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Do I need both sets of ventilation holes?
#1
Do I need both sets of ventilation holes?
Hi

My n30i nose piece has little holes for helping me exhale. There are also holes in the elbow that apparently do the same thing. 
Lately when part of the pillow or blanket is in front of the nose piece, the air coming out makes a hissing sound that wakes my wife.
I'm thinking of covering the holes in the nose piece with sellotape. Will the holes in the elbow suffice, or am I going to cause myself or the machine damage?
Thanks!
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#2
RE: Do I need both sets of ventilation holes?
To be honest, I don't know the venting specifications for that mask and what portion vents through the mask and the connector. Most masks are designed to vents 4 to 5 times the volume of air respired. If half of the vent capability is through the swivel, then you will certainly increase the fraction for expired air that is re-breathed. It won't damage the machine, but if CO2 is higher, then you will notice an increased tidal volume and minute vent in OSCAR statistics, which may include a higher respiration rate. We do similar modifications with EERS, but install a connector with a known design vent rate of about 30 L/min. Again, without knowing the design, there is not any safe way to advise you in that modification.
Sleeprider
Apnea Board Moderator
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#3
RE: Do I need both sets of ventilation holes?
For what it’s worth, I think blocking the hose on the nasal cushion is really dangerous. I use that mask myself and can’t see how you would reliably vent your exhalation. With the holes on the cushion blocked the air will vent near the elbow without ever getting close to the nasal cushion.
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#4
RE: Do I need both sets of ventilation holes?
OP, you could try the ResMed N30 nasal mask which is a mask that attaches the hose at the nose. It didn’t work for me but that cushion fits similarly to the N30i and the vented air is much more diffused compared to the N30i.
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#5
RE: Do I need both sets of ventilation holes?
You could also try the P30i nasal pillows which work with the N30i frame. That pillow cushion is also much more diffused than the N30i cushion and you could use your existing frame.
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#6
RE: Do I need both sets of ventilation holes?
most of the masks get a little noisy when the air hits something.   For me the trick was to keep the bedding away from the mask.  The P10 is one of the quiet masks.  The P30i is also quiet.
Sleep-well
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#7
RE: Do I need both sets of ventilation holes?
Altering the venting also alters the therapy delivery design. It is not a recommended procedure and can have severe adverse physiological consequences over time. Like everything in life, your wife will aclimatize to the sound or might consider using an earplug on the side facing the vent. Have a healthy, happy, and prosperous New Year. Shalom.
"The object in life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane." -- Marcus Aurelius
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#8
RE: Do I need both sets of ventilation holes?
Thanks all!

I guess I'll order the P30i nasal pillows. I assume that if I'm using medium size N30i pillows, I'll also need medium P30i.

Regarding my wife acclimatizing to the noise: she was okay with it for 9 months. Lately it's been bothering her. I think it's because I changed pillows, and now the nose piece comes up against the pillow, which causes the noise. I've been having a lot of trouble finding a pillow that works for me. (I sleep on my side, so the pillow presses against the side of the nose piece.) I got the Contour multi-layer CPAP pillow, tried it for a week but could't use it. Then I tried a large soft pillow, which seems to work for me but is causing the noise.
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#9
RE: Do I need both sets of ventilation holes?
The only pillow that worked for me as a side-sleeper was a Daiwa buckwheat pillow that is infinitely adjustable and holds its shape as I move.
"The object in life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane." -- Marcus Aurelius
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#10
RE: Do I need both sets of ventilation holes?
(09-21-2020, 02:51 AM)srlevine1 Wrote: The only pillow that worked for me as a side-sleeper was a Daiwa buckwheat pillow that is infinitely adjustable and holds its shape as I move.

Thanks! Do you mean this one?

[Commercial Link Removed] Search Amazon for, Daiwa Felicity Buckwheat

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