Tried the Wisp last night.

[quietmorning]

It's going back to the DME today - or tomorrow if I can't take it back today.

I don't know what I'm going to do if I ever have to wear a FF mask. The wisp hits my nose right where there is a nerve that doesn't act right when it's touched - and it felt like I had a funny bone on my face. I only got an hour on the mask, maybe, not even that much before I took it off and switched to my normal mask.

The other two masks were a no go from the beginning. I didn't even bring them home for trial.

Just for future references: If you can't wear a full face mask - and your pressure is high enough to warrant one, what do you do?

[Pugsy]

There are people using pressures over 20 cm and using nasal pillows or nasal masks.
Pressure needs don't define mask needs themselves. Other factors maybe help define the needs but high pressures don't always mean a person just has only the full face mask choice available. That's an old wives tale.

[chunkyfrog]

I discovered many full face masks do not make good contact on my chin--(not my fault; I have an adorable chin.)
It depends on the brand. They generally use differently-shaped face templates. You just need to try a few different ones.
But at 10 cm, there is no reason why any mask won't work--fit and adjustment is key. If it does not fit; get another one.

[jdm2857]

I've gotten strange looks from doctors and RTs when I tell them I am using the Swift FX at pressures
set at 18/20. They don't use these things (for the most part) and believe whatever they are told.

You also have the option of a total face mask. (http://www.healthcare.philips.com/us_en ... efault.wpd)
They cover the entire face and seal around the perimeter where the skin is usually less sensitive.

[quietmorning]

Well, that's a relief!! Thanks everyone!

[NateS]

I agree.

On my variable pressure machine, my pressure bounces over 20 seven or eight times on a typical night, and I have never worn a full face mask.

As to the Wisp, I don't know how large the sensitive area is on your nose, but bear in mind that in a proper placement, the Wisp should not be all the way up to the top of your nose, but sort of straddling a point about 3/4 the way up.

Also, did you try all three size of the nosepiece? That will also affect where the nosepiece makes contact.

Regards, Nate

[Janknitz]

I do NOT get why the so-called "experts" think you cannot use a nasal pillow mask at higher pressures.

When the air blows through the pillows, it inflates them and pushes them against the rim of your nostrils. Since most of the air is going into your nasal passages, and NOT against the skin of your faces, it's pushing the pillows more firmly against your nose, as opposed to a FF mask where some of the air pressure is pushing against your face and moving the mask out away from it. So I would think (and it seems to be borne out by experience) that the higher the pressure, the more prone to leakage a FF mask is, but the less prone to leakage a nasal pillow mask is.

[chunkyfrog]

Maybe they make a bigger profit on full face masks.

[Sir NoddinOff]

Surprise, surprise. Go into the new ResMed S9 VPAP Adapt (full ASV) via the clinician's menu and explore a little and you will eventually find a setting for 'mask type'. Number one is Full Face Mask. Number two is Nasal Mask. Number three is Pillows. Sweet!

The S9 Adapt can support a pressure output of 25cmH20, tho I don't advise users with pillows to go quite that high. However, twenty seem cool. EDIT: My sleep doctor claims that he has implicated the use of Swift FX nasal pillows and others of it's type as causing ear problems in the inner ear and the eustachian tubes. I haven't corroborated that, however he recently recommended that I try the Wisp nasal mask.

[RogerSC]

Having a beard and moustache limits my choice of full face masks...however, at 10 - 14cm pressure, I haven't had any problem making the Swift FX work.

By the way, have decided that I'm between medium and large, so will be trying the "cut down a medium to make something larger than medium but smaller than large" thing on a set of nasal pillows *smile*. Don't have the proper tool yet, though.

[quietmorning]

Having a beard and moustache limits my choice of full face masks...however, at 10 - 14cm pressure, I haven't had any problem making the Swift FX work.

By the way, have decided that I'm between medium and large, so will be trying the "cut down a medium to make something larger than medium but smaller than large" thing on a set of nasal pillows *smile*. Don't have the proper tool yet, though.

Fingernail clippers?

[quietmorning]

I agree.

On my variable pressure machine, my pressure bounces over 20 seven or eight times on a typical night, and I have never worn a full face mask.

As to the Wisp, I don't know how large the sensitive area is on your nose, but bear in mind that in a proper placement, the Wisp should not be all the way up to the top of your nose, but sort of straddling a point about 3/4 the way up.

Also, did you try all three size of the nose piece? That will also affect where the nosepiece makes contact.

Regards, Nate

Hi, Nate, the sensitive area goes from right beneath my glasses frame to right to the end of the nose bone. . .I think glasses don't bother me because I wore glasses during the time when I broke my nose - and the glasses actually helped to set it. The nerve pain from it isn't as intense as sciatica, but it's very close to the same type of pain when something touches my nose. I can't take it for very long. If nothing is touching my nose, I don't feel it at all. So, it covers a pretty big area of my nose as far as where something can sit. It would need to sit up where my glasses sit in order for me to wear it. . . or on the very tip of my nose.

[NateS]

Hi, Nate, the sensitive area goes from right beneath my glasses frame to right to the end of the nose bone. . .I think glasses don't bother me because I wore glasses during the time when I broke my nose - and the glasses actually helped to set it. The nerve pain from it isn't as intense as sciatica, but it's very close to the same type of pain when something touches my nose. I can't take it for very long. If nothing is touching my nose, I don't feel it at all. So, it covers a pretty big area of my nose as far as where something can sit. It would need to sit up where my glasses sit in order for me to wear it. . . or on the very tip of my nose.

Well that explains it then. I can understand why you would need to rule out the Wisp which, one way or another, straddles the nose.

Good luck with your next choice! And keep us posted.

Regards, Nate

[RogerSC]

Having a beard and moustache limits my choice of full face masks...however, at 10 - 14cm pressure, I haven't had any problem making the Swift FX work.

By the way, have decided that I'm between medium and large, so will be trying the "cut down a medium to make something larger than medium but smaller than large" thing on a set of nasal pillows *smile*. Don't have the proper tool yet, though.

Fingernail clippers?

Good thought. However, I think I need a straight, very clean cut.

[jdm2857]

I don't understand the purpose of trimming the medium pillow. The part that seals at the
nares will be exactly the same shape and size. The "cone" will just not extend as far inside
of the nostril.

Am I missing something?