-face). Thanks!

McSleepy

I am a side sleeper. (mostly) I recently changed from the P10 to the F30i. I developed mouth breathing and finally got fed up with the various mouth breathing blocking techniques. It worked I just got sick of it.

I have a full beard.
My large leak rate is now 0.
When one gets the sizing/fit right, it is the most firm fitting mask I have used yet. (F&P Brevida,F20,P30i,P10)
I roll around alot at night. It does not move.

Your experience may vary.

Good Luck.

JPB

You may have to fiddle with your pressure. Seem to me like I need a little more pressure with F30i vs the Pillow masks.

My pressures with pillows - min 13.6 / max. 20
My pressure with F30i - 14/20 and still watching.

I tried the F30 and the F30i.

Had the same issue with both. besides a minor leak issue I found that my nose did not correctly line up with the nose holes in the mask. as such it was always partially blocked making breathing difficult.
I used the medium size as that is the biggest available and beside that issue it fit quite well.

I think I needed slightly bigger nostril holes toward the outside of the nose pad.

I really hope they release an F30 style mask with pillows for the nose.

McSleepy wrote: ↑

Mon May 04, 2020 9:24 pm

McSleepy

Are you using the correct stomach-sleeping position?



See ---> http://www.uarsrelief.com/sleeppositions.html

paultn wrote: ↑

Tue May 05, 2020 12:16 pm

I tried the F30 and the F30i.

Had the same issue with both. besides a minor leak issue I found that my nose did not correctly line up with the nose holes in the mask. as such it was always partially blocked making breathing difficult.
I used the medium size as that is the biggest available and beside that issue it fit quite well.

I think I needed slightly bigger nostril holes toward the outside of the nose pad.

I really hope they release an F30 style mask with pillows for the nose.

There is a wide cushion with standard frame #63333.
Link below.
Left click size arrow down.

There are 5 different combinations.
The wide cushion with standard frame is the fourth one down.
(there is also a medium cushion with large frame)
I would think one could buy the frame and cushions separately and mix them in any combination desired .


https://www.cpap.com/productpage/resmed ... #specs-tab

JPB

I use the wide cushion with standard frame #63333
I am a fairly big guy with a normal size head for a fairly big guy.
It fits perfectly.

jimbud wrote: ↑

Tue May 05, 2020 10:12 am

I am a side sleeper. (mostly) I recently changed from the P10 to the F30i. I developed mouth breathing and finally got fed up with the various mouth breathing blocking techniques. It worked I just got sick of it.

I have a full beard.
My large leak rate is now 0.
When one gets the sizing/fit right, it is the most firm fitting mask I have used yet. (F&P Brevida,F20,P30i,P10)
I roll around alot at night. It does not move.

Your experience may vary.

Good Luck.

JPB

You may have to fiddle with your pressure. Seem to me like I need a little more pressure with F30i vs the Pillow masks.

My pressures with pillows - min 13.6 / max. 20
My pressure with F30i - 14/20 and still watching.

Thank you, that is reassuring (the stability and the high pressure capability).
McSleepy

paultn wrote: ↑

Tue May 05, 2020 12:16 pm

I tried the F30 and the F30i.

Had the same issue with both. besides a minor leak issue I found that my nose did not correctly line up with the nose holes in the mask. as such it was always partially blocked making breathing difficult.
I used the medium size as that is the biggest available and beside that issue it fit quite well.

I think I needed slightly bigger nostril holes toward the outside of the nose pad.

I really hope they release an F30 style mask with pillows for the nose.

Thank you. That is one of my fears: I had a similar experience when I tried the Dreamwear variants (nasal and pillows) - it just would not fit (or stay put), and I tried all sizes and shapes (wide-mid seemed to be better than large). The F30i seems bigger than the Dreamwear, though.

McSleepy

One more question: do any of you end up burying your face in the pillow such that the front exhaust port is completely blocked? I do that all the time and I wonder if the F30i upper port would be sufficient to effectively exhaust the CO2.

McSleepy

I use a Buckwheat Hull pillow.
Would be very difficult to "bury" one's head in it. So no for me.

That being said, there are vent holes in the lower part of the plastic cushion frame.
There are anti-asphyxiation valves where the arms attach to the plastic cushion frame.
There are vent holes in the top connector where the machine hose connects to the top of the mask arms.

