re: how to breathe using swiftII nose pillows

Hi! I first got my cpap & nose pillow system in '08, and could never get used to it -- I just put the equipment away. here we are 4 years later, and I could'nt believe how sleep apnea was "kicking my butt" Ouch, fatigue, weight gain, misery. So, the last two nights I slept like a rock with my nasal pillows/cpap on, no awakenings, breathing only through my mouth. I feel like an idiot, but I am confused about the breathing itself. I think I remember trying to breathe "against the mask" through my nose in '08 and it was a struggle(?). Now, there is no way to nose-breathe, the air comes in hard and it has to be mouth breathing. Is this correct? Does the continuous air thru the nose simply keep the airway open, so it's ok to breathe through the mouth? After al the time, trouble, travelling, dr. visits, etc., I can't believe I didn't get more info on the masks. Please help if you can! Thanks, Melinda

If you breathe through your mouth, you are getting no therapy from the CPAP. With pillows, you must breathe through your nose. To fix the mouth breathing you must...tape your mouth closed, try a chin strap or...use a full face mask.

Thank you so much (I will chalk up my stupidity to the lack of O2). I guess I will need a full mask after all. I looked at the pic of yours and it looks pretty good, I'm going to do a full investigation on masks this time around. Thanks Again!!!

Sorry to tell you, Tino, but if it's been 4 years since you were prescribed CPAP and you haven't used it in that long, you are going to need another sleep study, too. The settings from 4 years ago are unlikely to be effective for you after 4 years of untreated apnea. And the equipment is old and should be looked over to make sure it's still working correctly, too.

Silicone deteriorates over time, and that old mask may simply be no good for sealing anymore.

When my nasal pillows are insufficiently sealed and leak, the pressure up my nose sounds and feels like a freight train because the machine is working to overcome the leak.

But when my nasal pillows are properly seated, I feel almost nothing and am not bothered by the pressure.

That should be your goal, after you follow the advice of those above for a new study, new mask, etc. And add a chinstrap to avoid air escaping through your mouth.

Nate

You'd think someone would have shown you how to use CPAP when you were diagnosed.

You'd think someone would have shown you how to use CPAP when you were diagnosed.

Not necessarily so. My RT was out sick and a nurse gave my equipment and said to use it. Were it not for this forum, mine might have been in the closet. Like Nate said, when the nasal pillows are sealed you are blissfully unaware of anything. You will need to work on your situation from several aspects to get the value of your treatment.