Pillow or nasel which to set machine as?

I just bought a RESMED S9 Elite W/Humnidifier and in the set up it ask what kind of mask you have, a nasel or pillow I have been using the nasel for the past week and I still feel like death warmed over when I get up in the morning. I have used both the CPAP and A-PAP and it makes no difference to the way I feel. The CPAP was set at 12 and the A-pap was set at the default. I am wondering if I should use the setting for the pillow mask instead. The mask is a new Quattro nasel/Pillow mask not a full face mask. the EPR is set for 3 which is suppose to be the easiest to exhale. Anybody got any suggestions. Thank You
RIchard

It would help if I knew what mask it is that you are using. The only Quattro mask I can find on cpap.com is a full face mask, yet you say that you are not using a full face mask.

There IS a difference between a nasal mask and a nasal pillow mask/interface. A nasal mask is a mask that covers your nose. Some common nasal masks are ComfortGel Nasal, ProLife Lite Nasal, and MIrage SoftGel Nasal. A nasal pillow is one that fits tight to your nostrils (nares), such as the Swift, Breeze or Opus 360.

This is a great place to get information.....it would be helpful if you become a registered user. Then you can add your profile information to include the exact machine and mask that you are using (preferably in text, not pictures). Also, feel free to ask many, specific questions. It almost seems like you are asking two or three different questions in this one post.

Mask setting will not affect treatment or let you feel better.
Mask setting comes into play when the leak rate is being reported. Now leaks can for sure affect the way you feel.

But even if a person had the wrong mask setting, the treatment is not affected, only maybe the leak report result will be skewed and not give the clearest picture of any leak that might be going on. Hence need for correct setting to get accurate reports.

More important would be the other numbers since you aren't reporting much success. Software reports show even more that might be going on. So many things might be going on, low pressure on APAP, leaks to the point therapy is compromised (common). How many hours a night do you sleep and use the machine?

Changing the mask setting won't fix those things? So sorry. If are aren't doing well then more detective work needs to be done to try figure out what is going on. Do you know how to access the data on your machine and/or have the software for it? As Jbn mentions, fill out your profile and answer her questions and mine. Then the detective work can begin.

I have been using the ResMed S9 machine with the humidifier unit since April 2010. The unit is set to <auto>. Prescription : use as A-PAP ; setting 6 to 16. Apnea was diagnosed 'severe' category , so I am glad to learn of possible solutions.

W/ above info, below is comment re question posted . I had used ResMed's NASAL masks for almost a year when a doctor friend mentioned he had switched to ResMed Swift FX. I was interested esp. as my nasal mask (Activa Mirage) leaves deep lines and facial marks (and they continue to get get worse). I bought the Swift FX mask used by my doctor pal . ResMed's leaflet calls the Swift FX a "Nasal Pillows" mask. Regrettably ResMed did not include any user info to explain or clarify optimal method for use . ResMed's ONE pager gives no guidance on the correct setting. They call the swift fx "nasal pillows" ( confusing desgnation, that doesn't tell user what setting to use : is it Pillows or Nasal , OR .... (?)

I commenced use w/ setting as "Nasal" . Kept waking up; uncomfortable . Had a tough time. So I called clinic who advised that setting should be "Pillows" (although he/she admitted to being confused also). I tried setting "Pillows" . But that didn't work either . It was awful. Problems included: extreme air leak; little if any benefit from the humidifier ; sore thorat and other problems.

To answer your question : I have tried both possible settings, and have been diligent in my "tests ". Neither work well , and I went back to my older nasal mask (where user manual is clear : "setting s/b NASAL" it says) . I regret buying the ResMed Swift FX . Perhaps I am doing something wrong and I hope ResMed or an experienced Forum member may provide better insight.
Adam Okhai

adam.okhai wrote:. I tried setting "Pillows" . But that didn't work either . It was awful. Problems included: extreme air leak; little if any benefit from the humidifier ; sore thorat and other problems.

To answer your question : I have tried both possible settings, and have been diligent in my "tests ". Neither work well , and I went back to my older nasal mask (where user manual is clear : "setting s/b NASAL" it says) . I regret buying the ResMed Swift FX . Perhaps I am doing something wrong and I hope ResMed or an experienced Forum member may provide better insight.

The problem is the mask not any mask setting you may or may not choose.. Heck my machine doesn't even have a mask setting.

No amount of changing the mask setting on the ResMed machine will make a leaky mask work. So sorry but leaks and pain or discomfort are independent of any mask setting.
Sorry the Swift FX doesn't work well for you. I love it.

Sore throat?? Nasal mask? I would suspect mouth breathing while asleep.

Hi richard when you change masks you should also tell the machine what mask you are using click on pillow when using pillows ,would suggest google sleepnationtv or search for their link in the search box for video (episode 8 ) presentation on the S9 ,it will be good idea to have the machine next to you while watching ,it have all the info setup ,clinical menu and all the features , I run mine on auto 9-17 would probably try to narrow that a bit as it never goes up over to 15 , and set EPR on 3 ,but every one is different some might need lower or set it off it is your choice whatever makes you more comfortable ,for me felt much better when started to be positive ,read more on this forum and others ,told myself if gone through this trouble getting hosed up every night might as well look for ways to improve my compliance and comfort, now have the rescan software which do check the data daily , if you need the software to download ask and some one will assist you with the link ,hopefully you will start to feel better in the morning and the choice of mask is very important ,been on cpap for 3 months tried 2 FF masks Quattro and Quattro FX but leaks kept waking me up constantly , for last week been using softgel nasal mask with surprising result wake up only once ,slept over 7 hours that the best ever had ,good luck.

The info and comment by < Pugsy> (earlier today) re "Pillow or nasel which to set machine as?"

Thank you. Your comment is a useful alert to other issues to look at.
Adam Okhai

Pillows means Nasal Pillow
Nasal means Nasal Mask
Yeah, it's confusing

The Swift FX is an excellent mask for many forum members, but it IS rather tricky to get just right. If you are looking for an alternative to the nasal mask, then I would suggest that you search around the forums for posts on the FX and how to get it adjusted properly. It took me several tries to get it to work at all, and over a month to get a good handle on the leaks. But, it was SO worth it. I now love the mask, and can't imagine using anything else. That said, it is not the mask for everyone.