Newb needs help. Exhaling issues

lynninnj wrote: ↑

Tue Sep 20, 2022 4:17 pm

Does anyone know if the lanolin can actually soften the silicone in the long run?

I am wondering if the ise of lanolin is softening the actual structure. I am on my 3rd cushion in about a month. I still have the old ones to revisit since they only got used about 10 days but wondering if lanolin is actually damaging.

The manufacturers and the insurance companies disagree on how long a pair of pillows should last. As I recall, some of the manufacturers say that you should replace the pillows every 2 weeks and others say you should replace them once a month. But many insurance companies claim a pair of pillows should last 3 months. How often is your insurance company willing to pay for pillows? Or are you just buying them out-of-pocket?

I've never heard of anybody claiming that lanolin has damaged the silicone in the pillows. (Vaseline, however, is known to cause problems as I recall.)

Back when I was a newbie 3 months on one pair of pillows seemed like forever, and they never seemed to last that long.

I eventually, however, finally managed to get a large stash saved up by trading folks my large and medium and x-small pillows for their small pillows. (Yeah, that was a thing way back when and there was a thread here at cpaptalk that put people with excess pillows and mask cushions in touch with people looking for pillows and mask cushions.) Once I got a stockpile, I was able to start swapping pillows out every few nights rather than using the same pair night after night and that seemed to increase the life of the pillows quite a bit.

Now? I'm almost ashamed to admit it, but I've gotten excessively lax about cleaning my equipment and replacing the parts. I did toss a couple of pairs of badly worn out pillows in the trash a month or so ago after we got back from a long European trip.

robysue1 wrote: ↑

Tue Sep 20, 2022 4:32 pm

The manufacturers and the insurance companies disagree on how long a pair of pillows should last.

mine last close to three years. i use lanisoh. i use it every night. and i wipe the pillows clean with unscented baby wipes every morning. oh! and clean them in dish soap whenever i get my lazy ass to work on it. certainly not on any schedule.

without a shred of scientific fact to back me up, i believe they last so long because of my so called regime.

zonker wrote: ↑

Tue Sep 20, 2022 5:03 pm

robysue1 wrote: ↑

Tue Sep 20, 2022 4:32 pm

The manufacturers and the insurance companies disagree on how long a pair of pillows should last.

mine last close to three years. i use lanisoh. i use it every night. and i wipe the pillows clean with unscented baby wipes every morning. oh! and clean them in dish soap whenever i get my lazy ass to work on it. certainly not on any schedule.

without a shred of scientific fact to back me up, i believe they last so long because of my so called regime.

The Swift FX pillows (robysue's favorites) were notorious for wearing out quickly. No so the P10 pillows.
When I used the P10, my regime was similar to zonker's, without the Laniso which I never needed.

robysue1 wrote: ↑

Tue Sep 20, 2022 4:32 pm

lynninnj wrote: ↑

Tue Sep 20, 2022 4:17 pm

Does anyone know if the lanolin can actually soften the silicone in the long run?

I am wondering if the ise of lanolin is softening the actual structure. I am on my 3rd cushion in about a month. I still have the old ones to revisit since they only got used about 10 days but wondering if lanolin is actually damaging.

The manufacturers and the insurance companies disagree on how long a pair of pillows should last. As I recall, some of the manufacturers say that you should replace the pillows every 2 weeks and others say you should replace them once a month. But many insurance companies claim a pair of pillows should last 3 months. How often is your insurance company willing to pay for pillows? Or are you just buying them out-of-pocket?

I've never heard of anybody claiming that lanolin has damaged the silicone in the pillows. (Vaseline, however, is known to cause problems as I recall.)

Back when I was a newbie 3 months on one pair of pillows seemed like forever, and they never seemed to last that long.

I eventually, however, finally managed to get a large stash saved up by trading folks my large and medium and x-small pillows for their small pillows. (Yeah, that was a thing way back when and there was a thread here at cpaptalk that put people with excess pillows and mask cushions in touch with people looking for pillows and mask cushions.) Once I got a stockpile, I was able to start swapping pillows out every few nights rather than using the same pair night after night and that seemed to increase the life of the pillows quite a bit.

Now? I'm almost ashamed to admit it, but I've gotten excessively lax about cleaning my equipment and replacing the parts. I did toss a couple of pairs of badly worn out pillows in the trash a month or so ago after we got back from a long European trip.

Despite the fact that I’m trying to make these masks last as long as possible, I’m not actually saying that the lanolin will wear them down but I’m just wondering if it can contribute because it’s such a soft thin piece of silicone.

