Nasal Aire Questions

sleepycarol · Post by **sleepycarol** » Sun Dec 02, 2007 1:50 pm

I was able to use the Nasal Aire last night. I had some problems and so after a few hours gave up and went back to the Swift.

Figured I would ask if any had solutions to my questions / problems.

It seems that the prongs are so long that I had a terrible time getting my nose to touch the seal -- it was only with some discomfort. I tried both the small and the medium and still unsure which would work better. Is there any way to tell which is better? I can get the smaller size to go in further with some discomfort but can't tell if I have a good seal. The medium is almost impossible to insert all the way into the nostrils so the tip of my nose is touching.

My ears are close to my head. I can't get the hoses to stay behind my ears (I used the "optional" headgear). Without the headgear how could any one possibly get the hoses to stay? When the hoses shifted the prongs shifted then. Does it hurt to sleep on one's side? How does one deal with the hoses then? Can you lay on the hoses? What happens if you cut off the air supply to that side?

I know some of us are slow on the "uptake" but really appreciate any help on getting this mask to work.

Babette · Post by **Babette** » Sun Dec 02, 2007 3:08 pm

Hi Carol!

You don't want your nose to touch the "barrell" at all. You push the prongs in, then gently pull them back out until the small bulge at the bottom forms a good seal with your nose.

The seal is formed by the bulge, not the barrell. I have found, however, that if I pull the tubes up tight along the sides of my face (see my headgear links below), that the barrell will bend in two, and curve below my nose, and that often creates a good seal and comfortable position for me.

You should use your headgear to pull the tubes up over your head, and not behind your ears. See my links below for some good ideas on how I've attached my tubes to my chinstrap, and then routed them over the top of my head in a ponytail fashion. I prefer this to using the NAII headgear. I only use parts of the headgear, not all of it.

You need to find the largest cannula you can force into your nose. I have found that after a few months of the Medium Plus, I've now how to move up to the Large. I DO believe there is a limit to how much my soft little nose will stretch, however, and don't think I will be stepping up to the XL.

AND, don't be misled by this. It does not mean that my nares have stretched. What it means is that my tissues have gotten used to this size, and now need a larger size to create a better seal. I see no VISIBLE or NOTICEABLE difference in the size or shape of my nose when awake.

I could liken it to tampon usage, but that would be offensive to many readers. Suffice it to say, most GROWN WOMEN don't use the "Slender" anymore.

It will take some getting used to. Don't dispair after just one night. Try varying several things - cannula size, headgear positioning, etc.

Also, be sure you DO NOT use any Ayr Gel BEFORE inserting prongs. I've found the least bit of moisture will affect my seal. If my nose starts dripping, or I get condensation in the barrell, I have to take it off, dry it off with a tissue, dry my nose thoroughly, and then re-insert.

I have found twising the barrell of the cannula, so the vents are pointed nearly straight out, and the prongs are very nearly pointing DOWN inside my nares often helps me when I'm having a "bad seal night", which happens, now and again.

I still fiddle with this mask, but I have way more success with it than any other mask, and it gives me longer periods of "fiddle free" sleep than anything else I've tried.

Feel free to PM me, I'm online today.

Cheers,
Babs

Babette · Post by **Babette** » Sun Dec 02, 2007 3:12 pm

For those days when I can't log on, here's my tipsheet links:
Nasal Aire II tip sheet: viewtopic/t23207/Babettes-Nasal-Aire-II-Tip-Sheet.html

It's in my sig line, but I can't always display that.

Here are pix of how I attached my NAII to just my chinstrap, eliminating the headgear:

viewtopic.php?t=21841&highlight=babette+chin+strap

I used Velcro one wrap to anchor the tubes at four points (two on each side of my head) and then used the "figure 8" from the NAII headgear to create a slide-able "pony" at the top of my head. I have found that if I pull that slider down tight to my crown, I get the best seal. I haven't attached it to the chinstrap just out of sheer laziness. A few quick stitches would do it. And keep it from sliding back, which is one of the things I "fiddle with" at night.

Hope this helps!!!
Babs

6PtStar · Post by **6PtStar** » Sun Dec 02, 2007 3:38 pm

OK Carol I'll see if I can help. Check out Babettes links she has answered most of your questions. The prongs are not suposed to seal on the end of the cannulla. The company says to put them in and pull out until the little bump on the prong hangs on the restriction at the end of the nares.

Sleeping on the hose won't hurt anything. You won't cut off the air supply. The only time this happens is when I twist it behind my back once in a while while turning over. The second tie is fairly tight and stabalizes the hoses. I'm not much of a model but the attached photo will show you how I wear mine in the pony tail configuration. Lets the hose go over my head ot behind the pillow.

