Nasal Pillows or Nasal Mask?

[DOHboy]

Hi all,

Im currently in my first 6 months of OSA therapy and have been using a nasal mask with some average results. I am looking into trying a Nasal Pillow mask but im unsure of the advantages of changing. If you have used both could you tell me why you changed and why the nasal pillows where better or worse for you.

My CPAP is set to 12, and i sleep on both my side and back.

Thanks in advance

DOHboy

[KatieW]

Hope you find this helpful:

wiki/index.php/CPAP_Mask
wiki/index.php/Nasal_Mask_Selections

[Scarlet834]

Good links from Katie.
I'm one who switched from a nasal mask, but very early in treatment. It was purely a comfort decision--the nasal mask would not stop leaking around the nose into my eyes and I beat up the bridge of my nose trying to make it stop. I personally love my Swift LT.

[Sleeprider]

I switched from a Comfort nasal mask to the Swift LT when the LT first became available. I paid full price ($159) for the first one out of pocket because I didn't qualify for an new mask yet and the LT was not available anywhere but here through one of the members who is a DME. Since then, I have received two additional Swift LT masks under my insurance plan, and it is equipped with a Sleepzone heated hose. Yeah, I like them a whole lot more than a mask.

[TrueBlue]

I struggled for months trying to get used to a mask, then tried the Swift LT and was hooked ! Took a bit of experimenting finding the right size pillows and getting them sitting just right, but I couldn't go back to a mask now. The mask made me feel claustrophobic whereas with the nasal pillows feel very light and unobstrusive.

[DOHboy]

Thanks for all the feed back and links.

Looks like alot of people like the switch from Nasal to Nasal Pillows yet i see that nasal masks dominate the user preference at %60 (aprox) any ideas why? I used a nasal mask when i was at the sleep lab and only found out about nasal pillows once i started searching on the net for alternatives is this similar to your experience?

Are they easier to clean/dry?

The one thing that is holding me back at the moment is they look invasive and i have found feedback about soreness on the sealing surface of the nostrils. Is this a myth do they need to be forced up the nose to get a good seal?

Cheers

DOHboy

[YawnGirl]

Thanks for all the feed back and links.

Looks like alot of people like the switch from Nasal to Nasal Pillows yet i see that nasal masks dominate the user preference at %60 (aprox) any ideas why? I used a nasal mask when i was at the sleep lab and only found out about nasal pillows once i started searching on the net for alternatives is this similar to your experience?

Are they easier to clean/dry?

The one thing that is holding me back at the moment is they look invasive and i have found feedback about soreness on the sealing surface of the nostrils. Is this a myth do they need to be forced up the nose to get a good seal?

Cheers

DOHboy

I tried all three types of masks (although I do not remember the brands) at my second sleep study. The Nasal mask seemed to be very tight compared to the nasal pillows. If my swift lt mask is too tight, it will make my nose a little sore upon removal, but it does not hurt during the day. The pillows are very short, and only go up into the nares about 5mm. My only real complaint is I cannot adjust the mask after my air has started because of the pillow design. I sleep primarily on my side and use a buckwheat pillow. My average leakage for my mask is 35, I average about 32.

[KatieW]

For me, it's finding the balance between comfort and low leak. I started with the Comfort Lite 2, which comes with pillows and a nasal mask (they call call it Simple). It was a lucky choice because when my nares got sore, or I just couldn't tolerate it anymore, I could switch to the Simple, usually after a couple of hours. The Simple leaked more, but it was a good alternative.

I find that more humidity helps with the initial soreness from pillows. Also, these item: Ayr Saline Nasel Gel, Lansinoh Lanolin, and Neosporin. After a month, I'm now fine with the pillows, and alternate between the Comfort Lite 2 and the Aeiomed Headrest.

A nice nasal mask is the new Resmed Mirage Softgel. Very comfortable, good seal, and quiet. It's heavier and more on my face than the pillows, so it's my backup.

I'm finding out that with any kind of mask, it takes alot of fiddling with the adjustment, until it's just right.

