Tips for using Nasal Pillows needed

[janeysmom]

Since I started my therapy two weeks ago, I have used the full face mask listed below. For awhile I was having great success but the last few nights not so much. I just don't feel as energetic as I did until a few nights ago. So last night I tried the nasal pillows - the ResMed ones. I could only tolerate it for a couple hours. I was able to keep my mouth shut. It was more have a burning sensation in my nose that made me take it off and switch back to my FFM. I did feel though a lot more alert when I woke up, so I would like to try to use them again tonight. Any thoughts on how to make them more comfortable? Thanks!!

[Sleepy Taz]

The burning is your nose drying up. Try upping the level on your humidifier so that they stay moist. I also found that a small room humidifier helped a lot . Good lusck!

[Gerald]

Also...use Lansinoh lanolin on your nares......helps seal....increases comfort.

[JKH83]

I was having the same problem with my nasal pillows, my nose would dry out and I would sneeze all day, I turned my setting from 2 to 3 and the dryness went away.

[janeysmom]

Thanks! Last night I tried them again and turned the humidity up and I seemed to sleep fine. Now I just need to get used to all the air going up my nostrils and not distributed as in the FFM. But I am going to keep trying it.

[Guest]

Hello.

I am still having trouble learning to use my nasal pillows with my Swift LT for her. I feel like I just can't exhale. I only have a pressure of 8 and have tried with and without the ramp and with and without adjusting the pressure on the exhale. How do you exhale through these nasal pillows? I feel as though the pillow is blocking my nostrils, preventing me from exhaling easily.

Any advice would be most appreciated!

[tattooyu]

It takes a while to get used to the different feeling of the air, but I love my Swift LT. My new Swift FX mask should be coming soon, and I'll let you guys know if the air is distributed any differently.

[Muse-Inc]

...I feel as though the pillow is blocking my nostrils, preventing me from exhaling easily. Any advice would be most appreciated!

Try larger pillows.

[MsPat]

I use the Swift LT for Her & I found that if I put a cream (I use Anti-Itch Hydrocortisone CREAM) around the whole nasal outside area it helps to seal. Be sure what ever you use has NO petroleum as this will disintegrate the pillows.
My biggest problem is after removeing mask in the morning, I have a very runny nose & sneeze a lot.

[dikiba]

Just diagnosed with OSA, I am a new APAP user (just this week) and have been using the nasal pillows. I have not had any problems with comfort or seal, but have had sinus pressure, runny nose, and slight sinus headache throughout the days since I began. I had a bit of a scratchy throat before beginning treatment so I've attributed my discomfort during the day after to a possible mild cold or allergy. I do not have any trouble at night (after using a nasal spray to open passages)- just during the day. Could it be possible that this is a problem with my set-up? Should I contact my respiratory therapist who set this up or just wait it out?

[Raj]

I'd strongly advise you to find a different kind of cream for the job, MsPat. Hydrocortizone is medically active and not something you want to apply daily for any great length of time. Consequences may include thinning skin, infections, and systemic problems.

[sleeplessinaz]

Hi there---I use the Lansinoh lanolin cream in a tube on my nares every night.....it helps seal and will increase your comfort. It can be found in the baby section of Target or Walmart. It is for nursing moms to use so it is nice and thick, soothing and won't give you zits!! Don't use Vaseline or the Hydro Cortisone cream--we don't want you to wreck your mask or nasal pillows.

Jerseygirl--I was just going to suggest to turn off the ramp feature and turn off the exhalation feature--I have all those turned off and have no trouble at all. Try those suggestions--maybe you are one of those people that are not going to be able to use the nasal pillows. If your pressure over a 10 I don't think you can use the nasal pillows either.

Carrie

[JohnBFisher]

... Just diagnosed with OSA, I am a new APAP user (just this week) and have been using the nasal pillows. ...

Greetings! Welcome to the forum and the land of xPAP therapy. It can be an "interesting" journey. But better sleep can make life very wonderful!

You can (and should) register. The forum does not send out any emails. You will only get emails if you ask it to do so (such as to receive a notice about a new private message). The biggest advantage for you is that you can register / list your equipment. That allows other forum members to provide you with a very specific answer to your questions.

... I have not had any problems with comfort or seal, but have had sinus pressure, runny nose, and slight sinus headache throughout the days since I began. ...

Unfortunately, it's not an unusual symptom. Any time I change machines or masks I see the same thing for a while. Essentially, your sinuses are saying to you "What the ... You want me to put up with that?!! ". But you will be surprised that you do adjust to it. It takes time.

What to do until you adjust? First, do NOT use over the counter decongestants. You can get addicted to them. I've been there and done that. Second, try a nasal saline spray to help moisten your sinuses. It helps. You might also want to tinker with the setting on your heated humidifier. If you don't have a heated humidifier, you may need a prescription for one. And sometimes you may need a prescription for something like Flonase to help you adjust.

The good news is that your body will adjust.

... I had a bit of a scratchy throat before beginning treatment so I've attributed my discomfort during the day after to a possible mild cold or allergy. ...

That's possible. As is snoring. If I fall asleep without my machine ... I never intend to do so, but it happens ... I always wake up wiht the slightly sore, scratchy throat. But cold / allergy feels the same to me as well.

... I do not have any trouble at night (after using a nasal spray to open passages)- just during the day. ...

Like I say, stay away from the over the counter decongestant sprays. Oh, I sometimes use them. But less than once a week. You body WILL get used to them and need them. Not good. If you've been using them a lot, you might have a few nights / days of rebound (you will be stopped up more than normal without the decongestant.

... Could it be possible that this is a problem with my set-up? ...

Probably not. It's a really common symptom.

... Should I contact my respiratory therapist who set this up or just wait it out? ...

It's always a good idea to go back to your healthcare team and discuss problems like this. They know you and might know of another trick that might help.

Anyway, hope this helps. Do remember to register! And "Welcome aboard!"

[lktnky]

I've been using the Swift LT for almost a year and my pressures (bilevel) are in the 11 to 14 range. I don't have any problems with leakage but I do use a chinstrap and tape.

[Hawthorne]

I have an APAP set at a narrow range (10.5 cm - 13 cm). My 90% pressure is 12 cm and I spend most of the night at 11 cm. I spend a little time at 12 cm and rarely go to 13 cm and, if I do, it is very briefly.

I have no trouble with the seal on my Swift LT (very good leak line) with those pressures so I don't think it is correct to say that you probalby can't use them if your pressure is above 10 cm for msot people.

lktnky uses it with a bilevel machine and still has no leak problems.

I don't use a chinstrap but I do minimal taping.

I found that the nasal pillows took a bit of getting used to when I first started using them about a year ago, but the SwiftLT has proven to be a very good mask for me.

Because of the low inside humdity levels in my home in winter, I have raised the humidity to 2. Most of the year I use pass over humidity. I do use saline nasal spray every evening about an hour before bedtime and put some NasoGel (just a little) at the opening of my nares just before I put the mask on.

All this helps give me a very good seal all night.