Nasal Pillow Masks...

jennie_len · Post by **jennie_len** » Thu Apr 05, 2007 6:29 am

Good morning all--

I am trying to find out what mask(s) I should try out, since the one I am currently using is quickly becoming an enemy...

And I am interested in the nasal devices. But I am wondering which ones seem to be the most popular. I am curious about the Breeze https://www.cpap.com/productpage/purita ... llows.html, but I am a back AND side sleeper, and I am wondering if the hose would limit me to only sleeping on my side.

Does anyone have this specific mask? Or what other ones do you suggest. My main concern is to get the straps away from my face.

I appreciate any comments....I am new to all of this, and you guys have been awesome!!!

Hurricane · Post by **Hurricane** » Thu Apr 05, 2007 6:47 am

Gennie, I use the Swift pillow system, and Though I have 3 other type masks, I always seem to go back to the Swift. I like the idea I can see with it on to watch tv if I want to, and I can still sleep on my side when I feel like. Other masks would always move if I slept on my side, although no mask is perfect, its really a personal choice in choosing and liking one.
Good luck in your cpap journey.
Ed

jennie_len · Post by **jennie_len** » Thu Apr 05, 2007 6:55 am

Ok, I like the way this one looks like it would not keep me from moving on my back, to my side....

tangents · Post by **tangents** » Thu Apr 05, 2007 7:24 am

Hi Jennie, welcome to the forum! I'm new to this myself, but started with the same mask you did, couldn't get it to seal, and decided to go with nasal pillows. I bought the Invacare Twilight NP Aura, and what I like about it is that you can sleep on EITHER side, which I do. A couple of hints I got from this forum have helped a lot, too.
1. Wear your hair in a low pony tail, if you can. You can pull it through the cap to keep it anchored.
2. Tie a soft, stretchy piece of material (women's stockings, T-Shirt material, etc.) under your nose and around to the back of your head. This really helps keep the seal while you move around in bed.

Good luck in your search for mask nirvana!

jennie_len · Post by **jennie_len** » Thu Apr 05, 2007 7:47 am

I just checked out the twilight and measured my nose to see what fit would work.... and my nose is too small. Does anyone know of a nasal pillow made for really small baby noses?!

whatrdreamsmadeof · Post by **whatrdreamsmadeof** » Thu Apr 05, 2007 7:51 am

I love the breeze and it was my 15th mask.........it's a very personal decision so good luck.....Ellen

DreamStalker · Post by **DreamStalker** » Thu Apr 05, 2007 5:32 pm

Hi Jennie –

I have tried the Breeze, Swift, Adams Circuit, Comfort Light 2, Opus, and the Hybrid (which is sort’a like merge between a nasal pillow and full-face mask). So far the Breeze has worked out best for me although I did have to modify it (the metal spine and the triangular base at the back just didn’t work for me so I hacked them off). I have yet to try the Aura/Twilight/Headrest or the OptiLife but hope to before the end of the year.

All of them have worked for me to some degree … some not as good as others. Some are louder than others … some are more stable on your head than others … and some are prone to rainout more than others. It is indeed a personal thing, mask interfaces they are. So you may need to modify one to suit your needs and the nasal pillow interfaces are the most versatile for such experimentation. Most importantly, you do need to make certain that you don’t leak pressure from your mouth while asleep or the treatment will not work. Try ‘em all I say … ‘tis the only way!

Good luck!

RichCMH · Post by **RichCMH** » Thu Apr 05, 2007 6:17 pm

I'll chip in my two cents...

OptiLife!! http://optilife.respironics.com/

Opus leaks. ComfortLite2 just has too much headgear and if I could stay in one position all night, I would have no leaks with it!

KimberlyinMN · Post by **KimberlyinMN** » Thu Apr 05, 2007 7:37 pm

I have a fairly small nose and my absolute favorite interface right now is the ComfortLite 2. I am mostly a side sleeper but also find myself laying on my back. The hose connector at the top of the interface has a nice swivel on it to help guide the hose. (I have the hose routed down along my left side, kind of under my arm.)

Also, I think I have a fairly small nose, but I use the medium size nasal pillows. I also use the Pad-a-Cheeks forehead cover. I love this mask!!

https://www.cpap.com/productpage/Comfor ... -Mask.html

Kimberly

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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): hose

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Apr 05, 2007 7:42 pm

i like Optilife best of the two kinds I have tried. It works fine for me sleeping on both sides and changing positions quite a few times during the night. Comes with four sizes of pillows.