I have been fortunate enough to manage to buy (I hate to admit this) a total of eight replacement cushions off of eBay at various points in time and have averaged between seven and eight dollars apiece including shipping. Considering they’re between 30 and $34 on Amazon and our sponsor here I’m feeling pretty good about that. Other sellers on eBay or at around $18. I feel like I did pretty good.

Edit: these were brand new unopened in thier bags. I wouldn’t buy anything that was open. Just my humble opinion

Tuesday night I switched from the Evora over to the N30 because of the leak issue I think was brought on by several things. Going to bed and having the mask fit and seal good then my face relaxing so much when I was in a deep sleep that the seal changes and also rolling around trying to get comfortable and pillows pushing on the mask.
The leak rate improved considerably. Sleep time has not.
I am not sure exactly how the N30 vents but the last two nights my eyes have been dry and sort of stuck shut when I wake up. I have read the manual and see the vents but I can't feel anything coming out when I exhale. What is interesting to me is that last time I used the N30 I was having terrible problems keeping my mouth closed when the pressure got high and made my switch masks. I think using the Evora has helped solve that problem and I had no trouble with this at all this time. My tongue stayed right where it was supposed to.

I will be traveling through next Monday and I am excited to see if new (different) beds will break the terrible sleep time pattern I have developed since starting pap'ing. I sleep, wake up sometimes for no reason at all. Go to the bathroom, walk around, get a drink of water and try again. The second and sometimes third time I just wake up. I am still tired but I can't sleep.

A weird thing has been happening for about a week. When I wake up, I know I am getting enough air but I feel like I am on the verge of suffocating and the incoming air feels very warm.
I have a phone appointment today with my dr. I will mention that to him and see what he says.
I am still very tired but the brain fog has been much less this past few days.

https://sleephq.com/public/a90d98b1-801 ... a4502782be



Tuesday 9-20-22 Switch from H&P Evora to N30- No other adjustments.

Brad S wrote: ↑

Thu Sep 22, 2022 6:57 am

Tuesday night I switched from the Evora over to the N30 because of the leak issue I think was brought on by several things. Going to bed and having the mask fit and seal good then my face relaxing so much when I was in a deep sleep that the seal changes and also rolling around trying to get comfortable and pillows pushing on the mask.
The leak rate improved considerably. Sleep time has not.
I am not sure exactly how the N30 vents but the last two nights my eyes have been dry and sort of stuck shut when I wake up. I have read the manual and see the vents but I can't feel anything coming out when I exhale. What is interesting to me is that last time I used the N30 I was having terrible problems keeping my mouth closed when the pressure got high and made my switch masks. I think using the Evora has helped solve that problem and I had no trouble with this at all this time. My tongue stayed right where it was supposed to.

I will be traveling through next Monday and I am excited to see if new (different) beds will break the terrible sleep time pattern I have developed since starting pap'ing. I sleep, wake up sometimes for no reason at all. Go to the bathroom, walk around, get a drink of water and try again. The second and sometimes third time I just wake up. I am still tired but I can't sleep.

A weird thing has been happening for about a week. When I wake up, I know I am getting enough air but I feel like I am on the verge of suffocating and the incoming air feels very warm.
I have a phone appointment today with my dr. I will mention that to him and see what he says.
I am still very tired but the brain fog has been much less this past few days.

https://sleephq.com/public/a90d98b1-801 ... a4502782be



Tuesday 9-20-22 Switch from H&P Evora to N30- No other adjustments.

Looking at the numbers I would’ve thought you had a pretty decent nights sleep, albeit short.

Do you have a beard or mustache? could that be interfering? (stuarts bleep video I think it was showed how to get in there and just hit under the nose with the trimmer)

Do you use lanisoh/lanolin around the shnozz? I find a teeny bit helps it form a better seal and a lot of it makes it total shit for seal. When I first lay down I plug the hose with my hand and blow out. That helps figure if you’re leaking. I sometimes have to adjust it a few time and then plug the hose in. I have a 5 min ramp where I feel for leaks, gently pull the whole thing away from my nose slightly an slip it back on. Sometimes it takes a few minutes but by the time it ramps up completely I usually have all the holes figured.

Then I scratch my nose and screw it all up. lol sometimes at that point I just pull whole thing away a teeny bit and match it back up and it finds a happy home.

