So many questions, so little time...about nasal pillows.

[kayursula]

I am a relative newcomer and started out with a full face mask and now am trying a nasal pillow. Now my questions. First of all I live in the Southwest desert which is known to be very dry. Plus I have medicare coverage.

I have a chin strap but haven't used it yet. I wake up with a semi dry mouth, more like a film than dry. Do I need to use the chin strap? I believe I keep my mouth shut during sleep. I really have to yawn loudly to get air to escape from my mouth. So I don't know if I open my mouth during sleep as I sleep alone.

How do you clean these little nasal pillows once a week? Do you use your vinegar solution or is there something else I should use. I use a mild hand soap every day.

Is it common to wake up with a runny nose that lasts about an hour after I take off the mask? I notice that when I put the mask on, I might have a plugged nostril but by morning I have clear sinuses.

I sleep with an overhead fan going at all times, is this a problem with using a nasal pillow and having additional air being moved about at night?

My mask fits perfectly and I do not tighten the straps. In fact, they are extremely loose. Is this a bad habit or can I get away with this? I don't feel any air leaks and the plugs fit right where they are suppose to fit.

How often should I replace a nasal pillow? For you on medicare, does medicare pay for the replacement or is this something I will need to buy?

I know I have more questions, but hopefully this will get me on my way.

Thanks in advance.

[Gerald?]

Hi

A few answers.

1. You might be able to tell from your data if you are opening your mouth. It will show up as leaks. However if you are feeling well rested then you may well be able to live without the chinstrap. Quite a few people around here tape their lips (not me). You will find plenty of threads on this.

2. I wash the pillows in hot water and mild detergent every morning. I don't think it is necessary to use vinegar weekly but you can if you wish (smell might be a bit annoying though).

3. I suspect that the runny nose is not due to CPAP but something else (like allergies). Having one plugged nostril before you lie down suggests this too. I have the same issue and yes CPAP clears my sinuses too.

4. Fan should not be a problem.

5. Depends a bit on the mask. I use Swift FX and for me it works best when the mask is as loose as possible, particularly the top strap. If you are not leaking then it does not need to be any tighter.

6. Pillow replacement again depends a bit on the pillows and different people seem to have very different times. I suspect for some it is a matter of the extent to which their insurance gives them access to replacements. Personally I seem to get 4-6 months out of a set. Others around here seem to replace monthly. If they are not "collapsing" and leaking then in my view they are still fine. Sorry don't know about your particular insurance.

Good luck.

[HoseCrusher]

Let's see now, running down your list of questions...

Try a night with the chin strap. If your mouth ends up moist, you need the strap. If it remains dry and filmy, you don't.

The daily cleaning is to knock off the "big stuff." The weekly cleaning is more thorough. I think cleaning is more important than disinfecting, unless you share your mask with a wide variety of other people and/or animals. Vinegar works as a mild disinfectant. Now, if you get sick, disinfecting becomes more important.

Many people clean according to the strength of their immune system. If you have a strong immune system, you can get away with very limited cleaning. If your immune system is weaker, more frequent and more thorough cleaning is needed.

I have only been using my Swift FX for a little over a year and a half. I have never had a runny nose. That means that for me it is not common. Of course, your mileage may vary...

Your overhead fan should not be a problem. However, if you find yourself pinned to the bed in the morning unable to get out of bed, I would suggest turning down the fan speed.

Loose straps prevent nose sores. As long as you get a good fit, loose straps are the way to go.

Replacement is user dependent. Some are hard pressed to go for a few weeks while others go for several months. If you start experiencing high leak rates, the first thing to try is to replace the pillows. Don't try to fix this by tightening up the straps. Now new straps will stretch a little and some adjustment will be needed, but after a short while they should settle down and then the variable is the pillows.