[Scarlet834]

Thanks for all the feed back and links.

Looks like alot of people like the switch from Nasal to Nasal Pillows yet i see that nasal masks dominate the user preference at %60 (aprox) any ideas why? I used a nasal mask when i was at the sleep lab and only found out about nasal pillows once i started searching on the net for alternatives is this similar to your experience?

Are they easier to clean/dry?

The one thing that is holding me back at the moment is they look invasive and i have found feedback about soreness on the sealing surface of the nostrils. Is this a myth do they need to be forced up the nose to get a good seal?

Cheers

DOHboy

At the sleep lab the nasal pillows they tried were practically forced up my nose. At home the pillow rests against the nostrils, only a small bit extends inside, and I don't find them invasive, nor do they need to be strapped on tightly to work. I have never had sore nostrils. Am a regular Ayr Gel user, in case that happens to be the reason.

I rather think the nasal mask is the default style presented, and if it works people don't feel the need to move on. I sense that a comfortable nasal mask might be more stable and leak-resistant on the face in multiple positions than a pillow style--it's why I chose to try the nasal mask first. At the sleep lab it seemed more "natural" to breath in from the nasal chamber than when the pillow-style was first presented and shot air straight up my nostrils, another reason someone might choose the nasal mask over a pillow. Again, at home I did not have any trouble adapting and I love the Swift LT (for her).

Yes, I find the pillow much easier to clean than the Comfort Gel Nasal Mask I first owned. I would consider comfort a much more important reason to switch.

[Cavallo]

Is this a myth do they need to be forced up the nose to get a good seal?

The girl at my DME explained to me that many people fit pillows WAY too tightly, which can make them more likely to leak, and be uncomfortable. I misadjusted mine one night, wound up over-tightening it, and sure enough, I had a sore septum the next morning - first time that's ever happened. I loosened it up again, and it's fine.

I imagine that what's happening is that the tip of the opening extends partway into the nare, and when the pressure increases, the silicone deflects outward to seal against your flesh. It's a brilliant design. I've only been at this for 10 days, but I can't imagine using anything else.

[peppi]

The girl at my DME explained to me that many people fit pillows WAY too tightly

Agreed. If you use the right size pillow you shouldn't need to stick them up your nose. They should fit lightly with no irritation.
The Swift LT is super comfortable when adjusted properly.
If you feel discomfort on your nostrils, its too tight.

After second night usage - .10 L/S and no irritation in the morning!

I highly recommend the ResMed Swift LT mask.

You can get it on Autopap auction for $49.00 brand new without difficulty.
http://www.cpapauction.com
Good Luck!

Phil

[rested gal]

Hi all,

Im currently in my first 6 months of OSA therapy and have been using a nasal mask with some average results. I am looking into trying a Nasal Pillow mask but im unsure of the advantages of changing. If you have used both could you tell me why you changed and why the nasal pillows where better or worse for you.

My CPAP is set to 12, and i sleep on both my side and back.

Thanks in advance

DOHboy

DOHboy, when you say "some average results", are you talking about the way you feel after 6 months of therapy?

One thing I think is extremely important to look at, whether a person is using a nasal mask (covers just the nose) or nasal pillows (sit at entrance to the nostrils) is the Leak rate the person has been getting. A high leak rate, if you know for sure the mask is not leaky, could indicate mouth breathing when you relax into sleep.

People can start out the night with mouth closed and tongue forming an airtight seal within the mouth, so that they breathe exclusively through the nose, but some people eventually lose that seal inside the mouth and begin mouth breathing or leaking massive amounts of air out the mouth.

Before you get into trying different nasal and nasal pillows masks, check your average leak rate. If it's high, a different mask might make a difference. But if a high leak rate is because of mouth breathing/mouth air leaking... you'll need to control that or changing from nasal to nasal pillows probably wouldn't made much difference for you.

Leaks can be a treatment wrecker if they are bad enough. Air escaping out into the bedroom is not going where it's needed -- down into the airway to push the collapsing soft tissues aside and let you "breathe" while sleeping.

