nose pillows

[metromyers]

Hello...... Does anyone elso have a problem with nose pillows causing irratation on the inside of their nose?

[Julie]

Use some Lansinoh ointment from the drugstore (not Vaseline which contains petroleum jelly... bad for the silicone).

[Elle]

I do. I tried pillows 9 years ago when I first started and gave up because of that and switched to nasal cushions. I recently got the P10 and am determined to make it work because I like the head gear but so far it is a struggle with the sore nose. I used lansinoh but still had sores so used antibiotic cream for a couple of days while using the cushion mask for a rest. Back to P10 last night and it was still uncomfortable.

I wonder if some of us just have odd shaped noses?

[robysue]

While Lansinoh works wonders for soothing nostrils that are irritated by nasal pillows masks, it's also important to rember that ill-fitted nasal pillows masks cause much more irritation than properly fitted nasal pillows masks do.

If you are inserting most of nasal pillows cones into your nostril, that would explain why the nose is irritated: Only the very tippy-tip of the cones is supposed to be inside the nose---most of the cone is supposed to rest against the bottom of the nostril on the outside of your nose.

If the headgear is too tight, that can pull the pillows up against your nose with enough force to push your nose up into a "piggy nose" and that too can hurt. The fix is to make sure the headgear is appropriately loose.

If the angle the nasal pillows are set at in/against your nose are not correct, then the full force of the CPAP air can hit and irritate the inside nasal passages. The fix is to make sure that the pillows are set at the correct angle.

And finally: Some pillow shapes work better on some noses. Sometimes a different nasal pillows mask makes a big difference in comfort.

I do. I tried pillows 9 years ago when I first started and gave up because of that and switched to nasal cushions. I recently got the P10 and am determined to make it work because I like the head gear but so far it is a struggle with the sore nose.

While the AirFit N10 nasal cushion mask uses a different style headgear than the AirFit P10 mask, it's still a pretty minimal nasal cushion headgear.

And the Swift FX Nano nasal cushion mask uses the exact same headgear as the Swift FX nasal pillows mask does.

You might want to try one of those two nasal cushion masks to get the minimalist headgear you're wanting while not having to deal with the discomfort of the nasal pillows that don't agree with your nose.

I wonder if some of us just have odd shaped noses?

[/quote]Short answer is: Yes, some of us do have oddly shaped nostrils.

[Elle]

Thanks Robysue, I did try the Airfit N and it didn't work. I actually like the Eson at first but am having trouble with leaks lately.

I will look into the nano and swift FX. That sounds like a good idea to have both. So you just buy one complete mask and then either pillows or cushions extra?

[Pugsy]

I will look into the nano and swift FX. That sounds like a good idea to have both. So you just buy one compleat mask and then either pillows or cushions extra?

The Nano cushion will fit on the Swift FX nasal pillow headgear....and the Swift FX nasal pillows will fit on the Swift FX Nano cushion headgear. Despite ResMed saying they won't.... I did it with all sorts of combinations.
I even used the Nano cushion with the Bella Loops and quite successfully which was a surprise to me.

[metromyers@yahoo.com]

Thanks. I was using the Swift fx. In order to get the nose pillow to seal properly the head gear was to tight. I would get the "piggy nose". Now I have a Air Pro P10. I really like the mask and nose pillows much better. The problem is when I first got the new mask the nose pillow were to small and caused my nose to get irratated. I've been using Neosporin to help heal up the soreness. Once my nose is healed I'll see if it keeps doing it.

[Elle]

Thanks Pugsy, While checking them out on cpap.com I also noticed the Nuance pro...that looks pretty good too. The interwebs make is so easy to buy stuff. I guess I will keep trying the p10 for a bit because I have a feeling I am not getting as much air with pillows as I do with cushions. I feel like I am even doing the heavy breathing (forces in and out) while dreaming (and not those kind of dreams.

To Metromyers. That is a good idea with the polysporin until you are healed. I hope your nose toughens up so you can use them full time eventually. I am envious of pillow users who have no problems.

[metromyers@yahoo.com]

I started with the nose cushions. I saw a mask with the nose pillows and decided to try it. It's be ok. I go for a while with no problems, but if I change anything then my nose becomes irratated. I have been using the P10 for about a week. It probably would have been fine if I uses the correct size of pillows. Lesson learned.

[Elle]

I struggled getting enough air with the medium pillow (which I was fitted for....DME insisted the large was too large for me). I am now using the large and find breathing easier but still not as easy as with cushions. It would be good if a DME would actually take the time to get us the right mask since it is so individual and so important.

[metromyers@yahoo.com]

The size of the pillows depends on the mask. I was using the small with the FX now I'm using the mediums. I'm so use to using the nose pillows.... I don't know if I could go back to a regular mask.

[Elle]

I hope to get there too metromeyer.

[metromyers@yahoo.com]

I hope so!

[Ontario CPAP]

The very first week I used swift-FX pillows the inside of my nose was sore. I used some vitamin-E oil and after a while (about two weeks) things settled down. I now use the mask without any discomfort or irritation at all. I also keep it fairly loose -- just tight enough to get a reliable seal, nothing more.

[russatore]

The very first week I used swift-FX pillows the inside of my nose was sore. I used some vitamin-E oil and after a while (about two weeks) things settled down. I now use the mask without any discomfort or irritation at all. I also keep it fairly loose -- just tight enough to get a reliable seal, nothing more.

After a month with swift-fx I learnt to love the system and I agree on the fact that one of the tricks is to keep it fairly loose.