new to nasal pillows

[WindyCityEsq]

So I tried the Resmed AirFit P10 nasal pillows. LOVE LOVE LOVE how they take up way less facial real estate than my former nasal mask (F&P Eson), and also find it very handy that I can wear my eyeglasses while my mask is on. I couldn't do this w/my prior nasal mask and that was unacceptable for someone as blind as a bat as I am ( - 11 vision)

Disappointingly, my AHI was considerably higher w/the nasal pillows. With the nasal pillows, I had 18 events a night with an AHI of 3.75. Once I fitted properly with the Eson nasal mask, I was only having 1-2 events all night, yielding an AHI of 0.15 or 0.3

RE: Mask leaks- My mask leaks are fairly low on both.

RE: Mouth leaks - I had about the same number of mouth leaks with the pillows as I did w/the nasal mask (about 2-3 per night), but with the nasal mask, they only lasted 10 min each on average, whereas they lasted 30 min each on average w/the pillows. Each mouth leak awakens me.

I watched several videos on YouTube re: the P10s specifically, and fitting nasal pillows generally. I'm pretty sure I fitted it correctly (so that the nasal pillows were blowing upwards, not at a 45 degree angle) and all that stuff. I wasn't 100% sure whether I was a size medium or size small, so I tried both and I went w/the mediums. Plus a figured when in doubt, to choose the bigger option since a seal is what I'm going for and not gaps. The headgear seemed way way way more loose than my nasal mask straps ever fit me (prob bc I couldn't tighten my P10 headgear.. all I could do was separate the two straps which was supposed to make it tighter, but I didn't really feel much of a difference, it still felt loose.) Loose, but definitely more comfortable (no facial marks or soreness, both which were present w/the nasal mask).

Any reason for why I'm having so many more events w/the pillows than the nasal mask? My CPAP pressure is a constant 19.

[Pugsy]

How many nights using the P10 with the higher (but still acceptable less than 5.0 AHI)?

How is the quality of sleep in general and your comfort level in general.
If you couldn't/didn't see the AHI (which is still acceptable) do you perceive any difference good or bad in how you feel?

Don't get all hung up on AHI...it can and will vary a lot and you not do anything different at all. It just happens.

Earlier this month I had these results and didn't change a thing.
March 1...my AHI was 0.71
March 2...my AHI was 5.01
March 3...my AHI was 0.88

[WindyCityEsq]

Hi Pugsy!

Had the P10s for two nights now (about same AHI results for both nights).

Quality of sleep: About the same- still have 2-3 wakeups per night induced by mouth leaks.

How I feel: Not only do I not notice a difference between the two masks... I also do not notice a difference in how I feel compared to pre-CPAP therapy. I am trying to be patient. Someone told me that the people who immediately feel better are in the minority.

What's more comfortable: P10 by leaps and bounds. Being able to see (because eyeglasses can be worn w/this mask) is also a huge plus.

OK, I'll try not to focus on the AHI too much. The perfectionist in me is after those super low numbers. Plus the difference in seeing 18 flags versus just 1 flag is visually alarming. I'll try not to get hung up on it, though. 18 events is still way better than the 460 or so I used to be having, right?

Thanks for your insight Pugsy, you're the best.

[jencat824]

I'm using the P10's & love them. I initially tried them, had problems, went back to my Swift LT, then gave them another try (I was going thru masks to try again & then pass on if they don't work). I'm so glad I gave the P10's a second chance. My pressure is also high, runs around 15-20 average, and my leaks vary with this mask. Not anything I'm worried about, I think I leak less on this than with the LT.

My AHI's run same as Pugsy's, some better than others, my average is probably 3.5, ranging from 0.01 to 5.2. Some nights better than others, but I can tell by how I feel when therapy is working & when its not. I've been at this for 14 yrs now & I feel better than ever since finding this forum & learning how to read my data, get the best fitting mask & in general having the support to deal with issues as they arise.

