Advice needed with mask/pillows please

Hi everyone, newbie here (to CPAP and this forum). So, I have been using my CPAP machine for just over a week and how different I feel is amazing! No more waking up with a tight chest or headache or aching legs, brain fog is slowly lifting and memory improving slowly! I no longer fear losing my job! My AHI on diagnosis was 25 and this last week it has ranged from 1.2 - 5.5. I am very happy with the machine I have been given, however the nasal mask I have is becoming painful to wear especially on the bridge of my nose and at times I have difficulty breathing through my nose only, it feels very claustrophobic. I have been looking at nasal pillows and they look and sound like they could be the answer. They aren't cheap from what I can see, I have been looking at Swift FX/LT, Airfit P10 and Philips Nuance Gel. Does anybody have any recommendations experience with any of these? I saw on an internet post somewhere I would possibly need to change a setting with regards to leak monitoring if I used nasal pillows over a nasal mask...is this true?

Have just noticed my machine did not show on the post despite selecting it....its a PR System One Remstar Auto CPAP with A-Flex (whatever that is)

Sleepygaz wrote:I saw on an internet post somewhere I would possibly need to change a setting with regards to leak monitoring if I used nasal pillows over a nasal mask...is this true?

Not sure what you are referring to. Your machine doesn't have a mask type selection to change.

But if you are referring to SleepyHead software and the leak that it reports...yes a minor setting change in the default install settings so that it doesn't tell you that you are spending excessive time in large leak when you aren't. The default is for a ResMed machine and they report leaks a bit differently.

Sleepygaz wrote:Have just noticed my machine did not show on the post despite selecting it....its a PR System One Remstar Auto CPAP with A-Flex (whatever that is)

That link is broken because that machine was discontinued a couple of years ago. Just manually add it to the comments section of your equipment profile....see mine....S9 Adapt. Just type "PR S1 Auto CPAP" and add the 3 digit model number which you can find on the bottom of the blower...it's going to be either 550 or 560. If you do this then we will know what you are using and can advise accordingly because there are some differences between the 550 and 560 in terms of options.

Sleepygaz wrote:I have been looking at Swift FX/LT, Airfit P10 and Philips Nuance Gel. Does anybody have any recommendations experience with any of these?

I have personally had experience with all of them. They all have some minor pros and cons but in general more pros than cons.
I have also used your Wisp mask...didn't particularly care for it but that doesn't mean much. We all have our own personal preferences and needs and even little quirks and mine are likely different from others.
Tell me...do you find the bulk of the Wisp head gear annoying?
Of the 4 mentioned...the Swift LT is the oldest model...the Swift FX was released in 2010...the Respironics Nuance maybe a year or 2 later and about 3 years ago the Swift AirFit P10.

Of these 4....the P10 is what I normally suggest people try if they are looking for lightweight headgear and a lightweight nasal pillow.
The venting is essentially non existent...no noise and no air blowing on spouse.
All the others have traditional venting and it's a bit noisy and will annoy bed partners if they get too close.

None of them are cheap unfortunately but it does seem like you get what you pay for in terms of masks.
Are you having to pay for everything out of pocket due to insurance or no insurance or high deductible? There are ways to find a mask cheaper though...depends on which one you want.

Thanks for responding so quick. Yes, in the software I meant, will poke around in the settings for that. I have amended the signature now. I do also find the headgear annoying, I adjusted the straps a few days ago as it was too tight from initial setup and I just can't get it right now. I did have my eye on the P10 so will give it a go for sure. I am in the UK and my private medical cover from my work does not cover sleep apnoea unfortunately. When mentioning the pillows the hospital who issued me the equipment didn't seem keen and offered a full face mask instead which I don't want (we didn't get on at the initial fitting) I am happy to pay out of my own pocket though as I really want this to work.

Have you ever tried one of those Cpap mask and hose cleaning machines or is it just a waste of money? Better rest solutions SoClean 2 I looked at but its a silly price.

I have used the swift FX for 5 years and have been very happy with it. But as many will tell you everybody is different. Never hurts to ask about the fit of them so people will post why they don't like some masks. With this it might help you narrow down ones you might not like

Save your money...don't buy those fancy cleaning machines. They aren't needed.
Common sense and hot soapy water occasionally is all that is needed.
The only exception I might make is if someone had some sort of serious health problem their immune system or were on drugs that suppressed the immune system (like organ transplant drugs) and if that were the case we would talk maybe a different cleaning regiment and still not talk about the SoClean which IMHO is a waste of money..

