Slotted Snares

[SnoreGal]

Hi All! I just got diagnosed with sleep apnea last week and get to go in and get titrated tonight. I've been reading up as much as I can before I go in about masks, etc.

Based on the fact that everyone hates full face masks, and the fact that I'm a back and side sleeper, I pretty much determined that I was going to see if they could fit me for an Activa or a Swift mask (leaning toward the Swift). The DME I am going to carries Resmed (and has a couple sample Respironic masks).

But.............I just found a reference to the online mask sizer and completed it. The only Resmed mask recommended is the Ultra Mirage Full Face. No Activa or Swift. I guess my face is really small and my nares are slotted (who knew?).

My question is this - is slotted snares really a big issue in being able to use a pillow mask like the Swift? And if you have a need for a small mask, can you use the Activa?

Help.......kind of floundering around here.

[mikemoran]

My semi-slotted nares have been a bit of a problem for me. For the Swift it required me to tilt the pillows towards the front of my nose and tighten the strap more than most seem to. This caused me to ahve sore nares. I suggest you talk to somebody at CPAP.com, They can take your measurements and refer you to the right sized Activa. The online sizing says it won't work for me, but they told a large would and it fits perfectly. No cost for getting an expert involved.

[OwlCreekObserver]

My question is this - is slotted snares really a big issue in being able to use a pillow mask like the Swift?

Hi SnoreGal, and welcome!

You have raised a question that I've wondered about also and I'm looking forward to seeing the replies to it.

Back when I was measuring my face for the cpap.com mask suitability program, I discovered that my nares are slotted. After about six decades on the planet, I figured I knew just about everything about myself until then. Of course I never had a reason to peer up my own nostrils before either. But I digress.

The ComfortCurve has worked well for me, but one's nose rests on the cushion instead of having the "cushions" poking up one's nostrils. As a mouth breather, I'm very interested in the hybrid mask which would allow me to get away from taping my mouth at night, but I'm concerned about the slotted nares issue that you raised.

OCO

[kteague]

My nares are slotted, and the brief time I used the Swift they didn't seem to cause problems. Don't know about the adjustability of other pillows, but with the Breeze I use now I thought I should position the slot to match my nares - wrong! The opening of the pillows seemed to fold in. When I turned them the opposite direction, no problems. Good luck.
Kathy

[gulfpearl]

I also have slotted nares& was apprehensive about using nasal pillows. I purchased a CL2 nasal pillows & simple cushion nasal mask. I use the large nasal pillows & have had no leaks& no sore nares. I am a back & side sleeper & I haven't any problems with leaks after turning.

[NightHawkeye]

My question is this - is slotted snares really a big issue in being able to use a pillow mask like the Swift?

I've used pillows masks for most of the almost eight months I've been on xPAP, but I had a chronic problem with crusted sores at the tips of the nares. I recently switched to the Comfort Curve mask which is unconventional in that it doesn't go into the nares at all, and I find that after a month or so, the sores at the tips of my nares have healed.

There is a drawback to the Comfort Curve though; it can be a difficult mask to get adjusted properly. In fact, some folks never seem to get it to fit acceptably well. SnoreGal, my guess is that you'll do like many of us here have and go through several masks before you settle on one which works optimally for you. It'd be nice if there were a better answer, but considering that we spend one-third of our life sleeping, I suppose spending a few bucks making it acceptably comfortable isn't really all that bad.

Hope this helps.

Regards,
Bill