APAP issues with pressure and leaks

[mlasham]

Hi
I have now received a replacement Resmed s9 as my 1st was really noisy. The 2nd is also noisy but I am persevering with it.
Anyway I have nasal pillows (swift fx) and my pressure is set to a range of 6-10
AHI is low I think because I was awake alot. 2.93
I can go to sleep fine without any leaks and a comfortable pressure, however after 2-3 hours of sleep I wake up with leaks coming out the top between my nostrils or somewhere at the bottom over my top lip. The pressure is going flat out and does not back down no matter how much i just try to relax and breath.
I've ended up just turning the machine on and off to fix. Then I might get back to sleep but wake up again 30-50 minutes later with the same thing. Rinse and repeat... for the rest of the night. No matter how I adjust the pillows they still leak - I've tried medium and large with the same results
I cannot work out why this is happening.
With my trial Fisher and Paykel ICON auto I never had this problem.
I've tried setting EPR to off, 1 , 2 and 3 with the same results.
Last nights data below, note that I changed the max pressure from 11-10 earlier in the night.
Any help and suggestions would be very much appreciated.

[zoocrewphoto]

Is the machine set to the right mask type?

[mlasham]

Yes it is, sorry I should have said that

[Pugsy]

Have you tried a little bit of Lansinoh ointment at the nostrils? Not a lot but a little? It is a bit sticky and sometimes helps maintain the seal.

Your situation is where we say your leaks are fine on paper but even though they are small...they disrupt your sleep so they need to be worked on. Perhaps a different mask if you can't get the Swift FX to work.

Also...how long have these nasal pillows been in service? I assume you likely have tried a new pillow on the chance the old pillow was tired..but I have to mention it.

Wonder if you would do better in cpap mode or with a much tighter APAP range. Sometimes the variations in pressure during APAP mode causes hard to seal leaks.

[mlasham]

Hi
I tried some pure lanolin last night, I wiped it around the edges of the pillows and it did improve things a lot. I had to reapply it at around 3am, and then at 6am it was giving up again. Maybe tonight I will put more onto the pillows or around my nose. Do most people apply it to the nostrils or to the pillows?
I only used a very small amount as well as it is expensive. How much are people using?
I will also try a new pillow that I have spare and see how that goes.
Thanks

[nanwilson]

Hi
I tried some pure lanolin last night, I wiped it around the edges of the pillows and it did improve things a lot. I had to reapply it at around 3am, and then at 6am it was giving up again. Maybe tonight I will put more onto the pillows or around my nose. Do most people apply it to the nostrils or to the pillows?
I only used a very small amount as well as it is expensive. How much are people using?
I will also try a new pillow that I have spare and see how that goes.
Thanks

That little tube will last you about a year , and you put it on your nares, just around and just in. Just a dab, not lots, by applying it a couple of times during the night you are probably getting too much on there.