Nasal mask more natural breathing?

I read somewhere that the nasal mask may provide more natural breathing than the nasal pillow mask. Does anyone agree with that? I have been using the nasal pillow mask but continue to have the problem of taking the mask off after 2 to 3 hours. I tried a different nasal pillow mask but it made me feel even more like I was suffocating so I went back to the original Swift FX. Still take the mask off. I have the return insurance for my mask so I can try new masks with impunity. I did like the Dreamwear for comfort and may go back to that one but thinking about trying the nasal mask just because of what I read.

My personal experience was that the full face mask (Probably the same for nasal mask) was far more natural breathing than the pillows. With the pillows, the air pressure is forced up your nose while with the others the air is diffused into the mask and you breathe more naturally.

KTinTexas wrote:I read somewhere that the nasal mask may provide more natural breathing than the nasal pillow mask. Does anyone agree with that?

No.

Your autonomous nervous system knows how to breathe when you fall asleep. If you have the correct machine settings and there is no excess mask leak, you will breathe steadily and gently while asleep.

Where some people go wrong is thinking about every breath before they fall asleep. They are consciously controlling their breathing, and the result is breathing that is not "natural". When trying to fall asleep, they should be distracting their mind by thinking about something pleasant.

Nasal pillows work well for millions of people. Nasal masks, full face masks and hybrid masks work well for millions of people. Go with what works well for you.

Like all things cpap the right mask is what works for you. Also like all things cpap once you get used to it you no longer feel pressure breathing thru what you have been using (or can tell it's on your face).

There is no pressure limit to nasal pillows, well not 10 or 14 cm like some tend to think anyway. But with less surface contact they are easier to seal and most have less head gear.

There is no one size fits all, try em ALL let your DME supply what you want, if they won't then buy from one who will.

Removing any mask while sleeping is often an indication you are not getting enuff air (not enuff pressure) so check your data so see what is happening before you take the mask off. You may be having an apnea(s) due to low pressure.

KTinTexas wrote:I read somewhere that the nasal mask may provide more natural breathing than the nasal pillow mask. Does anyone agree with that? I have been using the nasal pillow mask but continue to have the problem of taking the mask off after 2 to 3 hours. I tried a different nasal pillow mask but it made me feel even more like I was suffocating so I went back to the original Swift FX. Still take the mask off. I have the return insurance for my mask so I can try new masks with impunity. I did like the Dreamwear for comfort and may go back to that one but thinking about trying the nasal mask just because of what I read.

As much as I like the feel and comfort of pillows, I get far better results in both AHI and feeling rested with a nasal mask. GO figure. The difference is dramatic, a nasal mask I get AHIs in the 1-2 range, with pillows it's in the 4-5 range, and I can notice the difference in how I feel.

ChicagoGranny wrote:Nasal pillows work well for millions of people. Nasal masks, full face masks and hybrid masks work well for millions of people. Go with what works well for you.

Granny's answers are always the best.

Nasal pillows work. They would not be so popular if they didn't. When they were first introduced, it was a godsend for many people.

That said, you should use what works for yourself.

Agreed! Some folks are uncomfortable with pillows;
others can wear nothing else. To each his own.

Thanks for the replies. I do appreciate getting these opinions from the CPAP "vets." Since I have the insurance I figure I might as well try the different type of mask.