Breeze Nasal Pillow and Noise

[samofny]

I'm a newbie and started using the Breeze head gear with medium nasal pillows. Once I get to the top of the ramp and hit my final 10 cm, things get pretty noisy. I was adjusting the headgear to try and reduce the noise, when I noticed that the noise completely disappeared if I pressed the nasal pillows against my nostrils.

This lead me to believe that there were leaks, but I didn't feel any air coming out of my nostrils. I decided to use the large nasal pillows and that stopped the noise and provided what seemed to be a better seal. What a mistake that was; I woke up with stretched out and sore nostrils.

Anyway, my question is; is it normal to have a light swishing sound with nasal pillows, or should it be completely quiet?

Plus, I still can't believe the way the Breeze shoots air straight out from the vent hole, rather than diffuse it upward or something. The air always hits my arm. Good thing I don't have a partner next to me, or it would blow on her too.

I'm thinking of getting the Comfort Lite 2, but I'm also thinking of getting the nasal mask, although I sleep on my stomach/side.

Sam

[Moby]

Welcome Samofny. I love your logo.

I use the Breeze. There is some noise. I have found that squeezing the cylinder inwards helps, and also making sure the seals are correctly aligned. There is a tab on each one that has to fit into an indentation. Also check that the strip which goes over the vent is not jutting out on either side.

I use a KY type lube round the nose things to help with the seal. I found one without an odour. I don't get it confused with the other one

The arm thing - I have got used to the sensation, but I read a hint that someone posted. Tuck a small towel under your pillow. It is easily identifiable in the dark by its tecture. You can cover your arm with it in the night if you need to.

Re the distended nostrils, perhaps you have the straps too tight. There are some threads about fitting the Swift. You don't need to have it really tight.

I hope this makes sense, I am enjoying a gin and tonic on an empty stomach!!!



Welcome to the boards!

Di

[Moby]

I didn't mean the Breeze, I meant the Swift.

Blame the gin and tonic!!!!!!

[Moby]

Oh dear, that makes my whole post inconsequential.

I'll stop posting and go and watch TV.

Sorry for wasting your time.

But still, welcome to the boards!!! And the towel thing is a good idea!

Di

[JeffH]

Try large sized pillows. Most men seem to need the large size.

[neverbetter]

I think you have a leak. The Breeze is not a noisy mask.

[Guest]

Sam, I found I had to use Ayr Gel with the Breeze or I got sore nares and upper lip.

Try the Nasal Aire II.... Just try it... You might like it.... I have a FREE test drive program... You want me to sign you up? Only two people in front of you!

Yes, I'm a pusher for the NAII. See, the first one's FREE, and then you have to PAY!

LOL,
Barbara

[Guest]

BTW, this is how to "test" for leaks. I do this routinely. Cover the vent hole. If the noise DOESN'T change, you have a leak. If it suddenly changes, you're sealed.

Cheers,
B.

[Guest]

Hey Moby, that's a good tip on the Swift. That's what I do with the NAII. I keep twisting the cannula back and forth until I get a better seal. Sometimes I twist it down, sometimes I twist it up. Either way will work, just depends on how my face is responding at that moment.

Cheers,
B.

[Bookbear]

Samofny:

I use and like the Breeze... it's been my mask for almost 16 months now. There are a variety of adjustments that can be made to help fit and leaks. Here are WillSucceed's excellent directions for adjusting the Breeze:

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I'd suggest starting at the back of the Breeze. First, remove the pillows from the plastic plenum -they pull out easily if you squeeze them gently and pull. Loosen the set-screw and angle the plastic plenum away from your face. GENTLY re-tighten the set-screw. Remove the straps or, leave them connected but very loose.

Position the outrigger pad against the part of the back of your head where it feels most comfortable. If you have a bump on the back of your head, see if the pad is more comfortable on the bump or below the bump. Lay down on your back with the outrigger pad is this position and check to see if it is still comfortable, then start making adjustments to the slider between the outrigger and the pad that sits on the top of your head (don't worry about the rest of the Breeze yet). Bear in mind that it will take some time to get used to the feel of this pad on the back of your head. It will be annoying at first but you are likely to get used to it over time.

