Help/tips on transitioning from full face mask to nasal pillows/mask?

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BatmanMatt
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Help/tips on transitioning from full face mask to nasal pillows/mask?

Post by BatmanMatt » Thu Jan 20, 2022 8:32 am

I would really like to transition to nasal pillows (and the Bleep) from my full face mask. I'm getting great data from my FFM but I want to eliminate cosmetic issues with straps and face marks. I tried a test run last night to get a feel for the nasal pillows and it immediately felt like my head was being inflated and that I couldn't comfortable breathe back out my nose. My EPR is on max of 3 and it didn't give much relief. I had set it to a new constant pressure of 9 after doctor said to do it, but I according to OSCAR my 95% is really only about 8.

Anyways, pressure range aside, do I need to read a book and acclimate to the new sensation or drop pressure or both? Any tips?

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ChicagoGranny
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Re: Help/tips on transitioning from full face mask to nasal pillows/mask?

Post by ChicagoGranny » Thu Jan 20, 2022 8:38 am

BatmanMatt wrote:
Thu Jan 20, 2022 8:32 am
I tried a test run last night to get a feel for the nasal pillows and it immediately felt like my head was being inflated and that I couldn't comfortable breathe back out my nose.
You were awake and consciously controlling your breathing. When you fall asleep, your autonomic nervous system will take control, and you will breathe gently and easily.*

The trick is to relax enough to fall asleep. Develop some personal tactics to do this.

*This is assuming your mouth/lips will stay shut while using a nasal-only interface. If they won't, you have another problem to solve.

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Pugsy
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Re: Help/tips on transitioning from full face mask to nasal pillows/mask?

Post by Pugsy » Thu Jan 20, 2022 8:54 am

I don't know of any book that when a person reads it then someone has a light bulb moment and can change perceived feelings about something. I wish it were that easy.
The best thing I know of is real life experience and that means you simply do it and try to work through whatever uncomfortable feelings you are experiencing.

You got used to the FFM way of delivering pressure and the brain is rebelling about the new way via the nasal pillows.
This was the DreamWear nasal pillows....is that correct? Your first experience with nasal pillows after using the FFM for a period of time.

Did you spend any time trying to adjust to the new way of doing things prior to just going to bed and slapping the new mask on?
Also...aren't you fairly new to cpap therapy in general? How long have you been using the FFM? I forget.

The brain is sometimes our own worst enemy. We get used to one way of doing things or feeling things and then when we go changing things the brain rebels and sends out misconstrued signals about what is going on. The pressure or air going up your nose is the same pressure you breathe through your nose when using the full face mask. It "feels" different but it is really the same pressure.
This is of course assuming someone has the nasal pillows fitted and sized properly. Nasal pillows should rest gently against the nostrils. Nothing should be felt inside the nostrils in terms of the pillows themselves.

Did you put the pillows on first and then start the machine or did you start the machine and then put the mask on?

Don't worry about the 95% number showing less than the newly changed pressure of fixed at 9 cm...you are using exhale relief so that accounts for the lower number since there is a drop during exhale.
Also I wonder if you would have had a similar problem changing from your prior auto adjusting pressures to the fixed pressure even if you hadn't changed mask types????

The one rule we try not to break...changing 2 things at one time. You changed masks and pressures at the same time.
And we tend to over think these changes sometimes. Over thing the breathing process and start worrying about feelings being different.

Try using the new mask today while awake and under no pressure to go to sleep....read a book, watch TV or whatever.
Fiddle with the mask a bit if you start to feel overwhelmed to see if a slightly different position changes the feeling for the better or worse. Tell your brain that everything is okay...relax.
Make sure the mask isn't too snug. If you take the mask off the long hose and put it on...can you breathe easily through it?
You should be able to move enough air and if you can't then something is wrong with fitting or size.

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BatmanMatt
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Re: Help/tips on transitioning from full face mask to nasal pillows/mask?

Post by BatmanMatt » Thu Jan 20, 2022 9:00 am

Pugsy wrote:
Thu Jan 20, 2022 8:54 am
I don't know of any book that when a person reads it then someone has a light bulb moment and can change perceived feelings about something. I wish it were that easy.
The best thing I know of is real life experience and that means you simply do it and try to work through whatever uncomfortable feelings you are experiencing.

