Newbie: Do I hate ALL nasal pillows or just the ComfortLite?

him downstairs · Post by **him downstairs** » Mon Feb 13, 2006 8:53 pm

Hi all,

Since this is my first time posting here, I wanted to introduce myself to everyone, and then ask my question.

After having Sleep Apnea for 25+ years (I'm 37 now), I finally got diagnosed a little over a year ago (my sleep study was the night Boston won the World Series). I was snoring like a spastic drunken rhino and having 100+ apneas/hour (my wife is a saint).

I tried on over a dozen masks before settling on the Respironics Comfort Lite. Since I was recovering from back surgery, I slept in a hospital bed and couldn't switch positions during the night. Although there was some leakage here and there, I liked the interface and got good sleep for the first time in my life.

Since the Comfort Lite is modular, I could switch back and forth from mask to nasal pillows. While both worked pretty well, my nostrils were always sore the morning after using the nasal pillows, so I've been using the mask alone for the past year or so.

Now I have both good and bad news.

The good news is that I recently completed physical therapy on my back, and I can now sleep on a flat bed, which means I switch positions (side to back) during the night.

The bad news is that the position switching seems to have resulted in a lot more leakage, because I've started to doze off while reading during the day for the first time since I started using a CPAP.

So now, I have a RX to be fitted for a new mask in the next few days, and I don't want to blow it on another mask that doesn't cut it.

Here's where the nasal pillows come in. My doctor recommended the Comfort Curve, and while reading a few mask-related threads, many people seem to have recommended other masks, like the Swift, and both are nasal pillows.

At first, I was ruling out nasal pillows, but then it occurred to me that it could be that the Comfort Lite's oval-shaped pillow openings just didn't fit my rounder nostrils.

Since most people see to be recommending nasal pillows, I'd love to get some feedback on which may be more comfortable than the Comfort Lite.

I'll be seeing my CPAP supply company in the next few days, and I'd like to give them a list of a bunch of the best masks to try on when I go, to take advantage of the opportunity.

Can anyone help? Thanks in advance.

ozij · Post by **ozij** » Mon Feb 13, 2006 10:15 pm

When I started on a nasal pillows mask, I used KY gel, to protect my nose - and even then, my nostrils became sore after a week.

My wise RT told me to stop using the mask for 2-3 nights, so the soreness could heal. "It would make no sense to have you develop a pressure sore". So I did that, and have been using nasal pillows masks ever since - almost 10 months. I needed the KY for a very long time - but the combination was worth it.

Snork1 - an dedicated mask switcher (and apparently biker) - once compared getting used to nasal pillows to training for a long bike trip: you don't go out on day long bike ride without conditioning you butt either.

If you can condition your nostril to the touch of a nasal pillows mask you might find it very convenient.

Welcome to the forum, and good luck!

O.

Jere · Post by **Jere** » Mon Feb 13, 2006 10:42 pm

I am a dyed in the wool Aura lover. Sometimes I have to check to see if the thing is really on!

.

Linda3032 · Post by **Linda3032** » Mon Feb 13, 2006 10:53 pm

If you do a forum search (the search button is on the top left of the page), you will get lots of info on the favorites:

1. Aura (recently renamed the Headrest)
2. Breeze
3. Swift

Those seem to be the 3 favorite nasal pillows. I'm a side sleeper and my favorite is the Aura. The big advantage of the Aura (to me) is the exhaust ports are up by your brow and blow towards the headboard - not at your partner. Also, where the ports are situated, it's almost impossible for something to touch the ports and make noise.

My hubby of 42 years says the Aura is very, very quiet. (But remember, he listened to my snores for 42 years also). ...

him downstairs · Post by **him downstairs** » Mon Feb 13, 2006 10:57 pm

[quote="Jere"]I am a dyed in the wool Aura lover. Sometimes I have to check to see if the thing is really on!

snork1 · Post by **snork1** » Mon Feb 13, 2006 11:16 pm

I pulled out my comfortlite not too long ago....Yes I have one of those in my stack of masks. Thinking that maybe at the lower pressures I am running these days and CPAP working better in general that the comfortlite might work better.

Nope, I simply reminded myself about why I gave up on it in the first place. Just too finicky about leaking and a few other problems of fit and staying in place.

So I would say, no its not just you.

Although I am sure there must be some people that love that interface.