You are doing great for a beginner, don't expect to feel great right away, I know others have said it, but I remember back when I began, I was so let down when it didn't change the way I felt. I realized over time I gradually felt better, but mine wasn't an 'all at once' feel better. I did comply, never thought about non-compliance, my doctor scared me so badly, I was afraid I'd die if I took off my mask in bed. Now I know that was a little white lie on his part, probably used to get patient's compliant without having them actively involved in therapy.

I think today we have the tools to be involved, so that is key for newbies like you. You are involved and watching numbers, that is good, but don't get overly hung up there like Pugsy said. I would suggest taking a week or so worth of data to analyze, that will give you the best idea of how you are really doing.

My tip for leaks with the P10's, if your nose is kind of moist-runny, dry off with a tissue, drying both your nose & the mask. This helps me get it to re-seal then I go right back to sleep. I keep a tissue box on the bed beside me. Since my hubby is now a papper too, we both use them. Sadly he has to use the FFM, he is a mouth breather due to the anatomy of his nose & he has been struggling with leaks lately, so tissues are in demand at our house.

Hang in there & have a great week!
Jen

[WindyCityEsq]

Thanks for the encouragement JENCAT! I'm trying

I notice you have the P10s for Her. Is there any structural difference w/those and the regular version? The only diff I saw was the pink headgear band and that instead of size large pillows, it comes w/size X-small.

Oh, and I called my insurance provider re: the tooth shifting concerns we talked about earlier. They said if my neuro and ortho write medical documentation to the effect of CPAP mask pressure on my teeth, my tooth/mouth soreness complaints, and CPAP therapy's likelihood of causing teeth shifting, and then have my PCP submit request for orthodontia (night retainer) for approval, it will *most likely* get approved. She didn't offer any guarantees, but it has me hopeful

[MitzyG]

were you a teeth grinder before CPAP or is this new? If you're sure it's new, I would tell your doctor. I have lost tooth enamel from grinding my teeth at night and my dentist made me get a night guard because he was so concerned that I'd crack my teeth. The new sleep doctor said that many people who used to grind no longer grind once they address the sleep apnea.

You should also try a nice chin strap. I have the avalon aire. I find it a bit wide, but otherwise, it's quite comfortable and solved the mouth leaking.

[jencat824]

I notice you have the P10s for Her. Is there any structural difference w/those and the regular version? The only diff I saw was the pink headgear band and that instead of size large pillows, it comes w/size X-small.

I don't know actual size specs but I think the 'For Her' headgear might be slightly smaller, not sure. I got the "For Her' since sometimes the headgear is smaller & I always have trouble with headgear being too big. This is kind of loose for me, but I have long hair & pull the back band under my hair (pony tail method: put hair in a band, apply mask, pull bottom band of headgear under pony tail or pony tail through the headgear), so I pull the bottom band low on my neck, top band on the upper most crown of my head, that pulls it as tight as I can get it. Its still quite loose for me, most people have the opposite problem. I could also take a few stitches in the headgear, but so far this has worked & my sewing skills are not that good. I tried both the small & medium pillows - settled on the medium.

[Pugsy]

The headgear between the "for Her" P10 and the "regular" package...we measured and it looks like they are identical in size.
I measured the "for Her" and someone else measured the "regular" and they were pretty much the same.

Looks like the only difference is color and which pillow sizes get supplied.

[SleepDisturbed]

RE: Mouth breathing.

I usually use a chin strap, helps me a lot on that issue. You might try one and see if it helps. I like the Breathewear Halo but there are a bunch to chose from.

[sleepy guesty]

Quality of sleep: About the same- still have 2-3 wakeups per night induced by mouth leaks.

if you think your mouth is falling open try holding a pillow under your chin
it takes time to retrain your brain

if it is leaking around the pillows at a pressure of 19 and you feel the headgear is too loose
search for posts by rested gal on how to make straps from tights that will keep the pillows from pushing away
i am sure pugsy and others can help find the links

when the pillows start to irritate your nares use some lansinoh a dab on each
in fact lansinoh will help to seal some leaks too
search for lansinoh to learn more