You got used to the FFM way of delivering pressure and the brain is rebelling about the new way via the nasal pillows.
This was the DreamWear nasal pillows....is that correct? Your first experience with nasal pillows after using the FFM for a period of time.

Did you spend any time trying to adjust to the new way of doing things prior to just going to bed and slapping the new mask on?
Also...aren't you fairly new to cpap therapy in general? How long have you been using the FFM? I forget.

The brain is sometimes our own worst enemy. We get used to one way of doing things or feeling things and then when we go changing things the brain rebels and sends out misconstrued signals about what is going on. The pressure or air going up your nose is the same pressure you breathe through your nose when using the full face mask. It "feels" different but it is really the same pressure.
This is of course assuming someone has the nasal pillows fitted and sized properly. Nasal pillows should rest gently against the nostrils. Nothing should be felt inside the nostrils in terms of the pillows themselves.

Did you put the pillows on first and then start the machine or did you start the machine and then put the mask on?

Don't worry about the 95% number showing less than the newly changed pressure of fixed at 9 cm...you are using exhale relief so that accounts for the lower number since there is a drop during exhale.
Also I wonder if you would have had a similar problem changing from your prior auto adjusting pressures to the fixed pressure even if you hadn't changed mask types????

The one rule we try not to break...changing 2 things at one time. You changed masks and pressures at the same time.
And we tend to over think these changes sometimes. Over thing the breathing process and start worrying about feelings being different.

Try using the new mask today while awake and under no pressure to go to sleep....read a book, watch TV or whatever.
Fiddle with the mask a bit if you start to feel overwhelmed to see if a slightly different position changes the feeling for the better or worse. Tell your brain that everything is okay...relax.
Make sure the mask isn't too snug. If you take the mask off the long hose and put it on...can you breathe easily through it?
You should be able to move enough air and if you can't then something is wrong with fitting or size.
It feels great without air on. Easy to breath. I'll work on it today with a book. I just didn't think there would be such a drastic change in sensation.

_________________
Machine: AirSense 11 Autoset
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Airsense 11 w/ heated tubing
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zonker
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Re: Help/tips on transitioning from full face mask to nasal pillows/mask?

Post by zonker » Thu Jan 20, 2022 11:55 am

ChicagoGranny wrote:
Thu Jan 20, 2022 8:38 am


You were awake and consciously controlling your breathing. When you fall asleep, your autonomic nervous system will take control, and you will breathe gently and easily.*

The trick is to relax enough to fall asleep. Develop some personal tactics to do this.
granny, thanks for this! i believe this was my problem when i was trying out different trigger settings on my machine. did that in the evening, fully awake, and didn't see much difference. yet when i set the trigger to very low from medium in the wee hours this morning, i could feel the difference at once.

sorry,batman, for the slight derail of your thread.
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BatmanMatt
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Re: Help/tips on transitioning from full face mask to nasal pillows/mask?

Post by BatmanMatt » Fri Jan 21, 2022 7:14 am

Pugsy wrote:
Thu Jan 20, 2022 8:54 am
I don't know of any book that when a person reads it then someone has a light bulb moment and can change perceived feelings about something. I wish it were that easy.

Well check this out. Not sure how this data is so good. First night with the Dreamwear nasal pillows. I had my mouth taped for the first chunk at 0:00 but it was freaking me out so I decided to go bare back. Turns out I think I can do it! I dont see any mouth leaks. Woke up with a moist mouth at least. This gives me a lot of hope to use the Bleep system and forget all the straps. At the very least the dreamware is super comfy. Onward.

_________________
Machine: AirSense 11 Autoset
Mask: Bleep DreamPort CPAP Mask Solution
Additional Comments: Heated tubing
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BatmanMatt
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Re: Help/tips on transitioning from full face mask to nasal pillows/mask?

Post by BatmanMatt » Fri Jan 21, 2022 7:33 am

BatmanMatt wrote:
Fri Jan 21, 2022 7:14 am
Pugsy wrote:
Thu Jan 20, 2022 8:54 am
I don't know of any book that when a person reads it then someone has a light bulb moment and can change perceived feelings about something. I wish it were that easy.

