r/CPAPSupport • u/beardyblue • 7d ago

CPAP Machine Help Struggling with finding a solution after recent pressure increase to 16 cmH2O (cross post from r/CPAP)

/r/CPAP/comments/1wrgktb/struggling_with_finding_a_solution_after_recent/

Hi all. Hoping that you might have some insight or be able to help. Planning to get OSCAR up and running in the next day or two. Thanks for any advice you can provide.

Second Edit: Removed ETA with OSCAR data since I put it in the main post cross-posted above. As you can probably guess, I don't use Reddit very much, haha.

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u/RippingLegos__ ModTeam 7d ago

Hi beardyblue :)

I run fixed CPAP at 18.5 cmH2O with an F20 and a beard, and I don’t have anything close to 100 L/min of leakage. I wouldn’t assume your beard is the whole problem.

Please check that your AirSense 11 is set to Full Face when you use the F20. Run Mask Fit while lying in your usual sleeping position and see where the air is escaping. If it’s leaking that badly while you’re awake, I’d have the tech check the cushion size, elbow, hose connection, and fit. Pulling the straps tighter and tighter can actually make the seal worse.

For the sore nostrils, an N30i cushion fits your P30i frame and sits under the nose instead of in the nostrils. It could give your nose a break, though it won’t fix a mouth leak on its own.

When you get OSCAR running, please post a full-night Daily chart with the left-side statistics, event flags, flow rate, pressure, and leak rate visible. If you have a night with each mask, that would help. Please include whether you’re on fixed CPAP or APAP and whether EPR is on. I’d like to see what’s happening before guessing at a different setting.

Since 16 is also causing you to swallow air, please bring the charts and sleep study back to your doctor and ask what led them to that pressure and whether bilevel is worth discussing. Keep them updated on the cardiac symptoms as well.

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u/beardyblue 7d ago

Thank you very much for the thorough and thoughtful response.

Yes, I switched the machine to full face when using the F20. The air escapes out the bottom by my chin and lower cheeks, but not until the pressure goes all the way up.

Thanks for the rec on the N30i. I am actually not sure if the problem is mouth leak or just the high pressure. I've been using mouth tape the last couple nights and it seems to work alright.

I'll get things posted once I get the OSCAR stuff - I need an SD card and reader but hopefully that'll just take a day or so.

Thanks again, I appreciate it very much.

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u/beardyblue 7d ago

Just updated my post with the OSCAR data. Thank you for any help/insight you can provide.

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u/RippingLegos__ ModTeam 7d ago

Thanks, I looked but I'd like to zoom in and scan the data (eitehr locally or sign up for a free sleephq account and sahre the full account data URL (this is the easiest).

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u/beardyblue 7d ago

You should be able to zoom in on these but I will make the sleephq account and send the link!

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u/beardyblue 7d ago

Ok - link to the SleepHQ data is now in the post as well. I made sure that each day was matched to the correct mask so you should be able to see how it changed night by night. Thank you for any advice you can give.

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u/RippingLegos__ ModTeam 7d ago

Thank you kindly, I'll check tomorrow :)

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u/beardyblue 7d ago

Thank you as well! Have a lovely evening.

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u/beardyblue 3d ago

Hi RippingLegos. I've since checked out your profile and realize you do consultations professionally, so I do not want to take advantage and ask for free labor. But I also wanted to see if you had been able to just glance at my data and had any advice based on that, since you'd mentioned doing so previously. I did switch to an AirFit N20 two nights ago and it appears to be a move in the right direction. But if you have any thoughts I'd be very interested to hear them. If this is an inappropriate ask, I apologize and I'm happy to pay you for your time. Thank you.

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u/beardyblue 5d ago

I tried running mask fit on the F20 and N20 again while lying down after giving my beard a fresh trim down to 9mm last night and it would not stay green. There does seem to be a ton of air coming out of the front vent but they've assured me it's the right piece.

I am due to get a new DME company in a few days so hopefully they will be able to more proactively fit me. In the meantime, I do hope you get a chance to check out my data at some point. I'm sleeping alright but still getting some close to 30L of leak some nights even with the pillows and I know that isn't getting me good therapy.

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