Does Optilife now come with "simple cushion"?

[jomac30]

I thought I read that Optilife now has a seal that covers the tip of the nose, but I can't remember which site I saw it on. Has anyone seen this? I like the headgear on Optilife but can't tolerate pillows.

[GoodnightHoser]

Are you talking about the "cradle cushion"? I've never heard of a simple cushion. I use the cradle cushion and find it a little more tolerable than the pillows but it doesn't cover the tip of your nose. It just kind of sits on your upper lip and sucks itself on to the underside of your nose when you turn the air on. I ended up having to go from a medium to a small size. Leaks about as much as the nasal pillows. Got mine on Cpap.com. Can't remember the price. About 39 dollars I think. Good luck.

[sleeplessinaz]

Hi jomac30--mine came with a "simple cushion" which is a little title nose cushion--sort of like a MS. PIGGY nose!! I bought the Cradle Cushions from Apria --my DME--it was 29.00 for 2 of them but my insuracne covered it. Have NOT tried it yet--I am so comfortable with the Comfort GEL---but I do like that head gear from teh OPTI LIFE --it is so much better!!
Good Luck!
Carrie

[feeling_better]

Could one of you please post a url to an image of the various cushions you talk about here? I have a new Optilife, but don't know which cushion I have, and my dme did not mention about any options. Thank you!

[GoodnightHoser]

Try cpap.com and type in "cradle cushion" in the search thing and see if it pops up. By the way DME's rarely mention any options....

[Guest]

The night of my titration (about a month ago), I favored the Optilife and the technician told me that they just got in what you described, but I don't recall the actual name. I decided to give it a try but, maybe it was too small or something, because it caused my right nostril to collapse and I couldn't get enough air. She immediately came back in and switched me to the petite size nasal pillows, which worked just fine. I continue to use them with good luck.

Maybe that item comes in sizes that correspond to the Optilife nasal pillows, but it didn't work out for me. She didn't offer to give me a larger size and I didn't ask for one.

If it had fit, I think it would be a nice compromise for people who like the fit and comfort of the mask, but aren't comfortable with the nasal pillows.

[GoodnightHoser]

That's interesting--but I can't figure out how it would cause your nostril to collapse. I have engorged turbinates, a deviated septum and a polyp in my nose and the pressure of the air (my pressure is actually blows my sinuses OPEN, sucks my mouth shut and I can actually breathe through my nose when it is on. I have been a mouthbreather all my life. Not to say I am tolerating cpap very well after 4 months. I've never kept the mask on for more than 2-3 hours. I've got a rip roaring summer cold right now and it's such a relief to go to sleep without the thing on! Just being honest. B y the way the cradle cushions come in the same size as the pillows so I ordered a medium. At my last sleep clinic the girl gave me a small and it leaks a little less. Still leaks when I move though. I can't tolerate anything on my face. Not even sunglasses. Plugs my nose up. So I don't have many options.

[Guest]

I really think the thing was too small for me and pushed on the right side of the outside of my nose, not allowing any air to enter into it up through the nostril. I agree that the air through the nasal pillows blow my sinuses open, allowing me to breathe through my nose even during the day when I normally never could. Since I had never worn a mask before the night of the titration, we didn't bother to try to make the cushion work and just decided to try the nasal pillows instead.

I'm tolerating the mask better than I expected after only having it less than a month. There are good nights and bad nights, not because I can't tolerate the mask, but because I'm still waking up in the night. I have no data capability, which is fine for me at this point. I don't really want to know how many apneas I'm having and prefer to rely on how I feel during the day, which is MUCH better than before the treatment.