I am wondering if while you fuss with it if you aren’t dropping your chin while you do it? Chin drop= feeling like you can’t breathe seems to be a thing with us. Maybe you should try to shave off a bit of that 3” collar? i don’t know if it’s feasible but I wouldn’t jump to haf inch off the top but try taking it down in smaller increments until it’s comfy? I am half considering a collar myself because of the few times I have had shit sleep lately and I like the good sleep nights.

The N30 vents can easily be seen if you pop the cushion off and look at body above the hose/oval part. Hold it up to the light. There’s some black mesh under there that I think diffuses the air. If you’re worried try hitting them with water from a waterpik. I believe the holes are there on one plastic oval, with the mesh in btwn another plastic oval where hose attaches with slits for venting on the surface where hise attaches.

Hold it up to the light- look at it from every direction including from hose. If you look from underneath you can’t miss it. I know this gives you anxiety. Next time you can’t breathe lift your chin and try again.

I wish you the best travels though!

Friday update...
Good and bad news...
Good: Second sleep was AMAZING- First was also really good but woke up too soon because I had to P
BAD: I need night time oxygen.
Had my phone dr. appointment yesterday to discuss my overnight O2 test. Levels averaged mid 80's so he prescribed overnight oxygen.
Apria called to verify as they always do and said someone would be in touch to set up delivery. Last night at 8:30 there was a knock on the door to deliver my machine.
The AirSense 11 climate hose does not have the adapter for the back of the hose where it plugs into the machine like the 10 does so I had to tape the O2 line to an adapter that attaches where the mask and hose meet. Not a big deal but not the best.

I am guessing, short as it may be, that this is what a good nights sleep looks like.

I waited too long after the first sleep and dozed off without the mask. The alarm actually had to wake me up this morning. I was out! That is the first time in a very long time and the first time in 64 nights since starting therap. NOw- I really am looking forward to bed tonight!
I am leaving this morning and now I have to see if I can figure out how to pack a second oxygen concentrator in the car. Already have a wheelchair, scooter, 1 concentrator and all the sleep and pap stuff for two of us. LOL. Going to need a trailer soon or find a waterproof cover for the back of my truck. Or I will just wait to start again until I get back. LOL
Hope all my friends out there in Pap Land are having a great day and slept as good as I did. I feel really good this morning.

https://sleephq.com/public/309a7a2a-ff0 ... 8157e4c9e6

Brad S wrote: ↑

Fri Sep 23, 2022 6:29 am

Friday update...
Good and bad news...
Good: Second sleep was AMAZING- First was also really good but woke up too soon because I had to P
BAD: I need night time oxygen.
Had my phone dr. appointment yesterday to discuss my overnight O2 test. Levels averaged mid 80's so he prescribed overnight oxygen.
Apria called to verify as they always do and said someone would be in touch to set up delivery. Last night at 8:30 there was a knock on the door to deliver my machine.
The AirSense 11 climate hose does not have the adapter for the back of the hose where it plugs into the machine like the 10 does so I had to tape the O2 line to an adapter that attaches where the mask and hose meet. Not a big deal but not the best.

I am guessing, short as it may be, that this is what a good nights sleep looks like.

I waited too long after the first sleep and dozed off without the mask. The alarm actually had to wake me up this morning. I was out! That is the first time in a very long time and the first time in 64 nights since starting therap. NOw- I really am looking forward to bed tonight!
I am leaving this morning and now I have to see if I can figure out how to pack a second oxygen concentrator in the car. Already have a wheelchair, scooter, 1 concentrator and all the sleep and pap stuff for two of us. LOL. Going to need a trailer soon or find a waterproof cover for the back of my truck. Or I will just wait to start again until I get back. LOL
Hope all my friends out there in Pap Land are having a great day and slept as good as I did. I feel really good this morning.

https://sleephq.com/public/309a7a2a-ff0 ... 8157e4c9e6

Well check YOU OUT MR. ZERO INTERRUPTIONS OTHER THAN A PEE BREAK! Very cool. You were wearing the Evora (?) mask?

I am wondering what your O2 levels will become once your apnea is treated. Does anyone know if its a thing? Where maybe your previous difficulties with the mask were causing your o2 study to show the expected low numbers but maybe you don't need it if you can treat the OSA properly? (just a happy thought so maybe you don't need to buy a new minivan. )

Glad you are feeling better. I am sure the o2 helped with the way you are feeling. All the more reason to keep the mask on.

EDIT: what did you do differently last night I wonder. The leaks are much improved!

I hope you have a nice trip wherever you are headed!

