New user, one month in, settings advice?

[Dan9463]

               
Started APAP one month ago.  Tried N30i, F30i, N20 masks.  Tried each one for about a week, and kept them on for the insurance-mandated 4 hours, but never slept well.  One week ago I started with Bleep Dreamports, and having more success.  At same time I also started mouth taping.  Less leaking and able to sleep for several hours with Dreamports on.

With all of these masks I have a lot of trouble with "chipmunk cheeks". My initial prescription for pressure was 5 - 15 (as is usual), but after a week I changed it, trying to reduce the chipmunk cheeks (but so far without much success).  I am considering trying the VCOM.  However, the VCOM promotional material emphasizes that the VCOM is to improve "comfort", and it's not clear to me whether it would help much with the cheek puffing.  I wonder if I should stay with APAP for a while more and experiment with different pressure settings?

The VCOM website says I should change my machine to CPAP settings, and maybe increase the pressure because the VCOM reduces flow somewhat.  I am uneasy about making these changes because I don't fully understand all the implications of changing pressures up or down.

Any advice about current settings, or advice about trying VCOM?

[Deborah K.]

I don't advise the Vcom. Only a few people seem to benefit from it at all, and I don't think it does anything for puffed up cheeks.

I suggest that you set your pressure range differently. I think you need 8 to 13.

Also, you would do well to turn on EPR full time, set at 3. That will make your breathing more comfortable and will lower your flow limits, which are very high.