Frustrated: Need help with pillows

[laurvan]

Hi, I am brand new to this site. I have been using CPAP since March 17 of this year. I was given the Wisp nasal mask and couldn't use it. My nose kept itching and I never got comfortable with it. I switched to the Resmed Airfit P-10 nasal pillows for Her about 2 weeks ago. I adjusted quickly and really liked them. I stopped snoring and my AHIs were great, sometimes as low as 0.8. Suddenly, I am having a big problem with the pillows and I'm not sure where to turn. I tried the DME and they weren't very helpful.

What is happening is that the pillows are not staying in my nose well, no matter which size I try. They are sort of drooping, and then I am getting loud whooshes of air, which wake me up. I have not been able to sleep well for the past three nights and I am so tired and frustrated! It feels like the tubing is pulling down on the mask, but I don't know how to fix this. My pillow has a built-in "tether" strap for the hose, but I'm not quite sure where to attach it.

I would appreciate any advice you can offer. Thanks so much in advance!

[Pugsy]

Perhaps some sort of hose management system to keep the hose up so that the weight doesn't drag the mask down.
There are various store bought systems or you can make your own. Some ideas here.
viewtopic.php?t=10640

[laurvan]

Thank you Pugsy! I think I'll try some sort of hose hanger before I give up, because I do like the pillows. I am so glad I found this site.

[QualityDMEGuy]

Try out any of these options:
1. The P10 is a good mask but lacks velcro adjustments for these kinds of problems. The design of the mask is to pull the two straps (back/top of head) closer or further apart for the adjustment to the fit. If it's drooping, try pulling the two straps closer together. That is, the one on the back of the head should come up a bit, and the one on the top of the head should come down a bit. I personally don't like this design, but it's worth trying if that takes care of it.

2. Consider a different nasal pillows mask. There are several pillows masks on the market that may fit your nose better. Consider the F&P Opus or Nuance - they both have velcro adjustments to help keep the mask in place.

3. Hose management system (as mentioned by Pugsy) - these can be stand-alone systems or other nasal pillow systems that have a strap to push the tubing over your head (F&P Opus). This will take some of the weight from the tubing off the pillow and hopefully will prevent the pillow from falling down out of the nose.

[laurvan]

I agree that the straps on the P-10 should be more adjustable. The Nuance was the other pillow mask recommended to me by my DME. But, I can't switch masks through insurance until six months are up, so rather than buying a new mask I think I'll try the cheaper option of a hose hanger. Thanks for some good options!

[jjhall]

Since you just switched 2 weeks ago, aren't you in the 30 day period where you can trade it in and the DME can get credit from the manufacturer? I'd push back on the DME a bit and tell them this brand is not working for you and get them to give you one of the other brands recommended. Insurance shouldn't even need to be involved.