From Full Face to Nasal
Hello everyone,
I hope you are well. I am about to start a test run of the Nasal Pillows after being on a full face mask (F10 and then F20) for the past few years. I have the Resmed Airfit N20 nasal mask/pillow and am pairing it with a chinstrap. I was wondering if any of you could had any advice or could provide some guidance on what to expect with the Nasal model on Bipap. I am going into this blind but apparently there were some very important journal articles that were recently published, along with data presented at one of the big conferences showing superiority in treatment of apnea's with the Nasal system over the Full Face system. I don't know all the details and I did not have time to get into the journals to read about it myself but this was communicated to me by my doctor who is one of the foremost in the field.
In any event, any tips, guidance or what to expect would be appreciated.
Thanks in advance.
J
RE: From Full Face to Nasal
I guess, just use it. I use nasal pillows and always have. If there are problems with leaks, we will know soon enough. Be sure the machine settings are correct for nasal therapy, Assuming it all works out, the pressure in nasal therapy is a bit more direct. than a FFM. Personally, I would have suggested nasal pillows. Good luck!
RE: From Full Face to Nasal
(06-13-2018, 08:01 PM)Sleeprider Wrote: I guess, just use it. I use nasal pillows and always have. If there are problems with leaks, we will know soon enough. Be sure the machine settings are correct for nasal therapy, Assuming it all works out, the pressure in nasal therapy is a bit more direct. than a FFM. Personally, I would have suggested nasal pillows. Good luck! Good call on the machine setting!
I am fixing it now.
You just helped me a ton! 
RE: From Full Face to Nasal
johnathonm, I've always used a nasal mask (before the invention of nasal pillows, right after Noah (or Noe) beached the arc) or nasal pillows so I can't help with migrating from FFM to NPs. However, my previous APAP was a ResMed from the '12 era, and the new ones (P10s) are a little bit different and were difficult for me to accommodate. I've read several threads of folks who've had even more difficulty than I did. I think I tried the medium, then the large, then the small ones, then the large again. Maybe I didn't try the large until the bitter end. <shrug> In any case, I found the large were the best fit (and I think that I don't have large nares, so it's a surprise).
What I found, and I suspect this is the most common issue, was that the edge of the pillow that goes into your nostril felt like it was cutting me. One of them was so painful I couldn't even get to sleep. Another was uncomfortable but I slept – but the next morning, oh my! My nose hurt for several hours.
I didn't find any way to reduce the discomfort; I just found a size that worked, and the rest, as they say...
Best wishes for an uneventful migration; please keep us posted on your progress!
RE: From Full Face to Nasal
I started with the N20 and found that it leaked where my glasses put dents in my nose. Then I moved to the Wisp (from Respironics) and found that its double wall up the sides sealed better, and I've been using it ever since - with a side excursion to the Amara View half face (it covers the mouth, but sits under the nose).
I did try the Brevida, and sort of liked it at first, and can't remember why I didn't stick with it. It was a loaner, so maybe I didn't give it enough time.
I'm not sure how using a bi-level is different from any other CPAP, as far as the mask goes, but then I use a baby-bi-level with EPR of 3.
All masks are trial and error - until we do 3D face scans and custom molded silicone parts.
RE: From Full Face to Nasal
Hello Shaun,
Yep, I ran into the cutting into my face issue and I also was biting on my tongue because of my mouth anatomy combined with the seal it makes. I ended up having to switch back to my full face mask. I think the Nasal pillows are a no go with me due to my mouth anatomy. I reached out to my doctor but did not hear back so I am sticking with the full mask for now.
It was worth a shot and it was nice to have the openness but it just doesn't seem logistically possible.
Thanks all.
J
RE: From Full Face to Nasal
Glad you are happy using your full face mask.
I've tried a number of them. Maybe 7 full face masks? I'm claustrophobic. The most recent was ResMed F20. It leaked horribly, so I returned it. Although I was able to use it all night for a week, results were terrible.
I've used nasal Pillows and then nasalmasks for about 25 years. I've used a chin strap with my nasal mask for more than 5 years.
This forum is incredible. It's helped me learn a lot, though I have much more to learn.
RE: From Full Face to Nasal
(06-13-2018, 08:01 PM)Sleeprider Wrote: I guess, just use it. I use nasal pillows and always have. If there are problems with leaks, we will know soon enough. Be sure the machine settings are correct for nasal therapy, Assuming it all works out, the pressure in nasal therapy is a bit more direct. than a FFM. Personally, I would have suggested nasal pillows. Good luck!
Thanks for the reminder, I just switched to a nasal mask today!
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