CPAP Cure for the Common Cold?

someone I respect (local sleep clinic) keeps telling me that most who try them eventually give up - her reason is issues like 'windburn' etc: for people like my self on high pressures.

There can be sooooo many factors that make people give up wearing any interface at any pressure.

There sure are a lot of people at high pressures who post to the message boards, happily using nasal pillows interfaces. Or at least as happily as any of us can feel about any mask of any type.

Given how much better nasal pillows interfaces can seal at high pressures, and how much more comfortable they can be to wear than most nasal masks are, I'd sure be giving one or more pillows interfaces a try, no matter how high my pressure.

Easy for me to say, "give 'em a try"...it's your money.

At any rate, don't judge all nasal pillows interfaces by the first one you try if it doesn't work well for you. As I'm sure you've noticed, different interfaces work differently on different people.

I'm sure you've also taken note of the things people use to make nasal pillows "feel better" - Ayr gel, KY jelly, Neosporin ointment, heated humidification, homemade straps, garbage bag ties, netting..... LOL!!

Well said Rested.

The creams and gels such as Ayres are usually needed to keep nares from getting red or just sore.

Interesting observation. I have to use Ayres with the Breeze yet never with the Swift and I now always use the Swift. Large size is a good option as it rests outside the nares and seals well. It barely goes into the nares unlike the Nasal Aire.

Over the weekend I used the Breeze just for the heck of it and now that I use a little more humidification I noticed that it's little smooth plenum would allow condensate to reach nares and on one occasion shot up nose under pressure. Wow! that hurts. This was a common problem when I used to use the Nasal Aire I long ago and it is painful.

The Swift having a large drum for a plenum has yet to do this, I never felt water get near the nares. Different designs have different characteristics.

So no drowing, redness or need for gels with the Swift has been my experience so far. My good mask is the Activa and that works very well but it will not help at all with congestion and that is my issue and the factor that keeps me from feeling good the morning after. It's called UARS and it starts with the intake mechanism not allowing proper delivery of air just like your car not running well if the air filter is clogged. No matter how much you do to the rest of the engine, it all starts with proper intake. I have experimented with this over the years and that's what works for ME. Your mileage will vary.

Rested, were did SWS go? I miss him.


Kermit