Another bad night

sleeplessinNH · Post by **sleeplessinNH** » Sat Nov 18, 2006 1:02 pm

Hi,

I'm having a hard time getting used to the nasal pillows. Does anyone who uses them seem to have a feeling of suffocation when you first put them on? This makes me think that I'm not wearing them properly no matter how I adjust them. I wear medium size so last night I changed to the large size. This made it a bit better but then there is the leakage of air when you move around. I'm still getting up a couple of hours later -not sleeping through the night. A couple of questsions: How long does it typically take to get used to this? Also for anyone who has the C-Flex, are you supposed to feel the difference right away because I don't feel any difference at all? Any suggestions would be great!

Snoredog · Post by **Snoredog** » Sat Nov 18, 2006 1:15 pm

I couldn't stand those nasal pillow style interfaces either, they were cold and noisy.

As for suffocation feeling? that could be from having your Min. pressure set too low. If you are starting off at 4.0cm pressure that could be the reason why.

CFlex settings on your M series is easy, just push the Cflex button it will display 1 - 2 - 3, just use the -/+ keys to move the arrow to the next setting, if a newbie I suggest trying position #2. Once the arrow is pointing at the setting you want, push the On/Off button and it will blink accepting the change. The change is immediate after you push the On/Off button (doesn't turn off the machine).

If you have Cflex up too high it will make you feel like you are hyperventilating. If that happens, use a lower setting. Allow yourself a few minutes to get used to the feeling but it should be comfortable.
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oldgearhead · Post by **oldgearhead** » Sat Nov 18, 2006 1:18 pm

I couldn't stand those nasal pillow style interfaces either, they were cold and noisy.

I guess that's why they make so many different masks. I like about any nasal pillow mask better than the others..

Snoredog · Post by **Snoredog** » Sat Nov 18, 2006 1:34 pm

oldgearhead wrote:
I couldn't stand those nasal pillow style interfaces either, they were cold and noisy.

I guess that's why they make so many different masks. I like about any nasal pillow mask better than the others..

CollegeGirl · Post by **CollegeGirl** » Sat Nov 18, 2006 2:40 pm

I have ALL my teeth, thank you very much, and love my nasal pillows (as do many others on this forum). :p

I also felt "suffocated" when I first used them - it just took some getting used to. Changing to a larger size did help. To prevent leaks, you might try what lots of use around here - a pantyhose strap. Keeps the pillows from coming out of your nostrils while you're sleeping. All you do is cut a leg off of a pair of women's tights and tie it around your head once the nasal pillows are on - this keeps them closer to your face, and stable.

You SHOULD feel a difference with Cflex - try playing with the settings (moving it up or down). Some people don't like Cflex - but it should at least feel different than when you don't use it.

Good luck!

sleeplessinNH · Post by **sleeplessinNH** » Sat Nov 18, 2006 4:23 pm

Thank you everyone....and Thanks to collegegirl for your advice on the pantyhose. That's a great idea! Could I possibly use this as a chin strap as well?

Julie · Post by **Julie** » Sat Nov 18, 2006 5:20 pm

Well, I wouldn't, because to get it tight enough so that it didn't stretch (which they normally do) it probably wouldn't be very comfortable, but if I'm wrong and it works for others, hopefully you'll hear from them.

IORHHI · Post by **IORHHI** » Sat Nov 18, 2006 5:27 pm

Y'know, everybody around here talks about the pantyhose solution -- cut a leg off a pair of pantyhose -- and if you already wear panty hose and have used ones around, then it makes sense.
But if you don't, it's cheaper to buy a pair of knee high pantyhose and use those, plus they don't get runs from where they were cut. I'd think they'd be long enough. I tried it and mine are.
Barbara

CollegeGirl · Post by **CollegeGirl** » Sat Nov 18, 2006 7:02 pm

I should just reiterate that you want *tights* though, not just regular pantyhose. Tights are more elastic and stretchy and don't get permanently stretched like hose do. If you can find those in knee-high, I would imagine that would be just fine.

I've never seen anyone use them for a chin strap. I don't imagine that would be terribly effective.

IORHHI · Post by **IORHHI** » Sat Nov 18, 2006 7:40 pm

Yep, tights come in knee highs, and over the knees, too. If you REALLY want power, you can get support hose in those lengths, too. Not sure what strength stretch and rebound you're looking for.
But it's there.
Barbara

Gerald · Post by **Gerald** » Sat Nov 18, 2006 7:59 pm

Sleepless.....Rested Gal taught me that "tights" are best.....great stretch....comfortable.....the best material for the job. Regular pantyhose is NOT the material you want.

I use a CL-2 with small pillows.....and I had to trim them so that more air would come thru. It didn't take much to increase the diameter of the outlets, so be conservative.

Also, make sure that the pillows are contacting your nares at the correct angle. If you can disconnect the pillow assembly from the rest of the mask, carefully determine the most comfortable fitting angle, THEN determine what it takes to keep that angle-to-nares when the rest of the mask is re-attached. Additionally, be sure that the "nare-outlet-width" is correct. Squeeze them together.....or spread them..... to get just the right fit. Don't be afraid to use anything to make it work....I use garbage can ties on my CL-2.

Finally, I use lanolin for breast-feeding moms. The lube is perfect....and the seal-to-nares is enhanced by the "goo". Works great!......and I get soft nares too! Better seal with lube means you don't have to force them too tight against your nares to get a good seal.

Gerald

snoregirl · Post by **snoregirl** » Sun Nov 19, 2006 9:33 am

Somewhere up here the original poster asked about using pantyhose as a chin strap. I tried this and have moved on to a regular ace bandage (3 inch for me is the best) and this not only helps keep my jaw from hanging open it also stabalizes the headgear on my swift.

billybob02 · Post by **billybob02** » Sun Nov 19, 2006 10:29 am

It took me about a week to adjust to the nasal pillows vs mask - you may want to try a different style of headgear. I like the breeze and just got the Adams. If you sleep on your side the Adams incorporates stabilizers for the pillow attachment, I have not tired the panty hose trick yet, but I will now.
Hang in there, some nights are better than others. Beats no sleep at all!
BB

Slinky · Post by **Slinky** » Sun Nov 19, 2006 4:13 pm

I ended up using the Breeze during my two titration studies after trying 3-4 nasal masks but was attracted to the Swift at my DME's because there was so much "less" to it and it was so much more light weight. However, I HATED the headgear on the Swift.

After two weeks or so I opted to try the ComfortLite 2 that my DME's RT suggested. I really like the CL2. Especially the headgear. Occasionally my nostrils will get a temporary "bruised" feeling of short duration so I opted for the CL2's nasal cushion as well for an alternate.

My only problem w/the CL2 is the hose swivel. It is not as free and easy swiveling as the Breeze or even the F&P HC 407 nasal mask. Nor do I remember any problems w/the Breeze hose swivel. This seems to be a common problem w/the CL2 tho not by all means every one of them. A suggestion to apply a minute drop of vegetable oil to the hose swivel did the trick for me. Still the company would do well to go back to the drawing board w/this swivel. If other companies can develop a free and easy hose swivel for their masks and nasal pillows this company ought to be able to develop one for the CL2.

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