What is your favorite nasal PILLOW mask?

[WilsonVilleUSA]

I've used the OptiLife, it was ok but the tube doesn't rotate. After that I used the Swift LT and it was an improvement. I am now using the Swift FX and LOVE it. It is like having almost nothing on at all. It is very light weight, low drag, comfortable for side sleeping. I can't imagine any improvement that can be made over it.

[Amigo]

The Adam Circuit is the only nasal pillow headgear I've used for the past seven years.

It's amazingly unobtrusive, light weight, and very comfortable for a side sleeper.

I've never been tempted to try anything else even though I realize it's very "retro."

[rosacer]

jdm2857

I attach two ponytails together (it make them longer, you need 4 ponytails to make 2 , ok?). Then I attach the long ponytail around the horizontal frame (square beige plastic sliding piece) on top of the head, one on each side. From there I stretch the ponytail and go to pass it around the rounded part of the beige frame in front of the mask. I bought it on internet.

Because that part of the frame is rounded and the ponytail is only passed around it will have tendency to slide, I put one drop of hot glue (the one you put with a hot glue gun) on each side of the rounded frame. The ponytails will not touch your face and you can disconnect it from the front and still stay attached from the top. You can use something else elastic and attach it where you are able to. The idea is to pull back the pillows a bit toward you nostrils to ensure a good sealing the night when you sleep and move, without needing to push it up (with the mask slider) or to use the tights around your face.

If you want to have more ideas make a research on Headrest deconstruction. I can't post images, sorry.

I know this mask needs some tweaks but IMHO it worth the work. The velcro strap was too long for my big head, so I cut it and sewed it back on to make the strap shorter. I forgot to mention you can adjust the mask moving the pillows up and down, front and back and change the shape of the U using the metal wire inside the pillows.

I like to know I will sleep the whole night without pillows popping up or having to buy pillows each 2 months. But that's only me the practical one, if you are not the type of person who enjoy fixing things this mask is provably not for you. In that case you will need to continue helping Resmed business to flourish

[dtsm]

My favorite nasal pillows mask is probably the AEIOMed Headrest. The one drawback is that it's a little noisy on inhale, but it has other features that make it a winner. It vents upward, out of the way (a huge benefit, in my opinion)!

I've recently been trying the ResMed Swift FX. The nasal pillows don't seem angled quite right.

I tried the Swift LT, Swift LT For Her, Swift II, ComfortLite 2, and OptiLife during mask fittings, and those didn't work for me.

I'm in similar boat to DreamOn - although the LT works best for me. But still trying to give the Headrest more time....

[jdm5]

Will just add the AEIOMed Headrest is my favorite (and only) mask; tried the Swift LT, Opus 360, Breeze, Hybrid...for me this is "the one". Nothing touches your face with it, and somehow it stays put throughout the night. Like someone else mentioned I just added a rubber band to provide some inward pressure.

[Janknitz]

I'm brand new to the FX after using the LT for her for a few months.

I LOVE the FX--it's the next best thing to sleeping naked! I love the soft headgear and nasal pillows. My numbers look very good on this mask, and they were already good to begin with.

But . . . (there's always a but!)

I'm having trouble with two issues:

1) The weight of the short hose tends to pull the pillows away from my nose. I've got it mostly under control by having the mask tighter than others seem to suggest it needs to be (but it's still very comfortable), but I still have to wake up and adjust the pillows a few times a night.

2) I don't like that angle that the exhaust air comes out. No matter how I position it, I'm either getting blown on directly, or the air is bouncing off my bedding back at me, and it's COLD. It's kind of nice on hot summer nights, but not so good on our cooler summer fog nights, and I know during winter this will be an issue.

I'm keeping my LT as a backup because I don't think I'm going to be happy in winter with the arctic blast. The LT's vent holes go straight out instead of down at a 45 degree angle, and I seem to be able to avoid the draft better with the LT.

I'm open to any suggestions about hose management with the FX. I HATE having the hose slither across my chest, so I lay it on the pillow alongside and slightly behind my head. Some nights I don't move around too much, but other nights it's a problem.

[Jettagram]

I'm having trouble with two issues:

1) The weight of the short hose tends to pull the pillows away from my nose. I've got it mostly under control by having the mask tighter than others seem to suggest it needs to be (but it's still very comfortable), but I still have to wake up and adjust the pillows a few times a night.

2) I don't like that angle that the exhaust air comes out. No matter how I position it, I'm either getting blown on directly, or the air is bouncing off my bedding back at me, and it's COLD. It's kind of nice on hot summer nights, but not so good on our cooler summer fog nights, and I know during winter this will be an issue.

I'm keeping my LT as a backup because I don't think I'm going to be happy in winter with the arctic blast. The LT's vent holes go straight out instead of down at a 45 degree angle, and I seem to be able to avoid the draft better with the LT.

I'm open to any suggestions about hose management with the FX. I HATE having the hose slither across my chest, so I lay it on the pillow alongside and slightly behind my head. Some nights I don't move around too much, but other nights it's a problem.

