Help Finding Nasal Pillows for My Young Daughter

[Pugsy]

I was hoping the Brevida as I feel it stands the best chance of being small enough for the wee one.
It probably does sort of swamp the nose though just from the way it is made. I felt like it swamped my nose when I tried it but it is so soft it didn't really matter.

Did you ever try her on the ResMed P10? I thought you did but there was some problem but I forget what it was.
The Swift FX pillows are going to be about the same size as the P10 pillows except the XSmall in the Swift FX is a tiny bit larger than XSmall in the P10. Very tiny difference.
Now the headgear...the Swift FX is by far more adjustable downward in size to fit a small head.
The Swift FX pillows...going to feel like the P10 in terms of firmness overall...not nearly as soft as the Brevida.

[threehappypenguins]

The P10 fits akwardly on her face in the front due to the design being for a larger face. She already has a tiny head for her age (I did too, and same with my mom). When she was a toddler, I was still putting baby hats on her. And when she was a baby, many baby hats were way too big.

The pillows themselves on the P10 fit fine. The straps that first come off of the pillows sits on a weird angle, even with little clips in the back to attach and tighten things.

So I was thinking that with the Swift FX, the adjustable straps that have a loop in the front on each side (like the Brevida) might work and the pillows will probably have a better fit and be less clumsy like the Brevida.

I'm just really unhappy with the local sleep clinic. They knew a 6-year-old girl was coming, and the first thing they did was put an adult sized Wisp on her. It wasn't until I complained and called around to other sleep clinics (same chain) and found a pediatric mask myself did I even get the Wisp pediatric. I even asked for them to bring in the ResMed Pixi, but they're like, "It's bigger, and we don't think she'll like it." But I'm pretty settled on her having a nasal pillow at this point a I believe in her case it is the most effective. But it seems that I am completely on my own in finding her something.

I am currently waiting for my insurance company to get back to me so I know if they're going to cover me buying multiple masks. I just want to buy a bunch for her to try. Like the Swift FX, the InnoMed petite pediatric, etc.

[Pugsy]

Someone is donating a Swift FX...it's on its way to me as we speak but so I won't see it quickly as it was just mailed today. It was only tried twice.
I don't know the sizes of any pillows and I don't know if I happen to have an XSmall hidden somewhere in my stash drawer.
I will be happy to send it to you when I get it.
And yes...I know you are in Canada but I am very familiar with shipping out of the US. Not a problem.
It's free...if you can reimburse postage that would be helpful but not critical...probably around $12 US.
If you want it...send me a PM with your name, address, etc and I will go see if I can find an XSmall pillow for it.

[threehappypenguins]

I just heard back from my insurance provider. Looks like they only cover 2 masks per year with a maximum of $350 as is "reasonable and customary." I will PM you. Thanks!

[ChicagoGranny]

Her tonsils and adenoids are of average size

So, she has undergone an examination by a pediatric ENT? A thorough examination will include endoscopy of the entire nasal passage and a look at the vocal cords. The size of the tonsils and adenoids will be compared to the open airway.

[chunkyfrog]

I suspect the mask restriction may be related to the malleability of children's facial bones.
Orthodontia takes much longer with older patients than with kids.

[threehappypenguins]

So, she has undergone an examination by a pediatric ENT? A thorough examination will include endoscopy of the entire nasal passage and a look at the vocal cords. The size of the tonsils and adenoids will be compared to the open airway.

A) I live in Canada, and it took my daughter six months just to get to one (the first) appointment with the ENT. While waiting for the appointment, her nurse practitioner had her get an x-ray of her adenoids so that the ENT would know the size.

B) As suspected, the first thing the ENT wanted to do was to removed her tonsils and adenoids, just to "see" if it would "help." There was no talk of this scope that you speak of. The ENT admitted that as children grow bigger skulls, it would leave more room (if the issue was that there wasn't enough room in the first place).

So I asked why remove tonsils and adenoids if we don't even know that they are the issue, and why not try CPAP so that she has treatment while she grows? ENT said he couldn't argue with that, and referred me to the clinic next door for a CPAP trial.

Everything here in Canada is a big long process with specialists, waiting, testing, more waiting, referrals, more waiting, more testing, more waiting, more referrals... blah blah blah.

Already, I have to go back to the ENT so that I can get approval from them and for them to send a letter to Provincial insurance on why my daughter has to fly out of Province to another province in order to get her sleep study because there are no pediatric sleep disorders clinic in our home province. We have to get this approval in order to have it covered by our home provincial insurance, and to have plane tickets reimbursed. They only cover things if they're not available here (and by available, "in a timely fashion" doesn't count).

Right now, I just want her to undergo a proper sleep study. I don't even know if the ENT does scopes at that clinic. If he doesn't, I'd have to have her referred probably to the hospital, and it would be another several months wait. With most specialists out here, it's about a 2 years wait to see one. My daughter is lucky she saw one in 6 months.

I just want CPAP to work for her right now, so she has a good night sleep for once in her life.

[ChicagoGranny]

Everything here in Canada is a big long process with specialists, waiting, testing, more waiting, referrals, more waiting, more testing, more waiting, more referrals... blah blah blah.

So sorry.

[tjgriffin]

Wish it didn’t take so long for me to figure out, but I was perpetually congested to some degree along with other things, including having problems with dairy. Went wheat-free March of last year and that’s largely gone away, along with inflammation in general. It’s entirely possible to eat a nutritionally-balanced diet without wheat.

There are elements in wheat that don’t cause an allergic reaction until they’re being digested, and many different proteins it could be.

My husband has Celiac Disease, and we have suspected Celiac since my daughter was a toddler. We completely removed gluten from her diet several years ago, and a lot of stuff improved. But it's like there is still residual inflammation. She probably does have Celiac, but it's not confirmed. We had a family doctor who also has Celiac Disease, and she said that she agrees to keep her off the gluten.

My niece has Celiac. She is sensitive enough that cooking foods in pans that were used for gluten containing foods, no matter how thoroughly cleaned, would trigger it. They invested in new gluten free pans, and take care to wash and store them separately. Her mother, my sister, is sensitive, but not to the degree as her daughter. I believe there are antibody test that can be check for gluten exposure. Might be wise to consider to see if she is getting exposed. My niece also inquires extensively as to the state of the kitchen when ordering "gluten free" food. Cross contamination is really hard to eliminate. A lot of restaurants go far enough to satisfy 95% of the people, or maybe even 99%, but maybe you're daughter is more sensitive. Pizza places are the worst. Tossing pie dough causes a lot of air borne flour. Even salads can get contaminated.

[threehappypenguins]

I don't keep any gluten in the house, and replaced important items several years ago. We rarely eat out (a couple of times a year?). Cross contamination is definitely something we take seriously. Unfortunately with the blood tests, they are inaccurate. Even before my husband was diagnosed, his blood test was always negative (while eating gluten). It wasn't until a biopsy that it should Celiac.