New to Sleep Apnea

I just recieved my machine on friday and am having a hard time getting the mask to seal. I have a Respironics BiPap Auto Bi-Flex and am using a Fitlife full face mask. Everything has been kind of rushed so I haven't had much time to do any research on masks or anything else. I have an AHI of 103 and I think that is why it has only taken a week and a half to meet the Dr., have 2 sleep studies, and receive my equipment. Anyway my pressures are 23cm inhale and 17 cm exhale. The technician at the DME said the these are high pressures and that is way I am having trouble. I was just wondering what other people with high pressures are using for masks and how they get them to seal because currently I have to tighten the mask really tight to get a seal and it is uncomfortable. I also have nose problems and am going it for my 3rd surgery for that this thursday. I only bring that up because I was wondering if anyone was using nasal pillows with pressures as high as mine? Thanks for any and all Help.

If you have nose problems... you'll need to use a FFM (or hybrid)... unless the surgery will correct it.

I doubt you can use nasal pillows with that high a pressure. The mask I like is the FitLife Total Face Mask. I had good luck getting it to seal at higher pressures.
Good luck.

Thanks for your replies. I think I'm going to wait until a couple of months after my nose surgery to try the hybrid mask. As for the FitLife Mask that is what I have now and it works well until my pressure gets up around 20. I was thinking about trying the Total Face Mask and was wondering if anyone was using it with high pressures and how it worked.

I used the FitLife Total Face Mask up to pressures of 27. Not to say it wasn't a challenge getting it not to leak at those pressures. 23 IPAP will be a challenge, too. One thing I had to do with that mask- the middle strap kept sliding down my head so I tied it with a shoestring to the strap that goes over the very top of your head. Now I just wear a kufi hat underneath and that keeps the straps from sliding. Your head may be bigger than mine, but I had that middle strap as tight as it would go.
Good luck.

Check in with Karen (member here) of Padacheek and see if she makes some sort of anti-leak strap for the mask you are using. I am using one on the Quattro and it seems to help a lot, although my pressures are not as high as yours.

If you can possibly get your nose cleared up, life is a lot easier with a nasal mask simply because there's is less surface area to spring a leak. I thought I was a dedicated mouth breather when I first started, but--to my delight and surprise--a combination of good nasal "hygiene" (saline rinses, oral antihistamine, and Singulair in my case) plus the pressure of the CPAP itself (in my case via nasal pillow mask) actually cleared out my nose for the first time in YEARS. It's a mixed blessing--some of the smells I can smell now aren't so pleasant--but it has been yet another benefit of CPAP.