I need help with the nasal pillows!

[MaskedAvenger]

I *was* using a nasal mask, but the forehead support was drilling holes through my head, so I changed to the nasal pillows.

Problem is, every time I turn my head, the side supports get bumped and I start leaking and making noise--- dozens of times a night, waking me--then I adjust it.

If I wear it tighter or with the nose buds further up my nose, I wake up with a sore-covered nose.

Can someone tell me how to get my Nasal Pillows to behave?

Thanks!

[DreamStalker]

I *was* using a nasal mask, but the forehead support was drilling holes through my head, so I changed to the nasal pillows.

Problem is, every time I turn my head, the side supports get bumped and I start leaking and making noise--- dozens of times a night, waking me--then I adjust it.

If I wear it tighter or with the nose buds further up my nose, I wake up with a sore-covered nose.

Can someone tell me how to get my Nasal Pillows to behave?

Thanks!

Nope! ... no can do ... unless of course you tell us what nasal pillow interface you have

[vicchap1]

i have the mirage swift nasal unit. I have found when sleeping on my side, if I sleep with half my head on the pillow, other half hanging off. Works perfect. Other key is to always have the input hose coming in from the top, which ever side you lay on. I been using it for two weeks and i have no issues now.

[Masked Avenger]

I believe it's the Swift Mirage-- has the l-shaped supports on cheeks and a right-side hose connection.

[DreamStalker]

I believe it's the Swift Mirage-- has the l-shaped supports on cheeks and a right-side hose connection.

In that case, only solutions are:

As previous stated hang your head over edge of pillow ... there is also a PAPillow which has a cut-away to facilitate hagning your snoz over the edge.

You can sleep on your back if you can stay put ... but that actually increases your chances for obstructive flow limitations ... may need to up pressure in that case.

You can change mask to something else.

[Vonon]

Avenger,
I have the same problem with the Swift. I noticed that you said the hose was attached to the right side. Did you know that you can switch the hose to the oher side? Just pull it and the "stopper" on the other side out of the barrel and switch them. I found that having the hose attached to the headgear (with the velcro strap) on the side I sleep on most helps hold it in place when I cram my head into the pillow.

Good luck

[djdixie]

I tried the Swift but the nasal pillow piece was just too wide for my face. I'm having fairly good success now with the Optilife.

[TerryB]

I have had good results with the Comfort Lite 2. It took some doing to get it adjusted to work well. The changes are detailed in this forum.

I have had poor results with the Opus mask,

TerryB

[rested gal]

The only nasal pillows mask I've used that absolutely lets me lay the side of my face flat against any head pillow is the Twilight NP (used to be called the "Aura".)

Here's a link to tons of discussion topics about that interface:

LINKS to Invacare Twilight NP (Aeiomed Headrest- Aura) nasal pillows mask topics
viewtopic.php?t=3098

The ComfortLite2 is a very close second for me. I like it, too. Of course, every mask works for some, not for others.

LINKS to Respironics ComfortLite 2 nasal pillows mask topics
viewtopic.php?t=8066

I use a homemade extra strap across the front with just about any mask I use, tied behind the head with a flat "doublestart knot", to help keep it steady during toss n' turn sleeping:
Ways to route one or two homemade straps to steady nasal pillows masks:


Pictures -- How to tie a double start knot

It also helps to hang the main air hose overhead, keeping it out of the way for easy turning over, and to keep the weight of the hose from tugging at any mask:
LINKS to Hose hangers and methods of managing the air hose
viewtopic.php?t=10640

If you want to stick with the Swift mask, a poster nicknamed Tridens came up with a way to make the Swift's connector hose go up the front instead of having it be on either side of the face. His fix is about halfway down the list in these topics:
LINKS to Swift nasal pillows topics
viewtopic.php?t=3934

[DreamStalker]

The only nasal pillows mask I've used that absolutely lets me lay the side of my face flat against any head pillow is the Twilight NP (used to be called the "Aura".)

Here's a link to tons of discussion topics about that interface:

LINKS to Invacare Twilight NP (Aeiomed Headrest- Aura) nasal pillows mask topics
viewtopic.php?t=3098

RG -

Are there any differences between the differently named versions Twilight NP, Headrest, Aura? ... besides things like color of plastic or head strap materials. Is the pillow-hose-exhaust port(s) the same for all three?

[rested gal]

RG -

Are there any differences between the differently named versions Twilight NP, Headrest, Aura? ... besides things like color of plastic or head strap materials. Is the pillow-hose-exhaust port(s) the same for all three?

Some minor differences, but not enough difference in the "differences" to shake a stick at.

The exhaust port is placed exactly the same. The nasal pillows themselves are still the same very soft silicone. Connector hose, still the same. The headstrap material has stayed the same all along as far as I can tell.

