Transitioning to Resmed N30i

I am a Resmed P10 refugee trying to get comfortable with the N30i. And I'm doing this without any help from my DME, who believes their only role is to ship me stuff.

I loved the freedom of the P10 mask. It is easily the least intrusive of Resmed's masks, but the down side is that the air seal to your nose is preserved only if you sleep on your back and pretend you're dead. Any rolling over and it's whistle time at the old mask. The cheesy head gear associated with the P10 can't maintain air seal.

So then I migrate to the N30 (the mask with flexible air pipes on both sides of your head) thinking that its more robust head gear and the stabilizing contribution of the dual cheek pipes would maintain the air seal.

I was wrong about that. The N30 air leaks as much as the P10 did. The problem with the N30 is that the pair of air nozzles at the nose are bigger in diameter and flatter than the P10's nozzles. The P10's nozzles (if you can get used to them) extend into your nasal passages halfway up to your brain. Their protrusion into your nose provides the alignment that maintains air seal.

How do I get an N30 to self-align to my nose like the P10 did? Asked differently, why did Resmed flatten out the nozzles on the N30? Do I have the wrong size nose piece on my new N30?

jimolson52 wrote: ↑

Fri Aug 30, 2024 7:05 am

The P10's nozzles (if you can get used to them) extend into your nasal passages halfway up to your brain. Their protrusion into your nose provides the alignment that maintains air seal.

They aren't "nozzles"...they are called nasal pillows....The P10.
And you don't really think that they "reach halfway up to your brain" do you? If so, you have the mask WAY TOO TIGHT.
Which apparently, if it leaks with the least little movement, then it is NOT too tight or it wouldn't leak so easily.

The N30i is NOT a nasal pillows mask. It's an under the nose cushion type of mask.

Please learn to use the correct terminology to avoid confusion later.

If you want a nasal pillow mask....look at the P30i. It uses the same frame but has the nasal pillows that fit inside your nostrils like the P10. BTW with the P10 only the very tip of the nasal pillow cone goes up inside the nostril (and it doesn't come anywhere near the back of the nasal cavity much less the brain) and when properly fitted it does NOT touch anything inside the nostril. That nasal pillow is suppose to rest gently against the outside of the nostril and shouldn't touch anything inside the nostril. If something is touching the inside of the nostril then the mask is improperly fitted.

What size mask frame are you using? Did you know it comes in more than one size and maybe you need a smaller frame?

Sorry for lack of precision in my language, Pugsy. Thanks for the reply.

Not sure why Resmed calls the nasal cones "pillows". I have a hard time visualizing pillows up my nose, but maybe it's an Australian thing.

What I just figured out after watching an Australian YouTube video (these Aussies have CPAP down to a science, huh?) is that my DME accidentally shipped me a the nasal insert of a P30i when I asked for the N30i.

And I got the large insert when the size of my P10i was medium. The nasal cones in the large P10i insert can't enter my nose (they flatten out) but the medium sized cones might because they are smaller.

Great forum. Thanks for the help.

jimolson52 wrote: ↑

Fri Aug 30, 2024 8:06 am

The nasal cones in the large P10i insert can't enter my nose (they flatten out) but the medium sized cones might because they are smaller.

You still think that the nasal pillows actually fit inside the nose? You trying to cram the entire pillow including the rim (which is suppose to rest against the outside of the nostrils)????? If they are "flattening out" then you either have the wrong size or the mask is too tight.

Take the nasal pillow (whatever brand) and don't have it attached to anything....put it up against your nose....just touching the nostril. Don't force it...just rest it against the end of the nose. That is how it should fit with the headgear attached.

Most common error with these masks is that people either use wrong size or too tight and the pillow cone tries to crawl up inside the nose. NOTHING should ever touch the inside of the nostril....nothing.

You are the first Aussie that I have heard use the term "nozzle".....all the others seem to know the term "nasal pillow" and use it appropriately.

You have an easy, cheap solution. Heck you may have already got your solution, if you'd accept that the nasal pillows don't go in your nose.

The n30i is the same frame as the p30i, just buy a set of nasal pillows. But as Pugsy said they don't go into your nostrils, they are supposed to flatten against the base. The tips should just break the plain of the goal line.

Under the nose cushions was never a good solution for me. I loved the p10, but liked the p30i more. I love the top mounting hose and the stable firm frame.

jimolson52 wrote: ↑

Fri Aug 30, 2024 8:06 am

Not sure why Resmed calls the nasal cones "pillows". I have a hard time visualizing pillows up my nose, but maybe it's an Australian thing.

Calling Nasal Pillows, Pillows is not a ResMed thing, it's an industry thing. Every company refers to the "cone" design as pillows. It's marketing.

jimolson52 wrote: ↑

Fri Aug 30, 2024 8:06 am

after watching an Australian YouTube video (these Aussies have CPAP down to a science, huh?)

No they don't, and if you're referring to Nick on the CPAP reviews channel, he's a hack.