Nasal pillow vs. Mask

snamvar · Post by **snamvar** » Sat Nov 20, 2004 8:40 pm

Hi,
I have been on the Remstar Plus CPAP machine with C-flex for 4 months and am starting to get used to it. I am using a Comfort-Gel mask and it works ok, but the the mask ventilation noise is too high. I have a long nose bridge and my nasal nares are narrow and long. Would I be able to use a nasal pillow? I read online that the nasal pillow are meant for round nares. Any input is appreciated.

wading thru the muck! · Post by **wading thru the muck!** » Sat Nov 20, 2004 9:00 pm

It probably depends on how sensitive your nose is. My left nare is cresent shaped and the swift large pillows have not bothered my nose. My feeling from other's comments is that the nasal pillow interfaces are considered noisier than the masks. I don't feel that is the case. Also I love the visability of the swift.

rested gal · Post by **rested gal** » Sat Nov 20, 2004 11:53 pm

Hi snamvar,

I'm not sure who would say that nasal pillows are for people with round nares. The ends on my Breeze pillows have oblong or oval shaped openings - definitely not round. Since most people have nares that are more oval than round, it makes sense that the air hole in the Breeze's nasal pillows is, indeed, an oval opening too. In fact, when using a Breeze, you are supposed to gently twist the two little pillows around so that their openings are aligned more or less "up and down" , angled a bit - just like our nares are.

I wouldn't worry a bit about the shape of the nares, if you decide to try the Breeze/nasal pillows. People can even use two completely different size pillows with the Breeze if their nares are two different sizes.

I personally like "too big for me" nasal pillows with the Breeze, so that they don't feel pushed up into my nostrils. They seal very nicely more or less outside my nostrils and comfortably against them. Takes some adjusting to get it all perfect so that it doesn't feel like the pillows are tugging upward on your nose, but can be done. Hanging the main hose over the headboard or from a hook helps a lot in making the Breeze comfortable. As does using the side stablilizing straps - or even a stretchy elastic head band - to steady it where you want it against your nostrils.