ASV, N20, EERS?, How I quit mouth tape.

[Rich66]

I stumbled into some luck, thought I'd share it.  I taped my mouth shut for about two years, and tried quitting it several times but had no luck.  Too many leaks.  Always had to go back to it -- using Cover Roll tape, and sometimes double the layers on it.  One thing I have not liked about the N20 mask is the exhalation port is right by the cushion.  Too many times, the air would blow onto my sheets and bounce back and blow onto me -- and that would wake me up.  So I thought I'd try moving the port closer to the heated hose connection.  I looked into my box of spare parts and found a hose connector from the F30i mask.  With a little tape, I made a decent connection to the existing N20 connector hose.  And the F30i connector plugged into the heated hose.  And I used tape to cover the stock exhale port holes of the N20 connector.  Careful taping allowed full swivel action as desired.

It was a noticeable difference in my breathing and sleep.  It felt so comfortable that on the third night I decided to try it without taping my mouth shut.  It's been over 3 months now since I stopped taping.  I have very few leaks, and they're small if they do occur -- and no more blow back air waking me up.  The only issue I've had is noticeably more moisture in the connector tube.  So I wrapped the tube to insulate it just like the heated tube has the fleece cover on it.  Not only did I solve the blow back issue, but I solved the tape issue also -- which I wasn't expecting.  Win Win.

Just sharing in case it helps someone.  I use the Resmed AirCurve 10 ASV.

[churras]

Can you take a pic please? I'm really trying to understand and make something similar with the p30i

[Rich66]

https://www.apneaboard.com/forums/Thread...ResMed-ASV

See Post # 53, photo attached. And I'm still not taping, generally have no leaks.

[churras]

Thanks!!

[Canuck 2]

Interesting set up looking at your photo, so primary mask has exhaust ports(blocked or partially blocked) and the elbow would always be venting that is attached to main Cpap hose from machine = lower mask pressure if I'm  understanding you correctly + it almost looks like a EERs modification! Are you still using this mask set up and how is Oscar readings, hopefully for the better. 
Thanks for sharing!

[Rich66]

Yes, still using this exact setup.  I've been using it for about 18 months now.   I'm getting the best sleep I've had since starting CPAP therpy 5.5 years ago -- though it's not perfect.  I go to bed at 10 pm, I still wakeup often at 3:00 or there abouts, sometimes to p***. .  I'm up for a couple of hours, drink one cup decaf, and generally eat a small snack, then get sleepy again and go back to bed for my final session of sleep, which is my best sleep of the night, including dreams.  I no longer experience the "zombie" mode.  Not having my zombie head, and being able to function like an adult is a win win in my book.
    Average hours per night is about 6:40, AHI is 0.40, very few if any leaks.
I put a double layer of the Cover Roll tape over the exhale ports at the cushion. The tapes do 'release' now and then, and need reapplying.
My first week of doing this worked well, but about the 9th day with the same tape, I noticed it got 'smelly'. I figured it must be from the tape at the cushion port. I wash my equipment once a week, and replace that tape at the cushion every week. The other tape up at the hose connection works itself loose now and then and then needs replacing. Perhaps a more serious tape might be in order, but it's working for me.