Hello Guest, Welcome to Apnea Board !
As a guest, you are limited to certain areas of the board and there are some features you can't use.
To post a message, you must create a free account using a valid email address.

or Create an Account


New Posts   Today's Posts

Large size nasal pillow causing higher frequency of CAs?
#1
Question 
Large size nasal pillow causing higher frequency of CAs?
Hi everyone,

I've been trialing the Swift FX nasal pillow mask and feel that it is the perfect mask for me.  The mask is similar to the P10 but has a more stable headgear so it tends to slip less at night and causing less leaks.  Along with the mask I am also trying the large size pillows.

My go-to P10 mask size for the last couple of years has been Medium, which I always thought provided decent (but not great) airflow and minor leaks.

After trying the large size pillow I've concluded that is the better pillow size for me - it provides more airflow and doesn't have that "sucking air through a straw" feeling that the Medium pillow does.

The only issue is that my CA events are high after making the switch.  I can use the Medium pillow at much higher IPAP / EPAP pressures without any issues, and I'm not sure why this is.

For example:

Medium pillow, PS 3.6, EPAP 9.0 =  No CA events / no hypopnea/apnea events
Large pillow, PS 3.4, EPAP 6.8  =  5 CA events / no hypopnea/apnea events


Any ideas as to why the large pillows would cause more CAs even at an overall lower pressure?  I didn't think changing pillow size could have such a large impact on events.  The only thing I can think of is it has to do with better airflow...or something.

Curious to see if anyone else has seen this when changing pillow sizes.
Post Reply Post Reply
#2
RE: Large size nasal pillow causing higher frequency of CAs?
I have the same experience using large pillows and don't use the medium as they don't flow air as easily. You can easily reduce the CA events caused by this improved ventilation by changing your Trigger Sensitivity from medium to high setting. I think you'll be fine with that.
Sleeprider
Apnea Board Moderator
www.ApneaBoard.com

____________________________________________
Download OSCAR Software
Soft Cervical Collar
Optimizing Therapy
Organize your OSCAR Charts
Attaching Files
Mask Primer
How To Deal With Equipment Supplier


INFORMATION ON APNEA BOARD FORUMS OR ON APNEABOARD.COM SHOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED AS MEDICAL ADVICE. ALWAYS SEEK THE ADVICE OF A PHYSICIAN BEFORE SEEKING TREATMENT FOR MEDICAL CONDITIONS, INCLUDING SLEEP APNEA. INFORMATION POSTED ON THE APNEA BOARD WEB SITE AND FORUMS ARE PERSONAL OPINION ONLY AND NOT NECESSARILY A STATEMENT OF FACT.
Post Reply Post Reply
#3
RE: Large size nasal pillow causing higher frequency of CAs?
Hi Sleeprider,

Good to see you. I use High trigger as I find Very High to be a bit too sensitive at times.

Would dropping the EPAP more be of any use? I believe you had told me a while back that Pressure Support is a driver of TECSA, so not sure if that would help.
Post Reply Post Reply
#4
RE: Large size nasal pillow causing higher frequency of CAs?
For five total events, I'm not doing anything. It's a very minor issue and will probably take care of itself as you adapt to the better airflow.
Sleeprider
Apnea Board Moderator
www.ApneaBoard.com

____________________________________________
Download OSCAR Software
Soft Cervical Collar
Optimizing Therapy
Organize your OSCAR Charts
Attaching Files
Mask Primer
How To Deal With Equipment Supplier


INFORMATION ON APNEA BOARD FORUMS OR ON APNEABOARD.COM SHOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED AS MEDICAL ADVICE. ALWAYS SEEK THE ADVICE OF A PHYSICIAN BEFORE SEEKING TREATMENT FOR MEDICAL CONDITIONS, INCLUDING SLEEP APNEA. INFORMATION POSTED ON THE APNEA BOARD WEB SITE AND FORUMS ARE PERSONAL OPINION ONLY AND NOT NECESSARILY A STATEMENT OF FACT.
Post Reply Post Reply


Possibly Related Threads...
Thread Author Replies Views Last Post
  [Equipment] Headgear for very large heads NogginOff 1 39 5 hours ago
Last Post: Phaleronic
Question Help - Mask change causing fatigue? coffee9724 0 43 Yesterday, 02:48 PM
Last Post: coffee9724
  Transcend (Somnetics) Micro Power Plug Size SteadyState 6 1,793 03-25-2024, 01:14 PM
Last Post: johnbrain
  Bed Pillow Question SheShells23 5 159 03-25-2024, 08:34 AM
Last Post: SheShells23
  Large leak panic sleepingbetterinFl 3 155 03-19-2024, 07:48 AM
Last Post: sleepingbetterinFl
  What can I do to stay on my front (positional apnea due to large tongue)? aplacelikethis 1 499 03-18-2024, 10:39 AM
Last Post: G. Szabo
  [CPAP] Can pressure wanting to go higher actually be due to leakage? richapple 1 107 03-15-2024, 06:52 PM
Last Post: SarcasticDave94


New Posts   Today's Posts


About Apnea Board

Apnea Board is an educational web site designed to empower Sleep Apnea patients.