New to the forum and to CPAP

[CaptainRaven40]

Hello everyone. This forum has been a lifesaver! So I thought I would join and share my journey so far. I was diagnosed with sleep apnea and had an AHI of 76.4 and my oxygen saturation went down to 70%. I am 29 years old so this was a HUGE deal for me. Fast forward to going to the DME for the first time. I didn't read a single thing before I went to the DME last Tuesday and I got a Resmed Airsense 10 CPAP along with a Pilairo Q mask. So I get home and first night was a pretty good night. The next morning I decide I want to know more about my machine and therapy so I start googling. I end up here and at a couple of other message boards and video after video. I learn that the Resmed Airsense 10 CPAP is a brick and only records compliance information for the most part and that the Autoset is the one that records all of the data and can be used with Sleepyhead. Hmm... I want one of those! That is what I think, but I already have a machine and the horror stories of DME's... So I call the DME and they tell me I have to have a new prescription from the doctor that there is nothing they can do. So I said I will be contacting you again very soon. I then call my doctor and tell her exactly what I want and why I want it and she said that she had no problem with that and she would be contacting the DME and I would get just that. Two days later the DME calls and wants to set up a time when I can come get the new machine and trade the other in. SCORE! So today I am going back to the DME at 2:30 to exchange machines and try on new masks. I loved the Pilairo Q for about two days then all of a sudden I get chaffing on the nostrils which I kind of expected then it got so bad that they became sores and started bleeding in the middle of the night. So I adjust the Pilairo and it isn't causing the bleeding and the chaffing has subsided. I am a stomach sleeper and I know this causes problems so I know I may have a struggle ahead of me with masks. The next question I have is about CPAP pillows. That is a whole different can of worms to open I know, but it would appear that I may need one. I am having lots of leaks with my mask where I am pressing against the pillow with it. I try and hang my mask off the side of the pillow, but not with great success so maybe I could get some feedback on what you all have encountered with CPAP pillows. Also I am looking at maybe trying a nasal mask instead of the pillows. So we shall see. So anyway, HELLO! and thank you for this forum and all that you all contribute. Sorry for the long and rambling post!

[Sir NoddinOff]

Welcome to the forum. Please fill out you equipment profile and do it in text form... that way we have the basic info all in one place to answer your questions. IOW, we don't have to look thru back posts. Sorry, I don't know much about nasal pillows.

[bones20]

Welcome captain ! I am also a new member just like you (may be 1 day senior to you )

Did you try the Airfit P10? I am using this one and it is as seamless as it gets according to me.

[library lady]

Could be that you don't have the right mask... but for the record, with my FF mask, the Airfit10, and my previous mask, pressing against my pillow has actually helped me stop a leak when it starts in or wakes me up ... I just press my face into the pillow a little more, as a side sleeper mask is already on the pillow. I only know about FF masks, so maybe this info doesn't apply. FWIW, it has been a long time since either my machine or Sleepyhead has recorded a major leak, and I rarely get to the red line (20).

[Sir NoddinOff]

Could be that you don't have the right mask... but for the record, with my FF mask, the Airfit10, and my previous mask, pressing against my pillow has actually helped me stop a leak when it starts in or wakes me up ... I just press my face into the pillow a little more, as a side sleeper mask is already on the pillow. I only know about FF masks, so maybe this info doesn't apply. FWIW, it has been a long time since either my machine or Sleepyhead has recorded a major leak, and I rarely get to the red line (20).

Yeah LL, I noticed that pillow trick too with my current AirFit F10 FFM. If I'd tried that with my old Quattro FX FFM, it would have blown right off my face and across the room.

[CaptainRaven40]

I have added my machine onto my profile in text as requested. I have not listed my mask yet since I am still going through masks. Update: Just got back about an hour ago from the DME. They didn't have a Swift FX Nano for me to try. She said that she would have to order one. I told her I would try on some of the others that she had first. I ended up with the Wisp. I liked it while I was at the DME after I got it home I tried it on and tried to get the fit down for me a little better and I realized that the port for exhalation on the front of it shoots air out like crazy when compared to the Pilairo. I am a little concerned about this because of my wife. I don't want to blow her out of the bed lol. I was just wondering if any of you have the Swift FX Nano and how it is with the air that comes out of it? I am going to give the Wisp a go this weekend and see how it goes.

[yaconsult]

Welcome! I hope you are able to find a mask that works well for you - for most of us, that's the hardest part.

While we are all different in what works for us, between the two most popular nasal pillow masks on cpap.com one was much more popular than the others among the people who responded to my poll here: viewtopic.php?f=1&t=106883&st=0

I just got my airfit p10 on Monday and so far I'm loving it! The DME was out of them as they seem to be what most people want.

