Leak issues with the Airfit P10

[Pugsy]

I wonder if the Airfit for her has a smaller size headgear?

Doesn't appear to be a different size. I have the for Her model and someone else had the regular model and we measured the headgear and for all practical purposes they were identical.
I think color and the addition of the XSmall (and removal of the Large) nasal pillow are the only real differences.

[jencat824]

A trick I learned from someone on this forum is to use "0-rings" on my pillows. I'm using a medium nasal pillow with my P10 and have added a #10 0-ring on each nostril pillow. I got mine at Lowes, can get them anywhere that sells plumbing supplies. The ring goes over the pillow to kinda hold it up. For me that keeps the entire set of pillows 'up'. This is hard to describe but it definitely works for me.

Prior to this trick I was successful with the Piliaro nasal pillow mask but, only hit or miss with others. After I was introduced to this trick I found the Swift LT worked for me but the Swift FX still didn't. Once I tried the P10 using 0-rings I loved the P10.

Maybe this trick will work for you, I can use it with straight CPAP at 19cm or auto that ranges up to 20cm. Hope this helps.

[jaye8898]

[quote="sleeplessinaz"

Just to clarify - the headgear does stretch but regains it's original shape with a quick wash in warm water. It's a great mask - that's why people are saying how great it is. I could be wrong, but more people are happy with it than not.[/quote]

Have to agree with you Scooter. I've been trying out others and nothing comes close to the comfort of this mask. I wash my headgear weekly and it's like new when it dries. The only thing I would like different and this is for all the nasal pillow masks is that the side strap wasn't so close to my eye. I sleep on my side with my face buried in the pillow and sometimes I wake up with my eye swollen. Will eventually try the Tap Pap and not have anything on my face!

[robysue]

I'll try again. So currently, when I lay sleeping on my back, the nasal pillows are fitted under my nostrils, and the bottom part of the mask lays against my upper lip, w/the tube running down my chest.

In order to get a good seal at 19 pressure, I have to lift up the bottom of the mask so that the bottom portion is not laying against my face. So that it's raised up. For some reason, when I lift it at that angle, I don't feel/hear any more leaks.

Sounds like that tiny little shift when you lift the bottom part of the mask off your lips changes the angle the pillow cones enter your nose. Here's a picture from the AirFit P10's user guide about the angle those pillows are suppose to enter the nose:



Maybe when you are lying on your back the angle of the pillows shifts. And lifting the bottom of the mask corrects the angle and reseals the mask??

Of course, that doesn't help you fix the problem of how to keep the pillows at the correct angle.

[Thewino]

WindyCity,

I understand exactly what you are saying. I just don't have the solution.

When I zonk out, I have a great seal. Sometimes, not every night though, I am awakened with a leak and a small lift of the pillows will fix it.

I was contemplating folding a 2 X 2 gauze pad in half and placing it below my nares to see if this fixes the problem but I haven't been motivated enough to try this yet.

I will admit that I have downsized the straps by sewing a small loop at the top of each one. I love this mask and want it to work.

TheWino

[WindyCityEsq]

A trick I learned from someone on this forum is to use "0-rings" on my pillows. I'm using a medium nasal pillow with my P10 and have added a #10 0-ring on each nostril pillow. I got mine at Lowes, can get them anywhere that sells plumbing supplies. The ring goes over the pillow to kinda hold it up. For me that keeps the entire set of pillows 'up'.

Thanks JenCat, I will have the hubster stop at the hardware store and try this tonight!

And to TheWino: Sorry to hear you are having the same problem. If JenCat's trick doesn't work for me, I'm going to try rolling up a tiny swatch of fleece and propping it under the mask, which sounds like the same thing you're planning with the gauze. I think I'm going to try to bind it w/some tiny rubber elastics, the kind for binding hair braids. That's my backup option if the O-rings don't work.