The only other mask I have used is the Comfort Gel. Had trouble with it causing a little swelling on my face and some leakage, though.

Bookbear · Post by **Bookbear** » Thu Apr 05, 2007 8:13 pm

I've used a Breeze for almost a year now. I like it. The hose does not limit me in turning from side to side (I have a hook over the bed and the hose is suspended from it, and of course, the Breeze's hose exits over your head anyway). I sleep on both sides, alternating in the night. The hard pad at the base of my skull hasn't bothered me much, my pillow seems to cushion that for me. If you use an especially firm pillow, you might find that it would bother. The breeze is light in weight and about as unobtrusive as an interface can be. It has multiple adjustment points, so getting a good fit is pretty easy.

Although I never wear my glasses with my Breeze, I know some people do read or watch TV before dropping off to sleep; so note that glasses can be worn with the Breeze, but you must remove the mask to remove your glasses. Likewise, to put on glasses, you must remove the mask first, put on your glasses, then replace the mask.

That said, masks are highly individual things. What works wonders for one is an absolute disaster for another. So feel free to try others and know that getting a good mask takes time. I would give the Breeze a shot, though. Just my 57 cents....

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blarg · Post by **blarg** » Fri Apr 06, 2007 2:41 am

Since nobody else has pounced on this yet, I'd highly recommend a Twilight NP mask from Invacare. I have a swift and sleep on my side/stomach, and I hated the hose being fixed to a particular side. I also didn't like the rigidity of the headgear.

sleepyWI · Post by **sleepyWI** » Fri Apr 06, 2007 4:47 am

I have tried the Swift, Aura, and the CL2. I am a confirmed CL2 user, although it needs some minor modification. There are lots of posts here about getting the CL2 to work. I foundthe Swift to be loud, leaky and painful, and it would not let me side sleep. THe Aura is the most comfortable and leak-proof mask I have ever used but it is a little too loud for me. The CL2 is relatively quiet, and with the modifications it is pretty stable. I toss and turn and sleep on both sides (not at the same time ) and the mask performs well.

cohodependent · Post by **cohodependent** » Fri Apr 06, 2007 4:49 am

Here is my .02. I have a deviated Septum and am unable to tolerate a Nasal Pillow type mask due to pain. But my expirence while fitting patients with the various types goes like this...

The Breeze can be a very good product if you can get it to fit just right. Since they changed the design it can be very hard to get it to fit well all night. The other thing that I am seeing, is it tends to dialate the nostrils over time.

The Swift is one of my go to mask. Usually easy to fit, but can be too narrow for patients with a wide face. I wish it came with more pillow sizes and extenders to make it wider. It has two flaws in my mind. The hose comes out the side of the mask, so depending on where your face is in relation to the pillow, you can dislodge the mask slightly causing a leak. Not usually a big deal, just takes some getting used to. The other thing is the amound of air blasting out the vents in the front of the mask. If you roll over and blast your spouse in the back of the neck, you will probably be getting an elbow and told to point that thing some where else.

The Opti-life is our newest mask in our lab. So far I like it. It does not fit every ones nose though, and can take some adjusting to get a good fit. I like the fact that there are petite sized pillows that come with it. It may become my "Go To" mask soon, but it will take some more time to know for sure.

So, that being said, I would suggest trying them all if you can. Make sure that you get a good fit and lay down in the various positions that you would normally sleep in to check fit.

One thing to keep in mind is how much pressure you are on. I have found that with some of the Nasal Pillow type mask, the higher the pressure, the more tendency to have the mask actually push out of the nostrils. Usually it is some thing that can be fixed with more strap tention, but not always. I will occationally have to go in and change the patients mask due to leak issues. That is why I always fit as many mask as I need in order to have a 2nd mask as a back up.

Good luck!

KimberlyinMN · Post by **KimberlyinMN** » Fri Apr 06, 2007 4:33 pm

What's really weird is when I wake up in the morning and think that the machine isn't working. I can't even feel the air pressure in my nose with the CL2. Now THAT is cool! (This happens with the ComfortCurve too.) For me, the CL2 is the quietest interface I've ever tried. It seems so weird to me, though, that I can't feel that air being shot up my nose. I lay there and breathe through my nose... just wondering if the machine quit or something. Then I pull the pillows a little and hear the air blowing. "Hmmm... okay." I put them back in and go back to sleep for a few more minutes until my DH's alarm goes off.

Kimberly

Machine	Mask

Additional Comments: Avg. AHI .4

Nasal Pillow Masks...

Nasal Pillow Masks...

thx!

breeze

Nasal Pillow Masks