Nasal Aire II leak rates

GreenIce · Post by **GreenIce** » Mon Apr 14, 2008 9:42 am

I have been trying NAII for two nights. Not bad. The first night, it was no good, used wrong size prong (small). Although it fit in, it was leaking and very noisy. The next day, after reading Babette's NAII Tip sheet (thanks Babette !), I tried the medium size and it fit. Try running APAP, NAII was much more quieter, in fact much more quieter than Swift II. The second night, I used NAII without headgear. All this while I have to adjust/fiddle head gear with other masks, there is no need to do so with NAII. It was a much better night. I woke up in the morning and feel right nare a little pain, I guess my nares have to get use to it.

I tried looking around for Nasal Aire II leak rates, it seems not available in figures like

http://www.internetage.com/cpapinfo/leak-rates-1.html

There is a chart in the mask manual, however I do prefer figures for precision. Anyone know of such table for NAII available on the net ?

At the moment APAP is set to fixed pressure 14, CFlex setting of 1. In the chart the leak value is at about 28 but what I get was average of 37.78. Please comment.

mindy · Post by **mindy** » Mon Apr 14, 2008 9:53 am

IMHO, those numbers look good to me ... at a pressure of 14 having a leak rate below 40 would satisfy me (I'm at 13 and usually in the low 40s with a leak rate graph that looks like a mountain range!)

Mindy

6PtStar · Post by **6PtStar** » Mon Apr 14, 2008 11:19 am

Leak rates should have come with your mask but in case it did not here is the chart.

Your leak line looks good but is a little higher than I find with the medium NAII I generally run about 32 Lt/Min(@11 cm/h20) but you are running a bit higher pressure so it should be a little higher. I am running 11 and Babette was running at 10. The small runs around 26 (@11cm/h20). I have found the chart may be off a bit. Babettes large usually runs around 39 (210cm/h20).

Jerry

GreenIce · Post by **GreenIce** » Mon Apr 14, 2008 5:56 pm

Mindy,

I have those "mountain range" too at times when using Swift II and other masks .

Jerry,

I got the chart, average leaks rate looks a little higher than what is plotted. It looks like I having leaks rate similar to yours and Babette. Last night I took a break, back to Swift II. My nose is painful, have to try NAII later.

6PtStar · Post by **6PtStar** » Mon Apr 14, 2008 7:00 pm

Sore nares seem to be a standard feature for most with the NAII. Mine were sore for a few days. Ayr Gel a couple of times during the day helped until I my nares got toughened up. I guess I was stubborn because I hated straps and all the adjustments it took with all the other masks. I just slide the headgear ring over my head poke in the prongs and go to bed.

Good Luck!

Jerry

GreenIce · Post by **GreenIce** » Tue Apr 15, 2008 8:02 am

Ayr Gel is not available where I stay. Do you know of other similar product ?
How about K Y Jelly ?

Thanks.

6PtStar · Post by **6PtStar** » Tue Apr 15, 2008 9:03 am

Don't think KY will work. Ayr is a saline gel. NeilMed has one that is the same I think called NasoGel. Comes in a tube and spray. I think for our use the tube would work better. You can order it from their web site if you cant find it locally. It even says it is recomended for cpap users. I know there is at least one more but I can't think of the name at the moment.

Jerry

rested gal · Post by **rested gal** » Tue Apr 15, 2008 9:19 am

KY might help. Have read of others using it with nasal pillows, but nasal pillows don't have to be crammed into the nostrils the way the NAII's nasal prongs have to be. KY would be worth a try, anyway.

Others that use nasal pillows (not the NAII's prongs, but probably would work with them, too) have mentioned getting relief with things like Neosporin, castor bean oil, and with a product called Lasinoh (for nursing mothers.)

About the Lasinoh... check out the reviews about halfway down the page at this link:
http://www.amazon.com/Lansinoh-Nursing- ... B0002UE3NS

The mention of "sticky" makes me think that might help keep the NAII (and nasal pillows) in place better while at the same time relieving friction.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Tue Apr 15, 2008 9:34 am

RG, I was under the assumption she was trying to work on the soreness of the nares rather than trying to make them seal. I would not think KY would help in that case. Maybe something like Neosporin rather than saline gel. Or maybe I was under the wrong impression. I find that anything I put in the nares before I insert the prongs makes leaks worse. I have better luck using a a tissue to dry the nares before insertion.

Jerry

mindy · Post by **mindy** » Tue Apr 15, 2008 9:44 am

I use KY *liquid* rather than gel and it seems to help soreness for me at least.

As far as lansinoh in the nares, you might want to take a look at this link:

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/petrol ... ly/AN00947

I realize that lansinoh isn't petroleum jelly but I believe it is oily and suppose that there could potentially be a similar possibility. It is, as they say, a rare occurrence. Perhaps short-term use may be safe? Just my 3 cents.

Mindy

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Tue Apr 15, 2008 12:09 pm

Hey Jerry, will you PM me that leak chart to my work addy? I need to get it into my Tip Sheet.

I agree with Jerry - no liquids or lubes while masked up. For soreness during the day, try any ointment you'd normally put on a rash - neosporin, vaseline, whatever you like. Ayr Gel is great, but in a pinch, just try whatever you've got.

Back from the Living History conference. Exhausted. Non-CPAP roommate totally survived my machine. Of course, she tried to make me talk while masked up and I had to shut her down at one point.

Cheers,
Babs

GreenIce · Post by **GreenIce** » Tue Apr 15, 2008 3:19 pm

I have no problems in getting the prong into the nose, only painful while wearing the mask. Once the mask is remove, the pain subsided in a short while. It feels better after I skip one night not using NAII. I am able to resume using NAII on the third night. Still painful but not as pain as before. I think my nose is getting used to NAII. I have lansinoh, will give it a try for soreness.

It is funny how internet can be. Due to anonymity and nick names we used, one can never tell what the person's gender, age and etc. Nor people from different countries and time zones. BTW Jerry, not to embarrass you, I not a "she" but a male age 39.

K.K.Chan

6PtStar · Post by **6PtStar** » Tue Apr 15, 2008 3:48 pm

Ooops, sorry! I caught Slinky on one several weeks ago I guess the shoe is on the other foot. I really don't know why I made that assumption.

Jerry

mindy · Post by **mindy** » Tue Apr 15, 2008 3:52 pm

Very easy to do, Jerry! I think sometimes we go by how we "hear" the words we read and automatically assign a gender

Mindy

GreenIce · Post by **GreenIce** » Tue Apr 15, 2008 8:09 pm

My nickname must be giving wrong impression.