Full face mask Vs nasal pillow

To my diagnosis 1.5 years ago, the doctor didn't give me any specific for the type of mask to use so, my provider, he has solved the doubt giving me a full face mask.
I had no particular difficulties with FF but I would try using a simple nasal mask.
I bought on e-Bay a Resmed Swift FX.
You give me your opinion? It's a good idea to try a nasal mask?
Instinctively, I'm attracted by nasal mask,
but I don't even know why this!
You think that I'm looking for trouble?
Thank you

Oltremare

I think that if a mask looks interesting to a person then that person should try the mask just because they want to try it.
Curious is a good enough reason to try anything IMHO.

Why would you think you were looking for trouble?

Unless you simply can't breathe through your nose well enough to be comfortable...like if you had really bad nasal congestion forcing you to breathe through your mouth or feel like suffocating....I see no reason why a person shouldn't/couldn't even try a nasal mask.

I have always used a nasal pillow mask but on occasion I have tried other masks just because they looked "interesting" to me. Some experiments were total flops and some were more successful than I had expected.

I have used the swift FX for over 5 years now and really like it. I've even had colds and sinus issues but it still seems to work okay. I do use a nasal spray if I can't breath very well thru my nose before going to bed. Doc wants me to get a full face mask to see if I'm having trouble since I still stop breathing at night. Since my current machine does not support much for data I can't use it to help figure out my problem. Unless I pay for a new mask out of pocket I can't get the one he wants me to try until May if I figured it right

If you can and do breath thru your nose - esp. during the day while awake - you should have no trouble using any other style mask. Even if a mouth breather like I was you can retrain yourself to breath thru your nose.
IMO it is more natural and much easier to seal even at higher pressures bc it has a much less sealing surface. So for sure give it a go.

fwiw - I started with a FFM @ press of 18cm (many providers will say that anything over 14cm can't use nasal pillows). Then tried a nasal mask while learning to keep breathing thru my nose. Then onto nasal pillows and never looked back. The pillows seal sooo much better I even like them the few times I've had a cold as the pressure helps open my sinuses so I can breath thru the congestion.

I'm afraid to go looking for trouble because the FF mask for me is good and works great. I bought a nasal only out of curiosity and because I think it is more practical and comfortable

Try it while awake..watching TV or reading a book for a couple of hours or so and see what happens.
See if you even like the way it feels or not.

You've spent the money...might as well at least try it.
Scratch that curiosity itch.

Yes, I decided to try the new mask.
Now I have to give a first wash then, I will set the CPAP for this type of mask and Tomorrow, I will tell you my new experience ...
Thanks for your valuable advice.

Oltremare

Here I am!
The first experience with nasal pillows, has not been very good. At the beginning everything it was ok.
I had to lower the minimum pressure from 11 to 10 because I had strange feelings, things I had excessive internal pressure in the throat.
After about 2 hours, however, the situation has changed. I have started to have an annoying burning inside the nostrils. What happened? Maybe dry mucosa of the nose? Perhaps the detergent used for washing? Perhaps hyaluronic acid that I spread to protect the delicate skin of the nose and the inner mucosa?
Unfortunately I had to stop the race.
Tonight I'll try again.

Hello
Oltremare

Oltremare wrote:annoying burning inside the nostrils. What happened? Maybe dry mucosa of the nose?

That would be my first thought. Either that or something shifted with the inner cones and they were touching inside the nostril. That burning...I have had it happened but it was because the inner cone got a bit wonky inside my nose.

Try the next size nasal pillow if you can...to prevent that inner cone from touching the inside of the nostril and make sure the mask isn't too tight and trying to pull those inner cones up inside your nose. Nothing should actually be touching the inside of your nose.

And you might also try a little more humidity...just in case.

Thanks Pugsy, your advice is very convincing and I will apply it tonight.

