Any advice on using nasal pillow mask?

[Oneeyedjack]

Hi,

I just tried my new Swift fx for first time last night and went pretty good. Wife said I slept peacefully. I have used the Comfortgel original since day 1 about 8 years ago and never had any big problems, just wanted a change to something less bulky. I found my normal pressure of 12 was to much with the pillows, like I was getting to much air flow on inhale and on exhale felt like to much resistance. Ended up trying pressure at 10.5 with cflex setting of 2 and was much better, well try that awhile and see how things go. I had some nasal congestion this morning and nose was a little sore around the opening. Anybody else have any tips or advice for using nasal pillow masks you could share.

[caffeinatedcfo]

I also just adopted this mask.

I had some nasal congestion this morning

I experience the opposite. You could try upping your humidity setting by .5.

nose was a little sore around the opening

Be sure not to over-tighten. If your nostrils are flared out after masking-up, you have it too tight. For soreness, I've heard lanolin ointment works very well. You can pick it up at any pharmacy over-the-counter.

Also - I was a ffm and found I require 1-2 cm LESS pressure with this mask.

[DreamStalker]

Nasal congestion could be humidity related ... maybe too much maybe not enough?

I suspect you will adapt to the difference in humidity effects from the ComfortGel to the SwiftFX. I gradually weaned myself off humidification all together and have adapted just fine.

For the raw nose, you can use Ayr's Saline Gel w/ Aloe to help soothe painful rawness until the skin around your nares adapts.

[Snowwhite999]

Sorry to semi-hijack your thread, but I have a similar need for advice. I'm about a week in after getting my machine and my nose is beginning to suffer. In order to keep the leaks down, I have my straps on my F&P Opus 360 pulled a little tight. My pressure is high (IPAP 22, EPAP 18), and when the pillows are looser I get leaks that wake me up - blowing in my eye, on my lip, etc. In the morning it feels like I've got 'pig nose' from having those pillows jammed up there all night. Now one of my nostrils is sore and it feels like I'm getting some sort of sore, or at least some rawness, just on the inside. I use the Lanisoh ointment before bed and after morning shower, but the soreness persists.

I've got a call in to my DME to discuss a re-fit or a different mask. I don't know how well a regular nasal mask will work given my gale-force pressures, and I've only ever used pillows, even during my split test. Any suggestions before I go in to see the DME?

[DreamStalker]

Sorry to semi-hijack your thread, but I have a similar need for advice. I'm about a week in after getting my machine and my nose is beginning to suffer. In order to keep the leaks down, I have my straps on my F&P Opus 360 pulled a little tight. My pressure is high (IPAP 22, EPAP 18), and when the pillows are looser I get leaks that wake me up - blowing in my eye, on my lip, etc. In the morning it feels like I've got 'pig nose' from having those pillows jammed up there all night. Now one of my nostrils is sore and it feels like I'm getting some sort of sore, or at least some rawness, just on the inside. I use the Lanisoh ointment before bed and after morning shower, but the soreness persists.

I've got a call in to my DME to discuss a re-fit or a different mask. I don't know how well a regular nasal mask will work given my gale-force pressures, and I've only ever used pillows, even during my split test. Any suggestions before I go in to see the DME?

[Kenwood]

@snowhite999
I have gale force pressure too - IPAP 20 / EPAP 17. I'm using Swift FX / Aloha nasal pillows. Trying to figure out which one I love the most. But my leaks are very very low...with my leaks being cause by ME - face into pillow or my arm. One thing you might try is a different SIZE pillow. Sometimes that can make all the difference.

[Oneeyedjack]

Funny thing is I slept with the head gear on wrong, shoulda read instructions, I had the blue strap on top and the silicon strap at back of head but still slept great. The soreness started almost right away, not a lot of soreness just a little uncomfortable but I'm sure it takes some getting used to. There is no way I could have slept using my normal setting of 12, it just felt to over powering.

[Snowwhite999]

@snowhite999
I have gale force pressure too - IPAP 20 / EPAP 17. I'm using Swift FX / Aloha nasal pillows. Trying to figure out which one I love the most. But my leaks are very very low...with my leaks being cause by ME - face into pillow or my arm. One thing you might try is a different SIZE pillow. Sometimes that can make all the difference.

My leaks are low and mostly self-induced like yours (dedicated side-sleeper); my large leak graph has never registered above 0. The Opus "vent" leakage at 22 is about 50 l/min, so subtracting that my overall leaks rarely go above 15. That said, I have those straps cinched up pretty tight.

I did drop to a M pillow from a L pillow and it's more comfortable. I guess it's the side-sleeping that is causing most of the leaks. Just got one of those CpapMax pillows and I think that will help once it airs out a bit.

