More Info:
About me: I am very new to PAP (<2 weeks), and use the Resmed Airsense 10 Autoset. But, I have tried a lot already. I have very narrow sinuses (per my ENT) and many allergies (currently getting allergy shots). Awake it is difficult to breathe through my nose as my sinuses collapse, and this has gotten worse over time. The past 3-4 months I have been using semi-disposable nasal strips (intake breathing) both awake and asleep, which has significantly reduced my congestion and allows me to breathe through my nose with my mouth shut.
Things I've tried with nasal pillows
- I started with the nasal pillows, and I am by no means adjusted to therapy yet. I have continued to use my intake strip with CPAP, so far.
- Chin strap. This did nothing to hold my mouth closed.
- Mouth taping: I started with medical tape and ordered somniflex. The medical tape worked ok, but was very suffocating and very uncomfortable to remove. Somniflex was easy to remove but even the small hole was enough to start pursed-lip breathing, and the humidification would loosen the bottom lip.
- Heated tube - this is awesome!
- What worked with the pillows: Nasal pillow + intake strip + somniflex + medical tape to seal hole on somniflex and secure to bottom lip. If i skipped any step here, I wake up as soon as I drift off because air will gush out of my mouth. It's just... a lot.
Anyway.... I'm using the f30 now. Which is fine, but I know I'm not getting any benefit from nose breathing, and it's more cumbersome. I'm mostly just curious/hopeful that with time I may be able to train myself to use the pillows.
Thanks!
