One Mask, Two Masks, Three Masks

@Sherrif 1+
Your comment about your wife not being happy. Love it!

jencat824 wrote:All the above are the best suggestions. I would add to them Aromatherapy. There is one product, sold on cpap.com, Pur-Sleep Sinus Blaster. I swear by this stuff. In the meantime, IN ADDITION to the other suggestions, you can put some scent on a cotton ball & put it near (but not blocking) the air intake area of your machine. I would suggest menthol or eucalyptus scent to try to open that blocked nostril.
I hope this helps.
Jen

Eureka!!!
@Pugsy - In the last thread that I created, this is EXACTLY what I was trying to communicate regarding the "collapsing nostril". Maybe I am missing something, what resolves this issue?

@Jencat - How often do you use Pur-Sleep Sinus Blaster?

Starlette wrote:@Pugsy - In the last thread that I created, this is EXACTLY what I was trying to communicate regarding the "collapsing nostril". Maybe I am missing something, what resolves this issue?

If it's the weight of the nasal cushion that is causing the collapse of the nostril.....use a different mask.
I couldn't use the Wisp successfully because of this issue. I tried it one night and woke up many, many times not being able to breathe and I would have to pull the mask away from my nose...let my nose open up and put the Wisp cushion back down and go back to sleep only to wake up again and have to do the same thing over and over again. I finally said screw it and swapped out the Wisp for the Swift FX nasal pillows so I could get some sleep. When I did the swap I didn't know what time it was but thought the night was mostly over but when I looked at the report....I only had used the Wisp for 90 minutes. Probably had 30 wake ups during that time so it felt like all night. That mask was returned to my DME (who had talked me into trying it and saying I could bring it back if I hated it).

Later on I tried the Swift FX Nano cushion mask. I thought for sure I would have the same issues with it that I did with the Wisp since they are similar masks but I had no issues with the Nano. It worked quite well for me. I liked it well enough to keep it.

My nose is so narrow that I cannot use anything except nasal pillows now. Even my FFM wedges my nose shut but I can, at least, mouth breath. Have not needed to use it at all so far - I'm in month three of CPAP

Well kids, tonight I will be trying out my third mask in 5 days...........I'm no quitter!

Yesterday I got the Pillows mask (as in my equipment list) and it was PERFECT....so comfortable I hardly knew I was wearing one.
But, lo and behold once I fell asleep, my mouth kept falling open.........I got hardly any sleep and my apnea count was up to 20!

So, I just got back from the store with the FFM AirFit F10 which I will try tonight.

Since I can breathe through my mouth with this one, even if it does collapse my nostril, I should be ok!

Whew, they said this wouldn't be easy but as they also say..........third time's a charm! I hope.

Must also get some of the Pur-Sleep Sinus Blaster!

Thanks again,
Marilyn

Marilyn, I don't think two nights with a mask is enough to tell if it's going to work for you. There are literally hundreds of masks out there, so to go through them all a day or two at a time is going to be time consuming, costly, and counter productive unless they're truly painful. Nasal pillows required a bit if an adjustment for me, but after a week of sticking with the machine and treating my nose irritation, I can't imagine wearing anything else. There are several size options in each mask style to consider as well.