New to CPAP- need nasal cushion help

[SleepyBobinTas]

Hi all,

I'm new to the whole CPAP thing, having been diagnosed with severe sleep apnea- 69 events/hr and average of 20 secs per event. My doctor seemed surprised I was alive...

ANYHOW- I've been trialling masks for a week now- originally with a Resmed Airfit N20, which I could sleep with, but felt like it was squeezing my face in, and almost gave me blisters on the sides of my nose. With that my average events were around 2.6 an hour, which is a good progression from 69. However, the discomfort of wearing the N20 was keeping me up, and in particular, causing me to wake up around 3 am every morning when the straps seemed to loosen or get soft, so that the thing leaked. Not to mention the soreness.

So last night I went and borrowed a Respironics Dreamwear nasal mask- the one that just fits under my nose and doesn't go into my nostrils. In the morning my events per hour were 0.5, which seems miraculous, and the thing was initially relatively comfortable, given that under my nose hadn't gotten used to wearing it. The problem I had was that I'm a side-sleeper and restless, and the bloody thing kept coming loose all night long, jetting air in my eyes or over my face. Even resting my head on my pillow seemed to cause it to leak. I adjusted it endlessly, so tight it was ridiculous, nice and loose, and everywhere between.

So, I liked the feel and the lack of stuff hanging off my face with the Dreamwear mask, but need something that is going to stay put when I roll. I've considered a Brevida undernose pillow, but my treatment centre doesn't have any to try. Would the bigger nose pillow held keep it on when I roll around, or do I need the cushions that insert into my nose? AND, should I forget the undernose cushion altogether and try to find another nasal mask that fits over my nose and fits better?

ARGH!

Nice to meet you all, by the way....

[Okie bipap]

If you liked the dreamwear, but had trouble with it moving during the night, take a look at the dreamwear full face mask. It also sits under the nose, but also covers the mouth. This mask uses a four point headgear which will probably be more stable as you move around at night.

[SleepyBobinTas]

I'll have a look, Okie! Thanks!

[babydinosnoreless]

The dreamwear line also has nasal pillows.

B944C6FB-87D5-41CE-B1C7-12073B4CC774.jpeg

I alternate the N-20 as my main mask and the dreamwear as a backup, if I get a sore on my nose (usually from my glasses)

The n-20 is really picky size wise. I was using the regular and having huge amounts of leaks so I downsized to the for her size and it fits much better with the small cushion. Less area to leak but make sure your straps are not too tight. It seals better when its not strapped down tightly.

[Miss Emerita]

You’re smart to work on mask comfort!

One note: nasal pillows don’t really go in your nostrils; they rest on the ends of your nostrils. I use a ResMed P 10. The technician gave me a pack with all three sizes of pillows and recommended I start with small. But the smalls wedged themselves into my nostrils and were very uncomfortable. Medium was a little better, but it’s the large that really work for me. The are a bit too large, and so I have a small, near-constant leak. Happily it doesn’t bother me, and the mask is very comfortable.

You can also search the site for Bleep, the name of a unique stick-on nasal interface. It seems to work well for a lot of people.

Bear in mind that what works for one person may or may not work for you, and keep experimenting until you find the mask that’s right for you.

[SleepyBobinTas]

Thank you all- plenty to look into!

[CelesteMcC]

One thing that might help with your Dreamwear is to bobby-pin the strap of the mask to your hair, behind your head; it helped mine stay in place.

Another possibility, if you like the design of the Dreamwear, is the ResMed N30i nasal cushion mask. I switched to it from the Dreamwear. I find it stays in place much better, perhaps it could work for you.

[Peony]

Hi all,

I'm new to the whole CPAP thing, having been diagnosed with severe sleep apnea- 69 events/hr and average of 20 secs per event. My doctor seemed surprised I was alive...

ANYHOW- I've been trialling masks for a week now- originally with a Resmed Airfit N20, which I could sleep with, but felt like it was squeezing my face in, and almost gave me blisters on the sides of my nose. With that my average events were around 2.6 an hour, which is a good progression from 69. However, the discomfort of wearing the N20 was keeping me up, and in particular, causing me to wake up around 3 am every morning when the straps seemed to loosen or get soft, so that the thing leaked. Not to mention the soreness.

So last night I went and borrowed a Respironics Dreamwear nasal mask- the one that just fits under my nose and doesn't go into my nostrils. In the morning my events per hour were 0.5, which seems miraculous, and the thing was initially relatively comfortable, given that under my nose hadn't gotten used to wearing it. The problem I had was that I'm a side-sleeper and restless, and the bloody thing kept coming loose all night long, jetting air in my eyes or over my face. Even resting my head on my pillow seemed to cause it to leak. I adjusted it endlessly, so tight it was ridiculous, nice and loose, and everywhere between.

So, I liked the feel and the lack of stuff hanging off my face with the Dreamwear mask, but need something that is going to stay put when I roll. I've considered a Brevida undernose pillow, but my treatment centre doesn't have any to try. Would the bigger nose pillow held keep it on when I roll around, or do I need the cushions that insert into my nose? AND, should I forget the undernose cushion altogether and try to find another nasal mask that fits over my nose and fits better?

ARGH!

Nice to meet you all, by the way....

Im new, too, and use the same mask (Dreamwear). Did you measure your nose with the chart that comes in the package? It will tell you which cushion size you need. I downloaded this chart off the internet:
https://www.sleepapnea.com/documents/Dr ... -Guide.pdf

[SleepyBobinTas]

Hi all- thank you for the responses. I have measured my nose, and it's the right size cushion. I got it to stop moving around by playing with the straps a bit, but it has been causing a lot of discomfort-chafing and etc. I've not been able to sleep for longer than 4-5 hours with it, no matter how hard I try. So last night, in desperation, I tried the Airfit n20 I'd originally been given with the machine after being awoken at 3am, only this time with the straps looser. And sure enough, off to sleep I went. so I might try that one for a while.

Your collective advice has been extremely useful! Thank you!!

[realshelby]

There are two masks that I have used that are very good about staying in place when you bury your head into a pillow. The Nuance Pro I used for many months. It is a pillows style nasal mask with a very, very good headgear that helps keep it in place and stays adjusted better than others. I am using the ResMed P30i now. This, like the Dreamwear, has the top hose mount which I simply like much better than front hose. It has pillows very similar to the P10 mask. Meaning these can move around a bit and still stay sealed where others might not. While I don't really care all that much for the P30i headgear, it works well enough with the package that I am using it full time now.

Finding the right mask makes all the difference in how you sleep. I get ever so slightly higher AHI with the P30i on average, but I sleep more soundly without the interruptions the front hose gives and the leaks some masks have. That is what you are after....good sleep!