[Equipment] Advice about tolerating nasal pillows

[tmc712]

Hi all,

I am currently using the Dreamwear nasal mask, and it's working great for me. Really comfortable, my AHI is under 3 every night and often under 2, minimal leaking. However, I don't love how it flattens out my curly hair every night. Yes, I'm vain.

So, I bought the Swift FX nasal pillows mask with the Bella loops that go around the ears, since that should theoretically solve my hair problem. I've only tried this mask for two nights, and both nights I woke up after about 2 hours with terrible pain in my nostrils. I had no problems with the ear loops, although they might have become painful if I'd lasted longer than a couple hours. (After waking up, I switched back to the Dreamwear.)

I got the kit with the S, M, L pillows. The medium seemed like the best fit, so that's what I was using. I'd say my nostrils are long but narrow and not very flared out. It seems like the pillows try to force my nostrils to be wider and more flared...unless I use a small, which then doesn't give me enough air, causes leaks, etc. The large felt like it was really forcing my nose into a shape it doesn't want to be.

I will continue to use my Dreamwear if I can't make the Swift FX work. My health is more important than my hair style. But if I can have both, then that would be a nice bonus.


Questions:

So, does anyone have any advice on tolerating nasal pillows? I had tried a couple other ones when I first got my machine, and I had the same problem. Do they just not work for some nose shapes?

Alternatively, is it possible to use the Swift nasal mask with the ear loops? I'm guessing not since it's not sold that way.

Are there any other ear loop masks that I'm not aware of?


Thanks for any and all advice!

[Keljian]

A big one for me with the dreamwear was fit the mask loosely and let the air from the machine complete the seal. This made a huge difference

[Sleeprider]

I agree with the loose fit, and advise using the size large. Correct fit is to seal outside the nares. The pillow cushion should not insert into the nares.

[AshSF]

A big one for me with the dreamwear was fit the mask loosely and let the air from the machine complete the seal. This made a huge difference

I second this advice.  Also, when the air seal doesn’t cut it any more, it’s time to change the nose pillows. The silicone in them breaks down and doesn’t maintain the elasticity needed to keep the seal. Most people go the route of tightening the straps instead, which leads to nasal irritation and sores.

[beet]

I think the responses were to the wrong question.  If I correctly understand the OP, she has great success with Dreamwear except doesn’t like the way it crushes her hair.  Her question was how to achieve comfort with the Swift FX.

[snorybob]

tmc712:

When the Bleep/Dreamport hit the market that should be a perfect mask for you!


  snorybob.

[Fats Drywaller]

About ear loops:  Don't know, but am interested, casually, for my own purposes.  I'm guessing that it should be possible to take the ear loops from one mask and fit 'em to another of a similar type.

But one possibly helpful thing I can contribute is more evangelism on behalf of the F&P Brevida, which I find is generally excellent.  Its headgear is only one elastic strap around the back of the head, similar to the P10's, but the strap is different from the P10's in that it has velcro extending way back on both sides so it'll fit a wider range of sizes.  However, I find that it does tend to slide up on smooth hair, loosening the mask and messing up the hair.  That's a minor annoyance.  (Probably I should wear a scarf, but it's too much trouble.)

The main thing about it, though, is that the nasal pillows are soft, pilable silicone.  This part confuses things even more: the Brevida's pillows are supposed to protrude into the nostrils, not to rest underneath them and seal that way.  But I find that they don't irritate my nostrils; I've never had to use lanolin and have never had sores, blisters, etc.  The seal is also generally good, in my experience better than the Dreamwear's nas-pil, when the silicone is kept clean and relatively free of skin oils.

That's one reason I mention it, and another is that it seems feasible, just at a glance, to replace the Brevida's strap with ear loops.  But the loops would have to be from a mask that is also minimal and has no other headgear, so that they're the right length.

I know that recommending yet another mask is sort of questionable, given the expense and the hassle.  But it's all part of the long-term CPAP experience: you gotta shop around.  At a minimum, I suggest putting the Brevida at the top of anyone's "masks to try" list if the nasal-pillows type is preferred and especially for anyone who finds other nas-pils painful.

P.S.: The hose connection (pictured) is a ball-and-socket joint, which is good. There is a quick-disconnect attachment (not pictured) at the end of the lightweight short hose, also good. For use when fitting ear loops: the gray plastic clips can be unhooked from the slots in the mask frame, so you have either those slots or the velcro-loop slots to work with.

[Sleep2Snore]

Largest size first and a loose fit and let the air seal the pillows, if not tighten only slightly till sealed.
Only if it will not seal go to the smaller size.

You appear to be doing well so far though, get the hours used up as much as you can, then you will feel the improvements.

[tmc712]

Thanks for all the advice!

Unfortunately, I just could not make the Swift FX work for me. I have tried all 3 pillow sizes, and none of them worked. The small and medium wouldn't seal without tightening the mask excessively, which of course causes irritation and pain. The large wasn't large enough to sit outside my nares, so it forced my nostrils apart into an unnatural (and uncomfortable) shape. Sigh.

I'll be returning it. Back to my trusty Dreamwear.

Fats Drywaller: I think I was looking at the Brevida a while ago and then forgot about it. Thank you for the reminder! The straps on that one look less offensive to my hair, so I will probably give it a try.

snorybob: The Dreamport mask looks really interesting! I'm definitely going to be getting one when it's available. Thanks for bringing it to my attention.

[willo]

I'm a new CPAP user (a mere 20 days recorded) but have a similar issue where my original nasal pillow mask delivers air well, but gives me stabbing pain inside my nostrils that gets worse each consecutive night I use it. I'm now alternating one night with the nostril-poking Nuance Pro Gel Pillows mask, then two nights with the Dreamwear Under the Nose nasal mask (which is leakier and harder to get well positioned, but irritates my facial skin less and my nostrils not at all.)

But never mind the specific masks. What I wanted to suggest is a thin silk nightcap between your hair and your headgear.

I bought one from Amazon a year or so ago because my hair was getting fragile and falling out due to an autoimmune condition. Search "silk sleep bonnet" and you should see many options in the $15-20 range. It's cheaper to experiment with than new masks, and might protect your hairstyle with the mask you like best.

Like sleeping on a silk pillowcase instead of cotton, these caps were originally designed to protect hair from tugging and improve its overall condition for beauty purposes. Mine fits easily between my head and the mask's straps. Also, less need to wash neoprene headgear as it never touches the oils from your scalp. Just thought it was worth mentioning.

A little vanity is perfectly reasonable.   

--willo