Newbie questions-

I went for a sleep study. Had lots of hypopneas. Went on the cpap on the second study. My doctor is prescribing a machine. He says I need to be at a high pressure- 16 cm. I remembered waking up twice at the end of the night when I think I was at a high pressure- woke up with leakage, and tightened the straps on the full face mask- twice. I also noticed when I was awake, that high pressure would make my cheeks bulge, if let it. And the next day I also had a sore nose bridge.

Questions:
Are there any masks best for high pressures?

I think the high pressure was annoying. Should I insist on a machine that ramps from low to high? Or do most of them do that?

How well do people like the nostril pillows?

Or nose mask?

I would worry about loss through the mouth. Someone mentioned that they tape their mouth closed every night? Does this work well?

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Some use a straight cpap at a pressure of 16, an auto may help, but some require a bilevel machine. Some places require you try a fixed pressure and fail before going to another machine. Don't know what your insurance says on that. You're going to get a wide variety of experiences on here, and it may take some effort to find a mask that can be adjusted to not hurt or leak too much. My pressure is only 12 so I can't say I know what it's like at that pressure. Some feel being able to use a pillows style mask is worth using the chin sraps and/or mouth taping (me for one), others have expressed that it was much less hassle for them to just use a full face mask. Even those who use the pillows can have a time of sore nares till they get toughened up. But a mask shouldn't be painful. I used one nasal mask that made an angry infected pressure sore on the side of my nose. No amount of time would get me used to that. It just wasn't the mask for me. I've seen some masks described as less tightening being better for it's function. Maybe one of those would be worth a try. Surely some with some specific advice will offer you some direction, and have tips specific for whatever mask you used that was painful. Best wishes as you navigate new waters.
Kathy