Maybe a different mask will allow less nose pressure. I love the lightness of the Opus, though, and the fact that I can route the hose over my head and out of the way.

[Pugsy]

Some people prefer Lansinoh ointment...some people prefer the Ayr nasal gel.
Use whatever feels the best.

In the morning it feels like I've got 'pig nose' from having those pillows jammed up

Strap is too tight. Try a different size nasal pillow to see if you can maintain a seal better....
Piggy nose syndrome is simply from the straps being too tight.

Padacheek makes a barrel cozy..originally for rain out control but it is extremely comfortable against the skin. Feels like silk and helps eliminate any abrasive qualities of the silicone.

If I remember right the barrel cozy for the Swift FX also fits the Opus...check to make sure.
http://www.padacheek.com/PACSwiftII_Barrel_cozy.html

I had some nasal congestion this morning and nose was a little sore around the opening.

Same idea and comments for you regarding soreness. Lansinoh or Ayr and barrel cozy.
Special comment regarding congestion. Sometimes we need more added moisture and sometimes we need less. There is no right or wrong...just individual nasal mucosa preference. If you already use a lower humidifier setting..try increasing humidity level. If you already use a higher setting try going down one...if you are using 3...toss a coin. but statistically more people need a little more.

The barrel cozy was probably the best money I ever spent on a comfort item. Originally bought for rain out control but as soon as I put it on I knew I would be using it year round and not just in the winter when my rain out issues were worse.
Two years and still going strong until my recent change to the Tap Pap mask.
Oh, BTW. I felt that the barrel cozy helped also with leaks..made things a little more stable.

[Oneeyedjack]

So is the barrel cozy help with the soreness/comfort level.

[Snowwhite999]

In the morning it feels like I've got 'pig nose' from having those pillows jammed up

Strap is too tight. Try a different size nasal pillow to see if you can maintain a seal better....
Piggy nose syndrome is simply from the straps being too tight.

Padacheek makes a barrel cozy..originally for rain out control but it is extremely comfortable against the skin. Feels like silk and helps eliminate any abrasive qualities of the silicone.

If I remember right the barrel cozy for the Swift FX also fits the Opus...check to make sure.
http://www.padacheek.com/PACSwiftII_Barrel_cozy.html

I may give that a try, though the soreness that I have is just on the inside of my nostril, so I don't know if the barrel cozy will have any effect. The stabilization and leak-reducing properties may be a benefit, though.

[Pugsy]

So is the barrel cozy help with the soreness/comfort level.

It did for me..not that I had any problem with silicone discomfort but it just was nice to feel against the skin.

Soreness at the nostril level..usually means that top strap on the Swift FX is too tight or the nasal pillow is not quite the right size. Anything more than very minor tenderness means something with the fit is not right.

Also, remember the nostril area is pretty much virgin territory and not used to having anything up against it. So that's where the minor tenderness comes in and the Ayr gel or Lansinoh helps along those lines.

The barrel cozy won't fix a problem caused by the top strap being too tight or wrong size nasal pillow though.

[Oneeyedjack]

So I'm assuming that to large of a pillow would cause discomfort. I'm using the medium but can't see the small fitting as I don't have the smallest honker around.

[Pugsy]

So I'm assuming that to large of a pillow would cause discomfort.

Actually I have more problems with going too small than larger. What happens with too small is that the nasal pillows don't rest on the nostril rim like they should and instead try to go too far up into the nostril...this is also what happens when the top strap is too tight. Sometimes people have done both...chosen too small and have the strap too tight.

I had this happen with my new Tap Pap mask...the Small was too small and tried to sneak up into my nostrils instead of gently resting on it. Went up a size and it fixed things.

With the Swift FX I normally would wear a Small but I could get by with the XSmall with just perfect strap tension.
With the Small I had more room for forgiveness in terms of strap tension.

Did you see the video on fitting?
http://www.cpaplibrary.com/nasal-pillows.html

or read Janknitz hints?
http://maskarrayed.wordpress.com/swift- ... ing-guide/

The most common errors made with any nasal pillow mask...straps too tight and/or pillow size.

[Deenie-deen]

I am an opus user and I found that I had to adjust the top strap to sit along my forehead/hairline to get the most comfort and stability. I also have a rope hanging from the ceiling to tie the hose to. This helps with the pulling on the mask. I would suggest getting into your sleeping position then move the top strap to the most comfortable place. That could be your forehead or toward the back. Then tie the hose with the rope and move around. If it isn't comfortable then make a small adjustment and move again. The placement of where the hose is tied and where the top strap sits will be different for everyone. I can't speak to your high pressure because my pressure is only at 7. Maybe a larger pillow? I wish you luck.

Deenie-deen