Nasal pillows vs nasal mask

[peacemaker]

Hey All,

Newbie here, just got my prescription for a machine (S9 Auto) and generic mask prescription. How does one decide between nasal pillows and a nasal mask? Is it all trial and error? I am a side sleeper, I know I don't like the full face mask. I was thinking the Sleepweaver Elan cloth mask to try? Any tips are appreciated. Is the Elan hard to get leak free?

Thanks,

Greg

[Pugsy]

In all honesty it's pretty much trial and error. I can tell you which mask I like but that doesn't mean anything just because I like it....people like masks I hate and I might love a mask they hate. Everyone has their own little preferences in what suits their needs and my deal breakers might be someone else's deal makers.

I usually suggest that people go with what interests them the most and start there.

Are you using a DME or did you buy your machine privately? If using a DME and insurance...I would make use of the 30 days that each manufacturer allows per mask...to see if it will work or not and if it doesn't then I would try another one courtesy of the DME. The mask manufacturers will give them credit for failed trials.
If buying privately and out of pocket with no insurance help then that changes things. These masks are pretty darn expensive.

The nasal pillow mask has the least amount of surface area to have to mess with in terms of getting a good seal and keeping it.
The more real estate a mask has touching the skin the more potential sealing issues there will be.

ResMed released a new nasal pillow mask early this year. The AirFit P10 and it seems to be doing quite well. Not everyone likes it but I think a lot more people have success with it than those that don't.

I have no experience with the SleepWeaver cloth masks so I am no help there. From what I have read...leaks can be a battle but people master it and have great success with it.

I do have tons of experience (5 years worth) with various nasal pillow masks and a couple of nasal cushion masks (I like to experiment). My primary mask has always been a nasal pillow mask though.

[sigh]

It is really up to individual preferences. I alternate between pillows and masks.

Pillows are generally less invasive and irritates the nostrils more
Mask are larger and more prone to leak (for me).

Most times I use pillows, when I have a bad nose day, I switch to nasal masks.

[Bookbear]

I have just switched to the AirFit P10 from the Puritan Bennett Breeze. I like it a lot. I've used the Breeze for 7 years. Personally, I find that a nasal pillow mask is less prone to leaks for a side sleeper than a nasal mask, but as others have pointed out, it is very much a personal choice. Everyone's face is different and what works very well for one is an utter failure for another. Good luck!

[Scootergirl]

I started with a FFM - even at the sleep study, when it became clear that I, in fact, do have claustrophobia, they wouldn't put a nasal mask on me. Then when I asked the doctor she said I'd she really wanted me to use the FFM - even doctors have a lot to learn. So my DME gave me the mask I wore at the sleep study - no good. leaked, burped and freaked me out, plus the potential for pressure sores on the bridge of my nose was too high - the RRT didn't like the marks I was getting and they were not going away in the morning (I have a bony nose, not enough skin there to cushion it) My DME, who is Apria, (not the greatest dme but the one I have available, but she is fantastic) sat with me three days later and we tried every mask they had available to them. I ended up the Airfit P10. It's a nasal pillow that I see other's have talked about here. It's wonderful. I do wear a chin strap - Pap Cap - which she also recommended, but she had given me the respironics neoprene strap when I was given the mask. That was ok, but the Pap Cap is definitely more comfortable. My doctor seemed to think I'd have to get a new pressure setting for the nasal mask, but my RRT therapist said that is not true - as long as mouth breathing is controlled, the pressure shouldn't need to be changed - other's can chime in on that who know more than me. I've been very happy with the Airfit P10 - it pretty much disappears once it's on and I don't even know it's there. And I'm a side sleeper and I don't have any issues with leaks. Good luck. Try and try until you find one that fits.

[Admiral_Schmidlap]

Hi peacemaker,
I am a side sleeper as well and was using the Swift FX Nasal Pillows primarily but have tried the Sleepweaver Elan Cloth mask. I could not get a good seal with the Sleepweaver which resulted in air blowing in my faces/eyes. I also have recently switched to the AirFit P10 and it has made a world of difference for me. I have been on CPAP for 14 months now and there have been only 3 occasions where I got 5 hours of sleep. Most of the time I would get between 3 and 4 hours of sleep. Since switching to the AirFit P10 last month, I have already had 3 nights where I have exceeded 5 hours and on the other nights I have slept consistently between 4 and 5 hours. Hope this helps and good luck.