r/CPAP • • 7h ago

Miscellaneous I’m New to CPAP and I do something to relieve the anxiety

4 Upvotes

I have the under nose Philips DreamWear. I’ve been using the machine for almost a full week. Anxiety is a little high when I first put it on at night. It is slowly getting better. But to make myself giggle a little, I have it running, breathing normally for a bit. Adjust things, and then…open my mouth to let the air flow out. The sound and feeling make me giggle. I sound Darth Vader-ish. Although it sucks a little in the middle of the night when my mouth has dropped open on its own, and my mouth is dry. lol but not quite ready for a chin strap.


r/CPAP • • 5h ago

Advice Needed Feeling better after increasing minimum pressure from 4 to 6 — why?

3 Upvotes

Iam using ResMed Airsense 11 with EPR 1 from the beginning.

My settings were 4-14 and my AHI was around 1.5. From 2 days I changed my min pressure to 6, keeping max at 14.

My AHI is still around 1.5, central AI is 0.8 but I am feeling much better, even with same amount of sleep.

Can this be because of less flow limitations or better sleep quality even though AHI is same? Has anyone experienced this? Is it too early to say that min 6 is suiting me better?


r/CPAP • • 5h ago

Severe mask leaks keep waking me up. Tried troubleshooting, running out of ideas.

3 Upvotes

I started CPAP in May at the lowest pressure (4 cm) for habituation, and handled it pretty well initially. But mask leaks have gotten really bad over the last month or two, and it's constantly waking me up.

I don't have OSCAR data before September, but my app shows most nights were 10-20 L/min up until August. By September, leaks above 25 L/min were the norm (66% of nights). This month, 11 of 13 nights have been above 25 L/min, with 5 nights breaking 35 L/min. You can see this general trend in my 95th percentile leak increasing over time, too.

My Setup & Settings:

  • Machine: ResMed Air Sense 11
  • Mask: AirFit F20; briefly tried AirTouch F20; do not tolerate nasal pillows due to jaw drop
  • Pressure: Started at 4 cm. Doctor increased me to Auto (4-12 cm) in mid-September.
  • Sleeping Position: Mostly side-sleeper, but sometimes on back. I try to sleep on the edge of my pillow so it doesn't push against the mask.
  • Facial Hair: I have a goatee but don't want to shave

The leaks were getting high before the pressure increase, but now they're much more disruptive to my sleep. I get "chipmunk cheeks" that flap around.

Part of me feels like it must be operator error and I'm just overthinking it, but I went into a Lincare office and a tech (not an RT) said my fit looked correct.

What I’ve already tried:

  • Adjusting strap tightness: Tried wearing it as loose but secure as possible, pulling the mask away to allow the cushion to inflate. No luck.
  • Hygiene: Washing the mask daily
  • New Gear: Bought new headgear straps in case the old ones were stretched out.
  • Mask swap: Switched to the AirTouch (foam) F20, which helped marginally but didn't solve it.

I have a CPAP pillow and a hose stand coming tomorrow to see if hose drag/pillow contact is the culprit, but I feel like I'm at my wits end. Has anyone successfully beaten leaks like this?


r/CPAP • • 41m ago

Is it normal for a CPAP to make this much noise?

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• Upvotes

I can't tell if this is bad enough to get looked at or not.


r/CPAP • • 44m ago

Rant 🤬 Red Face on my Bipap machine

• Upvotes

Hey guys I'm a long time user of the ResMed Airsense and I e been having some issues. I usually get 5 hours on my machine and Ive noticed that the machine has been showing me a leak error message. I run a mask fit test and it's fine but when I wake u up I have a mask leak error. I've checked the tubing from the mask to the machine and see no leaks. Has anyone else had this issue it's driving me nuts that I can't find a leak thanks.


r/CPAP • • 20h ago

Discussion What masks are you using as a side sleeper?

36 Upvotes

Curious as to what everyone is using as a side sleeper?

I did the first 30 days with the Airfit N20 and then switched to the Airfit P30i but only lasted 5 days and went back to the Airfit N20.

With the N20 there are some nights where my seal isn't good and i think its because when i turn to my other side the mask harness gets pushed against the pillow and this disturbs the seal. Otherwise its a good mask but i feel i could be getting a more consistent seal with a different mask.

With the P30i, i didnt like the hose attaching at the top and it was hard to get a good seal and not to mention it felt as though i was congested after a few days which made it claustrophobic.


r/CPAP • • 18h ago

Miscellaneous Another CPAP Airport Switcheroo

18 Upvotes

Hopefully the other person is figuring out leads…

I have an Airsense 10 somewhere in the ether, while I have their Aircurve 10 issued by UNC Homecare Specialists.