I am rotating between the Activa and the Swift. Neither is perfect but alternating works great. Hard to believe the Swift got my nose so sore at first. Now the only time nose soreness is a problem is after a cold day of skiing or mtn biking, then its an Activa night for sure.

him downstairs · Post by **him downstairs** » Mon Feb 13, 2006 11:23 pm

Thanks for the feedback, everyone.
Much appreciated.

Here's my list so far:

Swift
Aura / Headrest
Breeze
Activa
Comfort Curve

Are there any nasal masks that anybody can recommend, or is the consensus that nasal pillows are simply better (other than when your nose is particularly sore)?

Thanks again.

him downstairs · Post by **him downstairs** » Mon Feb 13, 2006 11:27 pm

I almost forgot.

My pressure setting is currently 10.

FYI.

Linda3032 · Post by **Linda3032** » Mon Feb 13, 2006 11:37 pm

Your list looks good. Be sure to read the pros and cons of your top 3 choices. Some are:

Swift, many like it. Some say it's noisy. Some side sleepers say the side piece gets in their way.

Aura, many like it. But it does take some modifications. Almost everybody says the "rubber band trick" works great. Most women hate "hate hair".

Breeze, is supposed to be the quietest. The newer headgear is easier to adjust and not break.

Good luck with whatever you choose. This forum will be full of tricks to try for personal adjustments.

him downstairs · Post by **him downstairs** » Mon Feb 13, 2006 11:48 pm

Thanks, Linda.

Funny you should mention hair. One of the cons with the Comfort Lite is that it makes permagrooves on the side of my head. So I have to keep my hair very short or else it looks wierd.

Hmmm...maybe I should bump the other masks ahead of the Aura on my list.

rested gal · Post by **rested gal** » Tue Feb 14, 2006 12:30 am

him downstairs, I like every mask on your list except the Comfort Curve. Just my personal opinion though. I doubt the good doctor is a cpap user who has actually been using that mask himself. The pictures of the mask are slick and pretty, the design looks cool, the product descriptions sound great... unhappily, the mask falls short, imho. Masks really do behave differently for each person, so...could very well suit you.

If you like to change positions in bed from time to time, the CC seems to be problematic about leaking for many people when they turn to a new position.

Here's a link to some interesting discussions about the Comfort Curve:

LINKS to Comfort Curve nasal mask topics

him downstairs · Post by **him downstairs** » Tue Feb 14, 2006 12:56 am

Thanks for your reply, rested gal.

Actually, the doc is a CPAP user, but I realize there can be a significant conflict of interests that can arise there.

Thanks for the links. A lot to digest. But I'd always rather have too much info to sift through than not enough.

WillSucceed · Post by **WillSucceed** » Tue Feb 14, 2006 8:02 am

I've used Comfort-Lite quite a bit and tend to like it. There is a new design coming out -Comfort-Lite 2, which should make the mask more stable relative to tossing and turning in bed BUT, the nasal interface pillow will not be redesigned. So, if your nares are very round, the somewhat oval shape of Comfort-Lite might not be best.

I have found Swift to be great for sleeping on my back, but not so great for side sleeping -it tends to push laterally against my nares and leaves me with pressure sores.

For me, Aura (or Everrest or Headrest or whatever they are calling it now) was a total bust. I do know, however, that many on this forum like it alot. I have not heard of any users who have success with Aura straight out of the box; most seem to need to mess around with it alot to get it to seal well.

I use Breeze the most and find it really good. It has several different adjustment points on it and, as such, is a pain in the butt to get it "just right." However, once you have it figured out, a little bit of tape to keep all of the adjustments "locked" does the trick and the mask is great. If you are a side-sleeper, it is particularly good.

Good luck!

gerry · Post by **gerry** » Tue Feb 14, 2006 10:08 am

I am a new CPAP user, about 2 weeks. I was supplied with the Breeze with both the pillows and mask. I found the mask comfortable at first, but found myself gasping for air after a few hours. I bought the larger nose attachment which seems to work better. My nose is not particularly large, but more room seems to make a difference. My preference is heading towards the pillow. Last night, for the first time, I got 7 hours of uninterrupted sleep on my side using the nasal pillow. It took three nights of discomfort before I discovered the appropriate adjustments. Good luck/

ozij · Post by **ozij** » Tue Feb 14, 2006 11:48 am

It took three nights of discomfort before I discovered the appropriate adjustments.

More for me, but I did discover them eventually.

O.