nasal pillows

I'm fairly new at the CPAP game --still feeling my way around. So far I've tried the Comfort Gel (too heavy and had to have the straps too tight); Swift nasal pillows (had tons of leakage-no matter what size I used); and the Breeze with the nasal mask (which worked fine for awhile, then every night I wake up with leaks down to the bottom that I can't get rid of so I take it off). After lurking in some of the message boards, I ordered an Activa today---it looked like lots of people like them and they're better regarding leaks (my insurance won't pay for a new mask until November and I can't wait that long). I've read that people like to have a couple to change off with but I can't use what I already have (listed above) because of the leaks. I really loved the Breeze and it worked for awhile. I see that lots of folks like the Breeze with the nasal pillows. I'd like to try it but am afraid this will leak too, just like the Swift pillows did. See, my nostrils aren't nice and round like most people's - they're long and skinny and I'm wondering if that's why the Swift didn't work for me. Any ideas or opinions will be greatly appreciated.

First of all... WELCOME

I am sure some one will pull up the " nasal pillow slotted nare" thread if not try searching the forum for slotted nares. Nares are what the openening of your nostrils are called. I think its a mixed bag with many people with slotted nares using nasal pillows with happy success. The Activa is a great mask ( For me and many others ) as you have learned from experience and reading getting the right mask for you is the hardest part. Now that you will have a couple of masks to play around with you can continue trying the breeze and definatly give the pillows a shot if you want you may find they work just fine .

A lot of us alternate between nasal pillows and the Activa. The best of both worlds. The newest trend is the Aura for pillows right now. The Breeze, Swift, and Aura are the top pillows around most on the list here. A lot have moved on from the Breeze. If the Swift gave you trouble, I think you will like the Activa. At any rate, you are one of us now so you must let us know how it works for you. Welcome!

You may find masks leaks, and lack thereof, depend more on the type of bed pillow you use.
I love my breeze nasal pillow mask and have had less trouble with it since I gave up my lovely feather pillow for an Obus memory type foam, other people like the papillow and another I forget the name of. Now I am more familiar with my Breeze I just snap it in or out a notch, usually using the lower adjustment, during the night - no lights or mirror needed- IF I need to when I change position, which in my case is not very often. Not much good for back sleepers though, although some find it ok.
I have one definately slotted nare, the other is a bit more on the round side but they are not long slotted ones as in the picture on the cpap.com site. Welcome & Good luck.

I have both the mask and nasal pillows for my Breeze headgear. I rarely have any leaks with the nasal pillows and seem to have lots of leaks with the mask.

Then you will love the Activia. It is the most leak proof.

Thanks to everyone - I love this place - everyone is so kind and helpful (and some are really funny!). Grabraham - I don't know my way around this thing well enough to find the links you talk about - can anyone help? I'd really like to try the nasal pillows again too but am scared because of all the leakage I had with the Swift. My Activa is in the mail so I'll let you all know how I do with it. I think I'll just have to keep buying new ones til I find one that works for me. Anyway, once again, thanks everybody--don't know what I'd do without the support I get from places like this!!

Babbie,

Do not forget, when you get your Activa, LOOSE STRAPS are the key to getting it to work best. Unlike others that have to be strapped down tight, the beauty of this mask is you should wear the straps loose. Once you turn on the machine, it will blow up the seal like a little balloon and that is what keeps it so leak-less when you move. If you tighten the straps too much, you won't allow the seal to inflate and it won't work as well.

Good luck and let us know how it works out. I'm sure you'll like it. Most people do.

Hi Babbie,

Since the Breeze worked so well for you, did you ever try putting the stablilizing strap down a LOT lower than it can go even when it's in the bottom slot of the adjustment ladder-like thingie on the front of the face?

Breeze is still one of my alltime favorites, but only when I put the strap over (not even attached to the clips. I use the side straps across the front down very low, like this: