Newbie here: How should pillows fit?

Just got my new CPAP two days ago and I'm really trying to make it work. Background: I was actually diagnosed with sleep apnea 7 years ago, had one of the old machines, tried about four different masks, and just couldn't tolerate having something on my face at night. But I still woke up with headaches, daytime fatigue, etc. Last month my doctor "coerced" me into a new sleep study (bless him) and now I have an S9 Auto Set, set at 6. Apparently I don't have a lot of events so on the surface my apnea looks mild, but I was told that my oxygen goes down to 81% during sleep.

So I'm trying again, and I'm glad I found this forum for support! My first question is how best to fit the Swift FX nasal pillows. I was given medium sized pillow during my sleep study and they were really uncomfortable, but I was so tired I did not complain. For the last two nights I've tried using size small, but I can only sleep about 3 hours or so. One of the pillows usually slips out of my nostril when I turn over and the noise from the leak wakes me up. Are the pillows supposed to rest slightly inside of the nostrils?

Also,the pillows are so big that they push my upper lip down and I find that uncomfortable. Does that mean that they are too big? I think I may be waking up because there's "something on my face" again....

Have you see this
http://maskarrayed.wordpress.com/swift- ... ing-guide/

and this

http://www.cpaplibrary.com/nasal-pillows.html

When I was using the Swift FX I didn't find that the bulk of the barrel part of the nasal pillow put all that much pressure on the area between the lip and the nostrils but I suppose that it could depending on a person's anatomy.
You might look at the mask that I am currently using...minimal to none touching of the area between my lip and the nostrils because I can angle things a bit.

Might also look at the Aloha or Swift LT...they also allow for a bit of changing of the angle where the big part of the pillow rests.

The barrel of the nasal pillows (the big part resting on the area between the lip and the nostrils) really shouldn't put much pressure at all on the skin...sounds like the straps are too tight. Maybe the back strap just a bit.
If you look in the mirror and you see visions of a piggy nose with the end of the nose upturned...that's the top strap being too tight.

What Pugsy said is right on. The Aloha does not sit heavy on the upper lip like the Swift FX and IMO is much more comfortable in every way. I started with the Swift FX, switched to the Aloha and never looked back.

You may also find that you need a different size pillow than you would have thought. I don't have a large nose so used medium pillows for a while and fought a bit with leaks. Tried the large as an experiment and again never looked back!

Thanks so much for the advice and links Pugsy, I just tried to fit the mask again using Mask Arrayed's technique. I think you are right, the back straps were too tight. I just made them looser.

Kaiasgram, I checked the fit of the pillows once again and I really think the larger sizes are too big. The small pillows seem to go halfway into my nostrils but don't hurt and I don't get much or any leaking as far as I can tell. I'm wondering if hanging the tubing might help with the pressure on my upper lip.

I've got 6 months before insurance will pay for another mask so I have to make this one work!

are you absolutely certain that you cannot try another mask for 6 months? most DME's have a 30 day return policy. mine allows a trial of two different masks before "re" billing the insurance company, for example. I would check again with your DME provider if you cant make this one work.

goodcheer wrote:I'm wondering if hanging the tubing might help with the pressure on my upper lip.

It very likely will help because it pulls the hose and nasal pillows upwards just a bit so takes gravity out of the equation.
Give it a try...can't hurt.
You can make your own hose management system to get an idea if it is something you like.
viewtopic.php?t=10640

Thanks Oak, I will check about mask returns. My doctor seemed to really like this one in particular so I'm going to give it a couple of weeks.

Pugsy, thanks for the links! I found this hanger on Amazon for less than $12, including shipping: http://www.amazon.com/DuraCare-Premium- ... B00BF130KU

It must be on sale! Until it comes I'm going to try taping the tube to the wall with masking tape.

Be careful that you don't give the current mask so many weeks that you run out of the 30 day return period. Try it for another week, and if it's not working, ask to trade it in on another mask.

Hi there,
I tried like 7 or 8 masks before I found the Aloha mask which I love! It's lightweight, the headgear is minimal and comes with three pillow sizes. You should give it a try. You would like it much better than the one you are struggling with. Everyone has their favorite. Unless your doctor also has sleep apnea he wouldn't know which mask is going to work out for you,
Carrie