I've just found out that my pressure is being set at 18/12 BiPap (originally 20/12 but I balked at that).  I had done a ton of research to choose a machine and nasal pillows/mask and now find out my pressure is kinda high.  Anyone out there with high pressures and real happy with their set ups?  I originally wanted a Resmed Autopap with cflex but that is no longer an option.  Which BiPaps are the quietest?  What nasal pillows is anyone happy with at the higher pressures?  Would love to get a little input before the DME calls me tomorrow.  Thanks in advance!
Linda (roseinpa57)

roseinpa,

Quiet is in the ear of the beholder. Seems many people don't agree on which machines or masks are quiet and which are loud. As far as nasal pillows, I use the AEIOMed aura and have used the ResMed Swift, the Puritan Bennett Breeze and the Respironics Comfort Curve. I would recommend them all EXCEPT the Comfort Curve. IMO "pillows" are better for higher pressures because there is less contact area which minimizes the potential for leaks. Some feel though that the high pressure directly up your nose is hard to tolerate. I find leaks very hard to tolerate.

If your Doc is prescribing a bipap just because of your high pressure requirements, an apap may not be out of the question. If your "events" are less frequent than average you might do better on the auto with c-flex. There are some medical conditions that would indicate a bi-pap though, so ask your Doc for his/her reasons for the bi-level.

Good Luck,

"not wader"

Rose, Check with Linda, she is on BiPAP and a fairly high pressure too.  Best to check with folks that live around those high pressures than those that speculate.

Just about any pressure that a person might need "all night long" is a speculation in some ways.  The doctor was apparently willing to let Rose try 18 instead of the 20 that was recommended from the sleep study.  

I'd opt for at least a one or two week trial on autopap just to see if I really did need such a steady high inhale pressure all night.  That's a lot to take even with the nice exhale relief of a bi-level machine.  There's always the possibility that an autopap might be able to prevent a person's events effectively through most of the night at lower pressures, needing the higher pressures only occasionally.   Maybe, maybe not.  But would certainly be worth a trial rather than just accepting that kind of pressure and never knowing if less would provide good treatment most of the night.

Given that the mask issue is individual, I have not been happy with any I have tried.  Especially, the Comfort Select and the Mirage Activa.  So, I'd recommend trying something else.  Issues were that one is much noiser than another, one has a handband that does not give (is not elastic), one has 2 sections that don't go together well, one is difficult to clean and dry, one leaves a bigger mark on my nose than the other, one has a handband that twists easily...so good luck and let us know if you find a good one.  I don't know why a manufacturer cannot design a mask headband combination that is user friendly.

Ray