Opus 350 nasal pillows mask problems

Help - I previously used a full face mask, but have so many leaks and blisters on nose bridge. Recently got the nasal pillow mask, but find that upon opening my mouth for any reason -to cough, speak, or maybe start to snore(?), I am overcome with an instant breathing problem- very scary. Any answers out there?

I have had just this very thing and, being somewhat new to this whole thing I have had this very same instant breathing problem. As you say, it is "scary" and has, more than once caused me to instantly tear the nasal pillow mask off. I have the same mask as you as well as the Swift FX and went to the nasal pillow not for your reason but the initially strong feeling of claustrophobia. That feeling is gone (as are the potential issues I COULD see coming with the bridge of my nose) but what you are finding IS there now.

Let me check on what you experience against my experience.... When you open your mouth does it feel somewhat like the air pressure is, in effect, closing your mouth off to airflow? Somewhat like a soft "block" just ahead of the back of the throat? Were I to try to visualize what I feel, I would put it that there is this solid column of air going down my throat that comes in through my nose that isn't letting any dang air in from somewhere else no matter what it wants.

If this is what you are experiencing, I have this too. Even if not, I too have this feeling of restricted breathing when I open my mouth with the nasal pillows (or even some other nasal mask). It has been frightening enough that there are nights that I switch back to the full face since I'd rather have that bit of a claustrophobic feeling from the full face and be able to consistently breathe vs that very scary feeling.

In recent days I have had a bit more of a cough apparently brought on by a cold. On the nights I can get comfortable with the nasal pillows, I found that if I held the cough until it was right there and going to come out explosively, it would seem to blast through that seemingly impenetrable column of air. Further experimentation finding that showed that if I breathed heavily out first, then I could breathe in.... but not shallowly or normally... so far it seems to need to be a deep inhalation.

Again, I don't know if this is precisely what you are experiencing but if so, what I found and cited in the previous paragraph has been a step forward of sorts in this regard. I too would be more than interested in what more experienced nasal pillow users have in this regard

Yes, that's the feeling! I think it has something to do with the amount of air pressure set up in the machine, but neither my doctor nor my supplier are very familiar with all the new stuff. Any other ideas?

Remember that old joke? "Doctor, it hurts when I move my arm this way." "So don't move your arm that way."

That horrible feeling is the air pressure disturbance when you open your mouth and I can't stand it either. The simple answer is--don't open your mouth when your CPAP is on.

OK, easier said than done. We do have to cough sometimes. Well, there are two tricks that help:

1. Try to time your cough for the exhalation. That usually does the trick, though you don't always have control over a cough.

2. Over time you will learn to seal off your mouth from the rest of the upper airway. Put your tongue on that ridge of gum behind your front teeth. At first, to get used to the position and really feel it, press up HARD with your tongue--but you don't have to do that all the time. That position seals off the mouth from the rest of the airway. After a while that will become a habit, and you will find that you can even open you lips and not lose any air.

Thanks JanKnitz. I do typically keep my mouth shut but throat clearing and the like, I still have to break the habit of opening my mouth. I shall try your suggestions. I think I was KIND of doing #1 but #2 is new to me.

Greatly appreciated.

- mike

I hope somebody does not start reading with you last post, they might wonder what kind of a forum this is discussing #1 and #2.

Y' know..... just as i was pushing the Submit button that thought crossed my mind....

Perhaps I should have been a bit more concise

Since apnea is a serious problem, it is nice to see a little humor in our situation.