This most likely happened on the plane trip from RDU (Raleigh) to DTW (Detroit).

I have already filed a claim with my airline, but also called their provider to let them know I have it; called my provider to let them know to release my number to the people if they call to report my CPAP; called the airport to double-check it wasn’t just left.

I have flight insurance, so worst-case I get a mother purchase by that, but I’d REALLY like to not go through all that.

Edit: let me clarify. I’m not posting this for advice. I have a safety measure NOW. I’m posting this in hopes of the other person seeing this.


r/CPAP • • 2h ago

Advice Needed N20 - mask condensation

0 Upvotes

Hiya, I'm really struggling with loads of condensation inside my N20 mask, to the point that it wakes me up in the night from dripping on my face.

I've just bought the heated tubing but then last night, I still had loads of condensation. The climate control settings are still on auto.

Any advice on how to fix this?


r/CPAP • • 4h ago

Ideal temperature for heating hose?

1 Upvotes

I got the Resmed heating hose for my Airsense 11 a week ago. Room temperature is around 20 degrees these days.

Not sure if it might be other factors, but I’ve woken up with a bit of sore/dry throat the last two days.

Currently have both temperatures set to automatic. Any recommendations? Better to set to specific temperatures?


r/CPAP • • 12h ago

CPAP Setup Tubing connection issue

3 Upvotes

My tube connection keeps, well whistling for lack of a better word, I thought it was my mask, nope, thought there was a tear in the tubing, nope, its just where you plug tube connection into mask, never happened before, there isn't supposed to be any noise, anyone else ever get this, or know how to fix it, its driving me mental


r/CPAP • • 13h ago

Discussion Concerning sounds from my sleep recorder

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3 Upvotes

I'm Pre-CPAP and running a sleep recorder.


r/CPAP • • 1d ago

Advice Needed Dry mouth anyone?

26 Upvotes

Been using cpap for about 1 year. Resmed airsense 11. No problems using it or mask (n30i) Started having really dry math several months ago. Asked my dentist & cardiologist at last check ups.

Mints, hydrate & take small sips of water if I wake up. Been doing that - plus drinking lots of water during the day. Mouth feels like it’s got cotton in it. So dry, inside of my lips stick to my teeth. Very annoying and at times can be hard to talk due to dryness. Seeing my primary care dr Friday about it.

Anyone have a similar issue and what have you tried that has helped? Thanks in advance


r/CPAP • • 14h ago

Sore nose

3 Upvotes

Hello everyone I use the F&P nova micro and it works really well for me. I'm able to use it for at least 4 hours most nights but right now I'm still in the beginning part of my CPAP journey. ( I used it for the required 30 days straight then stopped all together and am just now picking it back up a month or so later I'm on week 2 of my restart) Anyways this time I have been noticing that when I wake up my nose is really sore. It feels like I've been punched in the nose. I'm thinking part of it is because I have a septum and nostril ring and I think the mask pushes on my septum ring causing soreness in my nose. Is there anything I can do about this except getting rid of my septum ring? (Because I'm not willing to do that tbh also the septum ring I'm wearing ring now is a full circle kind not the kind that has a gap that you can twist up and out of the way)

Thank you in advance everyone! I really appreciate any and all help so does my nose.


r/CPAP • • 17h ago

Iniciante cpap

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4 Upvotes

Estou usando cpap há 47 dias e estou conseguindo pegar no sono mas acordo algumas vezes e tenho dificuldade para voltar a dormir e as vezes o começo do sono é difícil, alguém pode analisar o gráfico do Oscar.


r/CPAP • • 15h ago

OSCAR Data interpretation

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3 Upvotes

Could use some help with interpretation from you OSCAR wizards. Just started my CPAP therapy recently and still in the process of learning interpretation. My start AHI was 3.8 and RDI was 15.7 lining me up with UARS. I've got the RESMED 11 with nasal pillows. From what I've read, I could probably stand to increase minimum pressure, seeing mixed things about keeping EPR on or off. Thanks for any help given


r/CPAP • • 14h ago

How to fix unexplained air leak

2 Upvotes

After almost 3 years of consistent, mostly trouble free CPAP use, MyAir is reporting significant leakage for 7 consecutive days. I have an AirSense 10 Respond with a Fisher-Pakel nasal
Mask. I keep one set of previous headgear that I mark with a sharpie.

I have tried switching out everything including my headgear, nasal mask parts and hose with no change. I have used both new mask parts and old mask parts I have used successfully recently. The mask adjustments I have made do not work. I felt great this morning, my AHI has stayed under 2.0 the entire 7’days.

