help w/ comfortlite

lvehko · Post by **lvehko** » Wed Oct 10, 2007 12:00 am

Hey all --

Just got my new ComfortLite and it's promising. Headgear fits and stays in place when I lie down and roll around. However, tried to get to sleep with the direct seal and it's just not comfortable on my nostrils. It's possible the one I have is too big (I just posted looking for someone to swap me a smaller size), but I'm trying to figure out if the nasal pillows will be any more comfortable.

The direct seal seems to irritate the rim of my nostrils, but this is the same problem I've had with other nasal pillows systems, so I'm not sure if the CL pillows would be any better. I think I could probably live with the simple seal, provided the large one fits me when I get it, but I'm curious what differences people have noticed between the direct seals and the nasal pillows.

Help me, fellow CL users!

Min

bdp522 · Post by **bdp522** » Wed Oct 10, 2007 5:10 am

I have found that I do equally well with the pillows and direct seals. I am not comfortable with the simple cushion. When using new pillows, I do need to use ayr gel for the first week or so. The direct seal feels more secure than the pillows but my leak data shows no leaks with either seal.

Brenda

tillymarigold · Post by **tillymarigold** » Wed Oct 10, 2007 8:40 am

Do you have the CL or CL2?

I used to alternate the direct seal and the pillows cushion, but TBH I found the CL2 leaked too much and left a permanent sore on one of my nares no matter what I did. The pillows on both the Hybrid and OptiLife are much more comfortable for me.

sharon1965 · Post by **sharon1965** » Wed Oct 10, 2007 10:32 am

when i used the CL2 i used the direct seal and found it much more comfy than regular nasal pillows, and easier to seal

the simple cushion just wouldn't seal for me

sleepyWI · Post by **sleepyWI** » Wed Oct 10, 2007 11:39 am

I used the CL2 for a long time and loved it. It took about 2 weeks to get over the sore nares. Ayr gel helped alot. I also used a beeswax based lip balm around the edges of my nostrils. Came in a little yellow tin from Walmart. Nice pepermint smell too.

rested gal · Post by **rested gal** » Wed Oct 10, 2007 12:27 pm

No nasal pillows, or "direct seal", or "simple cushion", seal for me UNLESS I put a homemade strap (read leg cut off a pair of pantyhose tights) across the front.

When I do that, every one of them seals beautifully, including the little nasal mask thingy called "Simple Cushion" for the ComfortLite 2.

lvehko · Post by **lvehko** » Wed Oct 10, 2007 11:58 pm

rested gal wrote:No nasal pillows, or "direct seal", or "simple cushion", seal for me UNLESS I put a homemade strap (read leg cut off a pair of pantyhose tights) across the front.

When I do that, every one of them seals beautifully, including the little nasal mask thingy called "Simple Cushion" for the ComfortLite 2.

RG, I have to give you props... last night, I was making do with the medium simple seal, even though I need the large one (on the way from cpap.com), and in the middle of the night I just could NOT get the thing to stay sealed on my humongous nose. Then I had a brainstorm, remembering your infamous strap diagram. I didn't have any pantyhose or tights in the house (tomboy), but I *did* have a couple of soft cotton headbands. I wrapped one once around the shaft of the mask, above the exhaust port, then pulled it down behind my neck, and it worked! Mask stayed sealed all night, and I woke up this a.m. with NO MARKS on my face.

I think I'm gonna spring for the next size down of the direct seal attachment (or find someone here who's got a size 3 they want to swap me for a size 5 -- anybody?) and see how that works. I think the size 4s are just too big. Oddly, I seem to have a big nose but smaller than average nostrils? How does that work...?

Min

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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): seal, Nasal Pillows

Mask

Additional Comments: Started CPAP June 14, 2006, pressure set at 8.0