need to switch from pillows to nasal

[HPM]

Hi everyone. I posted a while back about snoring with nasal mask after using pillows for a while. Several of you reported the same experience. I really want to get back to the nasal mask because I am increasingly uncomfortable with the air making my airway dry and waking up alot. I use humidfier. The pillows fit fine and don't hurt or anything. For the past couple of nights, I have started out with my comfort gel but always wake up with snoring. This is frustrating. When I first started CPAP in 2006, I used nasal until last May. Any ideas on how to transition back would be helpful.

[unsuspected Severe OSA]

Is there a transitional adjustment period going from one mask to another? My husband complains that I'm not allowing my brain to adapt to a particular mask by just sticking to one mask. With the nasal mask, once my nose bridge hurts, starts to have marks remaining until the afternoon, I loosen the straps, then the leaks increase. At that point, I switch over to the pillows until my one nostril becomes tender, but before the bleeding starts. Is this a bad practice? You might be in a similar position between the two masks as neither is perfect.

[HPM]

Thanks for your reply, unsuspected. Yes, I am thinking that there is a transitional adjustment time. Its just no fun.
I did well on nasal for several years, then switched because I was tired of the heaviness and pressure points leaving marks.
There was also a transitional time going from nasal to pillows. I was bad to switch off frequently, probably not giving my brain time to adjust, as your husband suggests. Its just hard to not get a good nights sleep and I want the adjustment period to be over NOW! I did a bit better last night with my comfort gel - I lasted til 330 with no snoring I think. What woke me up was the rain out (I had forgot to decrease the humidifier setting since it doesn't need to be as high with nasal) and then I started snoring when I fell back asleep. THen I switched to pillows so I could sleep the rest of the night (glad it was Friday). I am just tired of the way my airway feels with pillows - very dry even with high humidity.
Responding to switching because your nostril gets tender - nothing wrong with that. The pillows I wear, after several months, gave me this sore spot just under the nostril that was a piece of skin hanging down. It always looked like something was hanging out of my nose!. That was also a factor in changing back to nasal.

[portiemom]

Yes, there is definately an adjustment period, but it should not be so uncomfortable that you are miserable. I have tried so many different masks it's beyond crazy. The Mirage FX Nasal is a 3 piece mask with a butterfly forehead rest thingy that is so comfortable and flexible that, for me it keeps the top of the nasal mask from causing raw spots on the bridge of my nose. It has a vent system that is kind of in the round so the exhaust air is not blowing straight out and causing a leak sound when it hits your pillow or sheets, blanket etc. It's nice for your partner as it doesn't seem to hit them with a whoosh of air if they get close or turn in your direction. When I use mine, (I do switch to a Pillow mask as I do like them too), I can even bury my face in my pillow and it doesn't move or create leaks. You may like this mask, just keep in mind that with any mask you need to give it some time, but NOT if you are miserable or experiencing sores, bleeding, torture is not an option in cpap land. Unless it comes from your DME, that my friend is normal in lots of cases.