[Equipment] Strap Stretch - ResMed Nasal Pillows

[Robert Moulton]

I find that the strap used to hold the nasal pillows snug stretches over time and needs to be replaced every few months.  They're costly so I usually do something like cut out a section to make it shorter and then reattach the two sections.

Anyone have other hacks or approaches to this issue?

[staceyburke]

wash the headgear in very hot water and allow to air dry. It will shrink back to close to original.

[Big Guy]

Yes.....wash the headgear in hot water. Allow it to soak a bit. My headgear is now two years old and doing fine.

[Sleeprider]

I actually just throw mine in with the laundry (sheets or towels) and dry it in the dryer.  That seems to bring it right back.  

Some members have purchased the Resmed Airfit N30 headgear which uses a slot in the bottom of the strap to hold the mask frame and has adjustments. https://www.resmed.com/en-us/sleep-apnea...irfit-n30/

[Canuck 2]

What I like to do with my with my P10 head gear elastic strap is take a clean coffee mug, boil some water and have the strap in the mug and pour in the hot water stir with a fork for 20-30 seconds and pour out the water while I have the cold water tap running quench head band  with cold water and just let the water flow out of the mug for about 20-30 seconds. I just let it air dry for next sleep and seems to work for my self. Do it in the morning and it should dry for the evening sleep session.
If you have a measuring tape measure the length of stretched head gear before treatment and after shrunk. It should be approximately 2 inches shorter (P10 head gear)and very close to a new headgear band length. I can do this approx 2-4 times and then it is spent.
I just ordered some (N30 headgear Resmed part# 64216) for my P10 mask, according to a fellow user you can even shrink that one also like the procedure above. He likes the N30 adjustble headgear when in the middle of the night your having issues you can snug it up and finish the sleep.
I hope this helps you issue.

[DaveL]

Great info here....for what it's worth the ResMed N20 headgear stretches like crazy too.


However, I'm wearing my N20 over my new Knightsbridge dual-strap. So the larger/stretched head gear helps.

[JJJ]

I have a friend who is a genius with sewing, and who also has sleep apnea, although she does not use the P10. I showed her my hopelessly stretched out mask and how I had cut off the top strap, and then hand sewed the back strap a few centimeters closer together. I explained that I had discovered that the top strap was unnecessary, and that I wanted to purchase some elastic band to make a real strap around the back that might actually last longer than the junk that Resmed puts on the mask. Here is the genius part that I would never have thought of: Take a can of lacquer, shellac or even some old leftover paint, cut a piece of elastic the right length, and then dip the ends of it into the paint about an inch (2-3cm) and let it dry. When it is dry take an Xacto knife or other super sharp utility knife and cut a slit in the elastic, basically making a sort of buttonhole. Then I take a heavy scissors and cut the headgear completely off the mask through the plastic right up close to where it connects to the part that holds the nose piece. This allows me to work my new strap onto the mask. Putting it on is easy - just one motion to pull the elastic up over my head, a moment more to wiggle the pillows in place, and I'm ready to turn the machine on. Here is a drawing of what my strap looks like (one end only):


  AirFit-P10-strap.svg (Size: 3.5 KB / Downloads: 177)