Well while I was pecking away looks like Babette answered it all. Oh well I'll send it any way.

Hope you work it out. If I can help let me know.

Jerry

sleepycarol · Post by **sleepycarol** » Sun Dec 02, 2007 3:42 pm

Love your comparison to a tampon -- I wonder how many men can relate to that

sleepycarol · Post by **sleepycarol** » Sun Dec 02, 2007 3:46 pm

Okay -- apparently there is a learning curve here as I was doing it wrong -- I was trying to shove them deeper into my nose -- I figured the deeper the better with the seal!! I was kind of speculating on if you two were pulling my leg there bot this being a comfortable masks when I thought I had pushed my brain matter a little closer to the top of my skull

Babette · Post by **Babette** » Sun Dec 02, 2007 3:50 pm

Hey Jerry, thanks for being smarter than me and actually posting a pic! I have yet to be able to do that... grrr....

Keep trying Carol! And feel free to call!

Hey Jerry, do you get a good tight seal without the figure 8 then? I need the figure 8 to make mine work good for me. Maybe I need to futz some more...

BTW, really need to make myself a "snuggle hose" for the NAII itself. Having cold room condensation issues. I want to make it like a funny pair of pants, so the "body" part covers the connection, which tends to bonk against the headboard at night and I find it annoying. The fleece will muffle the bonk so it's more of a thump. I should be doing that right now, not foofing on the computer..

LOL,
Babs

Babette · Post by **Babette** » Sun Dec 02, 2007 4:00 pm

More answers after re-reading your questions.

I sleep on the edge of the pillow, with my nose off the edge, so the cannula and vents have free room. I do this on both sides, as I'm a flopper. When I flop over, I land in the middle of the pillow, then I reach up, and push the pillow back, so my chin and nose are off the edge. Seems weird at first, now it's completely normal and surprisingly comfortable.

In the winter, I have trouble getting my covers in just the right position so the vents aren't loudly blowing on my blankies. Fiddle fiddle. I'm a snuggler and like to pull the covers up around my face. Learning curve for me, too.

Right now, I'm annoyed by the vents blowing cold air on my hands when I sit up in bed and read at night. I've started NOT putting on my mask until I'm ready to sleep. I prefer using it when I'm reading, because it really helps me calm down and get sleepy, but the vent issue is bugging me right now. Even with the HH on, it's cold air.

No matter how you sleep on your tubes, you will get enough air. Don't sweat over that. I've found they are remarkably comfortable under my head, and I really don't notice them at all.

I prefer to NOT put my hose in an over the head hose holder with this mask. Works better for me to just run it along the headboard behind the pillow, and off the bed to the machine.

That's it for now.
Babs

6PtStar · Post by **6PtStar** » Sun Dec 02, 2007 4:00 pm

I don't have any problem without the figure 8. I just have the back tabs made with the One Wrap Velcro and they are a bit snug to hold it in place. I kept getting it pinched and cutting off the air flow with the Figure 8.

Babs if you would learn to install Encore Pro you could learn to post pictures!!!

Jerry

Babette · Post by **Babette** » Sun Dec 02, 2007 4:03 pm

Jerry jerry jerry... that's a low blow... and me too sleepy to fight back... tsk!

LOL,
Babs

sleepycarol · Post by **sleepycarol** » Sun Dec 02, 2007 4:20 pm

Come on you two -- one would think your siblings!!

Oh by the way Jerry -- thanks for the picture it helps a lot!!

I did send Babs a pm.

Oh wait we are one big happy family -- duke it out you two

6PtStar · Post by **6PtStar** » Sun Dec 02, 2007 4:31 pm

Everyone LOVES Babs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! She tells it like it is!!!

Jerry

Babette · Post by **Babette** » Sun Dec 02, 2007 4:33 pm

So not true... People either love me or hate me. The trick is to keep dodging those that are toting guns.

LOL,
B.

Babette · Post by **Babette** » Sun Dec 02, 2007 4:36 pm

Okay, I'm going offline to try to do the installation. CD first, then reader, right?

Pray for me. You have my phone number.

LOL,
Babs

Babette · Post by **Babette** » Sun Dec 02, 2007 7:13 pm

1 down, 1 to go.

Got the software loaded, just haven't figured out how to use it without getting stuck in "adding a new patient".

Off to plug in the card reader. If you see lights and sirens that's either my head or my computer exploding.

LOL,
Babs