Problematic dryness with new mask

Hi, all.

I've been using the Hybrid mask for years now, with no problems. I tried the P10 for the first time tonight. I have nothing bad to say about the mask; very comfortable, very lightweight, quiet, and no diffusion of air that might be bothersome to a bed partner. However, the direct application of the air to my nose was so drying to my nasal passages that I was much more aware of everything than I usually am. With the Hybrid, I'm off to sleep for hours with no recollection of my surroundings. With the P10, I felt like I was half-awake the whole time I was "sleeping" due to the painful dryness. (This is why I'm up and posting at this hour.)

Even though the Hybrid covers my mouth, I breathe through my nose with it. I'm thinking that just having the mouth cushion diffuses the air coming into the mask so there's not such a direct application of the air to my nose. With the P10, there's no such diffusion, and the air going directly into my nose is causing me some discomfort. I'd like to get used to the P10, however, so my questions have to do with keeping my nasal passages more moist and comfortable with it:

• Do I just crank up the humidifier and risk rainout to see if that helps?
• Is there a product I can use that will work through the night? I'm not fond of nasal sprays, but I'm willing to try most anything (although a nasal spray would probably offer only temporary relief).
• Do I just use the P10 incrementally (like tonight - first half with the P10, second half with the Hybrid), deal with the fragmented "sleep" and work my way up to a full night with the P10?

I know everyone deals with the issue of how much humidity is right for them; but has anyone dealt with this particular issue (where the usual humidity setting is fine for one mask and just doesn't work well for another)? Thanks for any input.

Try working your way up the humidity scale and using saline sprays in tough times.

The two mask technique may help...

Good luck

Check out this product. It is what I use with my P10. I just put a dab on a q-tip and swab inside my nostrils before bed. Since it is a gel it last longer than the spray.
http://www.amazon.com/Ayr-Saline-Nasal- ... +nasal+gel

Thanks to both of you. I don't have any saline spray (and it's 35 miles to the store where I could buy some), but I do have some Ayr Gel that I'll try tonight.

The dryness I experienced last night felt like it was happening way beyond my nose, itself (i.e., in the actual nasal passages), so I don't know if applying the Ayr in my nose will help; sure won't hurt, though, so I'll give it a go tonight. I'll also crank up the humidity. Worse comes to worse, I'll experience rainout and/or the dryness again and go back to the Hybrid.

I'm really wanting the P10 to work for me. I also think it'd be a great mask choice for my dad (who I've suspected has had apnea for years; but he refused to be tested, and I could never get him to give my spare APAP a try). But he's not been well since September (had to have stents put into both legs and then got two infections in one of the wounds, so it's been a difficult recovery). Add to that the fact that he's 85 now. LSS, I'll be going back to FL soon for a several-months-long visit to help out, and I'm shipping my APAP to the house this time (along with a few different masks for him to try). Last time I visited, I was finally able to convince him to try the machine (even if only for naps at first) so I can upload the data and see what the machine says. If he does have apnea, the P10 would also be a good choice for him because my mother is already pooh-poohing the whole idea of a machine; the mask is really minimal, very quiet, and the exhaust is so diffused that she won't even notice it. And I told her she's likely to sleep better if Dad's not snorting and gasping all night, too. I also think he'll have a better time of recovery if he's sleeping well and getting the rest he needs (one of his main complaints these days is that he's so tired during the day).

So if the P10 can't work for me, it may work for Dad. And if it does work for me, I'll just buy him one of his own. (I hope I have to buy him one. )

BleepingBeauty wrote:Thanks to both of you. I don't have any saline spray (and it's 35 miles to the store where I could buy some),

distilled water, salt=saline. sorry, I don't know the percentage offhand, maybe 5%? probably best to use non-iodized.

I've been using nasal pillows for years, but I also use a heated hose to avoid that blast of cold air, and the rainout. While air moving across a warmed humidifier is somewhat warmed, it is delivered to you nose pretty cold. I notice in your case that you add O2 which is a dry cold gas addition. I recommend you consider a heated hose like SleepZone (you don't have the 60 series or PRS1 humidifier). Should make things much more comfortable.

