What nasal pillow do you like?

ca_hosehead · Post by **ca_hosehead** » Sat Jan 20, 2007 5:15 am

I've been sleeping in a recliner due to congestion problems but I'm getting over a turbinate reduction procedure and hope to be able to get back to the bed soon.

I'm using a mask right now, but I'd like to try out some sort of nasal pillow. I'm normally an "all position" sleeper so I think a nasal pillow might suit me better.

Since the cost of experimentation is so high, I thought I'd solicit some opinions.

So which one do you think I should try? Optilife? Swift? Breeze? ComfortLite?

blarg · Post by **blarg** » Sat Jan 20, 2007 5:43 am

Many here swear by all the masks you mentioned.

Personally I like my Aura a great deal.

JPO · Post by **JPO** » Sat Jan 20, 2007 6:39 am

I have been using a Swift nasal pillow for a week and it is working great. I could not tolerate a nasal mask and the fullface masks didn't fit. This lets me sleep in any position. I have bipap set at 12-8 and I have to use the ramp to fall asleep and when I wake up. The flow and noise keep me from falling right off, but with the ramp I fall asleep instantly as I do without the mask and machine. When I wake up I ramp again and fall asleep right away. I am sleeping for four and three hours at a time which has never happened before on a mask.

It is the mask for me.

John

pedroski · Post by **pedroski** » Sat Jan 20, 2007 6:42 am

Hi fellow hosehead,

I don't think it's a one size fits all deal, we all have different tastes and facial shapes etc. I use the Swift II and love it.

Peter

SelfSeeker · Post by **SelfSeeker** » Sat Jan 20, 2007 7:07 am

Hello and welcome to the boards.

Like others mentioned, everyone is different. Diffrent facial structure plays a major role in the comfort of an interface.

I tried both the Swift and Comfort Curve. I was not pleased with either.

I really like the Nasal Aire II, it is a prong system that goes in your nose. I am sure how that will work for you unless you are completely healed.

muld00n · Post by **muld00n** » Sat Jan 20, 2007 1:02 pm

Hi.

I have experience with the Swift and the Comfortlite II, both good masks.

The Swift is real light and comfortable, but is a bit noisy. I really like how simple it is to dissasemble and clean.

The Comfortlite II has a great headgear system and is extremely quite. I cannot use it in the winter months because I do get quite abit of rainout with the CL II.

Hope this helps
Steve

rested gal · Post by **rested gal** » Sat Jan 20, 2007 1:19 pm

Most every nasal pillows interface I've tried suited me fine. I personally like them in this order:

Invacare Twilight NP (formerly called the "Aura" and the "Headrest") Far and away my favorite for a long time now.

Respironics ComfortLite 2

Puritan Bennett Breeze

The original Swift was too noisy for me. But it suits many people. I haven't tried the Swift 2.

Be prepared to add your own "fix" to a mask if it almost suits you but there's just some little something about it that gives you a problem.

For example, any one of these fixes or combo thereof:

1. an extra strap to steady the pillows or headgear.

2. rubber band, or trash ties, or fishing line to pull the pillows assembly in a bit closer.

3. removing headgear or parts of the headgear and substituting another interface's headgear (or your own homemade straps.)

Below is a clickable link to many topics about quite a few masks. Usually the first several topics on each mask's link have pictures and descriptions of some of the most commonly used "fixes".

LINKS to MASKS - nasal mask, nasal pillows, nasal prongs
viewtopic.php?p=35286

oldgearhead · Post by **oldgearhead** » Sat Jan 20, 2007 1:30 pm

I'm a side-sleeper and I use two nasal pillow masks:

1) The ComfortLite2 with nasal pillows (or I sometimes use the Simple Cushion for a change).

2) The Hybrid - Its a full-face mask with nasal pillows. I sleep sounder,
dream more, and feel better when using this mask. However, if you are
like me, I can get sick and tired of any mask after a few weeks. That's
why its always a good idea to have more than one so you can switch..

Bookbear · Post by **Bookbear** » Sat Jan 20, 2007 7:08 pm

I have used the Breeze for over 7 months now, and have had good results with it. Because the hose exits at the top of the head, it is suited for "all position' sleepers such as yourself.