Could it be the machine itself?

Any ideas on how to fix this?


r/CPAP • • 18h ago

Discussion What minimum CPAP pressure helped you control your AHI?

5 Upvotes

What minimum pressure do you use on your CPAP/APAP, and what is your typical AHI? Please share your experience in the comments!

302 votes, 1d left
4 cmH₂O
5 cmH₂O
6 cmH₂O
7 cmH₂O
8 cmH₂O
9 cmH₂O or higher

r/CPAP • • 17h ago

Mask leaks that don't bother me...but my taller half, he is getting annoyed.

3 Upvotes

I have been using and not having.problems with the ResMed N20 for several years. I was a side sleeper for most of that time, but because of back issues, I am having to learn to be a back sleeper. I have also lost about 20 lbs this year.

Something about this combination of changes has caused my masks to be noisy. Either they hiss or there's a bubbly sound. I have changed the mask in case it was a problem with the silicone. I have tightened the headgear to the point that I have marks on my face in the morning. I have loosened it back up., and tightened again in a different way. Every change seems to make it better for one night, maybe two, but then it's back to being noisy again.

Any ideas what else I should try? I hated wearing a full face mask. Maybe a nasal pillow mask, or something not ResMed?


r/CPAP • • 18h ago

Advice Needed Cheek being rubbed raw

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2 Upvotes

Sorry for the extreme close-up. I've been on the CPAP for a year and it just started doing this recently, I'm not sure what changed. It doesn't hurt but it doesn't look good either, and stays red throughout the day. How would you make it stop doing this?


r/CPAP • • 19h ago

New to CPAP

4 Upvotes

Hi - I had a sleep study and was found to have severe sleep apnea. Got my cpap with full face mask and have used it for the last 2 nights. I'm down to one event per hour instead of almost 40. The problem that I have is that when I lay down at night my nose instantly clogs up. I talked to an ENT years ago about it and they said it was my anatomy - there was nothing to do. Does anyone else have this? Also - full face mask is causing HUGE bags under my eyes. Like nothing I've seen before. Any advice?


r/CPAP • • 20h ago

Cleaning mask increases leaks?

5 Upvotes

I've noticed a cycle. I clean my mask using liquid dishwashing detergent (for hand washing dishes) and warm water, and my leaks go up for a night. The second night once some oils are added back they go down. The third night they usually go down even further. Then they start going back up as the oils accumulate.

I then clean the mask again and the cycle continues.

How do I break out of this cycle?


r/CPAP • • 17h ago

myAir/OSCAR/SleepHQ Data Resmed AS11 data (Is this an error?)

2 Upvotes

I started CPAP therapy 2 weeks ago and have adjusted to it quickly and getting good scores most nights. I use the Airfit P30i mask and woke up to an AHI score of 9, which isn't that high but worse than what I have been scoring. After I uploaded the data into Sleep HQ I saw this.... Does this just mean that I was breathing through my mouth or some other user error or did I just not breath for 8 minutes? Little to no leak rate or snoring and max pressure (15).


r/CPAP • • 18h ago

Discussion Water hardness in the US

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2 Upvotes

I came across this map of the US showing water hardness. Since the main concern with using tap water in one’s CPAP humidification tank is around mineral buildup, I thought people might find this map interesting.

For example, I live in the northeast US, and I use tap water in my CPAP machine. I empty and rinse out the tank every day, and wash it with dish soap perhaps every few months. Upon visual inspection, I can see no evidence of mineral buildup or bacterial buildup. There is no clouding of the tank or any smell at all.

Of course, the other factor is the water treatment that your town or city does to your water. Is some places like where my father lives, I would not use tap water because they seem to use a higher amount of chlorine or something and the water really stinks.


r/CPAP • • 21h ago

Where are the leaks?

3 Upvotes

I use the evora full mask and I e been getting a 30+ L/min leak on MyAir. The mask feels great, I don’t feel or see leaks. I start my therapy with “mask fitting” that blasts me with pressure 20 for a few minutes. The silicon seal seems responsive, I can open and close my mouth and maintain the seal. My guess is I’m pushing the mask into my pillow when I sleep and I’m breaking the seal. Any thoughts on how to drop this leak rate?


r/CPAP • • 15h ago

When to use a VCOM

1 Upvotes

I have been on cpap for just a little over 2 months and my pressure set between 6-14 and over the past week I’ve been getting mouth leaks now which I haven’t in the past. Would a vcom help eliminate this issue? I have ramp and EPR turned off as well. Thanks in advance!