new to bipap want the best experiance

[bssford460]

Newly diagnosed with what they called Moderate apnea.  Had 3 sleep studies and a very short meeting with Dr.   He gave me the prescription and off we go.    Got the resmed aircurve 10 auto and have used it for about 3 weeks I guess.   No real issues, just would like to get my machine dialed in for what I need personally. Included several screenshots.   Dont really know what else to include.   I work for the railroad and will eventually have to disclose the diagnosis.  At which point using the machine will be required by their medical dept.  So i have to make this work, and will have to meet their expectations for therapy.  With that comes going out of town. sleeping in hotels and a very unforgiving sleep schedule.

[robbob2112]

Hi,
You need to get your leak rate under control.

That comes back to mask fit most of the time. Your frame probably came with a fit guide you can use on the F20 - basically the correct size is from the bridge of your nose to just under your lower lip so you can see if the Large you were given is actually the righ size. In my case with the F20 I couldn't get a good fit without a leak and the mouth corners until I changed the cushion over to the airtouch with the memory foam contact point. I have moderate facial hair and the foam really helps the seal. Moderate means I shave about once a week or when we go out to dinner, whichever comes first.

Below is the mask primer for how to use them and get a good seal.

https://www.apneaboard.com/wiki/index.php/Mask_Primer

[bssford460]

Thank you for the reply.   I started off using a philips dreamwear full face mask (hh1052/02) and just recently ( this week ) tried the air touch.  I am a side sleeper and I think I am going to go back to the dreamwear for that reason,  the air leaks.  The first screenshot with the massive air leaks was either the first day I switched masks. Or I was trying to wear it a little more loosely. I think I had pulled the straps way to tight the first night and woke up with a headache.  I remember the guy that set the machine up for me said really really tight wasnt always better.

[robbob2112]

I am also a side sleeper and my leaks typically register once or twice a night when I am shift or flipping to the other side.  

The key is the mask fit being correct and the straps being just right.

On the link I posted it is a long read, but the section that starts "TIGHTER IS NOT ALWAYS THE ANSWER!!!" down in the bottom section - IMO is explains the proper way to fit and get no leaks once you have a properly sized mask.

If you don't have the fit guide anymore you can download and print it from here.  I thought I would be a large and started with that but it leaked like crazy below the chin.  I ended up with the medium and it worked well until the hair under my lip grew out a couple of days.

Resmed F20 fit guide


Even with the dreamweaver mask you will need to get it adjusted right.  That mask is similar to the F30i from resmed.  I had trouble with it either being to tight on the nose and waking up feeling bruised or with the larger "Wide" size to many nose leaks.  I switched to the F&P brand of the same style and in the large it fit the nose good, but not the mouth so I went back to the F20 medium airtouch.

Big lesson there is you may be a large in one style but a medium in another and size varies by brand.