I agree. I have had my FX for almost a month, and went back to my LT a couple of nights ago. I can't stand waking up every hour or two because I pulled the pillows away from my face, or I'm laying on the hose. I don't like the cold air either, and notice more noise when it touches my pillow. I tried tying the hose to the top of my head, but the head gear slid around on my head (I have baby fine, very slippery hair). So, for now, it's the LT for me.

[Patrick A]

I like the OptiLife also I like Mirage Swift II.

[Muse-Inc]

I miss my beloved OptiLife! 23 months *sigh*..of course I was losing therapy air the last 6 months and was too clueless to know that until I found this plae with its crazy bunch of wackos who soon clued me in to a whole new world of information. Lotta "like" is because a mask fits your face well.

[Complikatyed]

I'm sort of glad to hear that the Swift FX is not everyone's favorite. I like the fact that it doesn't come down between my eyes, but I can't seem to sleep on my side and maintain a seal, even though I've tried the S, M, and L sized pillows. I was making progress, but I'm now at an average AHI of 5.6 and that's just not good enough! Argh!

[DreamOn]

1) The weight of the short hose tends to pull the pillows away from my nose. I've got it mostly under control by having the mask tighter than others seem to suggest it needs to be (but it's still very comfortable), but I still have to wake up and adjust the pillows a few times a night.

2) I don't like that angle that the exhaust air comes out. No matter how I position it, I'm either getting blown on directly, or the air is bouncing off my bedding back at me, and it's COLD. It's kind of nice on hot summer nights, but not so good on our cooler summer fog nights, and I know during winter this will be an issue.

Those are my two complaints about the Swift FX also!

I'm used to having mask tubing run overhead. The FX tubing pulls on the nasal pillows, and the tubing gets in my way. You might try securing it to the overhead strap with a Velcro "One Wraps" loop strap. I bought some at Michael's. And remember those elastic ponytail holders that have two balls on each end? Those are a good size to secure tubing, and they go on and off quickly and easily.

I also dislike the exhaust air angle with the FX! It blows on my pillow, my sheets, and my ARM! It drives me nuts some nights. That's one reason I like the Headrest mask so much. It vents up, completely out of the way.

[foxhunter]

I started out with the Swift LT and loved the comfort and the weight (or lack thereof)
After the LT pillows tanked in quality, I tried the headrest with reasonable results but still not satisfied. I found my answer with the LT adapted to use Breeze pillows. cut my leak rate in half and my AI to zero and never have a problem with pillow collapse like the LT pillows. The adaption is easy and invented by a member here. Wish I could remember his name to give credit.
I love it and at the same time I have multiple LT masks to allow me to adapt for some considerable time.

[frh]

I used a Swift LT mask my first two weeks on CPAP (before I had data). I liked the hose management, didn't think it leaked much, but I woke with sore gums every morning.

For two months the Swift FX mask was very comfortable and easy to breathe with. But it leaks like crazy when I flop around in my sleep. I tried rigging the end of the hose to the top strap (like the LT). I tried a forehead strap. I tried the velcro rear strap fix. I attached it to a papcap. I even tried to seal it to my nares with lansinih cream. I came to the conclusion nothing short of superglue or a staple gun would keep it attached to my nares when I sleep...

I bought another Swift LT. It's headgear is a little more secure like I remembered. And it still hurt my gums. But this time I had the data to prove it has an un-acepptable leak rate.

I've had an Opus 360 for about a week and a half. Unlike the Swift FX, it feels like I have to fight to inhale with the Opus 360. Perhaps I got too used to having the Swift FX hose floopping around on my chest, but the Opus 360 just doesn't feel right attached to the top strap (like the LT).

I wake-up with a sore left nare (deviated septum) every morning with the Opus 360, but my mask leak finally seems to be under control. So far, my AHI has been between 1 and 5 most nights with it. I wouldn't say it's the ultimate mask for me, but it will be a keeper until I find something better.

[jdm2857]

I found the thread describing how to adapt the LT to use Breeze pillows. Here it is:

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=47796&hilit=swift+lt+breeze+pillows

It looks like it has potential. And I don't see why the same technique wouldn't work for the FX, too.

Edit: After looking at the Breeze pillows on the cpap.com website i realized that the adaptation thread actually shows the Breeze large nasal dilators. They're larger and appear move heavy duty than the Breeze pillows. But I can't see why you couldn't use any of the Breeze pillows or dilators. Here they are:

https://www.cpap.com/productpage/purita ... llows.html

(Clicking on the table in the link will enlarge it.)

[kteague]

I'm a Headrest gal myself. Not sure what their headgear is like these days but I had to deconstruct mine as I couldn't tolerate the heat from the rubber next to my head. Guess I should check and see if their headgear has changed. Early on I was given the Swift - hated it. The barrel pressed painfully under my nose, and the headgear tight against my cheeks interfered with my side sleeping with my hand against my face. (Hey, got to keep those comforts we can!) Also came dislodged too easily. Then used the Breeze fairly successfully, but I roll from side to side many times a night and the bar in the back caused the pillows to dislodge every time. Even deconstructed it and wasn't bad. For a side sleeper who doesn't toss and turn, it could be great. Then went to the ComfortLite II and liked it fine except for the metal bar touching my upper lip. Have used the Headrest for 3 years now. Interested in trying the Hybrid because I'd love to ditch the chin strap.