Nostril Issue

I have had this issue for several weeks now. I have tried everything I can think of to fix this and so far nothing is helping….. I use the Swift LT for her with up until lately has been working great. Now, however I cannot keep the one side of cushion in one of my nostrils. I did try going up a size but cannot get the next size up to work at all either. It is just too big. Has anyone else had this problem? Any ideas on what to do? I really hate to have to give up this mask as I have been using it for 18 months. I do wash the cushions daily and do use a new one every 2 weeks as suggested. I even tried boiling it as was suggested by one board member. I also do saline rinses a couple times a week. No change in medications either. I have also tried several other brands of nasal pillows and the Swift has been the only one to work up until now. Help Please!

Have you tried the XS pillows?

Also, make sure the slightly 'harder' pillow part inside is pushed towards the outside - sometimes they get inverted. I was having the same problem and someone on here suggested that the inner pillow can get inverted and that solved it for me.

Cheers,
xena

How odd. You have been around long enough to know all the different things to try and tried them. If it has been a long time since trying a different nasal pillow mask, maybe time for a try? If going up or down a size and even with brand new pillow... then I don't know what else might be different. I will assume you have changed the "angle" of the pillows on the headgear. Rooster's tights fix for the Hybrid pillows might help stabilize things but that is just another "thing" to put on our faces.

What about the O ring thing someone mentioned to help get more life out of the pillows? Maybe that would give just a little more support and not allow the movement or collapse of the pillow.

I actually have one nostril smaller than the other. I also use the Swift LT, so I fit the Swift to the side with the smaller nostril until it fits well, then I use the little adjustment wheel on the other side to bring only the pillow with the larger side nostril up higher so it fits in my nose better. More of that pillow fits inside my nose than on the side with the smaller nostril. It doesn't really put the mask at an angle or anything, because it is just a small adjustment. Maybe that would work for you?

I use the Swift LT for her with up until lately has been working great. Now, however I cannot keep the one side of cushion in one of my nostrils.

I think the "up until lately" part of your statement is the key. This is what happens when the pillows start to wear out. They get soft and "mushy" and will not stay in the right place. You may also find that the inner cushion tends to collapse more easily. Sounds like it's time for new pillows.

Medicare and many other insurers will replace the nasal cushions as often as twice a month. If your insurance won't, consider swapping out the sizes you dont' need for what you do on the Great Pillow Exchange thread. There are also good deals on eBay for nasal pillows.

Some people get a little extra time out of their pillows by putting a rubber O-ring around the neck of the pillow.

There's a recent thread about boiling your pillows in water with baking soda to firm them up again.

Sounds like good advce so far. Wondering if the Opus 360 is among those you've tried. The nasal pillows tend to engage the nostril more than do those on the Swift FX, which I also have. I prefer the Opus to the Swift for that reason. I side-sleep and the Opus pillows stay put better, don't leak, and the air exhaust vent blows straight out rather than impinging on sheets/blankets and generating a lot of noise.

That said, I switch back and forth, but I prefer the Opus. It's cheaper, too, and the pillows last forever. Don't get me started.

I'm having this same issue. My pillow is only 2 weeks old. I picked up o rings today and put them on. Hopefully that will help some. I think I'm "lopsided", too

ladyhen wrote:I'm having this same issue. My pillow is only 2 weeks old. I picked up o rings today and put them on. Hopefully that will help some. I think I'm "lopsided", too

Ladyhen, if you have one nostril larger than the other, give my idea (above) a try. It really does work well.

Thanks for the replys. This was a new set of pillows and I make sure nothing is inverted. I will try that adjustment with the wheel to see if it helps. I have been using one of my nasal masks just to get a couple of better nights since I was wearing down with those awful numbers. I am not a newbie but do not know what an O ring is. I have heard of it but have no clue. So can anyone tell me where to go to look at these?
Thanks so much for all of your help.

Do a search on o ring. It was a discussion from last summer, the o ring keeps the pillows in an upright position for a tad longer.
N

Okay all, I found the O rings. My next question is what size for the small size pillows?
Thanks

There was a post stating which O ring size but I can't for the life of me find that post. I would take the pillow with me and go to store and try them on.

I just bought some yesterday for my small pillows and got the 9/16 size. There are thin ones and I got the slightly thicker ones. Worked well last night.

Thanks for all the help. I will get some O rings also and give it a try. Everyone is so great on this board and so willing to help out even with the little things.
Thank you!

Adding my two cents:

In addition to problems with the pillows themselves (which may well be addressed by the o-rings), a worn, stretched out back strap or top strap can also cause problems with one or both pillows staying put: Last week or so I'd been having problems with one pillow not staying properly sealed against the nostril and the other one not staying at the right angle, and I'm not quite "due" for new headgear according to the insurance company. The DME was kind enough to provide me with a new backstrap for my FX; last night was the first night with the new backstrap: Pillows stayed exactly where I wanted them too all night long.