My Personal CPAP Journey

[SilverGuy]

I was diagnosed with apnea just about 6 years ago.  When my PC provider referred me to a sleep specialist, the local hospital had a full-time department including a resident physician.  About three years into the program the physician decided to retire, was not replaced and the program, for the most part shut down.  My first machine, a Phillips Dream Station wore out at about the  5-year mark (including a replacement "refurbished" machine).  My doctor (bless his heart) immediately ordered a new machine for me.  The local medical supplier (unnamed) lost the prescription and, coincidentally, no longer had a respiratory specialist.  Finally someone was hired and my doctor wrote a new prescription and within two weeks I had a new unit, a Res Med Air Curve 10.  I love the machine so far.  The problems that I now experience are the masks.  I began therapy with a Res Med F20 and ditched it after 2 years for an F30.  I used the F30 fairly successfully until I learned about the release of Res Med's F40 which was touted by a lot of people to be a very good mask.  I might add that while using the F30 MyAir score was consistently in the upper-90s to 100,  I decided to try the F40 and after more red tape received one to try.  That's when my problems began and I'm still not sure.  With the F30 I used a chin strap with no problem.  With the F40 I did not and I'm constantly being advised that my seal is sucky (no pun intended).  I would awaken sometimes with the "fart" sound of an unsealed mask.  If it turns out to only  be a matter of using a chin strap for my breathing mouth, I can live with that.  Otherwise I am not a convinced user of the F40.  Thanks.

[Crimson Nape]

Hi SilverGuy!  -  
You may wish to look into the Fisher and Paykel (F&P) masks.  They have a robust sealing capability, as well as using less strap pressure to obtain a seal.  Seeing you are using a Full Face Mask (FFM) style, here are the most popular models in the F&P line.
FFM:
 -  Simplus
 -  Vitera (updated Simplus design)

Hybrid FFM:
 -  Evora Full (Nasal pillow style with a mouth covering)
Please note that there is an Evora Nasal mask as well, so make sure "Full" is in its name.
- Red

[Big Guy]

I have an AirFit F20, F30, and an F40. My "go to" mask is still the F30. I get the best results with it over the other two. 

My ResMed AirSense 10 AutoSet is now over 6 yrs. old. I'm thinking about having my doctor write me a script for a new machine, and use my existing one as a back-up. 

[lonigan]

Not sure if or why it makes a difference(still too new at all this to understand the nuances between them) but the product support page for the F40 says to use the pillows setting on the machine. The F30 uses full face setting.

[David Govan]

I was diagnosed in 2014 with an overnight sleep study which included an AHI score over 40. I have owned a ResMed 9 and 10 and two Philips Respironices Dreamstation Go machines purchased in 2015 and 2018. I travel often to Europe, and the Dreamstation Go was my first choice not only for travel but for home, with AHI ratings of 1-3. I really like the footprint and operation of the Go. ResMed's Swift mask was quickly rejected for a P10 nasal pillow mask which works well with my beard.

I filed my Philips Go replacement claim early in summer 2021 and received two replacement Go machines in October 2024.

I AM REALLY CURIOUS IF ANYONE CAN TRANSLATE THE NUMERIC DESCRIPTIONS ON THE BOTTOMS OF THE TWO GO REPLACEMENT MACHINES.

I apologize for shouting. Wish everyone best of luck.

[SilverGuy]

UPDATE:  I have relegated my F40 mask to the junk box and returned to the F30.  I could never get the F40 to seal well.  Since returning to the F30 I have had three 100-point nights in a row.  The seal stays intact for the duration of my sleep period.