Yesterday I spoke with a CPAP specialist who is looking after about 1200 CPAP patients. He told me that you have to be careful with nasal pillows because they can mould your nose out of shape!
He tells me that he has had long term users of the breeze who have had them a little tight against the septum of their noses and over time they have re-shaped their noses making them turn upwards!!
Also, he told me to move down a size on my swift for the same reason. Because the nares (is that the right word for nostrils?) are cartilage, they can be reshaped by using pillows that are too big!!! Has anyone else heard of this Have you seen or heard of people remoulding the shape of their nose by long term use of nasal pillows? I would like to hear your comments and thoughts on this one.
sir_cumference
Danger to your nose from nasal pillows!?!
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sir_cumference
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Newsgrouper
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Why would this be a "danger?" Minor re-shaping of body parts occur all the time. Heck, my entire body has re-shaped, for the worse. over the last forty or so years.
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Nose Job
Well, that might be nice if you always wanted a nose job!!
Sorry, couldn't resist. I have never heard that...ever. However, the Nasalaire caused nasal hemmorhaging and required 3 repairs to stop it. I would not wish that on anyone. My ENT told me to never, ever, ever wear anything that was inserted into the nares, even a minute amount for 3 reasons: 1. I had already had trouble and was at risk for having further trouble. I use a lot of nasal steroids which . overtime, really thins all the membranes. 2. He actually examined nasal pillows and told me they probably work for many people but that he really did not believe in blowing an "air compressor" up your nose. He thought elevated pressures would also cause me more nasal bleeding..even if minor. 3. He did not understand the concept of how one shape, even in a variety of sizes, would accomodate all nares. His final comment was "your nares are not round."
That is pretty much all I know on the subject...which does not amount to a hill of beans.
However, if you ever hear of an interface that would elevate my cheekbones, I would definitely be interested!!!!!!
If you have ever read "Little Women"...she tried to fix her nose with a clothespin..that did not work either. Interesting question however!
A final thought....if you are young and still growing, I can understand the concept of structure being altered by a device...not sure if it applies here however. Would have something to do with physical dynamics which makes my head twirl!!
Sorry, couldn't resist. I have never heard that...ever. However, the Nasalaire caused nasal hemmorhaging and required 3 repairs to stop it. I would not wish that on anyone. My ENT told me to never, ever, ever wear anything that was inserted into the nares, even a minute amount for 3 reasons: 1. I had already had trouble and was at risk for having further trouble. I use a lot of nasal steroids which . overtime, really thins all the membranes. 2. He actually examined nasal pillows and told me they probably work for many people but that he really did not believe in blowing an "air compressor" up your nose. He thought elevated pressures would also cause me more nasal bleeding..even if minor. 3. He did not understand the concept of how one shape, even in a variety of sizes, would accomodate all nares. His final comment was "your nares are not round."
That is pretty much all I know on the subject...which does not amount to a hill of beans.
However, if you ever hear of an interface that would elevate my cheekbones, I would definitely be interested!!!!!!
If you have ever read "Little Women"...she tried to fix her nose with a clothespin..that did not work either. Interesting question however!
A final thought....if you are young and still growing, I can understand the concept of structure being altered by a device...not sure if it applies here however. Would have something to do with physical dynamics which makes my head twirl!!
Life is not a dress rehearsal
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rested gal
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I use nasal pillows on both my Breeze and my Aura that are larger than most DMEs would fit people with -- including "professionals" who deal with 1200 patients (not all of whom wear a Breeze, I'm sure.)
"Larger" nasal pillows than most DMEs tend to give people are more comfortable, imho. "Larger" don't have to be crammed up inside the nostrils to get a good seal. "Larger" can sit more to the outside, with the open tip barely inside -- not really pressing hard against anything inside or outside in front of the nostrils. Pillows work best (imho) by resting gently against the outside of the nares, not pushed up inside.
It's rather odd to me that the "1200 patients caregiver" talked about how pushing against the outside of the septum (cartilege that separates the nostrils) wasn't a good thing, and then recommends going to a "smaller" size in, say, the Swift's pillows.
"Smaller" often means more propensity to spring leaks around the pillows, which could lead a person to tightening straps more trying to get a seal...consequently pushing everything even more against the front of the nostril area.
Everyone is different, but I'd not worry for one minute about nasal pillows (or prongs like the NA II has, for that matter) changing the shape or tilt of the nostrils in a truly objectionable way. I'm sure it could happen in a few individuals, but I doubt it would be such a drastic change that even they should "be careful with" or avoid nasal pillows interfaces.
