Have you followed up with the doctor regarding these issues? How long has he been using the therapy? Are you using a tracking program to monitor his sleep, because you mention the mask slipping. Perhaps the mask is leaking and he is not receiving optimal treatment. There are many programs out there to track his bipap usage, Sleepyhead is one that a lot of users on this forum seem to like.
Some more information regarding your condition would be helpful. Breakthrough snoring is usually a term used with people using pap treatment but then you go on to mention possibly getting a TAP in the future. Are you on pap therapy? If so what are your settings? are you monitoring your treatment with an application program? Or are you someone who does not have sleep apnea and just snores loudly occasionally?
Ramps are a comfort measure. Like wiredgeorge states some people can turn on the prescribed full pressure and have no problems, others like to start low and have it work it's way up.
i don't know if vaseline will degrade mask material, you can try contacting the mask manufacturer themselves. I have known people to do that to help with the sores, it can be tricky though because sometimes that makes it easier to come loose and leak though too. If the side straps are rubbing perhaps they are too tight, perhaps try loosening and then check your leak levels, also can google cpap mask nasal pillow liners which may help.
Hi Sunnyday, it sounds like you are doing well on the therapy and leaks do not seem to be an issue, so the dry lips may be a side effect of the pressurized air itself. Most people find more relief from dryness with heated humidity versus regular pass over (cold) humidity. You want to try a room humidifier in addition to the cpap machine. Also if you really bothers you can try the options of cpap tubing cover which helps with humidity or a heated coil tube. The vaseline will probably have to continue as a barrier.
Have you been tracking your leaks, if you use a program that does this, this may help with the fit. masks straps generally should not be pulled too tight but also not too loose, to get the best fit. maybe you need to adjust your straps? Also mask liners can help, they are cloth liners that fit under the mask to help with skin irritation.
I am not familiar with the Weinmann either. I would think the Weinmann has it's own algorithms for tracking respiratory events, just like the ResMed does. Generally though, doctors would like to have the number of respiratory events under 5 an hour.
you can snore in any position, snoring can be an indicator of obstruction, would recommend following up with your doctor.
I'm not sure if you feel it's the sleep issues that are causing your issues but if you do, have you considered following up with the sleep center that did your test? Perhaps they have other doctors there besides your ENT that could make more recommendations for you?
If you are still snoring with the oral appliance I would suggest following up with your dentist for a possible adjustment.