I love nasal pillows (the Headrest nasal pillows mask by Aeiomed is my favorite), but I have to tape over my mouth in order to use any mask other than a Full Face mask (FF mask allows treatment through nose or mouth.)

The advantage to me in using nasal pillows is "less bulkiness" along the sides of the face. Less chance of bumping the sides of a mask against the head pillow. The particular nasal pillows mask I use lets me lay the side of my face flat and burrowed into my head pillow when I'm on my side. Just feels more like my natural head position for sleeping -- like before I used CPAP.

Having the edge of the hard plastic shell of a nasal mask or FF mask digging into the side of my face when I want to put the side of my face absolutely FLAT against my pillow is a major annoyance to me. Might not bother others, but does bother me. Likewise, while I can sleep on my side with front of face hanging out in space over the edge of a PAPillow or other firm-ish edged pillow, to keep from bumping against the mask frame, I still prefer to have the entire side of my face flat on the pillow.

"Headrest with nasal pillows" mask suits me perfectly. But every person is different about masks they like/don't like.

[plr66]

RestedGal, you just rock--with the patience, the clarity, and painstaking attention to detail in your responses! I feel so lucky to have had you helping me from the start, over a year ago!

I was just going to underscore the caution that folks should not be enchanted with the idea of a minimalist mask such as nasal pillows (like the Swift LT, Opus 360, OptiLife, or Breeze) or even a nasal cushion mask, if you have any suspicion at all that you mouth-breathe or mouth-leak in deep sleep. Check your data every day while trying such masks.

Early on, I shouted loudly that there was no way I was mouth leaking or breathing. Blah, blah, blah. Several people nicely told me I was an idiot, since how would I know what I was doing while I was asleep? (Rooster comes first to mind!). Right they were! I went immediately to using painters delicate surface blue tape, and completely optimized my therapy from AHI's of 5-6 down to 1.5 and below. I would be wasting the electricity for the cpap if I used a nasal pillow or even a nasal cushion mask without the tape. All the air would blow out of my mouth for much of the night when my tongue stopped sealing to the roof of my mouth.

But I think RG said it better, and with fewer words.

[DreamOn]

A nice nasal mask is the new Resmed Mirage Softgel. Very comfortable, good seal, and quiet.

Hi Katie,

If you ever want to try another nasal mask, you may want to give the ResMed Mirage Activa LT a shot. It uses the identical frame as the Mirage Softgel, so you could just get the Activa LT cushion itself and use it with the Softgel frame.

I love the AEIOMed Headrest nasal pillows mask. It vents upwards (love that!), and it comes with two pillow sizes. Interestingly, both sizes seem to work fine for me.

I alternate between the nasal mask and nasal pillows, to give my face a break every once in a while. I use the Ayr Saline Nasal Gel and Lansinoh with the pillows. I sometimes use the straps on my PAPcap Plus with the Activa LT nasal mask instead of the headgear that came with the mask (although I find the headgear quite comfortable too). I use the PAPcap chinstrap anyway, so it's just a little less weight if I strap it onto the cap.

~ DreamOn

[KatieW]

If you ever want to try another nasal mask, you may want to give the ResMed Mirage Activa LT a shot. It uses the identical frame as the Mirage Softgel, so you could just get the Activa LT cushion itself and use it with the Softgel frame.

Hmmm....I might do that sometime. Although I really like the Mirage Softgel. Can you describe how the Activa Lt is different?

I love the AEIOMed Headrest nasal pillows mask. It vents upwards (love that!), and it comes with two pillow sizes. Interestingly, both sizes seem to work fine for me.

Me too!

I alternate between the nasal mask and nasal pillows, to give my face a break every once in a while. I use the Ayr Saline Nasal Gel and Lansinoh with the pillows. I sometimes use the straps on my PAPcap Plus with the Activa LT nasal mask instead of the headgear that came with the mask (although I find the headgear quite comfortable too). I use the PAPcap chinstrap anyway, so it's just a little less weight if I strap it onto the cap.

I just ordered the Papcap, and am looking forward to trying it. Are we on parallel paths?