Nasal pillow question

[Beth M]

Hi,

I'm thinking of going to the Swift Fx nasal pillow. But, i was wondering if the fact that I need a pressure of 17 cm. would blow the pillows right out of the nose? I suppose it wouldn't with the headgear and all. But, it's hard enough to keep a nasal mask seated with that pressure so it seems like pillows would be problematic.

I envy all you lucky people who can get by with a lower cm! My machine starts out at 12 and I can barely tell it's on, would love to keep it at that pressure but alas....no can do.

Looking forward to hearing your responses about the pillows.
Beth

[roster]

Have you been evaluated for positional sleep apnea (PSA)? Some are able to significantly reduce the pressure requirement by understanding how PSA affects them and using simple tactics to address it.

[Amigo]

It has been reported here repeatedly that high pressure is NOT an impediment to using nasal pillows.

[Beth M]

I have not been evaluated for PSA. Would that be done through the sleep clinic?

I apologize for offending you by asking a question that's apparently been answered before, repeatedly. I've been on the boards for a few months and hadn't seen anyone ask the question. Next time I'll research repeatedly before I get out of line and ask something inappropriate.

Beth

[Amigo]

I have not been evaluated for PSA. Would that be done through the sleep clinic?

I apologize for offending you by asking a question that's apparently been answered before, repeatedly. I've been on the boards for a few months and hadn't seen anyone ask the question. Next time I'll research repeatedly before I get out of line and ask something inappropriate.

Beth

Please, that was NOT meant as a reprimand. I realize how difficult it can be to find the information you're looking for, and, in my haste, simply cut to the chase, so to speak.

By all means, however, do give nasal pillows a try. I hope you have a Durable Medical Equipment provider who will work with you to assure that you are fitted with the correct size of pillows. At your pressure, that will be critical for success.

Never hesitate to ask without extensive research. We do want to help despite my brusque reply. I apologize.

[LinkC]

I use a Hybrid @ 18 with very little problem. I have the pillows in the "lower" position and I wear the cushion up as high on my lip as I can. I also use a tiny dab of "nipple grease" on each nare.

You can also go with the "tights fix" (search for it...). I've used that successfully at times, too.

Bottom line: yes, pillows work at higher pressures. But are less forgiving of adjustments.

[roster]

I have not been evaluated for PSA. Would that be done through the sleep clinic?

I apologize for offending you by asking a question that's apparently been answered before, repeatedly. I've been on the boards for a few months and hadn't seen anyone ask the question. Next time I'll research repeatedly before I get out of line and ask something inappropriate.

Beth

This board is all about asking the same questions that have been asked over and over. That is not bad because it gets many people involved in helping and keeps the board very active. Also, it is never really the same question because every person is a unique individual and every condition is unique to that individual.

About PSA, what position(s) do you sleep in?

[LoQ]

simply cut to the chase, so to speak.

That's the way I took your post. You were synopsizing what the poster would find if she did a search. The fact that many people have reported the same thing forms sort of a consensus. It's harder to get the big picture like that in a search than to find one instance of a person saying it worked for them. So really your post gave her information that would take hours to figure out if you're new.

[Beth M]

I apologize for taking your response the wrong way. I know how annoying it can be when you've been around a long time to constantly be answering the same questions over and over. I'd seen alot of questions about nasal pillows, just nothing in reference to pillows and high pressure.

As for how I sleep.....almost exclusively on my side. 99.9% of the time.

Thanks to everyone for your kind assistance.

[ksilber]

Hi Beth-I have not posted a reply previously feeling still the newbie myself at under 5 months as a hosehead, but wanted to reply to your question. I am using the Swift FX nasal pillow mask and also have a titrated pressure of 17 (auto set 14-19) and have no problems at all with the pillows. I was fearful of trying them too but had read some previous posts and decided they looked so light and easy to use that I would try. I don't use the ramp nor EPR (am lucky I know that I don't have problems with exhalation against this level of pressure). I do not feel the air at all which surprises me nightly. Now when I pull the cushion away from my nose for seating and feel how much air really is being delivered, I am shocked that this same amount of air does not feel odd going into my nose much less that the pillows stay put. I do at times feel the air in my mouth and have had to deal with some issues there, but if you are able to maintain a closed mouth naturally or by any of the fixes discussed all over this board, you might really like a nasal pillow mask. So give it a try.

As I'm sure you have read on many other posts, masks are very individual and my experience may not be the same as yours. Be sure you give them a good try within your trial period if you have that return option with your DME and then you have nothing to lose. Good luck! Kathy

[Beth M]

Thanks Kathy, exactly the info I was hoping to hear! I appreciate you jumping in to give me your perspective.
I'm going to go for it!
Beth

[roster]

As for how I sleep.....almost exclusively on my side. 99.9% of the time.

That's good because sleep apnea is often much worse when sleeping on your back.

When you were titrated at 17 cm, were you sleeping on your side?

[ksilber]

Great! I'm glad my perspective helped. I don't know that I would have tried this mask had I not read that others with similar pressure needs were successful with it. My DME rep tried to talk me out of using it saying that my pressures were too high. I've gotten an amazing amount of perspecive and assistance from others on this board. Absolutely everything I know about OSA I've learned here so keep on reading and posting as you have the need or desire.

Oh, if you want the mask to be ever so slightly more comfortable, try out the pad-a-cheeks strap covers. They are nice and soft and better than the ones that come with the mask. Kathy

[Beth M]

As for how I sleep.....almost exclusively on my side. 99.9% of the time.

That's good because sleep apnea is often much worse when sleeping on your back.

When you were titrated at 17 cm, were you sleeping on your side?

Yes, I was on my side. In fact, they tried for hours to get me to fall asleep on my back, to no avail.

[djr1215]

As for how I sleep.....almost exclusively on my side. 99.9% of the time.

That's good because sleep apnea is often much worse when sleeping on your back.

When you were titrated at 17 cm, were you sleeping on your side?

Yes, I was on my side. In fact, they tried for hours to get me to fall asleep on my back, to no avail.

Beth forgive me for highjacking your thread, but this brings up something I was wondering about (and planned to ask my doctor week after next).
At both the original study and titration they kept making me turn to my back. Also, for the titration they gave me a nasal mask even though I asked for a full-face because I have a deviated septum and am a mouth breather. So I wonder if my titration pressure of 14 is really correct for me at home, sleeping on my side and with a full-face mask?

Donna