Headgear Issues - Resmed PT10 for her

[Hoyden]

Hi everyone, this is my first post.

I was diagnosed with mild sleep apnea and have been on CPAP therapy for about a month now. I noticed immediate benefits and the chronic morning headaches I was battling were immediately eliminated. DH was diagnosed with severe sleep apnea and started CPAP about 2 weeks ago.

I have the Resmed PT10 mask and I really like the nasal pillows and have no leaks and no comfort problems. My problem is the headgear is so thin and wimpy that it slides all over my head. I have long hair that I bun up at night, but it's a continual battle to keep the headgear in the right place. My hair is slippery and straight and nothing stays in it, so I can't pin the headgear to my head. DH has a Phillips Respironics DreamWear mask and I like that headgear much better, but the mask was terrible for me - leaking all night with a terrible morning headache (FWIW I didn't use his, I bought my own in my size).

I really prefer to keep my mask, but I need a different headgear.

My question is: Can other headgear be hacked to work with this mask? It has an odd attachment with prongs that slide into the sleeve of the headgear and button on - are other headgears made in a way that I can modify them to work with the prongs? Or, is there a similar mask with better headgear available? Has anyone with long hair tried the Bella Swift FX mask? Is the nasal pillow of the Swift FX similar to the PT10? It seems like attaching to the ears might be a good thing for me totally avoiding the hair. The dude at my local CPAP store isn't all that helpful.

[palerider]

I have the Resmed PT10 ... I bun up at night, but it's a continual battle to keep the headgear in the right place.

I've heard recommendations to tuck the P10 headgear under a ponytail/bun at night. have you tried that?

I'll let someone who's used the bella loops respond to that part.

[Hoyden]

I have the Resmed PT10 ... I bun up at night, but it's a continual battle to keep the headgear in the right place.

I've heard recommendations to tuck the P10 headgear under a ponytail/bun at night. have you tried that?

Yes, I've tried that, but everything is very slippery and it works loose. The straps are so thin there's not much gripping power and my hair is very slippery. I have this problem with hairbands and hats as well, nothing stays put. Plus, I sleep best with my hair on top of my head because I don't like sleeping on a big wad of hair.

[chunkyfrog]

Maybe a spot for Velcro--the active side.
Let those little hooks hang onto your hair.
Somebody needs to isolate the gunk that makes head lice so tenacious . . .

[kcl]

I use nasal pillows but not that brand. I do have longer hair but its layered some (not super short). I have to put the head gear on and where the back strap lays I pull all the hair up and over so basically the strap is laying on my scalp and root area not on my hair. I don't bun it up but maybe you could do something like that and THEN pull it up into a bun so it would be held in place. I know when my layers grow out it becomes more of a pain to do this and hacking shorter layers myself cause it drives you crazy having the headgear slipping around! I tried the dreamwear during my last sleep study and am getting it because I don't like a hose that goes forward, feel like I'm fighting it all night. I did find when I felt the mask wasn't quite fitting I would pull on it a little bit (because that is what I do with the nasal pillows to "refit" them and that made it worse but if I gently pushed it a little higher on my nose it would snug right up. The loops that fit over the ears do look interesting and could be a good solution for you.

[Lucyhere]

My question is: Can other headgear be hacked to work with this mask? It has an odd attachment with prongs that slide into the sleeve of the headgear and button on - are other headgears made in a way that I can modify them to work with the prongs? Or, is there a similar mask with better headgear available? Has anyone with long hair tried the Bella Swift FX mask? Is the nasal pillow of the Swift FX similar to the PT10? It seems like attaching to the ears might be a good thing for me totally avoiding the hair. The dude at my local CPAP store isn't all that helpful.

People have used the P10 pillows with the Swift FX headgear and find it works for them and is comfortable. On the Bella Loops... I didn't like the way they pulled behind my ears, very annoying. However, lots of people find them comfortable. You won't know until you try.

[OkyDoky]

My question is: Can other headgear be hacked to work with this mask? It has an odd attachment with prongs that slide into the sleeve of the headgear and button on - are other headgears made in a way that I can modify them to work with the prongs? Or, is there a similar mask with better headgear available? Has anyone with long hair tried the Bella Swift FX mask? Is the nasal pillow of the Swift FX similar to the PT10? It seems like attaching to the ears might be a good thing for me totally avoiding the hair. The dude at my local CPAP store isn't all that helpful.

