Nasal Mask for side sleepers

pivot · Post by **pivot** » Thu Aug 24, 2006 9:29 pm

While I love the comfort of my Swift Nasal Pillow System I am noticing the air flow in my nose is quite strong. Are there any good masks for side sleepers?? Does anyone think the nasal mask would make a difference in regards to feeling the pressure of the air flow. The air just seems so strong, by the way I will be switching my machine for a c-flex on Monday, my DME sent the wrong machine. SO maybe that would be helpful.

CollegeGirl · Post by **CollegeGirl** » Thu Aug 24, 2006 9:36 pm

Pivot,

Is the "strong" air bothering you on inhale or exhale? If it's bothering you on exhale, then C-Flex will almost definitely fix that for you. That's what C-Flex does.

The Swift Nasal Pillows you have are one of the top choices for side sleepers on this board, so I'd stick with what you have for now and see if the C-Flex helps (and I'd bet it will).

Good luck!

jacko · Post by **jacko** » Fri Aug 25, 2006 3:08 am

Gday Pivot
Did you mean a nasal mask that goes over your nose rather than the pillows that go up ya hooter.
I have a swift also and have trouble side sleeping with it, others find it ok .
I also have a Breeze nasal pillows mask and just cant come to grips with it ,just cant get it comfortable.
But the mask I find the best is the Fisher and Paykel 407 flex fit it fits over your nose and I am able to sleep on my back or side with it ok,and you shouldn't feel the pressure as much with it , but they are the only 3 masks I have used ,so thats all I can tell ya .
I have only been on cpap for 64 nights I think and are yet to feel the benefit of it
Its not the pressure or mask that bothers me its just the way I have been sleeping for that many years
all the best Jacko

Ms Piggy · Post by **Ms Piggy** » Fri Aug 25, 2006 9:48 am

the blast of air from the swift on inhalation is too much for me too.
the Breeze is much kinder as is the CL2, I am currently switching between the latter 2 and I have replaced the CL2 headgear with pantyhose legs. I also sometimes use a stretchy type band across the nose piece to hold it in a bit more as the Cl2 is adjusted at maximim angle - in as much as it will go, this tie can also help to make a mask more stable, might be an idea for Jacko with his Breeze which is my favourite mask, but it is nice to have the option the CL2 gives of using a different, none pillow type, nose piece for a change.

ldemmery · Post by **ldemmery** » Fri Aug 25, 2006 11:05 am

Try adjusting your straps while you are in a side sleeping mode, sometimes that works for most masks.

Lynne

Sidesleeper · Post by **Sidesleeper** » Fri Aug 25, 2006 1:23 pm

The Breeze and the Nasal Aire II are my favorites. The NasalAire II is the most comfortable( get all the sizes in the package) but the Breeze is a little quieter. It's hard I'm torn between the two for nasal masks.

mikemoran · Post by **mikemoran** » Fri Aug 25, 2006 2:28 pm

For a slide sleeping nasal mask I use the Mirage Activa by Resmed. Easy to move with but much heavier than nasal pillows. The new hybrid works great as a nasal pillow fo me as the air crosses my mouth before shooting up the pillows, which relieves the pressure and cold air blast entering my nose.

Knightfall · Post by **Knightfall** » Fri Aug 25, 2006 2:55 pm

I spend most of my sleeping time on either side, with the occasional hour or two a week on my back. I find the Mirage Activa to be very comfortable and leak free. I never tried a nasal pillow type interface, so I can't compare one against the other, but breathing with the Activa became very natural for me.

Ken

BigNortherner · Post by **BigNortherner** » Sun Aug 27, 2006 5:34 pm

You need:
> good headgear
> narrow nasal interface

Some of the nasal interfaces have a wide manifold, especially ones trying to keep hose(s) clear of eyes. Not good for sleeping on side. The ResMed Mirage Swift is especially bad for that, the Respironics Comfort Curve of medium sensitivity.

