Nasal Pillows - Love them or Hate them?

jabman · Post by **jabman** » Tue Sep 13, 2011 10:20 am

I tried nasal pillows for 2 weeks and gave up because my leaks were not good. I thought they look comfy but in the end I went with the mask the DME oraginally sent me home with because it worked real well for me. One other note, when I tried the pillows I started mouth breathing.

chunkyfrog · Post by **chunkyfrog** » Tue Sep 13, 2011 11:21 am

I love my Swift FX nasal pillows.
I wear either a Comfortgel or a Full-life full-face when I feel congested.
My AHI is always lower with the pillows--and my pressure is consistently around 4 cm lower with the pillows.
I have to tape, but it is so worth it.

mgrunk · Post by **mgrunk** » Tue Sep 13, 2011 11:28 am

I want to love them too... but even after 2 sinus surgeries, my sinuses are just a bit too swollen from allergies to be successful, and I have a bit of a deviated septum. If I use afrin I can breathe through my nose well enough to manage them, but that's not a long term solution.

I did find that looser was better on the fit. If I cranked the mask on tight, I couldn't get enough air through them. Just found out last night that the nasal pillows actually rotate for a better fit (lt?) and that was better.

So, my next try will be the sleepweaver - I don't tolerate a silicone or plastic mask - it makes me sweat and itch.

Michelle

rested gal · Post by **rested gal** » Tue Sep 13, 2011 12:06 pm

I absolutely love nasal pillows.

I have to tape my mouth AND wear a chin strap (the chin strap is to keep my cheeks from ballooning out with air gushing into my mouth and loosening the tape as the night goes on), but as chunkyfrog wrote:

chunkyfrog wrote: I have to tape, but it is so worth it.

Sure is worth it to me, too -- to use nasal pillows rather than a big chunk of plastic pressing against my face.

With nasal pillows, I can burrow the side of my face down soooo comfortably against my bed pillow when sleeping on my side. Been using nasal pillows and tape over my mouth for about 7 years.

For new readers who might be thinking... "WHAT???? TAPING YOUR MOUTH CLOSED???"

LINKS to: Mouth leaks - Air Leaks - Tape - DIY Guard
viewtopic.php?t=8011

jabman · Post by **jabman** » Tue Sep 13, 2011 12:10 pm

rested gal wrote:With nasal pillows, I can burrow the side of my face down soooo comfortably against my bed pillow when sleeping on my side.

You make me want to give it a try again
maaybe i will.

xenablue · Post by **xenablue** » Tue Sep 13, 2011 1:50 pm

Nasal pillows get my vote for certain. The less I have on my face, the better!!

I use both Swift FX and LT, and although the LT is a firmer mask the FX results in way less leaks and lower AHI EVERY TIME. I'm a side/stomach sleeper so need something I can smoosh against my face without looking like I was in a vice all night - nasal pillows work for me. I do use a barrel cosy from Padacheek and also use the strap covers to cushion my cheeks.

Cheers,
xena

scottjf8 · Post by **scottjf8** » Tue Sep 13, 2011 5:21 pm

I'm new with CPAP, and had the FX, and really don't like it. The springy hose that comes out of it pulls out the pillows, and the exhale blows on my arms.

Now bdp522 send me her F&P Opus 360 and so far I love it. Great fit, minimal leaks, and it stays in. Barely feel it on at all.

So YMMV, each is different. But so far I like it. I've also got a FFM I'll use when I'm congested if I need. (plus a padacheek)

ems · Post by **ems** » Tue Sep 13, 2011 5:48 pm

NCHawk wrote:This reminds me, though, that I need to check with my DME about replacements. I seem to remember being told that BCBS allowed for replacements every six months, and setting up an automatic replacement program, but I haven't heard anything from them yet.

Chances of them calling you are slim. Haven't heard from the DME since the first time they checked for compliance. I do the calling... they could care less if I get the replacements due me.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Tue Sep 13, 2011 6:05 pm

Carolinegaibel wrote:I so wanted to love Nasal pillows versus the dreaded masks as pillows are compact and right on target in the nose. The truth is that I couldn't tolerate them despite many attempts at different brands.
I felt like my nostrils were under attack almost like a personal tornado. During the following day my nose was still whistling from the invasion. I changed brands but experienced leaking however tightly I fastened it. I guess I have pillow-envy when I hear that others managed even though I tried so hard. They look deceptively small and the pictures make you believe that they would be comfortable for all but I eventually gave up on them. I moved onto masks, then oral appliance, then Provent and finally surgery. I live to tell the story so that others can have similar success. Good luck.

so...what surgery? Are you one apnea & clap free?

Wonka · Post by **Wonka** » Tue Sep 13, 2011 7:23 pm

Guest wrote:
Carolinegaibel wrote:I so wanted to love Nasal pillows versus the dreaded masks as pillows are compact and right on target in the nose. The truth is that I couldn't tolerate them despite many attempts at different brands.
I felt like my nostrils were under attack almost like a personal tornado. During the following day my nose was still whistling from the invasion. I changed brands but experienced leaking however tightly I fastened it. I guess I have pillow-envy when I hear that others managed even though I tried so hard. They look deceptively small and the pictures make you believe that they would be comfortable for all but I eventually gave up on them. I moved onto masks, then oral appliance, then Provent and finally surgery. I live to tell the story so that others can have similar success. Good luck.
so...what surgery? Are you one apnea & clap free?

Cpap...that is. My iPad keeps changing the spelling. It drives me nuts!

Janknitz · Post by **Janknitz** » Wed Sep 14, 2011 12:57 am

I felt like my nostrils were under attack almost like a personal tornado. During the following day my nose was still whistling from the invasion. I changed brands but leaking however tightly I fastened it.

The tighter you fasten the nasal pillows the more likely they are to leak! Nasal pillows are designed to fill with air and seal against the outside of the nostril. If you smoosh them so tight that they can't fill with air, they are never going to seal.

If you can't get nasal pillows to seal (see my fitting tips in my signature below), then most likely you are using the wrong size. Try going UP a size to see if that works. A few very unfortunate people are "between" sizes or have long, skinny nostrils, and can never find the right size pillows with one type of mask but may find it with another.

Nasal Pillows - Love them or Hate them?

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Re: Nasal Pillows - Love them or Hate them?

Re: Nasal Pillows - Love them or Hate them?

Re: Nasal Pillows - Love them or Hate them?

Re: Nasal Pillows - Love them or Hate them?

Re: Nasal Pillows - Love them or Hate them?

Re: Nasal Pillows - Love them or Hate them?

Re: Nasal Pillows - Love them or Hate them?

Re: Nasal Pillows - Love them or Hate them?

Re: Nasal Pillows - Love them or Hate them?

Re: Nasal Pillows - Love them or Hate them?

Humidifier

Additional Comments: Rescan 3.12 is the lastes I can find