Waking Up at Night Due to Random Puffs of Air in my Cheek

[BuddhaCat]

I noticed a fairly recent thread talking about irritating puffs of air in a nasal mask. My problem is different, I think.

I have nasal pillows and have been using them successfully since 7/14. In the last few weeks, I've been woken up in the middle of the night by a puff of air in my cheek (the cheek that's facing up, not the cheek that's laying on the head pillow). If I turn over, it will happen in the other cheek. It feels like someone is poking me in the cheek rapidly; it's also similar to the sensation of the "puff of air" test that you get at the eye doctor.

I have no idea what's causing this, but it's driving me absolutely crazy. It wakes me up and doesn't allow me to get back to sleep. So yes, it happens whether I'm awake or asleep.

Lately I've lost a significant amount of weight due to gastric sleeve surgery. I've switched back and forth between size Medium and Small nasal pillows, but in both cases I get the "puff of air."

What the heck is going on, and what can I do to stop it???

[chunkyfrog]

First of all, best wishes/congratulations on your weight loss.
You may need a different bed pillow due to the changes in your body.
I also wonder how old your current pillows are. You may need to change them more often now.
The P10 headgear tends to stretch out between washings.
Or your new skinny head needs a new headgear.

[BuddhaCat]

First of all, best wishes/congratulations on your weight loss.
You may need a different bed pillow due to the changes in your body.
I also wonder how old your current pillows are. You may need to change them more often now.
The P10 headgear tends to stretch out between washings.
Or your new skinny head needs a new headgear.

Chunky, whose head did you just call "skinny?" {turns around and looks for someone else} Thanks for your best wishes and congratulations. Losing weight was definitely a health issue for me.

Interesting idea about the bed pillow. I have a Bucky Duo buckwheat/millet pillow, which I've loved. I wonder if I might need to buy a new one? I had figured that the buckwheat/millet would last for ages.

And great idea about washing the headgear more often. I have the P10 For Her and have really liked it ... I wonder what other headgear might work better?

Congrats to you on your recent good news post!! xo

[chunkyfrog]

My buckwheat/foam pillow came over-filled, and I saved the excess for later;
as the hulls wear smooth over time, and some get crunched, your pillow may just need a little more fill,
as your body proportions change. (Hooray)
The buckwheat does last a long time. I don't expect to have to pillow shop for a while.

[BuddhaCat]

My buckwheat/foam pillow came over-filled, and I saved the excess for later;
as the hulls wear smooth over time, and some get crunched, your pillow may just need a little more fill,
as your body proportions change. (Hooray)
The buckwheat does last a long time. I don't expect to have to pillow shop for a while.

You were smart. I kept all the buckwheat/millet in my pillow from the beginning, so I don't have any excess. I'll look online for some. In the meantime, I'll rotate my mattress so I'm not sleeping in a big divot; that may help too.