Nasal Pillow causing windburn in nostrils and on face

[unclematt]

I've been using the new mask 2 nights. I put the pillows slightly inside each nostril. The air creates a burning sensation and it also shoots cold air onto my face which obviously is not comfortable. What am I doing wrong?

[JZ]

Is this the first time you have used nasal pillows? If so, it can feel unpleasant at first and takes a little getting used to. I apply a tiny dab of Ayr Gel nasal gel to the edges of my nares and just inside the nostrils. This helps get a better seal and can help heal any irritated spots.

If you are getting cold air in the face, you have air leaking from the pillows. The problem could be that they are not properly seated or that you are using the wrong size pillows. Also, be sure to play around with the tilting adjustment to these pillows.

You can also try using a humidifier or turning up your humidifier to make the air going into your nostrils more comfortable.

[unclematt]

One person told me that the pillows were not supposed to be inserted into the nostrils. That did not make sense to me. I'll keep trying until I get it right. I figured the air on my face meant it was leaking. I don't know what Ayr Gel is. Is it some type of gel/lotion like vaseline?

I wish I had a DME that had OSA so that they would know more about it.

[rosiefrosie]

I wish I had a DME that had OSA so that they would know more about it.

We all do.

rosie

[GaryG]

One person told me that the pillows were not supposed to be inserted into the nostrils. That did not make sense to me. I'll keep trying until I get it right. I figured the air on my face meant it was leaking. I don't know what Ayr Gel is. Is it some type of gel/lotion like vaseline?

I wish I had a DME that had OSA so that they would know more about it.

Here's a link from CVS for Ayr Gel. You can also find it at Walgreens, Amazon, etc.
http://www.cvs.com/CVSApp/catalog/shop_ ... navCount=3

[plumtuckered]

I wish I had a DME that had OSA so that they would know more about it.

We all do.

rosie

The RT at the DME I am using does have OSA, but he is either one of those who thinks the script is a decree from God and not to be questioned, or he just keeps any knowledge to himself. Whichever, he has not been very helpful and has even given me incorrect answers. Like..."the S8 Escape II is fully data capable, that's why we prefer it for all our patients"!

Mike

[klutzo]

Hi,
I had bad windburn, redness, swelling and prickling with any type of mask, which is why I got nasal pillows. I can't imagine how you could have windburn with pillows unless they are much too small and leaking air onto your cheeks.

I had the cold air problem at first too, plus pain in the nostrils from drying.

I solved the pain by putting KY jelly in my nostrils. It took about 3 weeks to get "hardened" enough that I no longer needed it. Make sure you do not use a petroleum product, like Vasoline, as I was told it can ruin your nasal pillows the same way it ruins condoms!

I solved the cold air rushing feeling by getting pillows one size larger, a tip that I got from a DME owner on this forum. The pillows should be large enough that it feels just like normal breathing, and the plastic part of the gear that holds the pillows should not touch your face.

klutzo

[unclematt]

Now I'm more ticked off at my DME for not giving me all 3 sizes of pillows. I only got the medium. I thought it was odd in that the bag it came in was labelled "Resmed replacement parts".

Arrhhh! You can't get good health care in this country even when you pay for it with your own money.

[unclematt]

Oh, thanks to the link for Ayr Gel!

[Muse-Inc]

...Vasoline...

It can be inhaled and cause a horrible problem in the lungs...dangerous.

[JZ]

I recommend you contact your DME and tell them you are not sure that the medium pillow is the right size and that you need the large and small that were supposed to be part of your mask kit. Any decent DME would provide that to you, IMHO.

When you talk about whether or not the pillows are to be inserted into the nostrils, I'm not sure what you mean. With the Swift LT only the edge of the pillow is just barely inside the nares. The vast majority of the pillow is outside the nares. The air pressure should push against that leading edge of the pillow and seal it against your nostril.

I have a love/hate relationship with my Swift LT. The headgear is by far the most comfortable one I have used (particularly with Pad-a-Cheek covers -- http://www.padacheek.com/). The pillows are pretty comfortable, too. Some nights, though, I fight and fight with the pillows to get a good seal. And as others have discussed here, the pillows now seem to be made of an inferior material that allows more leaks and allows the pillows to wear out quickly.