You still have to wash the dirt/grime/oils off even if you use the SoClean...otherwise you just get sterile dirt/grime/oils.
The SoClean doesn't actually clean anything...but it reportedly nukes any germs/bacteria/whatever but good old hot soapy water will kill them too. You can buy a lot of soap for what one of those things cost.
There's also been some talk of long term damage to the silicone from the ozone...don't know if it's true or not. I suppose a lot depends on how often the mask or tubes get replaced.

The P10 is a great little mask. It's weakest point is also one of it's best features...the headgear...there's just not much to it and you don't even really know you are wearing it but sometimes the headgear stretches out rather quickly and then it gets too loose and leaks result.
Usually a good really hot water washing will make it shrink up but eventually the headgear won't shrink up and it will need to be replaced sooner than the short hose/frame or the nasal pillows themselves.
Since the silent venting is REALLY nice..and hubby no longer complains of the blast of cold air on him...the very minor issues with the headgear moving or stretching are over shadowed by the advantages IMHO.

The cost is a bit much up front but the hose/frame will last forever with common sense care and the nasal pillows...I have over 12 months on mine and it's still fine. During that 12 months...I am on the second headgear.
So long term the cost isn't really all that bad...you can buy individual replacement parts instead of having to buy the whole package again.

My experience is with the Swift FX and the P10. I started with the FX and had problems with leaks. The hose connects directly into the pillow and the hose would easily move them. I have used the P10 over 2 years now and haven't felt the need to try anything else. I've worn glasses all my adult life and the P10 feels a lot like that. Lightweight and very little on the head. The P10 mask can last a long time and like Pugsy said you can buy only the part you need. There are only 3 parts, headgear, frame, and pillows. If cost is a factor you might look at Ebay for the parts and make one for less than the whole mask.

So Clean is not needed and you can buy several masks with that money.

Thanks everybody for your input on the P10. Oky I see what you mean, from some places you can buy the parts cheaper separate than the full kit! I will be looking for one today and will definitely be avoiding the SoClean, warm water and soap it is!

The advantage of the kit initally is that they include several pillow sizes and for your first mask you may need to try the different sizes.

OkyDoky wrote:The advantage of the kit initally is that they include several pillow sizes and for your first mask you may need to try the different sizes.

Good point I forgot about that, it comes with 3 different sizes.

I found the Philips DreamWear to be a great solution for me, sort of like pillows except nothing goes in your nose, the air is delivered through a soft piece called a cushion that the masks holds right up to your nose. Pillows were really great when I went to sleep the night of my sleep test but boy my nose was so, so sore in the morning. Someone suggested the size was probably too big for my nose, but I didn't pursue smaller pillows. Nice lady in my doctor's office had already suggested DreamWear and I went with that and it has been great. Only problem for me was that when I went to the company to pick up the CPAP gear, the DME didn't size me correctly, she gave me a mask that was too small and a cushion that was too big and I had such problems with leaks and now-permanent marks on my face that I went spending a lot of $$ trying different masks. It was in that search that I stumbled on a Phillips guide to sizing DreamWear masks and learned I had the wrong sizes. Have had great results with different sizes. The hose, w/Dreamwear, is at the top of your head so there is nothing flopping around in front of you or wrapping around you if you flip sides during the night. The air delivers down to your nose through the mask on either side of your face, and it is equally comfortable to sleep on either side or your back, the air flow is always just fine for me. I'm sure I'm not describing the mask very well - go online and check it out, I've found it to be a really nice design.

I've never posted anything on this site before ... anyone know why the site displays this message by my posting?:
"Also Posted As:
(LinkC)
(MizLizzie)
(Robear)
(SRG1999)
(SweetTeaGal"

Is it because I didn't register my username?

Well, now the site is saying my username is "Guest'" though I'm still FormerFed. Not sure I'll post here again. Good luck all.

Guest wrote:I've never posted anything on this site before ... anyone know why the site displays this message by my posting?:
"Also Posted As:
(LinkC)
(MizLizzie)
(Robear)
(SRG1999)
(SweetTeaGal"

Is it because I didn't register my username?

Yes.
And it says guest because you are not registered and it does not save your name.

FormerFed wrote:Well, now the site is saying my username is "Guest'" though I'm still FormerFed. Not sure I'll post here again. Good luck all.

Well you may have registered a name but you didn't log in.

The multiple name thing happens when people don't log in. The forum software doesn't know exactly who you are..just that you used the same IP address as those other people.

Pugsy wrote: Not sure what you are referring to. Your machine doesn't have a mask type selection to change.

Might be referring to the PR System one machine setting called "System One Resistance" that can be changed from 1-5
All their Masks list a Philips Respironics system one resistance control Value that your to use.
It seems pretty useless to me as Dreamware is 1 and so is my Amara full face mask.