The mask size guide

[rested gal]

When the "mask size guide" was added to cpap.com, I thought, "What a great idea!"

Out of curiosity, I played around with it some this evening. Came up with some interesting results.

Using exactly the same measurements for my face, the guide came up with "small/medium" pillows for the Breeze if I clicked that I was a woman (which I am!!) But if I clicked male gender (putting in same measurements, mind) it came up with "medium/large" pillows. If it matters, each of my measurements was slightly smaller than the marks shown on the ruler in the pictures.

Maybe there are a lot of women out there using "small" pillows with the Breeze, but I'd just about bet on this: If most women have to move to a different size than Medium, they're better off going to Large for a better seal outside and against the nostril openings, rather than trying to go to a "Small", which is going to spring little leaks for most, I fear.

I have a small nose and small oval nares. The Large nasal pillows for the Breeze work great for me. I can get along with the Medium, but Large seals even better...for me. I've tried using the "Small" pillows several times -- they sprang tiny constant leaks like crazy. You all (cpap.com) might want to start recommending Medium and Large pillows for the Breeze, regardless of gender.

In the same way that men who need Extra Large have to ask for that size specifically, women who need Small could ask for that. I really do think Medium or Large will fit more women than would the "small" in nasal pillows.

One other thing...I think you might be unnecessarily discouraging people from trying (hey, that means "buying!" lol!! ) nasal pillows masks based on having "slotted" nares.

Again, I put all measurements in the same, but this time chose "slotted" nares. Not a single nasal pillows interface came up.

So..... in lab rat spirit, I taped my nose so that I had slotted nares! I even placed my fingers lightly against the sides of my nostrils to be sure my nares stayed slotted when the air flow started. I used a straight single pressure of 11 for this little test.

Breeze (still with Large pillows), Aura, and Swift all worked fine with my ersatz plastic surgeon-ized slotted nares. No leaking. The pillows tips of all three interfaces stayed barely in, right where they are supposed to be "just barely inside" - not crammed in - whether one has round or slotted nares.

If "slotted" nares have been ruled out based on concern that the pillows might press uncomfortably against the septum inside, I don't think that would be any more of a problem for slotted nares people than it already is for round nares folks. Using an adequate size of nasal pillows in the first place, and having headgear that fits well and stays put are the keys to getting along comfortably with nasal pillows. It's not a matter of nares shape at all, imho.

If anything, the slotted nares folks might even get along better with nasal pillows than the round nares do...narrow, slotted nares keeping more of the nasal pillows sitting against the outside of the nostrils, which makes for a good seal, imho.

Of course, everyone's mileage varies and there are tons of other variables that make an interface work for one person and not for another. I don't think the shape of the nares is as important as the mask size guide is making it out to be.


I believe I'd drop that particular sizing question about round vs slotted nares. May be causing a lot of slotted nares people to not even try some of the more comfortable nasal pillows interfaces - for no good reason.

For measuring for traditional nasal and FF masks, the size guide pictures are very helpful. Good job!

[wading thru the muck!]

When the "mask size guide" was added to cpap.com, I thought, "What a great idea!"

Out of curiosity, I played around with it some this evening. Came up with some interesting results.

Using exactly the same measurements for my face, the guide came up with "small/medium" pillows for the Breeze if I clicked that I was a woman (which I am!!) But if I clicked male gender (putting in same measurements, mind) it came up with "medium/large" pillows ...the large nasal pillows for the Breeze work great for me..

RG, 60 years of thinking that you were a woman and now Johnny's mask sizing guide has revealed your true gender.

ROTFL!!!

Do we have to start calling you rested guy???

[rested gal]

ROTFL! Shoot, if you hadn't figured it out already from my using the LARGE nasal pillows..... LOL!!

[MaskedMan]

I do not have unusually large appendages nor any freak facial or nasal features that I've noticed - but, the sizing guide only suggests full face masks for me. I think I'm doing all the measures right.

[Sleepless on LI]

Not only did I get the same results, with only the Breeze being recommended for me as far as a nasal pillow interface(staying quiet!!!), but Johnny wrote me a reply post and said that slotted nares are not the best for pillow interfaces. I will provide the link to it. I did not find this to be the case with the Swift. Works just fine with thinner, slotted nares as opposed to rounded.

viewtopic.php?t=4357&highlight=aura

I personally, also, don't think the gender really matters when it comes to nares. Maybe head size, but not nares. You can be a woman with the same or even larger sized nose than a man. I don't think that follows logic that if you're a woman, you automatically need smaller pillows for an interface that uses them.

[rested gal]

but, the sizing guide only suggests full face masks for me.

MaskedMan, you probably meant to say the guide recommended full face masks and nasal masks for you.

"Full Face" means a mask that covers nose and mouth together. "Nasal mask" is what we usually say when we're talking about a mask that covers just the nose -- not to be confused with "nasal pillows" interfaces which seal at the nostril openings (the infamous nares!) Nasal pillows interfaces don't cover the whole snout the way traditional looking "nasal masks" do.

Although, to confuse ya further, technically nasal pillows really are just another type of "nasal" interface for cpap.

You must have said "yes" to having "slotted nares"?

Wonder what the people who have oval nares decide to choose? Hope they pick "round" so they'll not be dissuaded from trying nasal pillows interfaces.

Heaven forbid that an interface as good as the Swift is for most people be ruled out in favor of.... the Vista, of all things!

[wading thru the muck!]

...You must have said "yes" to having "slotted nares"?

Wonder what the people who have oval nares decide to choose? Hope they pick "round" so they'll not be dissuaded from trying nasal pillows interfaces.

Me too!!!

IMO everyone should try to find a nasal pillow interface that works for them. These interfaces will give you the most natural sleep experience a cpaper can get.

[WAFlowers]

Do we have to start calling you rested guy???

If she can call me a woman (but I notice she didn't call me a lady ) then I can call her a man!