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05-14-2025, 10:15 AM (This post was last modified: 05-14-2025, 10:20 AM by Kyoung25. Edited 3 times in total.)
Kyoung25 - Therapy Assistance
Hi-I did an at home study and was diagnosed with mild apnea. I also have heart arrhythmias (have had 2 ablations) and according to my oura ring I still have arrhythmias most of the night. I have the ResMed AirSense 10 respond and an airfit F40 mask. My machine is set for 5-20, EPR on 1 full time, set to full face mask. I’m a back sleeper so my mouth drops open so at first I was getting chipmunk cheeks that woke me up and also an extremely dry throat (assuming from me breathing through my mouth). I have reined that in with mouth tape and now only get occasional chipmunk cheeks (tried the somnoseal with mouth tape and didn’t care for it-still got chipmunk cheeks and was unable to exhale them out).
From day 1 of use, my arrhythmias while sleeping have completely vanished and my oura sleep data has improved. However, I don’t love the mask. I have a difficult time getting the nostril holes lined up and I don’t like the pressure on my septum. It also often leaks after I’m sleeping for a few hours which wakes me up. I tighten the straps but often have a difficult time getting the leaks to stop (and this is while I’m still on my back, not tossing and turning which I never do). Sometimes I have to have it tight enough it leaves marks on my face. I don't really want the full mask that goes over my nose and mouth. I was wondering since I am having good luck with the mouth tape (I also have a cervical cushion coming and would try a chin strap if I need to) if I may be able to use the air touch N20 mask. What do you guys think? I will attach my Oscar data from last night. Ok-I’m having difficulty adding my Oscar screenshots. They aren’t showing up.
Welcome! Your chart shows very few leaks, and they are minor. Of course, if they wake you up they're still a problem.
Finding a comfortable and well-fitting mask can be a bit of a challenge for many people, so don't hesitate to experiment. Nasal pillow masks have fewer places to leak, and the pillows can sometimes help to anchor the mask.
So you might want to consider a pillow mask. The ResMed P10 is light and minimalist; for a more structured option you might consider the Aloha. I use the Bleep Dreamport mask, but it might be a little too fiddly to try at the outset of your PAP treatment. But the question isn't what works for other people; it's what works for you. If you order a pillow mask, be sure to get a fit pack, which will allow you to try small, medium, and large pillows.
Looking at your Oscar chart, I see very heavy flow limitations. Do you have a stuffy nose? If not, the tissues in your pharynx may be relaxing during sleep and limiting the flow of air through your airway.
The best way to address flow limitations is through using your maximum EPR of 3. This will drop your pressure by 3 when you exhale, and by the same token, it will increase your pressure when you inhale. That little pressure boost is what can help with FLs.
So you might consider raising your minimum to 8 (to compensate for the EPR) and raising your EPR to 3.
Thank you Dormeo for the input. I do not have a stuffy nose! I have tried to change my EPR, but I am unable to do so. I can get to the menu, but the comfort option won’t let me at those settings. I will ask my clinician about changing it. I did notice the first week I had the machine I had a hard time falling back asleep if I woke up bc it was difficult to exhale. I would have to turn the machine off and back on again so it would start at low pressure again.
I assume the nasal pillow masks press on the septum like my F40? That is kind of why I was looking at the other nasal mask bc I don’t like my F40 pressing up against my septum. Hopefully my insurance will allow me to try a different mask!
(05-15-2025, 12:07 AM)super7pilot Wrote: Do you know how to get into the clinical settings area? If not, here is a link to show you how. Clinical settings guide
Yes I am able to get into the clinical settings but the comfort line where I would be able to change the EPR doesn’t highlight and won’t let me into it. I will try it again to be sure.
As you had initially a problem displaying your graphs, I think the easiest way for you, and for us to review your therapy, is to simplify them into one graph, by posting just these really essential ones:-
If you can, we need the statistics section that appears after the AHI banner. Getting the settings section also may be a bit tricky. You could try the setting in the attached screen shot, just for the left hand side.
Agree with Dormeo on adjusting EPR, this should help with reducing flow limitations and improving comfort.
