anyone used both nasal pillows and nose only masks?

although Ive been using CPAP every night for14 years, Ive only ever used 2 types of masks, both respironics nose only type, I wonder if using a nasal pillows type would be easier, the nose only masks with their pressure on the face make it harder for me to get off to sleep

has anyone used both, and was the nasal pillows type easier to wear?

Harry33,

I used a regular nasal mask for the first 19 years of therapy and also suffered through the sores and discomfort from those masks. I tried the ResMed swift LT and liked it very much except for the headgear. Four months ago when I was due for a mask replacement and chose the Opus360 and immediately found heaven. The difference between a pillow mask and a regular nasal mask goes beyond night and day for me. Of course each individual has their own preferences. I would suggest that you try it, you may find that this is what you have been searching for. Also many believe that using a pillow mask with high pressures will not work but I am at a pressure of 17 and my average AHI is around 1.2 most of which are hyponeas.

Like sleepy, I have used both and will never go back to a nasal mask. The pillow mask is such an improvement that you will probably feel the same way, after you try one. Just stay away from a Swift LT, as they are not supporting their customers right now, with the bad pillows they produced and are producing. Give the Opus 360 a try.

I have 2 nasal pillow masks, Comfort Lite 2 and the OptiLife mask. I like them both but my most favorite is the OptiLife. Comfort lite has 3 options, Direct seal cushions, nasal pillow cushions and a simple nasal type cushion. The OptiLife has 2 options, nasal pillows and cradle cushions. For both masks all different options come in multiple sizes. The nasal mask I have is the Comfort Gel nasal mask it is a good mask but I can only tolerate it for a few days at a time. When I feel like changing masks (I have 5, I like variety) in the end it seems I always go back to the OptiLife with a large pillow.

I have just this week switched machines to a VPap. I have been using respironics cpap w/ nose pillows and suffered with 'blowing up' to the extreme. I thought it was the nasal pillow that was the culprit, but won't go back to the nasal mask because I suffer from hot flashes at night. The nasal mask would slide off and wake hubby with the 'gusts'. The nasal pillow (if I have the terminology correct) is the one with 2 holes that sit on nostrils, right!? Doc was surprised that I had so much air problems since I'm only on 9. So he switched me to the vpap and I'm in week 1. It took a bit to get used to the changing pressure but now it is a breeze and I'm not filling up with air. My belly really appreciates that!

At my titration study they first attempted a nasal mask of some sort. Just the slightest pressure across my nose causes immediate nasal congestion for me. Even my glasses. So... after 45 minutes of trying to breathe through my nose which felt like cotton had been stuck in there, I made the tech stop and switch to the nasal pillows. They had the Optilife nasal pillows available. Immediate relief from the congestion. Quite comfortable even for the very first time on the machine. Fell asleep and completed the study. Went home with the Optilife and I won't ever consider a nasal interface. No sense. I won't be able to breathe period.

Very minor tenderness initially from the nasal pillows and some of that was because I had the headgear a little too tight.

The Swift LT headgear adjusts better for my small head. The Optilife would have been fine but with the supporting chin strap I never could make it quite small enough in the proper proportions to have optimal comfort.

I would think after all these years of doing it on your own you deserve the right to experiment with something that peaks your interest. You won't know how you like it till you try...

A nasal mask for me is the bad memory of my first weeks on cpap.... and then they convinced me to try nasal pillows -- and I haven't looked back.

O.

thanks for the replies