While untreated or sub optimally treated OSA can be a prime culprit for low O2 levels during the night.....it's not the only reason for low O2.
There are other medical reasons for low O2 that need to be checked out and/or treated.
Sounds like you are in that category where we can't blame it on OSA events so have to look elsewhere.

Lets see how you do with added O2 in the mix.

I'm back- Woohoo!
It was soo good to go on a road trip again. We have spent the last 42 years traveling all over North America and since 2020 the trips have been very restricted and limited. It was fantastic to get out and just have fun.
Didn't have room in the car for the second oxygen concentrator so Monday night after we got home I started the oxygen again.
I did find out there are flow splitters for oxygen concentrators that allow multiple people to use one concentrator at different flow rates. So maybe next trip we will only have to take one concentrator... Who knows.
Friday night was ok. Stayed up later than usual. Slept about the same. The hotel bed was not so great. Some of that funky newfangled memory foam. You sink in nice but then it is way too firm.
Saturday, well that was a great one. Had way too much fun during the day exploring and goofing off and stayed up way too late drinking and enjoying being outside in the clean South Dakota air. Went inside and fell into bed. Didn't even think about putting on the mask. Woke up around 3:30 according to Oscar and put the mask on. All I remember is feeling like I was suffocating and took it off 6 minutes later. HA! Thanks Oscar.
Sunday night was a rough one with leaks. Don't know why, don't really want to waste time thinking about it but they were really bad.
Got home late Monday and switched back to the N30 and plugged back into O2 and did good and the leaks were under control.

Last night for the first time in as long as I can remember, I slept all night. Had to get up early to go to the office but kept the N30 on all night.
I have another over night oxygen test later this week to see if the oxygen is helping.
I can't really tell yet if the brain fog is going away or if it is just the feeling of the added oxygen at night or both. Either way- all I can do is roll the sleep dice and keep on truckin.
Tonight is a new night and a new opportunity to sleep.
I hope everyone is doing well. I will be here but quiet for a day or two to catch up at work.

https://sleephq.com/public/a94a51dd-475 ... c987eb31a2

Brad S wrote: ↑

Wed Sep 28, 2022 2:43 pm

I'm back- Woohoo!
It was soo good to go on a road trip again. We have spent the last 42 years traveling all over North America and since 2020 the trips have been very restricted and limited. It was fantastic to get out and just have fun.
Didn't have room in the car for the second oxygen concentrator so Monday night after we got home I started the oxygen again.
I did find out there are flow splitters for oxygen concentrators that allow multiple people to use one concentrator at different flow rates. So maybe next trip we will only have to take one concentrator... Who knows.
Friday night was ok. Stayed up later than usual. Slept about the same. The hotel bed was not so great. Some of that funky newfangled memory foam. You sink in nice but then it is way too firm.
Saturday, well that was a great one. Had way too much fun during the day exploring and goofing off and stayed up way too late drinking and enjoying being outside in the clean South Dakota air. Went inside and fell into bed. Didn't even think about putting on the mask. Woke up around 3:30 according to Oscar and put the mask on. All I remember is feeling like I was suffocating and took it off 6 minutes later. HA! Thanks Oscar.
Sunday night was a rough one with leaks. Don't know why, don't really want to waste time thinking about it but they were really bad.
Got home late Monday and switched back to the N30 and plugged back into O2 and did good and the leaks were under control.

Last night for the first time in as long as I can remember, I slept all night. Had to get up early to go to the office but kept the N30 on all night.
I have another over night oxygen test later this week to see if the oxygen is helping.
I can't really tell yet if the brain fog is going away or if it is just the feeling of the added oxygen at night or both. Either way- all I can do is roll the sleep dice and keep on truckin.
Tonight is a new night and a new opportunity to sleep.
I hope everyone is doing well. I will be here but quiet for a day or two to catch up at work.

https://sleephq.com/public/a94a51dd-475 ... c987eb31a2

Welcome back! Was wondering how you made out on your road trip.

Sounds like you had a blast.

Those are some seriously good looking numbers for last monday! Chasing that sleep high now! lol

But seriously, good for you that you had at least one really good night in there. Keeping your chin up is super important I think. Pay attention to your head position next time you "feel like you can't breathe" and I wager your chin is down.

Love love my N30. So comfy!

Sounds like you are getting the o2 overnight issue cleared up. Good for you! Good luck with everything my friend.

