Hello, new here!

Miss Emerita wrote: ↑

Tue Sep 01, 2020 11:03 am

If you can afford the experiment, I'd encourage you to try it. The fewer the linear millimeters in contact with your skin, the fewer the opportunities for leaks, so I'd suggest a nasal pillow mask. A lot of people do well with the ResMed P10, which is very light-weight. Try all three pillow sizes; you want one that's big enough so the wide parts of the pillows rest on the outside of your nostrils, but small enough so that you don't get a lot of leaks.

I've been reading some favorable reactions to the Knightsbridge dual strap rig, where the straps come down from a cap that goes on your head. This allows the straps to pull up, rather than up and back. For tape, you might invest in a box of Somnifix, which is strong yet gentle on the skin. If that works for you, you can then experiment with overlapping strips of less expensive micropore tape.

Whatever you try, I'd be interested to hear how it goes.

Miss Emerita wrote: ↑

Tue Sep 01, 2020 6:54 pm

Yes, I saw that the delivery of the mask liners is delayed until who knows when. Grrr.

Are you sensitive to noise? If not, the N30i is an option that might interest you, especially given Pugsy’s remark about the ease of switching nasal mask for nasal pillow.

If you are sensitive to noise, be aware that other people who are sensitive (including me) dislike the sound or the air flowing through the hollow channels that pass close to your ears. By contrast, one plus for the P 10 is that it has the quietest vent known to humankind and no other source of noise.

Pugsy wrote: ↑

Tue Sep 01, 2020 5:40 pm

I have years of experience with the ResMed AirFit P10 nasal pillow mask...none with the N30i.
I think it came out after I switched from the P10 to the Bleep and never bothered to even try the N30i.

I have tried the Respironics similar version though
https://www.cpap.com/productpage/pr-dre ... k-headgear
Same principle...hose attaches at the top and under the nose cushion...and the air goes through the frame.
I had a problem with the frame size and fitting because it was too loose because the frame was too big for my small head and even the small frame was still loose. Bear in mind I am a tiny woman...at least the head size part and I am 4 ft 11 inches tall and small boned. I still wear a size 4 ring finger size. So it wasn't the mask's fault.

I do like to try new masks just for fun but I wasn't interested enough in the N30i to spend money for it after having the problem with the DreamWear similar mask. I anticipated having the same problem with the frame size.

Mask preferences are highly personal. One man's treasure is another man's trash kind of thing. I read about people loving a so and so mask and it's one I tried and said to myself "no way in hell". What I might love....the next person might hate.
I tend to want as little on my face and head as possible...but that's me. When I do that I know I give up a bit of stability but I am okay with that. Other people want more stability and don't seem to care about the headgear straps and all that.
It's just something I have learned about myself over the years and why some masks interest me enough to spend the money to buy them to try and some don't.

My insurance pays for a new mask only at 6 month intervals...so most of my mask experiments have come when people donated their unwanted masks...they send to me and I sneak a trial and then I pass it on to someone who needs it.
I don't get as many mask donations now because cpap.com now has free return insurance and if someone tries a mask and they hate it...they can now return it and get a full refund. Used to we had to purchase that return insurance and you didn't get that cost refunded....but now people use the free insurance instead of passing an unwanted mask along for me to then send it to people like you without insurance and needing to try several masks to figure out what your own preferences and needs are. So I don't have near as many masks getting sent to me (I was sort of the rehoming place for unwanted masks) to pass along to people in need. People wanted the unwanted mask out of their house but they were in too good of a shape to just throw in the trash can.

Now the P10 nasal pillow...it is my second choice for a mask after the Bleep and I used the P10 for years until the Bleep was released.
So if you have questions about it...I can answer those.
All except one...will you like it? I have no way of knowing how you will like a mask or if you will hate it until you get a chance to figure out your own preferences, wants and needs.

Now the N30i....it also has a pillow version and the pillow version will work with the N30i frame so all you have to change out is the little cushion part.

https://www.cpap.com/productpage/resmed ... illow-mask

so if you want to get the N30i...and try a nasal pillow mask...you can get just this part and still use the N30i frame and save some money that way. No need to buy a whole complete mask package.
https://www.cpap.com/productpage/resmed ... al-pillows

Miss Emerita wrote: ↑

Thu Sep 03, 2020 9:50 am

Let us know how it goes with the liners and the P10!

KellyC wrote: ↑

Thu Sep 03, 2020 8:24 pm

I'm new to the forum but not to cpap/bipap usage and thought I might add a few things.
Finding the right mask and learning to sleep with it is challenging. I went through a number of masks and even gave up, ceasing use of my first cpap for several months before giving it another try. Now, I can't sleep AT ALL without it.
I used to be a side sleeper. It was impossible to keep a good seal, especially as my first mask was wide enough to come into contact with my pillow. You may not want to hear this but, for me, a major factor in getting on board with a mask was to learn to sleep on my back. Now I sleep like a vampire in a coffin, albeit one with something akin to restless leg syndrome. I used to switch sides with my whole body but now I just sort of do it with my legs only.
I like minimalistic masks. I've had my heart broken once or twice when a favorite was no longer manufactured. But I've used a Respironics DreamWear Nasal mask for a few years and love it. It's basically the same as the mask you ordered with one distinction. It looks like you went with nasal pillows. You may find them intrusive and switch to the nasal cushion like I did. I hate things messing with my nostrils. With a cushion variant, air pressure pushes the cushion against the underside of my nose for a comfortable seal.
Be careful with nasal spray. Your nose will become accustomed to it and cause a stuffiness that will require further use. I've had this problem for about 20 years. I've had periods of severe overuse and would wake up earlier than I intended to find my nose too stuffy for cpap usage, requiring another dose. I'm in a good place nowadays with the spray. I never use it during waking hours like I used to when I had a cold. Even though I'm a nose breather, I'll suffer with a cold throughout the day. I'll use a very small, partial spray when I go to bed, only if absolutely necessary. I'm always on the verge of nasal addiction but holding it at bay.
As for being a mouth breather while sleeping...at a decent amount of pressure, it's hard to do when you have air forced up your nose. I believe my mouth falls open during sleep but the air pressure dictates the passage of airflow.
Good luck with your journey.