ResMed mask settings - what changes in each type?

[DaveL]

Ive been doing cpap a long time.  Over 35 years.

ive had the same question  My answer...a suggestion.  ask yourself how do you feel?

You use OSCAR. Can you see changes?

Hope this helps

edit
I was under care of "The-Sleep-Doc-from-he--" for a long time.  His criteria for treatment was
* was the Respironics brick machine on enough hours?  He literally checked every appointment. 
* he asked a bunch of questions  

 

Im inclined to check details too

[cps22]

This is just an experience I had from one night, so I don't know how useful it is, but I believe that I had a little more pressure on FFM than pillows. 

Long explanation: I started out CPAP with nasal pillows/cushions because I don't mouth-breathe, but my mouth would fill with air and puff up my cheeks (chipmunk cheeks), and then the air would pop out of my lips. The DME guy said to use a FFM because it would equalize the pressure on both sides of the mouth. That did help reduce them, but I ended up also having to wear a soft cervical collar to eliminate them completely (that kept my jaw from relaxing and dropping back to the point where my tongue stopped blocking my airway). 

With the F30i and cervical collar, I stopped having the puffy cheek problem. But the last couple of nights I've been using the F40 mask, and even with the cervical collar, the cheek puffs are back. Last night I was having them during the first hour or so of bed, so thinking back to what the DME guy said, I switched from the recommended "pillows" setting to "full face". I did not "feel" any difference between the two settings, I did not have any puffs after I changed the setting, so I'm going to leave it that way for a while. 

Note: I use fixed pressure of 8cm

[ejbpesca]

What function(s) of the AirSense 10 changes by switching from full face to pillows mask setting?  It feels lik pressure has been reduced.

I switched to the Evora Full Face mask 6 mos. ago after 16 years of regular full face masks that have always been problematic due to leaks.  Wanting to try AirSense F40 also, another hybrid full face, I looked at its instructions.

AirFit F40 instructions call for pillows mask setting on AirSense 10.

Two nights ago I switched the AirSense 10 to pillows.  The Evora Full Face mask feels very different in pillows setting.  I do not detect pressure or air movement in it as I did with it and other full face masks.  I feel very little resistance to exhaling.  It feels like the machine is off.  I have to feel for air movement from the exhaust vents to make sure it is on.

Another difference in pillows setting is auto start does not work as usual.  I have to breathe forcefully from my mouth to get the AirSense to start whereas with full face setting the slightest nose breathing starts the machine.

I have read all the posts on this thread including the big/little tire analogy, but I do not understand the concept.  Does anyone know what functions change when the mask setting is changed from full face to pillows on AirSense 10?  Is pillows the correct setting for an Evora full face hybrid mask? I did not see any mask setting instructions with the Evora full face.

Should I start a new thread to ask these questions?

Thank you,
ejbpesca

[ejbpesca]

This info may help understand Pillows vs Full Face settings for hybrid masks:

ResMed F40 (hybrid mask) Vent Flow Spec 36/L min. AirSense setting is Pillows.

Evora Full Face (hybrid mask) Vent Flow Spec 35/min.  No mask type setting is given for ResMed AirSense.  When Fisher Paykel was asked for the setting by email, the agent claimed Fisher/Paykel had no knowledge of ResMed products and did not know what setting to choose for the Evora Full Face mask.

It has been suggested that because the Flow Specs are similar between the F40 and Evora FF, the Pillows setting would be correct for the Evora Full Face. 

Personal experience with Evora FF:

Using the Pillows setting on an AirSense 10 with an Evora FF mask produces a sensation of no pressure or air movement from mask to nose when inhaling and an increase in resistant pressure on exhale.  It feels as if the CPAP machine is off when inhaling.  Using the Full Face setting gives a sensation that air pressure is present when inhaling (I know the machine is on) and less resistant pressure than the Pillows setting when exhaling.

The Evora FF hybrid mask has few Large Leaks as compared to F20.  I continue to have the sensation it is not aligned with my nostrils.  I will try the F40.

[DaveL]

@ekbpesca

Thanks for your suggestion. I use an Evora Full full face mask sometimes. I've used the full face mask setting. I'll check and see if the Pillows setting works for me.

My daily choice is a medium ResMed N20 mask, with a Knightsbridge Dual Band cap on over top. If I get up and rush to the little room, I take that gear off and put the mask on alone when I get back to my cpap machine. I think Larry's Knightsbridge cap is making me balder. Just kidding. Not.