my husband the mask addict

Issac · Post by **Issac** » Sun Oct 22, 2006 8:04 am

I am going public with a with my husbands secret problem. I'm sure there are sleep apnea couples that will relate, and besides, I need to get him back for what he did to my poor sister and her confidential trial of the mysterious comfortlite lookalike.

Every week he walks in here with a new mask. Not for him, for me. He cannot stand the fact that the Nasal-Aire II is my dream mask when all the experts on this wonderful forum use the stuff he's bringing me. I won't mention any names, but most of it is gargage. Their all OK the first few nights and then they all begin to shift, leak, get noisy, make me feel clautrophobic,you name it.

We have in our collection, the Aura, the Comfortlite II, the Comfortcurve, the Mirage Swift, Mirage Vista (old one), the Mojo(little nob to adjust broke the first night),and many more. yesterday something like a funny one hose Lyra (not as painful) showed up without a box called the Infinity.Talk about headgear? How about a string! And for homecare (good one, F&P, don't try to hard,OK?).

His sleep center friend is selling him this stuff out the side door. There. I said it, Issac. How does it feel?

I still think my Nasal-aire II is more comfortable than all of them. I will admit, it is not the quietest. My Breeze is the quietest by a hair. My Swift is louder by a hair.
I need a mask that I can wear over my head, thats soft on both sides and that I don't feel at night wile tossing. This little cannula beats them all and I don't care if it's not the most popular. This is my life. My health. My sound sleep.I would have given up on my treatment long ago without it. When something better comes along, I'll switch. So far, it's the gold standard I judge all the others by and nothing is as good for me.

Wile I'm at it, every Resmed machine he has brought home to try is noisy. they all give off a high pitched shriek. Issac doesn't seem to hear it. My son and I hear it and can't stand it. I'll be damned if I'm going to listen to that night after night. They might be small and cute, but they are too noisy.

Thank you for letting me share. My name is Lola Zook, wife of Issac the Great.

NyNurse33 · Post by **NyNurse33** » Sun Oct 22, 2006 8:23 am

I just looked up the nasal aire II and I have to say that looks like a mask I would definetly like to try. The concept is so basic, yet I bet it works very well. With my recent rain out problems, that's what I need a mask that connects to the hose down in front of my body. How is sleeping on your side with this mask? What does the nasal interface look like, pillows?

SelfSeeker · Post by **SelfSeeker** » Sun Oct 22, 2006 9:19 am

Lola,

I would love to be able to find an interfaces that will give me the best possible treatment. I would not care what others thought of it.

I think finding the interface is the most difficult thing to get right. (Comfort curve, constantly leaked, but did not dislodge, Swift does not leak, except when I move, which is all the time, you get the picture.)

Be happy that you can try different interfaces. Rejoice that you have your trusted Nasal-Aire II to depend on. (I will be trying that one next.)

Lola consider yourself even luckier that you have tried the different machines without spending a bundle.

Issac, your wife is very lucky that she found the Nasal Aire II, and it works for her.

Issac everyone here will tell you that interfaces is such a personal thing and only the person sleeping in one can tell whether it is right for them or not.

Lola, why do you not register with your own name. I would love to hear about your good fit with the Nasal Aire II. Which machine do you have, how long have you been at this CPAP business etc.

elliejose · Post by **elliejose** » Sun Oct 22, 2006 9:41 am

I had the Nasal Aire II at my last sleep study (although the RT could not tell me what the name of it was - she didn't know). It was very quiet and leaked less than my Swift, CL2, or any of the ff masks I've tried. However, it made the insides of my nostrils very sore. Probably with Ayr Gel and use, it would get better. I have thought of trying to get one and may do it yet. I was very suprised at how quiet it was. I thought air by my ears would have to be noisy. Other than hurting nostrils, it was very comfortable.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sun Oct 22, 2006 10:04 am

I'd take something for that.

rested gal · Post by **rested gal** » Sun Oct 22, 2006 10:18 am

Isaac, that was great!

imsotired · Post by **imsotired** » Sun Oct 22, 2006 11:01 am

That looks like a mask that may work for me too. I like the idea of the Swift but with the hose connected to only one end it seems like it may fit crooked on my nose. The Nasal Aire II may be the next mask I try. Did the prongs make your nares sore in the beginning? Is it hard to breath out against? Also, did you buy the sizing star first to know which size to purchase. Thanks in advance.

