Too Much Air Pressure With Nasal Pillow Mask

I have a Resmed Airsense 10 with Autoset, and used a nasal cushion mask to begin with. It worked fine, but I thought the pillow mask would be more comfortable. So I got one, and the pressure seems too much. It keeps me from going to sleep. Any tips to fix this?

I'm not sure there is a fix for the amount of air pressure you are experiencing unless your physician is able to lower your pressure. If you have a ramp feature available, activating that will usually start the machine at a lower pressure and allow it to come up to treatment pressure as you fall asleep. For an Autoset machine, it may depend on what your physician has ordered for a starting pressure. Your home care provider should be able to tell you whether the starting pressure can be lowered or a ramp feature can be activated for comfort.

The sensation of the air being forced up the nose, and because it is passing through smaller openings in a nasal cushion than with a regular nasal mask, may be contributing to the feeling of more air. It may be worth contacting your home care provider to have them check and make sure the machine is delivering the correct amount of pressure.

Great news, SociableTaupePolarBear2063. Glad you were able to figure out the problem, and thank you for sharing the solution! Please keep us posted on your progress with treatment! Best wishes!

To get a different mask, you need a prescription I think. Didn't they explain how to work the new mask? Anyway, count this one as a success!

I am reviewing the pressure comments. I am using the nasal pillows and chin strap. I am having trouble with the pressure waking me up. I can't get any help with the home health provider for the machine. Don't know where to get help.

Have to second what Dan suggested but in many insurance plans, the primary care physician writes the prescription based on the suggestion by the sleep doc so if a new mask is needed, just go to your PCP. Many don't cost much and you can buy them from medical supply places on the internet with the PCP's prescription or you can have it sent to the medical supply place and have them fill it if your insurance allows (I am on an HMO and it is "managed care" meaning the insurance company decides what they want to pay for).