Many of the nose masks, such as Respironics Comfort Gel, are OK. However most do not have a large enough mask - medically unsound as puts pressure alongside nose which blocks nasal passages. For example, the Puritan Bennett Breeze Dreamseal and Weinman/SomnoTech are bad (whereas the Respironics Comfort Gel is much better).

The over-head simple-nostril-interface designs are in theory good but too many of them lack sideways support right at the nostril interface (they cantilever down from the forehead), whereas they really need semi-rigid side straps.

The Fisher & Paykel Infinity 481 is OK sideways but does not stay in tilt position, because it has no local support (does not contact lip) and the headgear tension pulls the prongs into my nostrils.

The Comfort Curve mask is of medium effectiveness for sleeping on side - nostril interface manifold is too wide.

The Puritan Bennett Adams nostril interface design is poor in general, but medium effective against sideways pressure.

I am awaiting receipt of a CPAPPillow I ordered, a contoured pillow that supports sides of chin and forehead but is notched to not put pressure on the nasal manifold. I sleep on the edge of my regular pillow but most pillows have tapered edges - perhaps adding foam inside the edge would help.

....Keith

BigNortherner · Post by **BigNortherner** » Sun Aug 27, 2006 5:46 pm

I'll add that Fisher & Paykel's "Glider Strap" design, such as on the 407 nose mask and the 431 full mask, is a good attempt to minimize the problem. That design allows sideways distortion of the face by mostly isolating lateral positionning of the mask from the side straps - plastic wires run from side straps through the front of the mask with low friction.

When I use a full mask I use their Infinity 431. Its cross-section is smaller than some full masks - better than the ResMed Ultra Mirage for example, but still bulky. And the end attachment of the Glider Strap assembly to the headgear side straps is incompetently designed with a hook in too-weak plastic instead of a slot to attach the side straps (you can attach the straps differently to avoid that - somewhat skewed but it works). This mask seals better than the ResMed Ultra Mirage, with less strap tension and easier strap release.

...Keith

DreamStalker · Post by **DreamStalker** » Sun Aug 27, 2006 5:59 pm

Thanks for the excellent description of the various designs Kieth.

I was thinking that the over-the-head nasal pillow interface design could be modified to somehow anchor it to the upper lip (similar to the Swift). I'm considering both the Breeze and the ComfortLight 2 for such a mod but need to do more research on their nasal pillows (I think I had a bad reaction to the Breeze pillows the one night that I tried it). I would like to know if pillows from various brands are interchangable.

Anyway, again many thanks for clearing up some questions I have had on my mind lately.

- roberto

Elle · Post by **Elle** » Mon Feb 05, 2007 1:35 am

I use the breeze and love it. I used to get a sore nostril but was told to put vaseline on it and it was great. Someone mentioned that the vaseline breaks down the material but the RT told me the company making the mask recommended vaseline. i figured even if it breaks down they are not expensive. It was very comfortable for side sleeping. I also used the mirage activa (before i discovered the vaseline trick) and it was very comfortable for side sleeping as well.

Sleep Head · Post by **Sleep Head** » Mon Feb 05, 2007 1:33 pm

I have been using the swift for nearly 2 weeks and I LOVE it!!! I am a side sleeper and have had no problems at all. Sometimes my one nostril hurts but I'm willing to deal with that than the other problems from other masks.

oldgearhead · Post by **oldgearhead** » Mon Feb 05, 2007 1:46 pm

For me, the modified CL2 is my best side sleeper.
Hybrid is a close second. (I always sleep on my right side).
With either mask it's a good idea to replace the headgear
every 6 months.

tdmsu · Post by **tdmsu** » Mon Feb 05, 2007 4:30 pm

For me the best side sleeper is the new version Breeze with nasal pillows. I have used the nasal aire II and older versions of the Breeze, but the new one is more comfortable because the hose goes over my head and out of the way. With the nasal aire, the hose would sometimes be dislodged when I rolled over onto my side.

Just my 2 cents.

pt

Nasal Mask for side sleepers