Nasal mask without full headgear?

[lorraineg57]

Does such a thing exist? I hate the forehead rest thing and all the straps.

I like the concept of the nasal pillows but don't feel like I get enough air with them.

[human_bipap_user]

Have you looked at the hybrid cpap masks?

[lorraineg57]

nope, I'm a newb and just getting familiar with things. I'll check them out, Thanks!

Are you referring to the nasal pillows? I feel like I don't get enough air with those....

[kaiasgram]

Check out the Sleepweaver (Advance or Elan models) -- they have headgear but not heavy at all. cpap.com sells them. Advance has a forehead strap but doesn't put weight on your forehead. The Elan doesn't have any forehead straps.

[lorraineg57]

thanks, I'll check those out. I want to make sure cpap is going to help me before I invest. Last night was night 4 and no love for cpap yet.

[methree]

Check out 'the Breeze', too.

[chunkyfrog]

I tried this one, I suggest the return insurance in case it doesn't fit. I wish it had fit me.)
https://www.cpap.com/productpage/probas ... dgear.html

[Pugsy]

I like the concept of the nasal pillows but don't feel like I get enough air with them.

Couple of questions. Which nasal pillow mask did you try? Did you try at the DME office or at home?
What pressure do you use when starting out the night? Use Ramp?
Finally what size nasal pillow did you try?

Some people do better with the next size larger nasal pillow.
Also if someone uses ramp at 4 cm pressure or a low starting pressure it can sure seem like not enough air is moving.
Might work better with more pressure (just a little or not use ramp) or large nasal pillow because the opening is a bit larger so air can move a little better.

[Pugsy]

I just read in another thread that you are using ramp starting at 4 cm for a period of time.
You might consider trying the nasal pillow mask again but with ramp turned off or at least starting out at maybe 5 or 6 cm.
I think you might find that there is a substantial improvement over the amount of air that seems to move.
4 cm would make me feel like I was breathing through a tiny straw covered with cheesecloth.

[lorraineg57]

I like the concept of the nasal pillows but don't feel like I get enough air with them.

Couple of questions. Which nasal pillow mask did you try? Did you try at the DME office or at home?
What pressure do you use when starting out the night? Use Ramp?
Finally what size nasal pillow did you try?

Swift FW for her maybe? Probably in a small as I'm 5'5" and 123 lb. I tried it for about 10 minutes the second night of my study and felt like I was suffocating. My starting pressure is only 4 ramping to 9. I'm on the trial period so I don't know how that works, I hate to request another mask to try if they'll take the one I have now. If they do that and I can't use the pillows after trying, I won't have anything to use. I wish they'd left me more than one mask to work with.

[Pugsy]

Nasal pillow size has nothing to do with body size. A big burly man might need a small if his nostril openings are small and a tiny woman might need a large if her nostril openings are good size.

Any mask can feel rather stifling at 4 cm pressure. If you looked at the nasal pillows in each size you will see that the opening gets larger as the sizing increases. I can't count how many forum members complained of that lack of air movement feeling with nasal pillows and the same people say that there is a remarkable change when going up one size.
If you add the 2 factors together (4 cm pressure plus the small opening) then it is very likely that someone will feel like they are suffocating.

They shouldn't request that you to return the mask you have now if you ask for a trial with the nasal pillow mask. They can't do anything with it anyway except throw it in the trash.
Take a look at the mask in my profile...that is the Swift FX which may be what you tried. Disregard the Bella Loops part.
I also have the traditional headgear that goes on the head.

[BlackSpinner]

I'm on the trial period so I don't know how that works, I hate to request another mask to try if they'll take the one I have now. If they do that and I can't use the pillows after trying, I won't have anything to use. I wish they'd left me more than one mask to work with.

That is what a trial period is for - to try things out. There are hundreds of types of masks on the market. Their JOB is to find one that works for you. They get paid to do that and the manufacturer pays them for the masks that you try. They also can't sell any mask you tried so that is why you get to KEEP them.

[lorraineg57]

Nasal pillow size has nothing to do with body size. A big burly man might need a small if his nostril openings are small and a tiny woman might need a large if her nostril openings are good size.

Any mask can feel rather stifling at 4 cm pressure. If you looked at the nasal pillows in each size you will see that the opening gets larger as the sizing increases. I can't count how many forum members complained of that lack of air movement feeling with nasal pillows and the same people say that there is a remarkable change when going up one size.
If you add the 2 factors together (4 cm pressure plus the small opening) then it is very likely that someone will feel like they are suffocating.

They shouldn't request that you to return the mask you have now if you ask for a trial with the nasal pillow mask. They can't do anything with it anyway except throw it in the trash.
Take a look at the mask in my profile...that is the Swift FX which may be what you tried. Disregard the Bella Loops part.
I also have the traditional headgear that goes on the head.

I remember it had a pink strap...lol. And it looked very minimalist. I think that is the one I tried. I may give them a call tomorrow and see if they can send me a different mask. I woke up again last night in pain from apparently swallowing air? Although the pain is NOT in my stomach, but almost up into my chest, it's definitely air. Not liking that side effect at all. I may have to fashion some kind of chin strap....

[BlackSpinner]

I remember it had a pink strap...lol. And it looked very minimalist. I think that is the one I tried. I may give them a call tomorrow and see if they can send me a different mask. I woke up again last night in pain from apparently swallowing air? Although the pain is NOT in my stomach, but almost up into my chest, it's definitely air. Not liking that side effect at all. I may have to fashion some kind of chin strap....

It may be acid reflux. For most people acid reflux disappears when they start cpap but for some it doesn't. It is also referred to as GERD.

Try getting the head of your bed up about 6 -8 inches.

[lorraineg57]

It's not gerd. It's definitely air....gas-like pain just up higher. I've never experienced anything like it until starting cpap.