Having problems with nasal pillows

Hosehead4ever · Post by **Hosehead4ever** » Sat Apr 16, 2011 8:27 am

I'm still having problems keeping my pillows on. Sometimes I'll even wake up in the middle of the night because I realize the machine isn't on. Last night, my boyfriend had to wake me up because the pillows were off my face and the alarm was going off (yes, I slept through it.) It's not too loose which leads me to believe that I'm taking it off or that it is somehow slipping off on its own. So I'm getting my sleep broken up in pieces now because of turning the machine off and taking the pillows off. And, of course, it's not effective if I'm not using it.

Any recommendations for fixing this?

Hosehead4ever · Post by **Hosehead4ever** » Sat Apr 16, 2011 12:37 pm

I really hoped someone might be able to offer some pointers on getting the mask to stay on and getting myself to keep the machine on.

dukemom1 · Post by **dukemom1** » Sat Apr 16, 2011 1:36 pm

I've only been on CPAP (with Sift FX nasal pillows) for a little over 3 weeks now.

Do you feel you have a good seal without leaks before you fall asleep? Do the straps feel tight enough to hold it in place without putting too much pressure anywhere on your head?

Do you wear a chin strap? If so, I'd suggest wearing the chin strap over the headgear, even if your particular chin strap says to put it on under the head gear.
If you don't wear a chin strap, try it. I believe mine keeps my headgear very secure and keeps it from going anywhere.

Good luck, and please keep us posted.

Hosehead4ever · Post by **Hosehead4ever** » Sat Apr 16, 2011 1:42 pm

Thanks. I am currently still waiting for my Ruby chinstrap to arrive in the mail. I wondered if it might be too loose but I made it tighter with no success. I do feel like I have a good seal, especially since I started using the Lansinoh cream on my nostrils before putting it on. I guess just have to wait and see what the chinstrap does to help. But I'm apparently turning the machine off in my sleep as well and have no idea how to correct that.

lars4life · Post by **lars4life** » Sat Apr 16, 2011 1:52 pm

DennisG · Post by **DennisG** » Sat Apr 16, 2011 2:09 pm

Another method I have heard is to put some tape over the straps on your cheeks once you get the mask on and set. This will help keep the mask in place and if you try to remove it in the middle of the night, the tape will make it difficult enough to remove that it will wake you up. I used the NexCare gentle paper tape for taping my mouth for a long time, it would work good for this as well. It comes in 1" and 2" wide, I used 2" for mouth taping and think the 1" would be better to tape mask to face.

Getting used to this CrAP, oops CPAP, is not easy in my book, but with time things will get better, try to be patient.

Good Luck

dukemom1 · Post by **dukemom1** » Sat Apr 16, 2011 3:40 pm

But I'm apparently turning the machine off in my sleep as well and have no idea how to correct that.

Wow, are you ever resourceful!

How about an inverted cardboard box, with a cut out for the hose and such - but solid where needed to keep you from pressing the off button?
My kids' computer teacher used to use something similar for the keyboard so only their hands could reach in but they couldn't see the keys; that was how they had to learn touch typing on the keyboard in elementary school.
Does it sound like it might help you?

Lizistired · Post by **Lizistired** » Sat Apr 16, 2011 3:43 pm

Are you physically turning the machine off, or are you using auto-off? I don't use auto-off (SmartStart on resmed) because if don't notice the mask blowing, I don't put it back on.
Can you move the machine so it isn't as easy to turn off?

Hosehead4ever · Post by **Hosehead4ever** » Sat Apr 16, 2011 3:43 pm

Yeah, that might work actually. The only other thing I could think of which is moving it further from the bed isn't possible. I'll see about the box.

Hosehead4ever · Post by **Hosehead4ever** » Sat Apr 16, 2011 3:44 pm

Lizistired wrote:Are you physically turning the machine off, or are you using auto-off? I don't use auto-off (SmartStart on resmed) because if don't notice the mask blowing, I don't put it back on.
Can you move the machine so it isn't as easy to turn off?

Physically turning it off it seems. I'm asleep when it happens, so I can't say for certain. But that's what seems most likely unless one of the cats is walking on it. That just occurred to me.

Breathe Jimbo · Post by **Breathe Jimbo** » Sat Apr 16, 2011 4:20 pm

Make sure the SmartStart/Stop feature is OFF. That is what it is called on the ResMed S9 series. Not sure if you have something like that on your PR. AutoOn/Off?

Hosehead4ever · Post by **Hosehead4ever** » Sat Apr 16, 2011 4:42 pm

Yeah, that's off.

SleepingUgly · Post by **SleepingUgly** » Sat Apr 16, 2011 4:58 pm

I used to tape a dixie cup over the on/off button so that I'd have to really wake up to do it and then I'd realize what I was trying to do. At one pointed I put a book on top of that...

greg-g · Post by **greg-g** » Sat Apr 16, 2011 6:32 pm

Have you sowning some velcro hooks on the inside of the rear headband to stop it slipping? There have been many previous posts on this modification and it solves a lot of problems with the mask moving.

Hosehead4ever · Post by **Hosehead4ever** » Sat Apr 16, 2011 6:35 pm

No, I'll try that.

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