I wasn't using humidity until we turned the heat on and then I started waking up with burning sinus headaches that at first I didn't relate to humidity. But after I adjusted my humidity the problem was relieved. So that may help you.

palerider wrote:

BleepingBeauty wrote:Thanks to both of you. I don't have any saline spray (and it's 35 miles to the store where I could buy some),

distilled water, salt=saline. sorry, I don't know the percentage offhand, maybe 5%? probably best to use non-iodized.

As I said in the OP, I'm not fond of nasal sprays, so I'll try the Ayr Gel first. There are lots of recipes online to make your own saline; I'd just need a little spray bottle to put it in. Thanks for the suggestion.

Sleeprider wrote:I've been using nasal pillows for years, but I also use a heated hose to avoid that blast of cold air, and the rainout. While air moving across a warmed humidifier is somewhat warmed, it is delivered to you nose pretty cold. I notice in your case that you add O2 which is a dry cold gas addition. I recommend you consider a heated hose like SleepZone (you don't have the 60 series or PRS1 humidifier). Should make things much more comfortable.

It's funny, as I live in Aridzona, that I've never felt the need for more humidity (with the Hybrid) than I get now. I use a hose cover, and I do definitely notice the heated/humidified air in the mask (especially after I've spent some time - like last night - out of bed during the night; I leave the humidifier on during that time, and the air IS warm and humid when I get back into bed). The dryness of the air here definitely affects my skin, though, and I noticed the difference in the air's humidity level the last time I was in FL. I doubt I'd need a heated hose in FL and, since I'll be spending my time there over the next several months, I may consider purchasing a heated hose when I return to AZ (if I'll be here for any length of time at that point; I may come back only to ready my house for sale and go back to FL). All depends on whatever progress Dad can make in the meantime. Thanks for the suggestion, though. I'll keep it in mind.

OkyDoky wrote:I wasn't using humidity until we turned the heat on and then I started waking up with burning sinus headaches that at first I didn't relate to humidity. But after I adjusted my humidity the problem was relieved. So that may help you.

Thanks. I'm a fan of using my humidifier year-round, but I keep the setting pretty low (between 1.5 and 2 on the 150), and that works fine for me with the Hybrid. I sure do need more moisture with the P10, though, so I'm going to crank up the humidifier tonight and will use the Ayr Gel. We'll see how it goes. Fingers crossed.

Well, I did both last night (the Ayr Gel and higher setting on the humidifier) and I felt like I slept pretty well. I was still more aware of my surroundings than I am with the Hybrid, but overall I thought the second night with the P10 was a big improvement. And then I uploaded my data and was shocked to see:



My AHI is usually around 1 (also mostly hypops), but I rarely see PB on my data anymore. I don't think I've seen an AHI like this since I began therapy. Interestingly, my VS with the P10 is much lower than it usually is with the Hybrid, even though I'm breathing through my nose with both masks. My PTB is usually above 99%, my 90% EPAP is usually higher (around 14 or so), and my leak line is usually flatter than this. But the hypops - holy cow...

I'll see how I fare for the rest of the day. I'll continue to use the P10 (and try to tweak it if I can) so long as I don't feel terrible later. If I feel crummy this afternoon, I'll go back to the Hybrid tonight and either try the P10 another day or plan on trying to make it work for Dad. (I have to say this data is a real head-scratcher, though.)

Has anyone had a similar experience with the P10 or have suggestions/advice for me?

(Broken record time) try drinking eight cups of water throughout the day.
Surprising how dehydrated we can get without noticing, and how devastating it can get.

chunkyfrog wrote:(Broken record time) try drinking eight cups of water throughout the day.
Surprising how dehydrated we can get without noticing, and how devastating it can get.

Thanks, CF, but I always drink a lot of water. I usually refill a 24-oz. bottle 3-4 times a day (sometimes more).