nasal pillow sizes have surprising differences

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tyroneshoes2

nasal pillow sizes have surprising differences

Post by tyroneshoes2 » Wed Sep 17, 2014 8:05 pm

I posted here about nasal pillow pain, and that I resolved it by going to a smaller size.

Of course the NP design for ResMed is an outer cone of softer plastic, over an inner vertical tube of slightly harder plastic that is recessed inside the outer cone. In my case it was the top ridge of that inner tube that was digging into my nostril.

But I think I found out why.

On close inspection, on the medium and large size nosepiece, I measure the distance from outer edge of the outer cone to the ridge of the inner tube to be ~2 mm. But on the small size, that distance measures more like ~3.5 mm. Since when in use the top ridge of the outer cone collapses a bit against your nose, that could make all the difference between whether that harder plastic edge happily floats beneath your nostril, or digs against it.

I have pics to illustrate this, but have not yet discovered how to attach them to posts in this particular forum.

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CPAPER Paul
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Location: Atlanta, GA

Re: nasal pillow sizes have surprising differences

Post by CPAPER Paul » Thu Sep 18, 2014 3:07 am

Nice bit of engineering detective work!

I had a terrible problem with my P-10 "medium" size nasal pillows only to find that the "larger" size was, indeed, much more comfortable. The "medium" size actually rubbed my nose raw and hurt. If that had continued I surely would have put my machine on the shelf. I would guess on the larger size that there is more play between the harder inner tube and the softer outer one. Though your measurements seem otherwise.

I also adjusted my headband such that the rearward elastic band was more to the rear of my head and therefore pulled the pillow upwards less. ResMed mentions that in their instructions. Together with a lesser upwards pressure and the large size pillows it seems to work fine for me.

Though I had resolved my problem, until now I don't think I knew the main reason why it worked!

Thanks

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Luthie2006
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Joined: Thu May 29, 2014 6:32 am

Re: nasal pillow sizes have surprising differences

Post by Luthie2006 » Thu Sep 18, 2014 6:26 pm

Thanks Cpaper Paul and Tyroneshoes 2: I have been having terrible problems with the "medium" sized Airfit P10 nasal pillows and now actually have red marks on the outside of my nostril. I had a medium, and I think it is rubbing when I lay on my side on my nose. I am a woman and I assumed that I would use a small or medium but after reading your replies, I am going to use a LARGE tonight and I think that will work just fine. Thank you for a wonderful suggestion. I think the medium is too tight.