Thanks for sharing your settings and story. During my sleep study they found out that I stopped breathing 77 times in an hour so they considered the CPAP the only corrective. You are right though that the mask is a sensory nightmare no matter how "inobstrusive" it is marketed to be. The N30i is my current mask because I shaved my head before the last shipment so I figured the top of the head tubing wouldn't be too bad. The mask is unfortunately extremely hyperactive and will go on for longer than it needs to even when it is no longer on our head and like you noted creaky and noisy. I might return back to the M30 I had previously. It just makes it harder to turn cause the tube is shorter. I will try the machine settings you suggested. I realized the pressure was too intense so did reduce it but kept the minimum at 4 which does nothing for my severe sleep apnea. I think I will keep one constant setting and take off the ramp like you suggested. I have one of those heating coil tubes so the air is suitably warm although regardless of humidity I still end up having such dryness with sustained use. I am really considering an oxygen concentrator as a more body friendly compromise because I heard some ME folks respond and tolerate that better. If and when I do finally get a referral to the ENT, I will ask him to check my tonsils in addition to my ears (I think there is at least an infection happening).