Seeking AirFit P10 For Her Advice

I'm a newbie but making good progress with my machine and AirFit P10 For Her pillow mask. One problem with the P10, though. While I love the lightness and minimalist headgear, I feel like I'm "breaking the air seal" a lot around my nostrils and waking up to reposition the mask.

According to the DME rep, I have "very small nostrils." I used the XS size pillows but felt like they were poking me, and I got lots of irritation/blistering even with lanolin. So I moved to the Small size pillows and they're quite comfortable. I feel like I can breathe easier. But when I sleep on my sides -- my preference -- I feel like I'm constantly rearranging my face on the pillow after I break the air seal. Obviously, this interrupts my sleep, and last night I ended up sleeping on my back the last few hours of the night. Not surprisingly, my AHI was higher because I slept on my back part of the time.

Any suggestions? Should I go back and try the XS pillows because my nose is "tougher" now, and they'd stay in my nostrils better?

Thanks!!

Try even larger pillows and slack off the headgear. I found it worked for me.

Hmmm. I hadn't even considered larger pillows -- the Mediums really look too big for me. But I will definitely give it a try. When you say "slack off the headgear," I'm not sure what you mean. It's one-size-fits-all and I have stretched the headgear quite a bit. It feels fairly loose now (maybe too loose?). Thanks englandsf!

I use the Airfit P10 and sleep on my side also. I use a memory foam bed pillow which helps keep the mask in place once I'm settled in. Actually, you can probably use any pillow you are comfortable with. I don't wake with problems during the nite anymore.

I think the medium would be too large for you, since you were told you needed an xsmall. I would continue with the small. Use a tiny bit of lanolin - that helps keep the mask in place also.

Thanks ems!

I push the top strap to the top of my head and the other just above my ears - slackest setting I can find. I also make sure the whole thing is on square and level before I lie down then I get almost no lateral movement - although I am a side sleeper using regular pillows (3 of them).

Thanks a ton, englandsf. I'll try this tonight!

Yes, generally, the closer the two straps are, the tighter it will be. The booklet that came with your P10 has an illustration showing how to adjust the tightness of the strap. It won't allow huge adjustments, but it might be enough to make your fit a little more comfortable. If it's still too tight, I understand that the regular (not 'for her') AirFit P10 has a slightly larger headgear.

I lucked out with the P10, which seems to be custom-designed for my nose. I really can't make the thing leak no matter how I move or how its adjusted. As the straps have streched, it has started to feel looser against my nares and I've been concerned that it would start to leak, but so far despite the looser fit I've had almost no leaks.

The two headgears are identical - just different colors. If you push the top strap actually forward of the 90 degree position it'll loosen just a bit more. I guess my head is smaller than I thought! I wash the headgear and air dry every week but it does not seem to change length. Used it about 3 weeks so far. Love it for its lightness and open faced feel.

BuddaCat,

If you have longer hair, try one strap underneath your hair, one on top. This is a 'pony tail' method, put hair in pony tail, then pull hair thru the straps. This gives more 'hold' on the bottom strap. I get a lot of control this way, however, the headgear is really loose on me, and most people have the opposite problem, too tight headgear.

If you have short hair, then try the bottom strap at the nape of your neck, again, gives more control. This control helps me maintain the seal thru the night. I'm a side sleeper, but sleep deeply burried in the covers, face toward the pillow & have no trouble maintaining the seal. Hope this helps.

Jen

I wanted to say thank you and share a success story from last night.

Due to all the good advice on this thread, I ended up wearing a larger pillow size (medium) that I thought was too big for me. It's almost too big, but somehow keeps the air seal, and I feel like I'm breathing normally. Also, the headgear advice was spot-on. Thanks everyone -- I slept 7 good hours last night with an AHI of 1.7.