You will have to be the judge if that is enough for your sleep style.

JPB

Thank you, all! I think I have enough to want to try it. Main reason is, the mask seems very modifiable, so I think I'll be able to make it work. I was mostly drawn by one of ResMed's own marketing photos:
. .
I dig even deeper in my pillow, but that kind of looks like it. Also, for the nose openings, it seems like the silicone may be cut to fit. I keep my mouth firmly shut while sleeping (wish I could do that while awake ), so the "full-face" aspect of it might not be a problem. Now, to see when my sleep doctor's office will be opening...

McSleepy

McSleepy wrote: ↑

Wed May 06, 2020 5:57 pm

Also, for the nose openings, it seems like the silicone may be cut to fit.

It can be cut, but it will almost certainly be ruined.

ChicagoGranny wrote: ↑

Thu May 07, 2020 7:35 am

McSleepy wrote: ↑

Wed May 06, 2020 5:57 pm

Also, for the nose openings, it seems like the silicone may be cut to fit.

It can be cut, but it will almost certainly be ruined.

+1

The nose openings are large.
You will just need to align them with your nares.
Get it right and you will be rewarded.

JPB

So, on Friday I went out and got the mask from the DME service at my sleep doctor's office. He's more of a sleep technician, they don't sell the masks, but he gave me a sample. I tried it for two nights and it's not going to be easy. Mostly the leaks (he did say those masks were known for excessive leaks). And it's not a slow leak that can be somewhat compensated by the machine; it's a sustained, intense, loud "farting" noise that comes up when I position my head in a certain way. I tried adjusting the straps, and playing with pressures but they're already as low as can be - any other position than face-down and the AHI jumps up; currently, 14/20 EPAP/IPAP. If I'm sideways or on my back - no leaks, at all. And I'm not even mentioning the great annoyance of the mask abruptly inflating like an airbag with each switch to IPAP; I wish it was a bit stiffer. I tried the auto mode but I have not played with all combinations. I think I may be able to learn to position myself in a way that it doesn't leak badly. I may also try to teach myself to tolerate a lesser rate of pressure increase (via the "rise time" parameter), which might help with the leaks, too. Or maybe to use EPR with a lesser pressure support; that may be able to soften the pressure rise, which was undesirable with my nasal-pillow Breeze.

The good news is, the nasal interface is fitting quite well. This mask is the only one so far (other than my regular Breeze) that I've been able to tolerate. I still dislike the idea that it seems like it won't last very long and I'd be forced to order new ones periodically (my insurance would pay, I'd just hate the waste); unlike my current mask, which is at least 10 years old and shows no signs of failing.

On a side note, does anyone know what exactly does the mask setup setting do? I feel it may just be for the machine's mask-fitting procedure, which I don't use. I left it at "full-face mask" the night before and then used my Breeze, and it didn't seem to affect the control algorithms (just going by feel).

McSleepy

McSleepy wrote: ↑

Mon Jun 01, 2020 6:14 pm

On a side note, does anyone know what exactly does the mask setup setting do?

Courtesy of Jay:

Jay Aitchsee wrote: ↑

Sun Aug 14, 2016 5:03 am

Many ResMed devices offer an interface selection menu. Selecting the suitable interface enables the device to factor in the intentional leak emitting from the mask vent, which allows for more accurate unintentional leak reporting and alarm accuracy.

Jay provided a link to this statement on ResMed's Aussie dealer site, but the link is dead now.

ChicagoGranny wrote: ↑

Tue Jun 02, 2020 10:49 am

McSleepy wrote: ↑

Mon Jun 01, 2020 6:14 pm

On a side note, does anyone know what exactly does the mask setup setting do?

Courtesy of Jay:

Jay Aitchsee wrote: ↑

Sun Aug 14, 2016 5:03 am

Many ResMed devices offer an interface selection menu. Selecting the suitable interface enables the device to factor in the intentional leak emitting from the mask vent, which allows for more accurate unintentional leak reporting and alarm accuracy.

Jay provided a link to this statement on ResMed's Aussie dealer site, but the link is dead now.

Thanks, that's what I thought it was.

McSleepy