nasal pillow size and pressure

When I got my mask/nasal pillows I was instructed to choose the size of pillows that were most comfortable. There seems to be right much variance in the holes in the nasal pillows. Does the pressure vary with the size of the hole in the nasal pillow? I feel like it does but I don't want to "imagine" something that's not there. The small size fits the best but I don't feel like I get enough air so I switch to the medium which don't stay in place as well. My pressure is 10 and I turned off the ramp.

I have to wiggle my small pillows around to get the best airflow--but then it stays put pretty well.
I think there was some mention in the tech info about my machine that Auto on/off may not work with the extra small pillows.
---(or maybe I imagined that.)

I would just try em all and use the set that works best with the least amount of leaking. I use the Swift FX nasal pillow system a lot. My pressures range from 14-18 with 16 being the sweet spot. The smalls are to little for me and leak, the mediums work and fit well but with side sleeping and moving I found they tend to leak, the large pillows didn't seem to fit as well as the mediums did but when I tried them out on a whim for a week I found my leaks went down because they don't seem to leak when I side sleep or move around a bit.

I guess maybe the smalls could effect the air flow a little but the pap should compensate for it and even if it doesn't. A good fit with slightly limited air flow with treatment and few leaks is better then no treatment at all or treatment with a lot of leak.

I made a brief forage into medium but found them extremely uncomfortable. I also use small. The pressure didn't seem to change to me but I really didn't use them very long because of the discomfort. One thing I have noticed, at least with swift fx is the pillows are soft and I end up having to reposition them because they are blowing into the side of my nose rather than the air going straight up my nostril. Once I adjust, it stays okay for the night. I am on a pressure of 12 and I do ramp. 12 is a bit intense for me to start with but I do notice some restriction in air when at the beginning of ramping.

Maxie wrote:When I got my mask/nasal pillows I was instructed to choose the size of pillows that were most comfortable. There seems to be right much variance in the holes in the nasal pillows. Does the pressure vary with the size of the hole in the nasal pillow? I feel like it does but I don't want to "imagine" something that's not there. The small size fits the best but I don't feel like I get enough air so I switch to the medium which don't stay in place as well. My pressure is 10 and I turned off the ramp.

The size of the opening of the nasal pillows will not alter/reduce the amount of pressure that you receive. You biggest concern should be and is in the comfort and fix of the pillows so to be as leak free as possible. It does take some perseverance. Hope you find the best fit..

I use medium pillows and have to manipulate them a bit to get them to seat correctly. I once tried the large size and there was nothing I could do to eliminate the leaks and be able to breathe at the same time. Not sure of your mask configuration, but make sure the pillows aren't attached in the wrong direction. I've made that mistake before.

Carl:
I put mine on upside down once, too.
Boy, that feels weird!

chunkyfrog wrote:Carl:
I put mine on upside down once, too.
Boy, that feels weird!

Not to mention the cussing and fuming and fumbling with it at 3am!!

chunkyfrog wrote:I put mine on upside down once, too.

Remember when I broke my wrist last summer. I had to have hubby change out the pillows for me when he was home as I couldn't do that one handed. For a week I wore them upside down.
Kept thing....man this feels weird...little leaky...then I happened to take a good luck at them..yep upside down. It took me 30 minutes one handed to get them put back the correct way.