[ChicagoGranny]

I get chaffing on the nostrils

Some ideas about this,

- The interface needs to be sized and adjusted properly. Too large/too small or too tight/too loose can cause chafing. Watch the mask manufacturers' instructional videos to size and adjust properly. Links to just about all of them can be found on the forum host's website - https://www.cpap.com/cpap-masks.php

- For prevention and relief of chaffing, many people like this product - http://www.target.com/p/lansinoh-hpa-la ... m=lansinoh I use it occasionally myself. Note that heavy use over a long period of time which results in significant product leakage into lungs could cause lipoid pneumonia.

- Both of the items above will help reduce unintentional mask leakage. Also important is hose management. Notice how your hose is positioned between machine and mask. It should be positioned to minimize any pull on the mask. Hose management is an individual practice. How it is done depends on the mask, the position of the machine, your sleeping position and other factors specific to the individual.

Here is a note I wrote in another thread,

To reduce unintentional mask leak -

- Make sure the mask is fitted properly. (See mask manufacturer's video.)
- Make sure the headgear is adjusted properly (See mask manufacturer's video.)
- Make sure to use good hose management - the hose should not pull on the mask. Notice how your hose is positioned between machine and mask. It should be positioned to minimize any pull on the mask. Hose management is an individual practice. How it is done depends on the mask, the position of the machine, your sleeping position and other factors specific to the individual.
- If you still have problems, learn from the forum what mask liners are available.
- If your mask still has excessive leak, try other masks. Many people report trying several masks before they find one that works well for them.

[CaptainRaven40]

Thank you so so much for the responses! This is a great forum!

[Pugsy]

The Nano is going to probably vent more air than the Pilairo...I don't remember if it was very much less than the Wisp. There are a few masks that have the more diffuse venting system...the Pilairo, the AirFit P10 nasal pillows and maybe a couple of others.
So I don't remember how the Nano venting compares to the Wisp venting but I imagine it will be similar.
I didn't keep the Wisp so I can't compare the venting. I did like the Nano better than the Wisp but that was mainly because of the Wisp headgear...I like next to nothing in terms of headgear so the Nano headgear suited my personal preferences better.

[CaptainRaven40]

The Nano is going to probably vent more air than the Pilairo...I don't remember if it was very much less than the Wisp. There are a few masks that have the more diffuse venting system...the Pilairo, the AirFit P10 nasal pillows and maybe a couple of others.
So I don't remember how the Nano venting compares to the Wisp venting but I imagine it will be similar.
I didn't keep the Wisp so I can't compare the venting. I did like the Nano better than the Wisp but that was mainly because of the Wisp headgear...I like next to nothing in terms of headgear so the Nano headgear suited my personal preferences better.

Yeah the Wisp headgear is not a plus for me but I have seen worse. The air venting on the Wisp may not be an issue. Will just have to wait and see tonight.

[Sheriff Buford]

Noddin': What are your leak rates with the F10? I ussually get a 4-6 L/m (looking at Pugs ) . Pugsy has convinced me that low leak rates are acceptable... and they are... but I would be intetested in what you get.

Sheriff

[Pugsy]

I ussually get a 4-6 L/m (looking at Pugs ) . Pugsy has convinced me that low leak rates are acceptable... and they are..

If I only saw 4 to 6 L/min leak on my S9 machine I would be doing a happy dance all over the place.

Low leak rates...as long as the leaks aren't disturbing sleep...these machines can compensate for and I don't think they are worth going to heroic measures trying to "fix" them.
Sometimes the cure is worse than the disease. I could do a chin strap and probably get a flat 0.0 all night long but I have been down the chin strap road and they bug me and they mess with my sleep more than the leaks might. I would feel worse with 0.0 than I do with maybe less than perfect numbers and my number one goal is getting good sleep. None of the other stuff matters if we wake up a gazillion times screwing around with the mask or discomfort from a chin strap or just the fact that there's something else on my face to annoy me. My sleep is already fragile due to issues unrelated to sleep apnea and I am sure not going to go doing stuff to make it worse just to get a nice math score.

Now if even the tiniest of leak (going by numbers) is causing someone to wake up often during the night and having to fiddle with the mask then of course they need to be worked on but because they are disturbing our sleep and not because of really impacting the therapy itself.

It's rare that my 95% leak number is in the single digits but as long as it isn't well into large leak territory I simply don't care as long as I am sleeping decently and feeling decently during the day.

[Sheriff Buford]

I know.... and you brought me this far...

Sheriff