Opus 360 leaking with higher pressure

writes4me · Post by **writes4me** » Wed Mar 26, 2008 12:56 pm

I am using the newer Opus 360 set up. My nasal pillows were always a little leaky and sometimes tended to go up in my nose rather than sitting on the outside and sealing. To be honest the best seal I ever got was when they are up inside my nose and that's not the way they are supposed to work.

Recently my doctor upped the pressure setting to 12 and now the pillows are literally being blow out of my nose. I wake up half the time with the pillow jetting air into my cheek or eye. I use masking tape to hold the pillows upright and that helps some. I also use masking tape to keep the mask straps in place. If I pull the mask straps too tight the end of the mask yanks my nose up.

So, I'm desparate to find a comfortable and QUIET nasal either prong or pillow system that will not blow off with this higher pressure setting. Please.

Thank you

greyhound · Post by **greyhound** » Wed Mar 26, 2008 1:08 pm

Try putting a "ring" made out of Mack's silicone ear plugs around the edge of your pillows. The ear plug will extend the size of your pillows so they don't go into your nares and also create a better seal. You might even have more success if you use the ear plugs with a smaller pillow than you're currently using.

A comment on an earlier thread by mtstromberg describes his procedure:

"I made a two rings about 1/8" thick or so, and then flattened them out a bit, and stretched them to make the center hole large enough to fit around the end of the pillow. The idea is to have the silicone ring at the point where your nostrils make contact with the pillows.

I simply made them wide enough to be able to seal, and then just put it on. I didn't worry about it being perfect, because I new that it would soften and conform to me when it warmed up.

The pillows don't go very far into my nose anymore, and if fact hardly extend past the silicone, but it doesn't matter. The fit is so good that they don't leak, don't move and are very comfortable."

Good luck.

gasparama · Post by **gasparama** » Wed Mar 26, 2008 3:01 pm

Could you post some pictures of your pillows "upgrade"? I'm interested in trying an Opus and am just about sure that I'll need to make at least one change to it.

Thanks,
Jane

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Mar 27, 2008 7:18 am

I'm using the new Opus also. Yes, it can be noisy especially if you have something in the way of the exhaust ports (sheets, pillow, etc). And I'm only at 7cm of pressure. I can't imagine what 12 or higher would be like.

Did you try using a larger nasal pillow size? I switched from medium to large and noticed less leakage, it's more comfortable, and I didn't have to tighten the headgear as much.

SleeplessInIL · Post by **SleeplessInIL** » Thu Mar 27, 2008 7:21 am

Just remembered my login password. (Is CPAP supposed to help with memory loss?)

bap40 · Post by **bap40** » Thu Mar 27, 2008 9:47 am

I just recently asked the question of higher pressure with an auto machine not working well with the opus.. Mine did not work right either at the higher pressures. I was assured that the higher pressures should not have an affect on the seal.. for me they did. I have not played around with them since then. I found a mask that works great and am hesitant to try others now that this one is working so well. I have gotten to the point where I don't want to rock the boat so to speak. I hate it when I have a bad night as I feel so bad the next day. I would try some fixes like the last poster suggested if you want to keep on using and am sure that sooner or later you will get it right.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Mar 27, 2008 10:47 am

gasparama wrote:Could you post some pictures of your pillows "upgrade"? I'm interested in trying an Opus and am just about sure that I'll need to make at least one change to it.

Thanks,
Jane

I'll post a picture as soon as I get a chance.

greyhound · Post by **greyhound** » Thu Mar 27, 2008 2:09 pm

Can anyone tell me how to upload an image so that it's displayed in this thread?