I am curious as to understand why your pressure needs to go so high from your base line pressure, just to deal with your apnea catorgorised as mild apnea. Usually the culprits are flow mimitations.
Hopefully the higher EPR will improve this situation . However, it would be useful to post your sleep study, with of course your personal details redacted. There may be some clues to be found here.
Concerning masks, a pillows mask is a good choice. I cannot sleep with too much paraphernalia on my face, tried a dozen FFMs,and 3 hybrid, finally settling on a Breveda pillows mask. Great with a diffuser that is really quiet, and most importantly, no air blast!
As a terrible mouth breather, I need to use tape, with lips curled inwards so as to get the best seal possible.
As a further addition, due to my relatively high pressures, I need a chin strap also. Recently I found a real cheaply strap on AliExpress! (See attached screen shot) Got to be total rubbish... right?
But no, big surprise, I found it really good. For me, it certainly doesn't pull my jaw backwards causing either increased apnea, or worse still, damage to jaw articulation. (I am very attached to my jaw, so want to keep it so!!!)
But I should add that the other ones advertised are uncomfortable and in my opinion, to be avoided.
To add to these helpful recent posts, the nasal pillow masks that I've used don't press on the septum. The pillows rest on the outer edges of the nostrils.
As you had initially a problem displaying your graphs, I think the easiest way for you, and for us to review your therapy, is to simplify them into one graph, by posting just these really essential ones:-
If you can, we need the statistics section that appears after the AHI banner. Getting the settings section also may be a bit tricky. You could try the setting in the attached screen shot, just for the left hand side.
Agree with Dormeo on adjusting EPR, this should help with reducing flow limitations and improving comfort.
I am curious as to understand why your pressure needs to go so high from your base line pressure, just to deal with your apnea catorgorised as mild apnea. Usually the culprits are flow mimitations.
Hopefully the higher EPR will improve this situation . However, it would be useful to post your sleep study, with of course your personal details redacted. There may be some clues to be found here.
Concerning masks, a pillows mask is a good choice. I cannot sleep with too much paraphernalia on my face, tried a dozen FFMs,and 3 hybrid, finally settling on a Breveda pillows mask. Great with a diffuser that is really quiet, and most importantly, no air blast!
As a terrible mouth breather, I need to use tape, with lips curled inwards so as to get the best seal possible.
As a further addition, due to my relatively high pressures, I need a chin strap also. Recently I found a real cheaply strap on AliExpress! (See attached screen shot) Got to be total rubbish... right?
But no, big surprise, I found it really good. For me, it certainly doesn't pull my jaw backwards causing either increased apnea, or worse still, damage to jaw articulation. (I am very attached to my jaw, so want to keep it so!!!)
But I should add that the other ones advertised are uncomfortable and in my opinion, to be avoided.
Hope some of this may help.
Thank you for all of this! I will try to get my sleep study results from my primary care doc or maybe even the CPAP clinician. I will look into your preferred chin strap and get one to try. I also roll my lips in before mouth taping.
Now I really want to try the pillows mask as it sounds like it might work for me. I will have to see if my insurance covers a different mask setup. I do like the air going up my nose from the F40, but I have trouble getting the nose holes lined up and it hurts my septum.
Originally I thought the full mask would be perfect for me-mouth open or not! I didn’t realize the chipmunk cheek issue when your mouth doesn’t even have to be open…or the horrible dry throat when your mouth does open. So when I have to seal up my pie hole even with a full mask, I don’t see any advantage of using one.
Thank you for all the help. The next time I post my Oscar data I will single out the info you said was most important. Also I will take a video of what I mean when I enter the clinical menu but cannot access the comfort option to change my EPR. I also don’t know the reasoning behind my pressure settings-maybe they just set them like that until they see how the machine reacted to me for a while? I’m totally new to this so I have no idea.
(05-15-2025, 09:29 AM)Dormeo Wrote: To add to these helpful recent posts, the nasal pillow masks that I've used don't press on the septum. The pillows rest on the outer edges of the nostrils.
