Problem with AirFit P10 Nasal Pillow

[nb65]

Hi,

I've been on CPAP for a few months, and generally think I've been very lucky, with my AHI averaging around 3 (down from from 43 in my sleep study!). I use the AirFit P10 Nasal Pillow mask, and most of time find it's extremely comfortable.

But on a few occasions I've had a serious problem with it appearing to clog up, such that inhaling and exhaling becomes very, very difficult. I suspect it's condensation, but I can't seem to clear it (especially in the middle of the night, when it usually occurs).

According to Sleepyhead, when the problem starts the following happens (all makes sense):

• Flow rate goes up from 30 to 80
  Pressure goes up from 6 to 10
  Leak goes down from 20 to 0

Has anyone else experienced this? I haven't been able to find mention of this problem anywhere else on the board.

[RogerSC]

Do you use heated tubing, and a humidifier? I use both of these and have never had a condensation problem. You may want to fiddle with things, maybe turn up the heated tubing a little, and turn down the humidifier a little if that works for you.

[jencat824]

You might want to get a hose cozy from Pad A Cheek, a nice soft flannel one may help with condensation. Also, is your machine lower than your head? If not, you may want to adjust that, keeping the machine below your head, then condensation won't run back into your tubing.

Also, I get a kind of slurpy condensation in the nasal portion only, I do with all nasal pillows I've ever used. I think it happens when I turn the humidity too high, so I keep my humidity fairly low (1-2). I also sleep with a box of Kleenex beside me, I've had to take the mask off, pinch the nasal pillows together with the Kleenex & kind of 'drain' any condensation. After I've done this once, usually very early in the night, I go to sleep & it doesn't bother me anymore. Also, no condensation in the pillows the next morning. I think (and I may be wrong) that my heated tubing hasn't 'warmed up' yet so I'm getting 'early evening' condensation. Its never bothered me, just been a part of my routine.

Jen

[nb65]

Thanks Jen and RogerSC,

I suspected that the humidifier setting may be too high. I don't have a heated tube, so I probably do need to drop the humidifier setting to maybe 1 and go from there.

The machine is generally below my head (certainly was last night), so I'll try the other suggestions when it happens again.

Thanks again for the quick responses!

Cheers,
Noel

[ems]

Also consider that the air vents might be clogged for whatever reason. The instructions say to use a soft brush with warm, soapy water to unclog.

[nb65]

Also consider that the air vents might be clogged for whatever reason. The instructions say to use a soft brush with warm, soapy water to unclog.

Thanks - this is one of those dumb questions, but the instructions have numbered the parts on the back of the booklet, but there aren't labels with the numbers. Am I right to assume that number 7 (the textured section on either side of the tube) is the vent?

[ems]

Also consider that the air vents might be clogged for whatever reason. The instructions say to use a soft brush with warm, soapy water to unclog.

Thanks - this is one of those dumb questions, but the instructions have numbered the parts on the back of the booklet, but there aren't labels with the numbers. Am I right to assume that number 7 (the textured section on either side of the tube) is the vent? Also consider that the air vents might be clogged for whatever reason. The instructions say to use a soft brush with warm, soapy water to unclog.

Yes, I would think so. Not a dumb question at all.

[poppi2]

... appearing to clog up, such that inhaling and exhaling becomes very, very difficult.
...
Has anyone else experienced this? I haven't been able to find mention of this problem anywhere else on the board.

I hope to get a P10 next week, but I do currently use the NT. The only times I have had difficulty breathing is when the nose piece is entering at such an angle that it is touching the insides of my nose. Make sure the pillow size is not too small, and the flared part is entering your nose.

I just can't imagine water clogging up the main openings to make it difficult to breathe.

Good luck, Earl

[Pugsy]

I had something similar happen to me but it wasn't condensation. It was the nasal pillows sort of getting sucked up into my nostrils and created a bit of a vacuum effect especially on inhale. Woke me up and I finally figured out directly related to inhale and the nasal pillows were constricted almost collapsed. What worked for me was to go from the XSmall nasal pillow to the Small. Happened often with the XSmall...very rarely with the Small.
Next time you wake up and it feels like that...do a big inhale and see if it gets worse...if so and pulling the pillows away from the nostrils to let them inflate again fixes it pretty much immediately consider next size up in nasal pillow so that it can't get sucked in so easily.

[stopsnoring]

I've tried using the nasal pillows a couple of times, but I get so frustrated because it seems so hard to exhale. Inhaling is fine, it's the exhale that troubles me.