Does FFM Pressure need to be higher compared to nasal pillows?

[isuckatsleeping]

I've been using the ResMed F20 for 3 days now. I very much like it better than the N20 because I mouth breathe quite a bit. The nasal mask would wake me up multiple times a night due to the leaf blower effect when I was mouth breathing. The F20 is much better for me - no issues at all with leaking. I've noticed though that my AHI is coming in around 3 with the FFM, and I"ve woken up from them the past 2 nights.

The pressure definitely does not feel as intense as when I was using the nasal pillows, even w/the same pressure settings. Does FFMs require higher pressure to achieve the same results as nasal pillows?

Here are the last two nights. Thinking I'll up the min. pressure to 9 and max to 12 for tonight. I also dropped the ERP from 3 to 2 last night, seemed to help a very small amount.

[Sleep2Snore]

No, but you need to set the machine to the type of mask you are now using.
Go into the settings by holding in the big round button and the long one at the bottom for a few seconds.
When display changes, go into options and look for mask type, change it to the type of mask you are now using.
To change display and select, turn large know and press to select.
Do not adjust anything else when you are in there until you know what you are adjusting.
To come back out of this, go to top and press round button until display returns to normal.

[Walla Walla]

From personal use I've found that there can be a 1cm to 2cm difference in minimum pressure required between pillow masks and full face masks. I'd assume the same is true for nasal masks. An example would be using the P10 pillow mask I require 10cm minimum and with the F20 I require 12cm minimum pressure to get the same results.

[Sleepster]

When you adjust the setting for the mask type the machine automatically adjusts the pressure to compensate for the pressure differences due to mask type.

I think your problem is that you need a higher pressure.

[isuckatsleeping]

No, but you need to set the machine to the type of  mask you are now using.
Go into the settings by holding in the big round button and the long one at the bottom for a few seconds.
When display changes, go into options and look for mask type, change it to the type of mask you are now using.
To change display and select, turn large know and press to select.
Do not adjust anything else when you are in there until you know what you are adjusting.
To come back out of this, go to top and press round button until display returns to normal.

Thanks. I did adjust the settings to Full mask from pillows before the switch to FFM.

[isuckatsleeping]

From personal use I've found that there can be a 1cm to 2cm difference in minimum pressure required between pillow masks and full face masks. I'd assume the same is true for nasal masks.  An example would be using the P10 pillow mask I require 10cm minimum and with the F20 I require 12cm minimum pressure to get the same results.

Sounds good. I’ll increase tonight and see how it goes. I’m loving the FFM. Feel great today even with the apneas and some minimal arousals.

[mesenteria]

Different mask volumes make a difference.  A nasal pillow vs a full face mask will be in the order of ten times the volume for the larger mask.  The volume, itself, represents a buffer for pressure adjustment with the lesser volume being more sensitive to continued flow once the desired pressure is achieved by the apparatus.  With a given fan speed, but in the smaller mask, the desired pressure is reached in far shorter time, and the overshoot stands to be considerably greater while the fan reduces speed and flow in response.  The net effect in a larger volume is much less where the slowing fan's output is more easily accommodated by the mass of air and will have less of an overshoot effect.  Means fewer leaks for one thing.

I am not sufficiently educated or knowledgeable of the device and software to know to what extent this factor has a bearing, but it seems likely to me that it is a consideration.

[AshSF]

With f10 ffm my average pressure was Close to 9 and went as far as 14 at times.

Now I sleep with a fixed 7 with my p10.

Ymmv