Nasal pillows P10: regressing

[Galactus]

Sometimes the inside wall of the nasal pillow on the p10 sticks to the outside wall and causes what you describe. Clean it with a mild soap and water and blow dry it by using the machine, that usually clears it up for me. When that no longer works it is usually time to change the pillows. That is my experience ymmv of course.

[ScottW]

I'm glad I found this thread because I have been regressing for the past couple of weeks for some reason. I had an adjustment period when I switched to the P10 about a year ago, but then everything was fine. Recently, though, I began to feel like I couldn't get enough air into my lungs. I would put the mask on and suddenly start breathing strongly and deeply. Maybe it amounts to the same thing as the smothering feeling. And it might be that I just started a new job and there's an overwhelming load of work to do.

My breathing would always settle down after about 15 minutes. By then, the machine would have reached the prescribed pressure, which is 13 for me.

Based on suggestions I read here, I decided to get rid of the ramping altogether and it made a big difference. Last night I turned on the auto-start, no ramp, and an EPR of 3. I had a little of the feeling that I needed to breathe deeply, but only for a minute or so. So I think I'll try without the auto-start tonight and see if that makes a difference.

Anyway, thanks for the advice as always.

Scott

[TyroneShoes]

...I taped a bit rolled up tissue on the skin below the mask to give it extra support (holding it in the right position) and it works like a charm...

I may just have to try that. It seems like just getting the pressure right might not always be the 100% zero AHI fix. Pressure will keep your throat from collapsing (we hope) but often there are other things that are restricting your airway that xPAP might not address. Maybe that would prevent some of the residual events I am having, and get my 1.8 even lower.

For instance, I find that my airway is much more open if I just press the tip of my nose up slightly with my finger, a dramatic difference, in fact. I could just try to hold my nose like that all night, but it doesn't quite seem like that would be possible (people tell me my nose is way too far up in the air most of the time anyway). Probably don't want to walk around all day doing that with your finger either.

For that reason, I drape the hose so it sort of pulls my nose up, which seems to be better. But I have been toying with the idea of finding a way to get the P10 to do this more efficiently, so you have given me a great starting point (thx).

My experience with NP is that I feel like I am not getting enough air when the pillow size is too small. I went from small, to medium, and finally to large, and I do not get that "too little air" feeling now.

[OpalRose]

Hi Visitor,
I like your idea of taping tissue on skin below the mask for extra support. I am going to try that.
I've always felt like the P10 was being pulled down a bit, even after adjusting straps. If I supported it with my hand where the venting is, the leaks decreased.
Of course you can't sleep with your hand supporting your mask under your nose!
I also changed from extra small pillows to the small pillow which seemed to fit better.

[AshSF]

I read in another thread that some people have put O-rings under the nasal pillows to give it some support and had good results due to it. Just make sure you don't order the O rings from the same supplier who supplied NASA

YMMV.