Pillow or Nasal Mask Pressing Inside Nostrils Too Much

I've been using a CPAP device for approximately a year-and-a-half, and since the first night until now, I usually average less than 1 events per hour. Not only that, and much to my wife's delight, I have not snored once while using a CPAP device. I'v tried a full face, nasal pillows, and nasal masks. The one that consistently produces the best sleeping "score" with my AirSense 10 Respond device is the AirFit P10. But occasionally I will get irritation just inside (interior side not exterior) one of my nostrils, not too far, but because the nasal pillows are pushing up against that part of my nose. I have tried adjusting the straps to not apply so much pressure, and I get more than 24 L/minute. I have tried a full face mask, but what I don't like is that whenever I need to open my mouth, the pressure it too great. Breathing through my nose most of the night is what I typically do, but it's those few minutes before I fall asleep that I want/need to inhale or exhale through my mouth and it's very uncomfortable. I've also used the AirFit P30i but since the nasal ends/pillows abut against my nostrils, the same problem can occur with it pressing too hard against that area. I have had better success with an AirFit N20. The last couple of nights it was very comfortable, easy to breath, and there was no pressure against my nostrils. But in checking myAir dashboard, my air seal was very poor, 40L/minute Monday night, and almost 80L/minute last night. Yet I've still maintained a very low (0.5 to 1) events per hour. If that is the case, is the air leak not an issue and disregard? My events per hour are very, very low and I'm comfortable.

HTTR wrote: ↑

Wed Sep 04, 2024 1:58 pm

But in checking myAir dashboard, my air seal was very poor, 40L/minute Monday night, and almost 80L/minute last night. Yet I've still maintained a very low (0.5 to 1) events per hour. If that is the case, is the air leak not an issue and disregard? My events per hour are very, very low and I'm comfortable.

When you start having excess leaking above 30-35 L/min it is possible that those large leak times are experiencing some sort of apnea event that doesn't get flagged because with that much large leak the machine may lose its ability to sense and record accurately whatever is going on during the large leak time.

The further above 35 L/min you go the worse it gets. You may or may not start seeing UAs which are unclassified apneas which means the machine could sense something happening but due to the excess leak it couldn't put a name to it.

What size P10 nasal pillow are you using? Can you go up a size?

I am also wondering if it is the replacement tube/short tube replacement elbow, because I notice that air is blowing OUT from it. I don't have the mask fitting so loose that I can't get a good fit/seal, so I'm not sure what the problem is. When I've used anything else, I've never noticed air coming out, unless I pull at the seal. As for the P10, I use a medium but I might still have a large. But I would prefer waiting until the soreness/irritation just inside one nostril is gone before using a pillow again.

HTTR wrote: ↑

Wed Sep 04, 2024 2:19 pm

soreness/irritation just inside one nostril

You could try a small amount of Ayr Gel at night or day. https://www.walmart.com/ip/Ayr-Saline-N ... z/10294321

For each mask model, there are good videos on YouTube about fitting and adjusting.

HTTR wrote: ↑

Wed Sep 04, 2024 2:19 pm

But I would prefer waiting until the soreness/irritation just inside one nostril is gone before using a pillow again.

lansinoh can help that heal. it's a lanolin based cream used by nursing mothers to heal sore nipples.

lemme know if you can't find a spare large P10 pillow. I can send you one.