Mask Issues

[ThisIsMyUserName]

So I'm four months in, everything going well (averaging 8 hours per night of therapy, coffee intake in half, ups and downs but generally feeling better), but I'm still working on getting the mask situation right. Basically, I started with a Pilairo which was great from *almost* every perspective: zero leaks (literally), able to fall asleep and sleep comfortably in all positions, very low AHI (average ~ 1.0, last night an amazing 0.1, all with a low pressure(5 or 6)), no waking me up in the middle of the night or anything. There are two issues, one minor, one more serious, which led me to swap to a nasal mask most of the time.

Minor: When the winter started, I started getting bright red marks on either side of my nose where the cushions touch my skin; this wasn't a proble in the summer, but happens after a single night of use and is very noticeable. Are there mask covers for pilairo, or other ideas?

Major: Significant discomfort inside my nose; I can keep this at bay by applying lots of vaseline or lanolin, but it's an issue.

So I switched to an Eson, which is pretty great for a nasal mask. Not as comfortable as the Pilairo, and much more "gear", but on the whole works pretty well. The AHI is usually about 1.5. The issues seem to be both minor, but worth noting:

Minor Issue 1: Red mark on the bridge of my nose every morning.
Minor Issue 2: minor leaks, not enough to affect therapy, but they do wake me up every once in a while. I've gotten better at strap adjustment to minimize this, but it does happen every few nights.

So I've been using mostly the Eson, and then switching to the Pilairo when I want something lighter, then back to the Eson when my nostrils start to hurt, which is working. I figured I'd just inquire of folks if this all sounded reasonalbe, or I should be looking for another mask or better fit or something, or if a mask cover (for the Pilairo or Eson) might do the trick, or other ideas I've never heard of. Your help has been invaluable in getting everything else working smoothly...

[Pugsy]

Have you tried any other masks besides the Pilairo and the Eson? If so which one(s) so we won't suggest those again?

You might look at the Swift FX Nano cushion and the corresponding nasal pillows that will work with it.
Minimal headgear and quite comfortable and Padacheek does make a little cozy for the Swift FX nasal pillows and I still use it coming on 2 years now. It now adorns the barrel of my Tap Pap. Not the greatest of fit but it works.
I don't think she has anything for the Pilairo but you might look.

[ThisIsMyUserName]

I tried a few other masks, I remember the quattro and the nuance, both leaked a lot so I gave up on them. I thought about trying the swift but (and maybe this is stupid) they looked a lot like the nuance so I figured I wouldn't bother (the nuance kept popping out of my nose and blowing air all over my face). It's annoying, because I don't see an easy way to try ona whole slew of masks. I think I can go to my doctor and do a fitting witha whole bunch, I'll check.

[Pugsy]

All I can tell you is that not all masks (no matter which model) are created equal. Just because one brand doesn't work out doesn't mean a similar mask in a different brand will also fail.
They all have minor pros and cons and everyone's pros and cons are different.
I have tried and used successfully several of the nasal pillow masks and each one had a minor pro or con. We just have to find a mask that has more pros than cons.
I found the Nuance nasal pillows quite stable and decided it was a keeper but others don't care of them. It all comes down to personal preference. Correct sizing is important though..that along with top strap tension.
It still ranks below the Swift FX in my personal preference but that's just me.
I was able to use the Pilairo successfully but it ranks below some of the others in my own personal preference.
Unsure why you are getting red marks with it now that the weather has turned cold. That's a new problem...haven't seen that mentioned before when someone has been successful in the past with it.
I assume you are talking about red marks right at the nostrils? Sounds like it is moving around a bit and that's unusual when it didn't seem to do that in the past. Any excess moisture in that area maybe allowing more movement?

Just keep trying different brands and different models till you find one that has more pros than cons. The mask journey is probably the most difficult part of this therapy.

[Denial Dave]

I highly suggest Pad-A-Cheek liners to solve those red marks and minor leaks.

http://www.padacheek.com.....

if Karen doesn't list one on her website for your mask, send her an e-mail.....

"Minor Issue 1: Red mark on the bridge of my nose every morning.
Minor Issue 2: minor leaks, not enough to affect therapy, but they do wake me up every once in a while. I've gotten better at strap adjustment to minimize this, but it does happen every few nights."

[ThisIsMyUserName]

The red marks are on the front of my face to either side of my nose, which is where the pilairo cushions make contact. It's weird, I know, but unambiguous. I'll try the padacheek for the ESON and see if that helps...

[decatur11]

This, I have used and like the Eson but the peak of the "triangle" formed by the wide lower portion that covers the nostrils and the upper point at the top that rests on my nose was too high and broad. It reached into my eye sockets and caused a lot of swelling in my eyes and upper face. I found the Wisp mask very similar to the Eson in other ways and I now use a petite size in the Wisp. (The Eson is one-size only unfortunately. I think it so great since it has the diffuser on the exhalation port and therefore does not cause that cold draft on me or husband.) The top of the Wisp triangle rests half way down my nose instead of higher toward the space between my eyes. Depending on where the marks/redness from the Eson are landing, and if you like the Eson otherwise, you might try the Wisp. One advantage of the Wisp is that it comes in 3 sizes, I think: petite; small/medium; and large. I went to my DME when the Eson was just causing too much swelling and he let me try on quite a few masks; that's when I determined the Wisp was similar enough but did not come up so high on my nose and into eye sockets and took it home with me. It still has required adjustment; I need the size between Petite and Small/Medium really but am trying to settle on the Petite and I think it is going to work out. If you try the different sizes of Wisp, perhaps that will be the answer you are looking for - all sizes come with the mask. (To deal with the cold exhalation draft I refuse to adjust to, I tape a half thickness of an Eson disposable diffuser over the exhale port of the Wisp without blocking any of the holes and that completely solves that problem.)