New BiPAP User - Assistance with Settings

[Deborah K.]

For mouth tape to work, you need to use good-quality tape cut to the right size. Lots of people here use Cover Roll and Hypafix tapes, both of which work well. I like kinesiology tape better because it is nice and stretchy and conforms better to one's facial contours.

I need 2-inch wide tape cut to 5-1/2 inches long. Any narrower or shorter, and I still leak.

[weepingwillow]

Appreciate your input, Deborah. I'm already using 2" wide Cover Roll stretch tape. I cut it to 4.75" long, but I'll try going a little bit longer to see if that helps at all.

[Sleeprider]

WW, your last chart shows a significant improvement in leaks. EPAP ranged from 9.0 to just under 11, so this resulted in lower pressure for you without a remarkable increase in events. Your 95% flow limit was zero and tidal volume improved to 400 mL/sec which suggests better volume than any of the three charts you have posted to date. I think this is good progress and increased comfort. The remaining obstructive events are random and probably positional in nature. I'm game to try a lower pressure to see if we can improve your comfort from aerophagia, if you are. If you want to try a lower pressure:
Vauto Mode
EPAP min 8.0
IPAP max 15.0
PS: 4.0
no other changes.

[weepingwillow]

I'm game to try whatever you recommend, Sleeprider! I'll let you know how it goes. Thank you. 

[churras]

For mouth tape to work, you need to use good-quality tape cut to the right size. Lots of people here use Cover Roll and Hypafix tapes, both of which work well. I like kinesiology tape better because it is nice and stretchy and conforms better to one's facial contours.

I need 2-inch wide tape cut to 5-1/2 inches long. Any narrower or shorter, and I still leak.

Deborah, have you ever tried “double tapping” with the kinesiology tape?

Putting two layers of tape. 

For me, I have had less leak this way.

Not zero leak, but less leak ?

[weepingwillow]

Update after Night 2:

• Used 2 layers of mouth tape, slightly longer than usual
  
• Used a thinner pillow in the first session; developed neck ache and switched to regular thick pillow in the second session
  
• Less aerophagia compared to Night 1
  
• Moderately bad headache during the night and in the morning
  
• Feeling lousy so far the next day
  

[churras]

Update after Night 2:

• Used 2 layers of mouth tape, slightly longer than usual
  
• Used a thinner pillow in the first session; developed neck ache and switched to regular thick pillow in the second session
  
• Less aerophagia compared to Night 1
  
• Moderately bad headache during the night and in the morning
  
• Feeling lousy so far the next day
  

Wow!! Almost zero leak!!!

[Sleeprider]

Lots of positional obstruction in first session, so a more comfortable pillow position is working better. Let's hold on settings and see how things sort out. I find the comfort on aerophagia encouraging.