Can I switch to a full face mask?

Hi;

I have had two sleep studies done 3 years apart with the last one 4 years ago. Both confirm borderline apnea with severe snoring. The doctor prescribed a machine out of the goodness of his heart since I had tried several devices and a somnaplasty procedure with failed results. As the apnea is borderline I am out of pocket for my equipment, but that is not an issue as I am only trying to spare my wife sleepless nights. I currently have an activa mask and I am told that I am starting to snore through the mask. Have tried adjusting the straps in case it was shifting at night but only getting mixed results.

Recently I rec'd an email ad for a new full face mask on the market that eliminates the over the head straps and that put a bug in my head. If I switch over to a full face mask that might eliminate the snoring even with the mask shifting around.

Do full face masks require different settings or machines or can I hook it up to my existing resmed?

Not sure if this is relative, but my machine is 8 years old.

Sorry, meant to type 5 years.

Have you had your machine's pressure tested? From what I've read here, it is possible that your machine may no longer be delivering the correct air pressure.

Alternatively, have you tried adjusting your pressure up a little bit? Sometimes pressure needs change with age, weight, etc.

Weezy

A little more detail on your issue might be good.

Snoring seems to imply that your pressure isn't high enough. But if you feel a FFM will help you, do you have leaks or gurgling out of your mouth? In that case, a FFM would probably work but there are other methods to deal with that issue too. Personally those other solutions don't appeal to me, though.


Also, depending on what your script says, you might need to get a new one to have a FFM.

You can use any mask with any machine. Newer machines have settings for various masks (it's not the same as changing the pressure), but I doubt your 8 (5?) year old machine does.

But if you are snoring, chances are your pressure is not right. A different mask won't help, unless you are mouth breathing with the Activa.

Does your old machine have any data onboard? Can it tell you what your AHI is?

Janknitz wrote:You can use any mask with any machine. Newer machines have settings for various masks (it's not the same as changing the pressure), but I doubt your 8 (5?) year old machine does.

But if you are snoring, chances are your pressure is not right. A different mask won't help, unless you are mouth breathing with the Activa.

Does your old machine have any data onboard? Can it tell you what your AHI is?

This is correct thinking, however a even better solution would be a a new machine that records what is happening through the night and the software to read the data. After all your machine is getting old and would make for a backup option. You could get better treatment for yourself. By buying online the costs can be reduced too. Having the data of your treatment is important, it beats guessing. Jim

Dug wrote:Hi;

I have had two sleep studies done 3 years apart with the last one 4 years ago. Both confirm borderline apnea with severe snoring. The doctor prescribed a machine out of the goodness of his heart since I had tried several devices and a somnaplasty procedure with failed results. As the apnea is borderline I am out of pocket for my equipment, but that is not an issue as I am only trying to spare my wife sleepless nights. I currently have an activa mask and I am told that I am starting to snore through the mask. Have tried adjusting the straps in case it was shifting at night but only getting mixed results.

Recently I rec'd an email ad for a new full face mask on the market that eliminates the over the head straps and that put a bug in my head. If I switch over to a full face mask that might eliminate the snoring even with the mask shifting around.

Do full face masks require different settings or machines or can I hook it up to my existing resmed?

Snoring is the result of not enuff pressure. Could the mask be leaking?

The mask type won't cause snoring. But yea, try the FFM, hook it right up.

Sorry about the lack of information. My script is for CPAP 7cm. I have a Remstar Plus C-Flex with 10,234 hours on it. I can only adjust down on it, not up. I use a Resmed Mirage activa nasal mask with it. Cannot advise what noises I make as I am asleep when it is going on and my angry wife only says I'm snoring without much description. I do have allergies and spray a 4 hour spray before going to sleep and also take a zrytec, but wondering if a lot of nasal congestion is catching up in my sleep.


Logical advice over data recording.

Recommendations as to what to replace my Remstar with, that is close, that will allow me to see what is going on and won't break my bank account as I will be out of pocket.

I would suggest looking at cpap.com, our parent site. They have the best prices many of us have found, and you can choose to have them listed based on specific needs ("advanced software/data"). There are many data-compatible machines. The two most commonly used ones, at least it seems to be on this forum, are the ResMed S9 and the Respironics System One. You may also have the option of a cpap machine or an apap (auto adjusting cpap) machine, depending on your prescription. IF you have the option, many of us choose the apap, since it can be used to titrate (find) your correct pressure, in case it has changed, and can also be used in straight cpap mode, if that works better for you. But, the auto's tend to run a little more money. (less than another sleep study, if you thought you might need another one to find the correct pressure)

If you're looking at the Resmed... stay away from anything with the name Escape or Compact in it.
If you're looking at the Phillips Resprionics (PR) Series One (S1), stay away from the Remstar PLUS or the DS150.

Those machines will not give you full data (including leak data)... the DS150 won't even give you exhale relief.