Well check this out. Not sure how this data is so good. First night with the Dreamwear nasal pillows. I had my mouth taped for the first chunk at 0:00 but it was freaking me out so I decided to go bare back. Turns out I think I can do it! I dont see any mouth leaks. Woke up with a moist mouth at least. This gives me a lot of hope to use the Bleep system and forget all the straps. At the very least the dreamware is super comfy. Onward.
On this note, is there a way to remove the first chunk when I was sitting in front of the TV testing it out? I want my flow limit data to be more accurate.

_________________
Machine: AirSense 11 Autoset
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Additional Comments: Heated tubing
Airsense 11 w/ heated tubing
Bleep Dreamport System!!!

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Pugsy
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Re: Help/tips on transitioning from full face mask to nasal pillows/mask?

Post by Pugsy » Fri Jan 21, 2022 7:45 am

Down on the left side of the report where it says "sleep sessions" click mouse cursor to uncheck the time frame you want gone and it will be gone.

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Re: Help/tips on transitioning from full face mask to nasal pillows/mask?

Post by BuckarooBanzai » Sun Jan 23, 2022 12:11 pm

In addition to the great advice you've received so far, let me ask: Did you change the setting on your CPAP machine from full-face to pillows? The setting change makes a huge difference, as I found out when I switched from full-face to pillows.

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BatmanMatt
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Re: Help/tips on transitioning from full face mask to nasal pillows/mask?

Post by BatmanMatt » Sun Jan 23, 2022 12:28 pm

BuckarooBanzai wrote:
Sun Jan 23, 2022 12:11 pm
In addition to the great advice you've received so far, let me ask: Did you change the setting on your CPAP machine from full-face to pillows? The setting change makes a huge difference, as I found out when I switched from full-face to pillows.
I transitioned and followed all the advice. Two nights in with the Bleep and I’m now a full fledged Bleep truther. Thanks to Oscar I know I’m not a mouth breather even though I thought I was. Trying a nasal cushion then bleep has changed everything for the better.

_________________
Machine: AirSense 11 Autoset
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Airsense 11 w/ heated tubing
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BuckarooBanzai
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Re: Help/tips on transitioning from full face mask to nasal pillows/mask?

Post by BuckarooBanzai » Sun Jan 23, 2022 1:09 pm

So you're all set now? Great news!

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BatmanMatt
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Re: Help/tips on transitioning from full face mask to nasal pillows/mask?

Post by BatmanMatt » Sun Jan 23, 2022 1:13 pm

BuckarooBanzai wrote:
Sun Jan 23, 2022 1:09 pm
So you're all set now? Great news!
Yes I’m feeling grateful to everyone here especially Pugsy. It’s been two months of tons of research and testing and despair but now jubilation.

_________________
Machine: AirSense 11 Autoset
Mask: Bleep DreamPort CPAP Mask Solution
Additional Comments: Heated tubing
Airsense 11 w/ heated tubing
Bleep Dreamport System!!!

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BuckarooBanzai
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Re: Help/tips on transitioning from full face mask to nasal pillows/mask?

Post by BuckarooBanzai » Sun Jan 23, 2022 1:56 pm

Yes, I relate. I switched from FF to pillows and am in sheer heaven. I also have the AirSense 11 Autoset, but went the route of the P10 pillows. Very similar to your choice.

Best wishes for happy nights!

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Re: Help/tips on transitioning from full face mask to nasal pillows/mask?

Post by Bacillusman » Mon Jan 24, 2022 7:56 pm

One of the challenges I hear from folks going to nasal pillows like I use (RedMed) is they make it too tight. The pillows are designed to expand in your nostrils to make a seal. My straps are barely snug. Always put the pillows on first then turn on the CPAP. I went from mask to pillows and I am thrilled with them.

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Re: Help/tips on transitioning from full face mask to nasal pillows/mask?

Post by SleepGeek » Mon Jan 24, 2022 9:08 pm

Actually nasal pillows should seal on the nares of the nostrils not inside the nostrils. I encourage people to start with the largest size for that reason then work to a smaller size until they don't seal.

Use Lansinoh - on the nares and the pillows to help the seal and any rubbing irritation when you first start out.

The Lansinoh can be found where ever baby bottles are sold. Just a dab between thumb and forefinger to smear some on the nares and nasal pillows. Good for chapped lips too.
A small tube goes a long way.

https://www.walmart.com/c/brand/lansinoh
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