NyNurse33 · Post by **NyNurse33** » Sun Oct 22, 2006 11:48 am

That's exactly how I feel about the swift...crooked. I just looked at the nasal aire..the prongs seem like they don't seal in the nostrils that well..do they? They seem smaller than the opening of the nostrils...like oxygen cannula, which is fine for oxygen but I wouldn't think it would be good for cpap therapy, b/c you need to have a good seal so that it doesn't leak.

rested gal · Post by **rested gal** » Sun Oct 22, 2006 12:21 pm

NyNurse33 wrote:I just looked at the nasal aire..the prongs seem like they don't seal in the nostrils that well..do they? They seem smaller than the opening of the nostrils...like oxygen cannula, which is fine for oxygen but I wouldn't think it would be good for cpap therapy, b/c you need to have a good seal so that it doesn't leak.

Yes, you do have to have a good seal so that any cpap mask doesn't leak.

Getting a good seal with the Nasal-Aire II is completely dependent on choosing the right size. Correct sizing is much more crucial with the NA II prongs (cannulas) than with nasal pillows like the Swift, Breeze, Twilight NP (Headrest/Aura) or Hybrid, imho.

Pillows interfaces rely mostly on their headgear to keep the pillows up against the outside front of the nose for a good seal. The small opening of pillows just barely goes into the nostrils.

Prongs interfaces, on the other hand, like the NA II, SNAPP, Lyra, and F&P Infinity, rely more on the prongs being big enough to fill the inside of the nostril openings. They have to fit in there very snugly as they use the inside rims of the nares to keep a seal.

I'd say many people would find they could use either Medium or Large pillows almost equally well. But probably only one size of prongs would work for them, as the prongs are going to have to be wedged inside the nostrils considerably more.

The NA II has a lot of fans. I'm not one of them. I didn't like the feeling of having to cram the prongs in so snugly. Nor did I like the constant whooosh sound. Very noisy to me.

But hey, everyone has different tolerances for different types of masks. Any are worth trying. You never know if a mask that someone else can't stand is the perfect one for you. Or if one that someone really likes turns out to be a disaster for you. Try all of 'em that you can.

NyNurse33 · Post by **NyNurse33** » Sun Oct 22, 2006 1:00 pm

Hmmm....based on RG's ho..which I value very much...maybe I should try it first in the DME office.

imsotired · Post by **imsotired** » Sun Oct 22, 2006 1:09 pm

Yeah, RG's description makes me rethink it too. I think I'll be trying the Swift next.

chdurie2 · Post by **chdurie2** » Sun Oct 22, 2006 11:11 pm

Isaac:

That was hilarious. Not since Mike Moran have I read such a funny, great post.

Caroline

krousseau · Post by **krousseau** » Sun Oct 22, 2006 11:56 pm

Dear Lola, That is so sweet of your Isaac.

Dear Isaac, If your wife does not appreciate your thoughtful gifts----want to start a little business???? Like you could start up a bootleg DME.

SelfSeeker · Post by **SelfSeeker** » Mon Oct 23, 2006 9:06 am

LOL krousseau,

Actually, I think many would jump at the occasion.

krousseau wrote:Dear Lola, That is so sweet of your Isaac.

Dear Isaac, If your wife does not appreciate your thoughtful gifts----want to start a little business???? Like you could start up a bootleg DME.

neverbetter · Post by **neverbetter** » Mon Oct 23, 2006 2:01 pm

I wore the Nasalaire II for a long time. It is very comfortable IF you get the right size. There's like 6 or 7 sizes, I think. I'm sure you can get at least 3 sizes at once on CPAP.com for the price of one.I really, really loved the Nasalaire One. The prongs were firmer and harder. The nasalaire II is a little too soft for me.So soft that it almost inflated in my nose. You can always get those sizeing stars free from Innomedinc.com
just make sure you know that Nasalaire one and nasalaire II are not exactly the same in sizes. Nasalaire one is the firmer of the two prongs. And yes, clip off the nobs on the inside of Co2 ports and Nasalaire One becomes silent (and It's cheaper). Dont know if it comes in 3 sizes.

Mask

Additional Comments: Large mask collection