And, Muse-Inc is right -- it is somewhat risky to put Vasoline or any product containing petroleum jelly or mineral oil in your nostrils.

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/petrol ... ly/AN00947

[klutzo]

Hello again. The tape went on fine after I ditched the tissue idea, but my body will not allow me to go to sleep with it on. It is 3:30 am and I've not been to sleep at all. My day tomorrow will be disastrous as a result. I had to take the tape off, and once my next round of pills works, hopefully get some rest.

TO JZ and MUSE - If you read my post where I answered the lubrication question someone had, you'll find that I was also warning against using Vasoline, not recommending it. I said that I used KY Jelly. The Vasoline destroys the pillows, as I stated.

TO MUSE - I do have all 3 pillow sizes, after asking to try them. Medium is the right size for me, though I was originally told to use small. My pillows last just fine. I can easily use the same pair for over a year if I want, even though I wash them daily. When they are dry, I use a q-tip to wipe out the hard water deposits, which would be a huge problem where we live if I did not wear the medium, which is clear so I can see them.

[klutzo]

Hello again. The tape went on fine after I ditched the tissue idea, but my body will not allow me to go to sleep with it on. It is 3:30 am and I've not been to sleep at all. My day tomorrow will be disastrous as a result. I had to take the tape off, and once my next round of pills works, hopefully get some rest.

TO JZ and MUSE - If you read my post where I answered the lubrication question someone had, you'll find that I was also warning against using Vasoline, not recommending it. I said that I used KY Jelly. The Vasoline destroys the pillows, as I stated.

TO MUSE - I do have all 3 pillow sizes, after asking to try them. Medium is the right size for me, though I was originally told to use small. My pillows last just fine. I can easily use the same pair for over a year if I want, even though I wash them daily. When they are dry, I use a q-tip to wipe out the hard water deposits, which would be a huge problem where we live if I did not wear the medium, which is clear so I can see them.

[TheDreamer]

One person told me that the pillows were not supposed to be inserted into the nostrils. That did not make sense to me. I'll keep trying until I get it right. I figured the air on my face meant it was leaking. I don't know what Ayr Gel is. Is it some type of gel/lotion like vaseline?

I wish I had a DME that had OSA so that they would know more about it.

That one person is right, nasal pillows do not get inserted into the nostrils.

Somewhere I saw that you size by finding the largest pillow that isn't too large.

IIRC, there's a video somewhere on here that described this.

The Dreamer.

[rested gal]

When you talk about whether or not the pillows are to be inserted into the nostrils, I'm not sure what you mean. With the Swift LT only the edge of the pillow is just barely inside the nares. The vast majority of the pillow is outside the nares. The air pressure should push against that leading edge of the pillow and seal it against your nostril.

I agree with JZ. The tips of the nasal pillows ARE inserted just inside the openings of the nostrils (just inside the nares.)

If the person who told you "the pillows were not supposed to be inserted into the nostrils" meant that no part of the nasal pillows is positioned inside the nostrils at all, that person was telling you wrong, imho.

If the person meant that nasal pillows are not supposed to be crammed way up inside the nostrils the way a considerable portion of a nasal prong (like the Nasal Aire II) has to be snugly shoved inside, that person was telling you right.

Good advice from JZ:

If you are getting cold air in the face, you have air leaking from the pillows. The problem could be that they are not properly seated or that you are using the wrong size pillows. Also, be sure to play around with the tilting adjustment to these pillows.

You can also try using a humidifier or turning up your humidifier to make the air going into your nostrils more comfortable.

There should never be even the least hint of air blowing out from around where your nasal pillows are against your nostril openings.

After you get the right size nasal pillows (usually a size larger than the DME thinks would fit) and get them tilted/turned just right, if you still feel some air seeping out of your nostrils, it's sometimes helpful to put an extra strap around your head -- to cradle the pillows and keep them from moving out of place when you move your head. I would not be able to use the nasal pillows mask that's been my favorite for over three years, if I didn't tie an extra strap (the leg cut off a pair of pantyhose tights) around it. Here are some ways to route an extra homemade strap or two, to stabilize nasal pillows: