mask built-in exhalation is needed or not?

After switching air fit p10 for her and Nuance Gel Nasal Pillow back and forth on my first month CPAP period time, I finally figured out something. Hope there is a mask combined both of them. The Nuance gel nasal pillow is most comfortable for the nose, but it's so noise. The p10 pillow is kind of hard for me, but it's quiet and light, but the strap is easy to fall off if I don't want to be too tight, and get rid of the chin strap and use a tap over my mouth. I finally got to wear the Nuance on and off for 7 hours with a tap to keep my mouth close last night. But the air noise below from the built-in exhalation part. If I cover it up then the noise is more manageable. However, it says do not block in the menu. But I don't see p10 has the exhalation built in. Is that mean that function is not necessary? I will use the Nuance gel mask if I can resolve the noise problem. Is any other gel nasal pillow mask is quiet?

I don't have personal experience with the P10, but it exhausts somewhere. Otherwise the mask would soon make things very quiet--when you are dead. The CO2 must have a way to vent or you will die. NEVER block the exhaust ports.

The P10 does have a vent. You don't hear it because the air flow is diffused, but it's there. That's one of the nice features of the P10, in addition to its light weight, the quiet, diffused venting.

Never block the vents on a cpap mask, they're there for more than just aesthetics. They're part of what makes a particular cpap mask safe to use.

Do you think a company would put something in there product than wasn't really needed, that's not a good plan to make money!!!! Jim

Janknitz wrote:I don't have personal experience with the P10, but it exhausts somewhere. Otherwise the mask would soon make things very quiet--when you are dead. The CO2 must have a way to vent or you will die. NEVER block the exhaust ports.

the p10 has a very large vent area on either side of where the hose goes in, but since it's so large, and diffused, it's as silent as anything, and doesn't produce a jet of air.

all that slightly lighter colored space on either side of the hose is vent:

mibbim wrote:Is that mean that function is not necessary?

without the vent, wearing the mask would be the same as tying a plastic bag over your head.

I did see the vent now on p10. I wish it uses the gel pillow instead what it has now. So either I have to pick the "noise" one or the "hard pillow" one....

mibbim wrote:I did see the vent now on p10. I wish it uses the gel pillow instead what it has now. So either I have to pick the "noise" one or the "hard pillow" one....

I could be wrong, but I believe there are more than two masks on the market.

I think the hardest thing about Cpap is choosing the mask that will make you comfortable. Our hosts offer return insurance on almost every mask they sell, and if your insurance will let you try different masks, that is the way to go. First you have to find a "class of masks" whether it be nasal prongs, nasal cushions, or "full face". Then within that class there will be another jillion choices to make. I was fortunate to find the Mirage Activa about 1 year into my search, and now I'm a happy camper.

herefishy wrote: "class of masks" whether it be nasal prongs, nasal cushions, or "full face".

the common classes are 'pillows', 'nasal' and 'full face', nasal prongs are an entirely different animal indeed, and pretty rare.

All masks have exhalation ports. Otherwise you'd re-breathe exhaled CO2 and develop an awful headache (if you survived).

I always wanted the option of one that carries the exhaust far away from the patient and his(her) partner. I can't seem to find any such thing.

palerider wrote: without the vent, wearing the mask would be the same as tying a plastic bag over your head.

just bumping this in hopes that OP reads it.

ideally, twice.

vents on cpap masks=good thing.

somethings are not just bonus features.

exhalation ports are integral, i.e. fundamental...to the design of CPAP masks.

so to reiterate....please, please do NOT cover up those exhalation ports.

F & P has a new nasal pillow mask called the Brevida. It has an optional diffuser that makes it pretty much as silent as the P10.
Just recently released in the US and I see a few online sources have some. Cpap.com doesn't seem to have it just yet.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NirpicBCuDA
A few people have gotten their hands on one from Canada a while back. One of those people gave theirs to me because they didn't like it. It's a nice little mask....not perfect (no mask is ever 100% perfect).
Some discussion here about what we found we liked and didn't like about it.
viewtopic.php?f=1&t=115083&st=0&sk=t&sd=a&hilit=Brevida
The nasal pillow is ultra soft. You might look at it if you can't get the P10 softened up enough to suit you.
It is soft and with the diffuser attached it is pretty much silent.

I would recommend the exhalation vent remaining unblocked, assuming that you like being alive, that is.

I have tried 3 masks - Amara View Full Face at first, that only lasted one week, I had to return it since I can't sleep at all with all the straps. Another two are Nuance Pro Nasal Pillow and air fit p10 for her. Besides sometimes my nose feel irritated in the morning, I can fall into sleep when I go to bed since I was tired on two of these mask. But always wake up around 1 or 2 am. (I go to bed around 10:30 pm). Then in a bad day, will have hard time to fall into sleep again. Basically, I like the blue gel pillow tip and gel pad from Nuance pro, but the noise keep me awake and fall into sleep again. The p10 pillow tip after 4 hours, my nose feel hurts, and the head gear won't stay on my head if I lose it up. That's why I think the gel pillow tip and quietness are something I need. I looked at the F&P nasal mask, the pillow tip seems as the same as p10 for her?