Nasal Mask vs Nasal Pillows

I have been using the nasal mask for the past six months. It has been OK but wanted to try out the nasal pillows. They seem more comfortable but it seems like more air is forced into my nose and it seems like it's making take deeper breaths. Has anyone else had this problem or do I have to give it more time? Thanks for your help!!!

What pressure are you using? Are you using the ramp feature on your machine where it starts out at lower pressure and gradually increases?

I have used nothing but nasal pillow masks over the years. Yes, I suppose that the direct pressure in the small space up the nose will seem more forceful than the same pressure dispersed out over the volume of a nasal (over the nose mask) but you will eventually get used to it.
There are people using nasal pillows at pressures over 20 cm and not even using the ramp.

You might try using the machine while watching TV or if you aren't using the ramp feature then use it...so that you will get used to the pressure application.
Anytime we change something it does feel a bit weird.
A few weeks ago I tried a nasal mask (over the nose) and it felt really weird to me. Almost like I wasn't getting enough air and the air moving around my nose felt like a big leak when there wasn't any leak. I did get used to it after a short time though but it was sure different feeling. I guess that feeling a hurricane going up the nose would be more of an issue when someone was used to a gentle breeze around the nose though. You will get used to it though. The body is amazing as to what it comes to see as normal. That hurricane up our nose becomes a gentle breeze by morning and the pressure doesn't change.

I still prefer nasal pillows and I always will. I like the least amount of stuff on my face and head as I can possibly get away with.

Pugs, thanks for the reply. I don't use the ramp feature and never have. I didn't have any problem going to sleep with the nose pillow but it did wake me up about 2AM when it felt like it was forcing more air in my lungs. The pressure is set from 5-20 but when I looked at Sleepyhead it said that the max I had last night was from 8-10. They have small, medium, and large pillows. The lady at the sleep center put the large ones in. I installed the medium ones this afternoon to try it out and it seemed like the pressure was lower and they felt more comfortable. I'll try them out tonight and see what happens. Again, thanks for your help!!!

Having used both types extensively and I'd have to say that nasal pillows do inject air more forcefully into the nose. So much so that I get inner ear inflammation if I use them extensively and at high pressure. This is rare tho and not many suffer from this problem. Still it's a great feeling to have ones nasal passages expanded and filled with pressurized air.

On the other hand, nasal masks tend to distribute the pressure more evenly, however I've found that if your nose or sinuses are stuffed up then they are less effective in getting the air where it does some good. In other words, both types have their pluses and minuses. I like the Wisp system because the pressure cavity is fairly small so a reasonable pressure is delivered into the nose without messing up my ear canals.

Sir NoddinOff wrote:Having used both types extensively and I'd have to say that nasal pillows do inject air more forcefully into the nose.

Hi,

I actually find that to be a benefit--it helps keeps my sinuses open so I can breathe through my nose during the daytime. I am so used to the airflow that it feels funny when it is absent. For example, I tried a nasal mask a few nights ago, and it felt like I wasn't getting any air at all. I felt like I had to use more effort to inhale, and that kept me awake, so I bailed out and went back to a nasal pillow mask for the rest of the night.

-john-

jweeks wrote:I actually find that to be a benefit--it helps keeps my sinuses open so I can breathe through my nose during the daytime. I am so used to the airflow that it feels funny when it is absent.

Same here