Any nasal pillow mask that vents upward?

tillymarigold · Post by **tillymarigold** » Wed Oct 31, 2012 12:35 pm

I'm afraid I'm not having much luck figuring this out by looking at photos online. I had my son a month ago and have been trouble getting enough sleep with my CPAP since then, because I fall asleep feeding him. I need a nasal pillow mask that I can configure so the tubing goes up over my head instead of down, which isn't that hard to find; but the real problem is that I also want one that I can wear that won't blow air on him. All the masks I've tried (OptiLife, Opus 360, Swift FX and LT, and Aloha) vent outward/downward, which means it blows on the baby and upsets him. So I'd like to find a mask that has the vent up on top of the head where it connects to the headgear, instead of at the front. Are there any? I really prefer nasal pillow masks.

nanwilson · Post by **nanwilson** » Wed Oct 31, 2012 2:44 pm

tillymarigold wrote:I'm afraid I'm not having much luck figuring this out by looking at photos online. I had my son a month ago and have been trouble getting enough sleep with my CPAP since then, because I fall asleep feeding him. I need a nasal pillow mask that I can configure so the tubing goes up over my head instead of down, which isn't that hard to find; but the real problem is that I also want one that I can wear that won't blow air on him. All the masks I've tried (OptiLife, Opus 360, Swift FX and LT, and Aloha) vent outward/downward, which means it blows on the baby and upsets him. So I'd like to find a mask that has the vent up on top of the head where it connects to the headgear, instead of at the front. Are there any? I really prefer nasal pillow masks.

Not that I know of....you can route your hose over your head though with a ribbon or velcro attached to your top headgear. Why not just put a soft sheet or banket over the babes face while you do your night feeding. He won't be doing the nightime one for too long anyway...just hang in there.

Janknitz · Post by **Janknitz** » Wed Oct 31, 2012 2:59 pm

The Swift FX holes are set at a 45 degree angle, so as long as the hose hangs down, the air blows down. BUT, if you hang the hose over your head with a hose manager or homemade contraption (which can be as simple as a Command wall hook and an elastic band), then the air will blow UP.

Hawthorne · Post by **Hawthorne** » Wed Oct 31, 2012 5:51 pm

The Aeiomed Headrest masks vents up but I don't believe it is available anymore. I use it and stocked up when they decided to discontinue it. It was not a very popular mask but I really like it. I did "lab rat" it with the strap from the Comfort Lite 2.

Dazed and Confused · Post by **Dazed and Confused** » Wed Oct 31, 2012 9:02 pm

Hi Tilly,

Congrats on your baby
How craft oriented are you or your husband?
I think you could easily modify the nasal pillow mask you currently own.

Here's how I would do it.
Measure the circumference of the round piece just below the vents (above the swivel).
Get another piece of soft round hollow solid bendable plastic with an inside circumference about 25 - 30% larger. Try a craft store, or aquarium shop, maybe even hardware or good kitchen supply. Cut the tube @ a 45º angle across the entire width. Now take the piece with the angle pointing down, cut that in half longways (bit less than half: 70/30). What you are building is a little vent shield which will be taped tightly below the vent and above the swivel. It should wrap enough to prevent any venting air from going down. The air vented should escape but be redirected up. Make sure to sand any sharp edges smooth before taping into place.

Good luck!

RogerSC · Post by **RogerSC** » Thu Nov 01, 2012 12:52 am

One mask to consider is the Aloha....I believe that it vents more upwards. As well as the other suggestions based on the fact that the Swift FX vents from a part that swivels, and can be directed upward by hanging the hose so that the swivel is upside down.

Any nasal pillow mask that vents upward?