Full face weirdness

[chd3143]

I struggle with rem sleep mouth breathing. When I really relax I struggle to mouth breathe and end up waking up gasping. Chin straps aren't effective for me. So I started using a full face mask but my sleep numbers are tanking. Tons of snoring, ahi increased from .4 to 5, lots of oa's when I normally have none. I know there is some leaking but not too significant. Curious ... Is there any data that suggests that one should increase pressure with a full face mask? Seems like pressure should equalize with a good seal, but I'm out of ideas. Thanks!

[JimZZZ]

Don't know about the REMstar, but the Resmed S9 has a setting for the mask type in the clinician's menu. Maybe you could check that if you haven't already.

[surferdude2]

... Is there any data that suggests that one should increase pressure with a full face mask?

Each different CPAP mask has an intentional leak amount in order to ensure that your exhaled breath is diluted and purged and does not contaminate the next inhaled breath. This could be likened to hosing down the immediate area to clean it up. The larger the area, the more hosing down is needed. A nasal mask will have less physical interior volume so it takes less excess air flow to clean it of you exhaled breath. The full face mask has a much higher interior volume so it must be supplied with a greater volume of excess air to clean it.

With the above in mind, you can understand that if you do not change your system setting when switching from a nasal mask to a full faced mask, you will not be getting enough pressure to equal your previous therapy amount. That explains why your AHI figure increased.

[chd3143]

Surfer, which setting? Pressure? Thanks! That makes a lot more sense.

[archangle]

Curious ... Is there any data that suggests that one should increase pressure with a full face mask?

Some of the experts say that since a FFM presses on the lower jaw, it can cause the jaw to slide back, which makes apnea worse. It probably doesn't affect everyone the same way.

[chd3143]

Oh I did check my clinician settings, and it doesn't look like I can indicate which type of mask.

[retired_guy]

I would try increasing the pressure from 11.5 to 12 and see if that takes care of the ahi. You may need to go a little beyond that since it sounds as if you're right on the "cusp" of where you need to be at 11.5. But 12 for a few days, then re-evaluate.

[justMongo]

Oh I did check my clinician settings, and it doesn't look like I can indicate which type of mask.

Double check that.. and mask type is sometimes available in the user accessible settings. Mask type incompatibility may even effect apnea scoring.

[readyforsleep]

I too found that I needed a higher pressure with a full face mask. I was using the Simplus. The culprit in my case was the bottom strap that sits just below the ear. I would get runs of hypopneas and obstructives depending on how tight the bottom strap was. I would raise my pressure, the mask would have to be tighter and still I would see numerous events. I FINALLY LISTENED TO RETIRED GUY, ( don't tell him
he was right) switched back to my Swift fx and my ahi is much, much better. I thought I was a confirmed mouth breather, but with the correct pressure and Retired Guys tongue to the roof of the mouth trick, my jaw stays put with a little help from my chin strap.

p.s. thank-you Retired Guy, Galactus, Zonk, Paula and everyone for helping me figure this out. I'm trialing the P10 now and loving it ( SORRY, PAULA) I can't believe it is staying on my head!

[chd3143]

I FINALLY LISTENED TO RETIRED GUY, ( don't tell him
he was right) switched back to my Swift fx and my ahi is much, much better. I thought I was a confirmed mouth breather, but with the correct pressure and Retired Guys tongue to the roof of the mouth trick

Hey what was the trick?