The differences between the newer Twilight NP and the older name versions ("Headrest" and "Aura"):

The newer one has an extra slot (two slots, instead of one) at the back strap. Supposedly the extra slot was added to let a person take up the headgear to make it smaller, but I laughed when I saw that. The added slot takes it up about 1/8 of an inch more at the back of the head. An eighth of an inch hardly makes the headgear any smaller at all, so it's still too big for many women's heads. Easily remedied with some homemade fixes, of course.

An improvement was that the horseshoe shaped tubing that goes to the pillows seems to be shaped just a leeetle bit more narrow, bringing the pillows themselves a tad closer to each other. Might just be my imagination, but the sides of the horse shoe seem to be closer together than in earlier models.

A definite change is that there's more metal inside the horseshoe tubes themselves...to make them maintain a round shape. Personally, I think that may have been done more for cosmetic and "reassurance" issues than to actually "do" anything important. The original Aura (and "Headrest"...its 2nd name during all the name-changing) had a stiff wire running down inside the horseshoe tubes, but the silicone of the tubes themselves was rather flat. Squashed looking in places, even.

That probably alarmed some people who might think, "Those flattened tubes aren't gonna let air through!" The air came through fine. But now the previously squashed looking tubes have a more reassuring looking appearance (round instead of flat) to go along with the same amount of air they've always delivered.

[mkirkwag]

I *was* using a nasal mask, but the forehead support was drilling holes through my head, so I changed to the nasal pillows.

Problem is, every time I turn my head, the side supports get bumped and I start leaking and making noise--- dozens of times a night, waking me--then I adjust it.

If I wear it tighter or with the nose buds further up my nose, I wake up with a sore-covered nose.

Can someone tell me how to get my Nasal Pillows to behave?

Thanks!

_________________


CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): Nasal Pillows

I found that I got better at adjusting it without noticing so much, and moving without making it leak over time. I did wear it very tight, so your experience may not match mine. Having the hose on the best side for you helps, as does hanging the mask off the edge of the pillow when you're on your side.

I tried to get away from the nasal pillows because I think I sleep with my mouth open. Couldn't find a mask, and ended up with a comfort lite 2. I'm mentioning this because - just an fyi - I find that *much* harder to stabilize than the swift.

[Linda3032]

mkirkwag, have you tried the stretchy homemade strap across the CL2 pillows? The strap really helps to stabilize the pillows and the strap doesn't have to be tight.

If you are mouth breathing, I assume you are also taping.

[azaloune]

The swift also has the option of the hose not being tied to the headgear. I'm a side sleeper that found I had less issues with the swift if I took the tie loose and let the hose hang down. I also had the hose on the left side of the mask, since my machine is on the left side of my body.

I have just had my 2nd night with the ResMed Mirage Vista. It is a nasal mask that goes over your nose and doesn't have pillows. It has a headgear that attaches to the mask with 2 points, 1 on each side of the nose. I have found it very easy to get on and off, and, since while I sleep on my side, I have a tendency to turn my head and bury my face in the pillow. The exhaust is located so I can't suffocate myself. So far, so good with this mask.

This is mask #3 in 3 months. I had an allergic reaction to the polymers in the swift, and I had serious leak issues with the hybrid. My DME gave me this mask, since we have been waiting on the Hans Rudolph VIP and it has been back-ordered by the manufacture.

I liked the swift, it just didn't like me. I have a serious sore in my left nostril that I am now doctoring, hence, the Mirage Vista. I think I like it.

[JohnMudie]

Problem is, every time I turn my head, the side supports get bumped and I start leaking and making noise--- dozens of times a night, waking me--then I adjust it.

and

I believe it's the Swift Mirage-- has the l-shaped supports on cheeks and a right-side hose connection.

I struggled with a Swift Mirage for about four months. Bought PadaCheeks, tried the Velcro trick, taped my mouth, put it on tightly, loosely, bought a Target shapely pillow etc . When I slept on the edge of the pillow it was fine, but I didnt/wouldnt/couldnt sleep on the edge of the pillow.

Encore Pro kept on reporting a high leak rate in the 50's. and AHI's of 5 and up

But then a Comfurt Full 2 came into my life. After about four days of getting used to it by sleeping more and more with it, I finally managed to keep it on all night.

And now (hear the trumpets blow)

I wake up feeling refreshed, Encore Pro has reported an AHI of 0.7 and leak rates in the 30's

So the way you can get it to behave is to give it to some-one else who can tame it and try a Full Face mask for yourself.

I have a used Swift Mirage to trade if anyone is interested

John M

_________________

CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): mirage, hose, swift, Encore Pro, AHI