This top-of-the-head pad is the one that has a 'wing' off each side that have a slot for the straps to go through. This pad should sit in a position on your head where it causes no discomfort and is far enough forward to create some tension between it and the outrigger pad. The tension between these two pads should be enough to hold the Breeze in place (ie., Breeze does not go flying off into orbit when you let go of it) while you are laying on your back. Carefully remove the Breeze, making sure that the outrigger does not move out of position on the slider and put a bit of tape on the slider where it meets the outrigger so that the outrigger will stay in position. You don't want the outrigger to change position along the slider as you take the Breeze on and off.

If you removed them, reattach the straps from the outrigger pad to the top-of-the head pad. Put the Breeze back on and adjust the straps so that they are just snug enough to give stability but not so snug that your head feels like it is in a vice. Check to make sure that the straps are of equal tightness so that the Breeze is not being bent to the left or right.

Take the Breeze off again and insert the pillows into the plastic plenum making sure that only one cuff on each pillow is inserted. A properly inserted pillow shows two round, donut-like cuffs with a volcano-like opening outside the plenum and one round donut-like cuff in the plenum. The two cuffs outside the hard plastic plenum give the bellows action to the pillow. Rotate the pillows so that the slightly oval shape of the openings lines up with the oval shape / orientation of your nares.

Now start adjusting the front slider (slider between the nose plenum and the top-of-the-head pad.) As you are adjusting this up and down, loosen the set-screw that lets you adjust the angle of the plenum. You want the angle to be such that the base of the volcano-like opening forms a seal all the way around the opening of each nare. Continuing adjusting the angle and up/down along the slider so that the pillows are essentially flat against the opening of the nares and the height is not so high (tight against nares) that you feel as though your nose is being yanked upwards. AGAIN, DO THIS WHILE LYING DOWN ON YOUR BACK.

Once it seems comfortable, tighten the set-screw then carefully sit up and remove the Breeze. Put tape on the slider between the plenum and top-of-the-head pad so that this slider no longer moves.

That should be it. Try it out by attaching your PAP machine, turning on the juice and rolling around some in bed. If the Breeze is not stable, you may have to disconnect the straps from the top-of-the-head pad and reattach them to the small plastic slider that moves along the plastic hose guide between the plenum and top-of-the-head pad. This little slider has a slot on each side for the straps to be inserted. Don't remove the tape that is holding the front slider where it enters the top-of-the-head pad; just play with the position of the little plastic slider that has the openings for the straps.

Lay down again, turn on the juice and roll around some more. Make minor adjustments as needed.
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Also as a side note, the elastic straps will stretch over time. If you get leaks, the first thing I would check is the straps, they may have 'relaxed' enough that you are no longer getting a good seal. Also, the seals themselves are meant to be consumable. I find that even with washing the pillows daily that in about three months they start to be a bit less pliable. They aren't too pricey, and I always have a spare pair on hand.

There is also an adjustment on the plenum (the plastic piece the pillows fit into). You can play around with that until you find the right angle for you, then tighten the screw that holds that in place. You might also try leaving that loose so it can flex... a friend who uses the Breeze finds that works better for him than a rigid setting.

Good luck with your treatment!

[Sergey45]

Breeze is definitely not the noisiest mask but is not the quietest as well. You can see it from my table of masks comparison. (see signature).

[Ms Piggy]

Hi, the Breeze pillows made my nose a bit sore at first, but it did not take long to get used to them. the gel use really helps. so keep on trying.

[ozij]

Anyway, my question is; is it normal to have a light swishing sound with nasal pillows, or should it be completely quiet?

Absolutely normal - it happens on the inhale - even when your leaks are controled.

Moby's post about the towel is to the point - I remember reading that.

Things become very noisy the vented air from the Breeze hits your arm or bedclothes --

But the Breeze was still a great mask for me till the Aura /Headrest / Twilight NP came out.

O.

[Snoredog]

those pillow thingees are way noisy, most noisy interface you can select.

If you want quiet look at Soyala.

[samofny]

I did some adjustments yesterday and it seems to be much quieter now. However, the adjustments made the headgear a little unstable, so I have to play with it again tonight. The large piece that rests on the back of the head needs some getting used to. When on my back, the head rests on it, which is not great. When I'm on my side, the pillow moves it to the side a little bit, causing the nasal pillows to move, sometimes creating a small leak.

Anyway, thanks for the tips, it certainly helped.