I do like the P10s- they are the most comfortable thing. They take up very little room on my face, are ultra quiet, and I breath easy in them. The only problem are these occasional (1-2 times per night) mask leaks that are waking me up. I'll figure it out, though. And thanks to all who posted, I appreciate the tips. I'll find a way to make it work!

[drummingvicar]

Dear WindyCityEsq
Here's a trick that might help that I use with my P10 ... My hair is done in locs which I usually tie up at night. I have found that the 'bun' my hair makes is good place for one of my P10 head straps to lay across. The bun gives me more bulk, thereby tightening the strap and allowing the nose pillows to stay in place better. If you have a thin scarf that has some length, you could simply cover your hair and tie the access scarf ends to make a pseudo bun or pony tail that could give you the same extra bulk. You can put either strap across your bun to see which will allow your pillows to sit where you want them to for a good seal. I noticed that you and I have the same equipment and the same settings with the exception of our pressure ... I have been using my s9 and P10 mask not quite a month ... I am more of a side sleeper but when I have found myself on my back, my bun doesn't bother even then ... and with my sometimes wild sleeping, my pillows don't move.
Best of luck ...

[Loreena]

IMO, you don't have to do a complicated hairdo to get the airfit straps to purchase at a specific place. I bought tiny hairclips at Sally's Beauty Supply, they are like the ones in the link, but they are only 3/4" long. So I clamp it on some hair in the back of my head and place the upper strap over the clamp and let the lower one go somewhere below. (BTW, I never sleep on my back). This works beautifully.

http://www.sallybeauty.com/black-hair-c ... t=31&sz=12

[RogerSC]

Tried the o-rings with a Swift FX mask a while ago, and it made the nasal pillows too rigid for me. I move a lot when I sleep, and having the pillows be soft and flexible is best for me. As I recall, the o-rings limited the "trampoline" effect that ResMed talks about with their nasal pillows. On the other hand, the AirFit didn't work for me with the standard AirFit headgear, leaked too much and just wasn't comfortable. The AirFit nosepiece worked much better with the more stable Swift FX headgear, oddly enough, but I'd say the main plus of it for me is having less vent noise.

Now I'm back to my original Swift FX, and doing fine with it.

[bavinck]

When I wear the airfit it does not really rest on my upper lip, like the swift FX does. Pulling the top strap towards the back of my head seems to bring the pillows up, off my upper lip to fit in my nose better. Sounds like the top of the pillow is coming out of the top of your nose a bit. Would pulling that top strap back on your head some help?

[HealthyandHopeful]

I used Lansinoh on the inside of my nostrils for the first time last night. I use the Airfit P10 nasal pillows. I was happy with my P10 before but last night's seal was amazing! I didn't wake up feeling leakage last night at all! So thankful to have found the suggestion of using Lansinoh on these boards! It took weeks but finally getting good sleep is worth it!

[jwerley]

Hi Windy
Try putting your hose behind you, up over your headboard if you have one, or getting a hose buddy. It sounds like the hose is pulling your nose pillow down over your upper lip

Hope this works for you....

Janice

[SleepyToo2]

Hi Windy,

Not sure if this will help you, because I have very short hair - not bald, I just like it short I also only use a 10 cm pressure. I use a chin strap with a Velcro loop at the bottom (on the chin) to hold the hose in place. Makes it much easier to adjust the position of the pillows. I use a medium pillow with other pillow masks, but the other day I tried the large size and I was able to get my leaks down below the line of concern on Sleepyhead! I know that is a guesstimate of where the problems arise, but it works for me for now. The routing the hose over the top of the head won't work for this mask because the short hose is very flexible, and exits down from the mask. It would be cool if the design had the option to go up or down, but that is something the designer/manufacturer would have to fix.

[Cpap momma]

The p10 for her has a smaller headgear. Is that the one you are using?

[poppi2]

I route the P-10 over my head and attach it to the loop on my papCap. Works great. Earl