One more thought:
Although my experiment last night was not positive, I had the feeling that therapy with nasal pillows is very efficient to make a car comparison, a four-wheel drive.
The FF mask is much less "direct".
IMHO

Yeah..the nasal pillows are a bit more direct and while the pressure technically is the same it can sure feel different because it is so concentrated.
When I try a full face mask (just as an experiment) I find that my usual pressure is almost like not enough to be comfortable because I am so used to the directness of the nasal pillows.
Conversely someone who has been using a full face mask is likely to feel like there's a LOT more pressure getting blown but there really isn't.
Kinda like when you use a garden hose and put your finger over the end where the water is coming out...it seems like there's more force but the amount of water is actually the same unless you actually turn the faucet more open at the wall.

Some people like the nasal masks...some don't. We all have our own personal preferences and that's okay. Nothing wrong with that at all.

There's pros and cons to every mask out there. There's no single one perfect mask. We, as individuals, have to figure out what our own personal preferences might be and then figure out a mask that meets the bulk of those preferences.
Any that have minor short comings we have to balance the negatives against the positives and go from there.
Example....one of my major personal preferences is to have as little as possible on my face and head...so this means mask as well as headgear. Unfortunately that means I might have to give up a little stability because little and lightweight can mean a bit more mask movement. For me that's an okay compromise ...giving up a little stability and dealing with a little movement every now and then. For other people stability is a huge factor and they would rather have a mask that might have more headgear to deal with or be larger or heavier so it won't move.

I do think that if a person is curious about trying something that they should try to satisfy that curiosity if at all possible because we each learn something about ourselves and our own personal preferences when we try different things...even if all we learn is how much we might hate something. We still learn.

I tried the Respironics Wisp nasal cushion mask once. I lasted 90 minutes with it and that was it. Long story as to why it didn't work out but I had no desire to try it any further.
I tried the FitLife once..that's the full face mask that covers the whole face...eyes and all. I never could get that thing to even keep a seal lasting longer than 15 seconds...I never even slept with it. The people that can successfully use that mask...I bow down before them...they are better than me.

If it makes any difference to you...some people (can't promise you that you will be one of them) who go from a full face mask to a nasal pillow mask have found that they don't need quite as much pressure as they did with the full face mask to attain the same successful cpap therapy results. Not sure why because in theory X amount of pressure should be the same no matter which mask but it might have something to do with the airway anatomy and how that lower strap on full face masks tend to draw the jaw back a little which could potentially make the airway just a little more narrow to start with and that little more narrow could mean needing just a little more pressure. I have to proof...just a theory that has been bounced around here by various people.

Every change takes time to adapt.
The Pugsy advice is pure gold.
I used the next size and slightly increased at the humidification and everything went great.
I slept seven hours spun smoothly.
Pugsy you are fantastic.
I don't really know how I can thank you enough.
Thank you thank you. thank you ...

Oltremare

You are most welcome. Glad to help.

I always say it isn't my job to tell a person what mask to use...my job is to help them try to use whatever mask they are wanting to try to use. Doesn't matter the reason...if they want to try then I will try to help.
I can help most with the mask that I have the most experience with.

Nasal pillows aren't for everyone for any number of reasons but I hate to see someone give up because of a minor problem with fitting or with something that is easily fixed.
I think the most common problem with these masks is that people get them either too tight or they are using the wrong size nasal pillow.

Glad you had success last night...let's hope it continues and you will be able to give the mask a fair trial to see how well you end up liking it overall.

And picture me going off...pumping my fist and saying "yes"

I downloaded the data with sleepyhead and I noticed that, with the mask nasal pillows, the max pressure remains much lower has never exceeded 14 cm H2O (usually with FF reaches over 17).
Unfortunately there have been some losses in excess but, I think that slowly, I can learn to make better use of this mask.
Also this time it was very useful and important to be able to read the data with sleepyhead.

Oltremare

The Swift FX mask is very comfortable and basically I like a lot.
Unfortunately I discomfort for the air so directed into the nostrils.
I also tried to lower the minimum pressure but ... not good!
I don't shot down and will continue to do some tests. I also ordered a new mask, the Swift FX Nano. It is very different, but I think is a good middle ground between a FF and a nasal pillows.
I'm doing tests because in the evening I love to read a good book before bed but with FF masks I can't wear my glasses.
I hope to find a practical solution and the Swift FX mask seem just perfect ...
Very welcome your advice.

Thank You
Oltremare