Need suggestion for a nasal mask

Need help with mask. My pressure is 22/18. Having hard time. This is my fourth attempt to making this work over the last 8 years. Three different c pap now bi pap. Any help would be great. I might have 30 hours on machines in 8 years.

Thanks to everyone for all of your help. I switched out the small pillows on the P10 and used the medium pillows last night and got 10 hours of uninterrupted, leak-free sleep (gotta repay the sleep debt). I'm also going to try the large pillows to see which ones work best. I agree with so many people on the forum that the P10 is one of the best masks available. I think I need to try to adjust the straps differently. I will check out the Resmed video.

Thanks again,
Minky

Here's a link to the use and care of the mask. It addresses how to best fit the mask and to clean it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MylY6a6KXMY

Happy snoozing....

Paul

I use a Respironics "Opti Life" which is very similar to the P-10 (except it has an additional head strap). I agree that this type of nasal pillow gives the very best seal and is perfect for those who are able to keep their mouth closed at night.

You can also read a book with the mask on and that is important for folks that tend to fall asleep reading.

However there is actually an even more comfortable "terminal" than the nasal pillows. The Opti Life gives you the option of using the nasal pillow (which has individual nozzles that fit against and just slightly inside your nostrils) or tier "Cushion" which has a shared opening for both nostrils and nothing goes against or in the nostrils. It is counter-intuitive, but the design of the cushion is such that the air pressure actually presses the cushion closer to your nose for a better fit. I don't know if any other design operates that way. With most other masks the air pressure wants to push it away from the face, so you have to strap it down tight.

I cannot imagine a more comfortable system...think of a fake "pig nose" held in place with a rubber band, and you are getting close. Oink.

The downside is that it is leak prone. I have used it long enough now that I get no leaks, but it was not like that at first. I actually improved the strapping system by modifying a chin strap, and I would say that it is 98% leak free now, and very comfortable. Head shape and hair can also affect all this.

If anyone has an Opti Life and struggles with leaky cushions, let me know and I will try and describe my chin strap technique.

FredToo

I'd also want to put a plug in for the P10.

Something that you don't seen mentioned is the very minimalistic headgear. You can sleep on the side of your face and not be moving your mask around as you would with a mask that had rigid plastic pieces that go up the side of your face.

The P10 is also very quiet. I started off with an F10 which was so loud that I had to wear ear plugs which made for other problems.

don.coursey wrote:Need help with mask. My pressure is 22/18. Having hard time. This is my fourth attempt to making this work over the last 8 years. Three different c pap now bi pap. Any help would be great. I might have 30 hours on machines in 8 years.

Welcome to the forum, Don. You will get far greater response if you start your own thread with a few more details about your equipment make/model/mask specifics. There is most definitely help for you, and it sounds like you are long overdue for it!