Hello again-
I am still here- it has just been a crazy week or so and I just haven't had time or energy to spend here. I have had to put off several things lately just to keep up at work battling the brain fog. Today is the first day I am feeling noticeably better since starting nighttime oxygen. I have been very tired and groggy and for the first time, I am not feeling the morning fog so severely so I thought I would check in here.
My AHI is way down, but my leaks are up. My sleep quality is mostly poor. I wake up every single night- much of the time for no reason. Just wake up. I get up for a few minutes and then go right back to sleep. This morning though, I feel rested.

This is from 2 nights ago. I am having terrible intermittent leak problems. Some nights they are small others it is out of control. The reality of it, other than last night when I woke up with a dry mouth and air flowing freely from my open pie hole with the N30, I don't notice, or I am not disturbed by the leaks.
I have been switching masks to see if that helps.
Mask- Evora

https://sleephq.com/public/c0cbf0a6-27d ... 9ca4609b64




This is from 3 nights ago. Leaks? Considerably less.... but still way too high.
Mask- Evora

https://sleephq.com/public/3962a744-97d ... b17250e4b7



Last night- more of the same.
Started off with the N30 and then switched back to the Evora after waking up with air freely flowing out of my open mouth.
I think it is from my sleep position. I sleep on my side and the pillow is pushing on the mask. I have all kinds of pillow configurations. Flat, fluffy, small, tiny travel pillow etc.

I am going to bite the bullet and try a CPAP pillow. I reallly don't know what else to do. I have tried to make them at home and haven't figured it out exactly.
The CPAPMax seems to get the best reviews. Any suggestions or ideas? I hate to spend $75 on a pillow but I need to get this figured out. https://www.contourproducts.com/cpapmax

https://sleephq.com/public/eb61df1b-8ad ... f1566f5e97




It is kind of scary re-reading this before I post it. I have noticed this with most of my posts here. I am not all here. I am scatter brained and write like a child. Not like I was ever Kolchak or ace reporter Jimmy Olsen but I did seem to be coherent in the past. (I know- odd comparison) LOL.
I am just plugging along doing the best I can, and I hope you are all doing great.
Thanks for reading.

Good to see you Brad.

Looks like the zero AHI night had only around six and a half minutes in the large leak range whereas others had an hour or more up to several hours.

Sorry I cant help with the pillow issue. Maybe someone can chime in who has experience with this.

I don't know what else to say other than stick with it and keep ironing out those glitches as they come along, mainly leaks. Wondering if you ever tried the P10 mask? If you ever want to try one I recommend checking ebay and order whatever size you use for the N30. Pretty sure they are the same? (Anyone in the know please speak up!)

Good luck and on paper should be feeling dandy if it werent for those leaks. Best to you.

lynninnj wrote: ↑

Fri Oct 07, 2022 12:58 pm

Good to see you Brad.
Wondering if you ever tried the P10 mask?

Thanks as always for your kind, thoughtful reply.
I started this whole journey off with the P10 and tried it again last Friday in an attempt to switch it up.
I fall asleep great but woke up with my mouth open and air rushing out and when I wake up and hold my mouth closed the direct injection of air pressure through the two small holes seems to be too much to handle for my nose only. The same thing happens with the N30 as well- just not as intense.
Looking back at oscar for that night, the pressure never got above 11.8 ish and I had a pretty good leak going on for a while. Switched back to the avora and leaks were noticeably better.
But then the next night- the evora leaks like crazy off and on. That's why I am thinking it has to be my face placement on the pillow.
I did buy the CPAPMax pillow, and it will be here Sunday- I am hopeful it will work to keep the leaks under control.
I feel I am making progress. Lately it has been two steps forward and one and a half steps back but a half a step forward is better than no step at all. I will figure it all out sooner or later.
I have the F30 ready to go for tonight. It is almost exactly the same as the evora except it vents differently. All I need is for one of these masks to work consistently.



https://sleephq.com/public/cda7aa06-851 ... fd1b90ed9b

Good morning friends and happy Saturday.
I have a legit question this morning that I would like some help on.

Would one of you please take a look at my oscar charts and tell me what happened on the second session? Were there no leaks?

Last night, I started off with the F30 and apparently the leaks were terrible. I do not remember them; they did not disturb my sleep. I woke up to go pee and switched back to the Evora only because the F30 isn't as comfortable because it is just a little too small and sometimes it just doesn't feel right.
I have never seen anything like this before.
Thank you for your help.

https://sleephq.com/public/5f4b32f0-3a4 ... fd3e389f11