FFM vs. nasal pillows

General Discussion on any topic relating to CPAP and/or Sleep Apnea.
nanwilson
Posts: 3464
Joined: Tue Apr 13, 2010 10:35 am
Location: Southern Alberta

Re: FFM vs. nasal pillows

Post by nanwilson » Tue Oct 06, 2015 7:58 am

Keepsmiling.. I have checked out cpap.com, resmed & PR web sites and can not find ANYWHERE, where they state that pillows or prongs are not recommended for higher pressures. Mind you, you say you "spoke" to someone at cpap.com, funny but you could say you spoke to the Queen if you wanted too, there is no way that anyone could prove or disprove what you are saying. You yourself are using a mask that has pillows, do you believe that 1/2 of the pressure goes into your nose and the other 1/2 into your mouth..... I don't think so. I used the same mask as you for over a year and found that I was breathing with my nose more that I was with my mouth, so I switched to pillows and have been there for over 4 years.
I would make a suggestion to you.... when you are here reading, just take a look at everyone's signature line to see what machine they are using, how high their pressures go and which mask they are using, Perhaps you will notice those that are using bi-levels and asvs and which mask they are using at prescribed high pressures of those machines. I'm willing to bet many of them are using nasal pillows .

It does not matter which type of mask you use with ANY pressure, as long as that mask works for YOU.
There is a very old saying..... perhaps you will remember it... "a little knowledge goes a long way but it does not make you an expert".
As to your statement that pillows could put a hole in your nose..... ha... try blowing up a balloon with your machine set at a pressure over 20.. won't happen.
Started cpap in 2010.. still at it with great results.

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johnnygoodman
Posts: 784
Joined: Sun Oct 24, 2004 5:13 pm
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Re: FFM vs. nasal pillows

Post by johnnygoodman » Wed Oct 07, 2015 9:16 pm

Howdy All,
According to CPAP.Com:

If you are using an auto Cpap machine is not suggested that you use nasal pillows or prongs with pressures over 15cm. The small diameter of the pillows will sometimes throw the auto-titration off on an automatic Cpap machine.

I was surprised at this for the Resmed Airsense 10 which has a pillow setting, but I was told the same thing.
We traced this down and we said this. It is not true.

There was an older version of a nasal prong system long ago that was not advised to be used with higher pressures. I think the belief came from this product history.

To the best of our knowledge, all nasal pillow systems currently offered on CPAP.com perform well and are cleared for CPAP/APAP use at higher pressures. There may be a small or overseas brand which is this not true for but very likely those work too.

We've pointed this out to the representative who gave this information and we're good on this front moving forward. I apologize for the incorrect information and confusion.

Johnny

KeepSmiling
Posts: 61
Joined: Mon Sep 28, 2015 2:32 pm

Re: FFM vs. nasal pillows

Post by KeepSmiling » Wed Oct 07, 2015 10:22 pm

johnnygoodman wrote:Howdy All,
According to CPAP.Com:

If you are using an auto Cpap machine is not suggested that you use nasal pillows or prongs with pressures over 15cm. The small diameter of the pillows will sometimes throw the auto-titration off on an automatic Cpap machine.

I was surprised at this for the Resmed Airsense 10 which has a pillow setting, but I was told the same thing.
We traced this down and we said this. It is not true.

There was an older version of a nasal prong system long ago that was not advised to be used with higher pressures. I think the belief came from this product history.

To the best of our knowledge, all nasal pillow systems currently offered on CPAP.com perform well and are cleared for CPAP/APAP use at higher pressures. There may be a small or overseas brand which is this not true for but very likely those work too.

We've pointed this out to the representative who gave this information and we're good on this front moving forward. I apologize for the incorrect information and confusion.

Johnny
Johnny,

Thank you for the clarification. I know I did not misinterpret what was said.

I am glad it is now cleared up.

KeepSmiling
Posts: 61
Joined: Mon Sep 28, 2015 2:32 pm

Re: FFM vs. nasal pillows

Post by KeepSmiling » Wed Oct 07, 2015 11:14 pm

nanwilson wrote:
You yourself are using a mask that has pillows, do you believe that 1/2 of the pressure goes into your nose and the other 1/2 into your mouth..... I don't think so. I used the same mask as you for over a year and found that I was breathing with my nose more that I was with my mouth, so I switched to pillows and have been there for over 4 years.
I mostly breath in from my nose; yet when I put on the Nasal Aire II Prong CPAP Mask and the machine turned on, it took a couple of seconds for me to breath normally. I do not use ramp. I understood what someone meant my swallowing to much air.

With the Hybrid, I do not get the feeling of air being pushed into my nose. My pressure is usually less then 14.

https://www.cpap.com/productpage/innome ... e-kit.html