[Equipment] ResMed Quiet Air Diffuser Vent F30

[hegel]

Lacro...I'm assuming that you also don't have issues with co2 build up etc?

I just got this mask in. Ordered a large, was sent a medium...whatever, I tried it for forty minutes. Could be great (in a large) but yes, the exhaust or whatever you call it seems minimal. Tonight should tell. I had no issues breathing at all. But where does all the out breath go?

[hegel]

Well, on the second night I got through the entire night with this mask. Very good! No leaks and I slept for hours on end at a time. And no 're-breathed co2 headache' in the morning. However this last remains my main concern. there simply isn't much breath escaping from the elbow, compared to all my other masks.

the medium size is so tight around my mouth that it effectively keeps it from opening--better than a chin strap. Of course, that's not really what I want with this mask! My DME got on the phone and got my provider to send the size large that was ordered in the first place. Can't wait to try that.

I'm already fantasizing about getting the old style elbow, just to relieve my latent anxiety. But how? I'm super clumsy and getting the padding out from the "quiet elbow" looks too complex; I don't have jewelers tools and anyway, why should i have to re-purpose a completely new mask every time just to stop myself from re breathing co2--(if that becomes an issue.)

[RayBee]

... the medium size is so tight around my mouth that it effectively keeps it from opening--better than a chin strap. Of course, that's not really what I want with this mask! My DME got on the phone and got my provider to send the size large that was ordered in the first place. Can't wait to try that.

I'm already fantasizing about getting the old style elbow, just to relieve my latent anxiety. But how? I'm super clumsy and getting the padding out from the "quiet elbow" looks too complex; I don't have jewelers tools and anyway, why should i have to re-purpose a completely new mask every time just to stop myself from re breathing co2--(if that becomes an issue.)

Don't be too disappointed with your DME.  If you are talking about the F30 cushion, ResMed only makes them in Small and Medium.  Not sure why they don't make a Large size.

I feel your pain, but... On the QuietAir elbow, you can easily snap the translucent diffuser cover off with a common screwdriver and from there, cut it off with side cutters.  It will be louder than before the mod, but as compared to the noise of older style, I don't know.  I've never had the older style.

[hegel]

"Don't be too disappointed with your DME. If you are talking about the F30 cushion, ResMed only makes them in Small and Medium. Not sure why they don't make a Large size."

Interesting. I did notice eventually that the mask came with a card for 'nose size'. Mine came in at the far edge of 'medium. but the card only had two options, medium and small.

However the mask worked again last night. the mouth area is smaller still than the mediium F20 cushion, it seems to me. well, possibly I'll get a free mask or maybe not. Very good to know this, thanks.

[GuyScharf]

I just looked for black spots on three elbows.  (We have three machines, one for my wife, one for me, and a spare in the guest bedroom used probably less than 20% of the time by me.)

What I saw was that the least-used elbow (spare machine) had light gray dots.  My wife's machine had medium gray; and my machine had closer to black dots. Certainly the machine in the bedroom has seen the least use. Mine is probably older than my wife's, but I don't know when we last changed either of our masks. And also I replace and wash equipment less frequently than she does.

So it appears that these spots build up over time.  I'm guessing it's dirt of some sort, either from air flowing through the machine or from the lungs (neither of us have ever been smokers).

[jaswilliams]

I guess it’s from the lungs moisture dirt etc. I use a Resmed filter as a defuser to silence my Bleep mask, I get similar black marks on the filter over time I replace the filter when it bothers me

[Sleepydog10]

I just looked for black spots on three elbows.  (We have three machines, one for my wife, one for me, and a spare in the guest bedroom used probably less than 20% of the time by me.)

What I saw was that the least-used elbow (spare machine) had light gray dots.  My wife's machine had medium gray; and my machine had closer to black dots. Certainly the machine in the bedroom has seen the least use. Mine is probably older than my wife's, but I don't know when we last changed either of our masks. And also I replace and wash equipment less frequently than she does.

So it appears that these spots build up over time.  I'm guessing it's dirt of some sort, either from air flowing through the machine or from the lungs (neither of us have ever been smokers).

Thanks guysharf.  so this blackness is not there from the start and is the result of use! Do you wash the elbow ?  how do you dry it /scrub it ? clean it with those delicate flaps inside?

[RayBee]

Thanks guysharf.  so this blackness is not there from the start and is the result of use! Do you wash the elbow ?  how do you dry it /scrub it ? clean it with those delicate flaps inside?

In case it is mold, which it probably is, I get a small plastic pudding cup, put the elbow in the cup (hose end up) and pour in some white vinegar to cover the diffuser.  I let it soak for a few days then rinse it with tap water and let it air-dry.  I swap in a second one whenever I do the soak, say monthly or so.  It's my belief that the full-strength vinegar will render the mold harmless but not remove the staining which is left behind.  Still, I think nobody has gotten sick over it.  Anyway, this is a very simple and cheap method to implement.

[GuyScharf]

Thanks guysharf.  so this blackness is not there from the start and is the result of use! Do you wash the elbow ?  how do you dry it /scrub it ? clean it with those delicate flaps inside?

Apparently that is the case.  How often do I wash the elbow?  My wife washes hers weekly.  I almost never wash mine.  I did soak mine in vinegar today with no apparent change to the black spots.

Since the spots are where the air is exiting, and not coming in, I don't think it matters what they are.

[sosotired]

Hi,

I also had a flow problem with the F20 diffuser. I typically use an N20 but wanted to get an FFM for nights when I'm congested. I got a new F20 mask on Saturday and noticed that I started waking up with a headache every morning just like I used to before CPAP. Also my respiration rate went up a point and my tidal volume went down 40 points from when I used the N20. Both of which are signs of excess CO2. I even ripped the straps off my mask one night which I've never done. After seeing a post on the forum about diffuser flow issues, I checked and could feel absolutely no air coming from the diffuser. I decided to get rid of the foam diffusion material to see if it would increase the flow.

I cut a 1/2 flap on the diffuser cap with a box cutter to see what it looked like and pulled out the foam. I ran a test and got lots of air but it was very noisy so I decided it was time for an engineering modification to see if I could get more air but also keep it quiet. I got my smallest drill bit and carefully drilled out all the holes with a cordless drill. I approximately doubled the size of the holes. Then I stuffed the original foam back in and did a test run.  I got lots of air but it was somewhat loud. So I  got a cpap filter and cut two 1/4 inch strips from the felt like material. Then I pulled apart the filter material as much as possible to make it less dense and stuffed it back under the cap. Ran a test and it was quiet but I could now feel air. I then super glued the flap back to the cap. Woke up this morning feeling much more refreshed. I forgot to plug my flash in last night so couldn't check to see if my respiration rate and tidal volume have improved, but I'll find out tomorrow morning. I think I know the answer. Based on the Oscar data, I may add a few additional holes if I need more flow but I think I have the problem solved.

From what I've read everyone handles CO2 differently. Some people need to rebreath more CO2 to avoid Central Apneas especially with higher pressure support. But I think it is entirely possible to get too much. Symptoms of too much CO2 are reduced respiratory drive (tidal volume), increased respiratory rate, and headache. I experienced all these symptoms. Note I'm kind of a leak fanatic and even wear an elastic head band over the F20 to keep it tight. I rarely show any leaks on my graphs. I may reconsider my position on leaks after this little episode.  Maybe a little leaking is not such a bad thing.

BTW, I didn't have any black spots but I only used the filter for 3 days so I assume they would have showed up eventually.

Regards,

Dave