People have used the P10 pillows with the Swift FX headgear and find it works for them and is comfortable. On the Bella Loops... I didn't like the way they pulled behind my ears, very annoying. However, lots of people find them comfortable. You won't know until you try.

Lucy, tell me how this works or direct me to someone that can. I have used both and they have conpletely different frames. I can't see how this would work since the swift headgear attaches to their pillow and the p10 to a frame.

[Lucyhere]

My question is: Can other headgear be hacked to work with this mask? It has an odd attachment with prongs that slide into the sleeve of the headgear and button on - are other headgears made in a way that I can modify them to work with the prongs? Or, is there a similar mask with better headgear available? Has anyone with long hair tried the Bella Swift FX mask? Is the nasal pillow of the Swift FX similar to the PT10? It seems like attaching to the ears might be a good thing for me totally avoiding the hair. The dude at my local CPAP store isn't all that helpful.

People have used the P10 pillows with the Swift FX headgear and find it works for them and is comfortable. On the Bella Loops... I didn't like the way they pulled behind my ears, very annoying. However, lots of people find them comfortable. You won't know until you try.

Lucy, tell me how this works or direct me to someone that can. I have used both and they have conpletely different frames. I can't see how this would work since the swift headgear attaches to their pillow and the p10 to a frame.

Hi OkyDoky... try doing a search on the Airfit P10. I think there are a few threads but this particular one goes back several months. In it someone described how it was done. I'm on the way out but if you don't find it, let me know and I'll try to find it when I get back.

[OkyDoky]

My question is: Can other headgear be hacked to work with this mask? It has an odd attachment with prongs that slide into the sleeve of the headgear and button on - are other headgears made in a way that I can modify them to work with the prongs? Or, is there a similar mask with better headgear available? Has anyone with long hair tried the Bella Swift FX mask? Is the nasal pillow of the Swift FX similar to the PT10? It seems like attaching to the ears might be a good thing for me totally avoiding the hair. The dude at my local CPAP store isn't all that helpful.

People have used the P10 pillows with the Swift FX headgear and find it works for them and is comfortable. On the Bella Loops... I didn't like the way they pulled behind my ears, very annoying. However, lots of people find them comfortable. You won't know until you try.

Lucy, tell me how this works or direct me to someone that can. I have used both and they have conpletely different frames. I can't see how this would work since the swift headgear attaches to their pillow and the p10 to a frame.

Hi OkyDoky... try doing a search on the Airfit P10. I think there are a few threads but this particular one goes back several months. In it someone described how it was done. I'm on the way out but if you don't find it, let me know and I'll try to find it when I get back.

Searched with 4442 hits I thought you had some first hand knowledge. Not worth my time because I have both masks and I don't believe it works.

[poppi2]

Go to Page 14 of this thread for Pugsy's photos, viewtopic.php?f=1&t=95164.

[OkyDoky]

Thanks Poppi, sounds like she threaded and taped the P10 arms to the Swift FX headgear then covered them with strap covers. Might be an idea to try. Pictures were a big help.

[red_roni]

I have the same issue with this headgear. I am supposed to wear a chin strap. I thought I would try and see what my leak rate and AHI were without the chin strap. I tried it one time without the chin strap on and my leak rate and AHI were still in the acceptable area. I decided that it was better to just wear the chin strap because it keeps the headgear from slipping around.

[poppi2]

... I decided that it was better to just wear the chin strap because it keeps the headgear from slipping around.

I wear the PAPcap and position the chinstrap such that I have some Velcro exposed. I attach the headgear to the Velcro. I've never tried it without the PAPcap and don't know how the headgear would move.
This is a never ending battle.

[Hoyden]

... I decided that it was better to just wear the chin strap because it keeps the headgear from slipping around.

I wear the PAPcap and position the chinstrap such that I have some Velcro exposed. I attach the headgear to the Velcro. I've never tried it without the PAPcap and don't know how the headgear would move.
This is a never ending battle.

I wonder if the PapCap would help me - putting a layer between my hair and the headgear. I'm trying the Swift Fx headgear next week and might add the PapCap to the mix if it's still sliding around.

[englandsf]

Have you tried having the straps split wide open - one on your neck and one almost on your brow? At about 100 degrees from each other. That keeps the straps tight but let's the pillows float. I have a big head, though and no bun so YMMV. Good luck