2listless's problem was bleeding - whether from having a pillows size that had to be shoved in too much, or from the air flow itself...or both. With nasal membranes that had bleeding problems, I'd avoid that kind of interface, too.
For most people, however, nasal pillows (or for some, prongs) seem to be far more leakproof and more comfortably cushy to wear than other delivery systems -- the miraculous Activa being the only exception, imho, in the "covers the nose" category.
It's a good thing there are so many different kinds of interfaces. Hope everyone finds the one that works best for him/her without having to start a second mask discards drawer! LOL!!
"Larger" nasal pillows than most DMEs tend to give people are more comfortable, imho. "Larger" don't have to be crammed up inside the nostrils to get a good seal. "Larger" can sit more to the outside, with the open tip barely inside -- not really pressing hard against anything inside or outside in front of the nostrils. Pillows work best (imho) by resting gently against the outside of the nares, not pushed up inside.
It's rather odd to me that the "1200 patients caregiver" talked about how pushing against the outside of the septum (cartilege that separates the nostrils) wasn't a good thing, and then recommends going to a "smaller" size in, say, the Swift's pillows.
"Smaller" often means more propensity to spring leaks around the pillows, which could lead a person to tightening straps more trying to get a seal...consequently pushing everything even more against the front of the nostril area.
Everyone is different, but I'd not worry for one minute about nasal pillows (or prongs like the NA II has, for that matter) changing the shape or tilt of the nostrils in a truly objectionable way. I'm sure it could happen in a few individuals, but I doubt it would be such a drastic change that even they should "be careful with" or avoid nasal pillows interfaces.
2listless's problem was bleeding - whether from having a pillows size that had to be shoved in too much, or from the air flow itself...or both. With nasal membranes that had bleeding problems, I'd avoid that kind of interface, too.
For most people, however, nasal pillows (or for some, prongs) seem to be far more leakproof and more comfortably cushy to wear than other delivery systems -- the miraculous Activa being the only exception, imho, in the "covers the nose" category.
It's a good thing there are so many different kinds of interfaces. Hope everyone finds the one that works best for him/her without having to start a second mask discards drawer! LOL!!
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rested gal
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Oy Oy Oynk!
O.
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Good advice is compromised by missing data
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wading thru the muck!
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sir_cumference
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sir_cumference
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...don't noses ( and ears) grow for your whole life anyway? This will just ensure that the nares grow to match...
I agree with the school of thought that says the smaller the pillow the harder you have to cram it in to avoid massive leaking. I have Aura, medium has to be painfully tight not to leak, large works with very light strap pressure.
I also think its good to be able to switch interfaces when necessary. I go from Aura to IQ and back. That might help limit nare stretching.
And if all else fails, you could start a new fashion trend, like I have seen in Nat'l Geographic, encourage the view that enlarged nares are the ultimate in ideal beauty/rugged good looks (pick the one that suits you best....)
ok...that was just silly.
sorry
I agree with the school of thought that says the smaller the pillow the harder you have to cram it in to avoid massive leaking. I have Aura, medium has to be painfully tight not to leak, large works with very light strap pressure.
I also think its good to be able to switch interfaces when necessary. I go from Aura to IQ and back. That might help limit nare stretching.
And if all else fails, you could start a new fashion trend, like I have seen in Nat'l Geographic, encourage the view that enlarged nares are the ultimate in ideal beauty/rugged good looks (pick the one that suits you best....)
ok...that was just silly.
sorry
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sleeplesssue
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Hey, I've always wanted a shorter, wider nose! Maybe it will work. I'll let you know. Oh yeah, my pillows sit mostly outside the nost and seal against the bottom part of the nares. Mine aren't round either, but it works pretty well anyway. The holes in my pillows aren't round either. I just angle the oval holes in the same direction as my nostrils are angled and wallah, perfect fit. I can see I'm going to be working on a whole new set of wrinkles over the bridge of my nose, but I'm not setting a mask on the wrinkles I've been working on along the sides of my nose and corners of my mouth anymore. If you sleep on your cheek you're going to get a wrinkle from your cheek being pressed up against your nose. I hate that one. I'll take the wrinkles on the bridge of the nose instead. At least I won't look so much like somebody is grabbing my face and smashing my cheeks togething like my grandma.
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littlebaddow
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littlebaddow
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