Jere · Post by **Jere** » Sat Jan 20, 2007 8:29 pm

I have been using the "Everest Aura Twilight NP Nasal CPAP Interface" (what a dumb name) for a year and a half and wont go back to anything else. Of course, I employ the famous rubber band trick.

sleepyWI · Post by **sleepyWI** » Sat Jan 20, 2007 9:40 pm

I have used the Swift, the CL2 and the Aura. The Swift will never again touch my face...I found it useless. The CL2 and Aura are both great masks. The Aura is more comfortable, the CL2 quieter. If I could hybridize these two I'd be in heaven. Right now I need the quiet and I lean towards the CL2. I have never had any rainout problem with it and use a version of the garbage tie fix using fishing line and snap swivels (been meaning to post a pic). It never leaks and I am an active sleeper.

gracie97 · Post by **gracie97** » Sat Jan 20, 2007 10:19 pm

Have used the Aura/Twilight for over a year and think it is great. I'm usually a side, almost stomach sleeper. It has woken me only 2 or 3 times in all that time.

(I use the Aura rubber band fix and a piece of hooky Velcro glued/stapled to the back band.)

First interface was Breeze: It woke me 4-5 times per night. Struggled with it for a couple months before bleeding sores in nose forced me to try another...

Second interface was Swift: Not so rough on nose but still woke me several times/night. Couldn't sleep 3/4 way on stomach -- hated that. The noise and the way it vented really bugged me too.

apneaicinisrael · Post by **apneaicinisrael** » Sun Jan 21, 2007 3:51 am

Hi all,

I am a devout user of nasal pillows. I started with the Breeze, used it for 4 months happily but had a problem with sore nostrils. I adjusted pretty well to the headgear, and found it nice and stable when I side and stomach slept. Now I have been using the Comfort Lite II, for more than 1/2 year and I love it! Do have an occasional leak issue but it is fixable. I find that in my sleep I just angle my head upwards and the pillow pushes a bit and the leak stops. I could do the same with one of the "fixes" noted in other posts, just haven't found the need. My main "gripe" with the CL-2 (I use the nasal pillows, "simple pillows") is that there is this "t" piece made of soft metal on the nasal attachment, necessary to stabilize the pillows, but it sometimes "pops out" of its place in the middle of the night and it is a pain in the neck. Usually if I remember to make sure it is snuggly pushed in before I go to sleep, then it stays ok all night. But on the whole it is great. Quiet. I sometimes find myself touching my nose just to make sure it is still there!

What is the Optilife?

My next mask will probably be the Aura (or whatever its new name is)...

Swift wasn't good for me, side vent even routed upwards interfered with my stomach sleeping, and it was noisy and pressed on my upper lip.

That's my 2 cents!
AII

NightHawkeye · Post by **NightHawkeye** » Sun Jan 21, 2007 7:42 am

ca_hosehead wrote:So which one do you think I should try? Optilife? Swift? Breeze? ComfortLite?

Of these, I've used both the Swift and the ComfortLite II. The pillows on the Swift are more flexible than the ComfortLite's, but the Swift is noisy and prone to move around a lot. With the Swift you can expect to wake up repeatedly through the night to reposition the mask. With the ComfortLite, however, you may find that the mask doesn't have enough adjustment range to fit your nose.

With both the Swift and ComfortLite, I found that my nostrils were constantly sore. The tips of the insides of my nostrils were constantly scabbed over when I used these masks and I could not find a way to prevent that. Nasal pillows interfaces work best if you have round nares (nostrils). Since my nares are more slotted than round, the pillows didn't work all that well for me. I kept searching for a better mask and finally came up with the Comfort Curve. The Comfort Curve works similarly to a pillows interface, except that it snugs flat up against the base of your nostrils and doesn't go into the nares the way pillows do. That solved the sore nostril problem I was having. Of course, folks tend to either love the Comfort Curve or hate it, depending upon whether or not they can get it to work for them.

Just my experience. Good luck.

Regards,
Bill

Scuba_Steve · Post by **Scuba_Steve** » Sun Jan 21, 2007 7:56 am

I toss and turn a lot in my sleep, plus I mouth breath, so I switched to a full face mask. I had to wear a chin strap with it which I really hated, and it shifted out of position every time I rolled over. But the Swift was very comfortable and quiet for me. If I could learn to stay in one position all night and keep my mouth closed I'd love the Swift.

What nasal pillow do you like?

What nasal pillow do you like?

Re: What nasal pillow do you like?

Re: What nasal pillow do you like?

I used the Swift

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