Nasal pillows or Nasal Masks

[dohboy]

Hi all,

Im currently in my first 6 months of OSA therapy and have been using a nasal mask with some average results. I am looking into trying a Nasal Pillow mask but im unsure of the advantages of changing. If you have used both could you tell me why you changed and why the nasal pillows where better or worse for you.

My CPAP is set to 12, and i sleep on both my side and back.

Thanks in advance

DOHboy

[dravidio]

Whether you are a mouth breather or not is an issue. If you are a mouth breather then you need to use a chin strap or other device to keep the mouth closed. I tried the nasal pillows and strap but went back to the full face mask. I also found the nasal pillows were noisy. I have a gel mask and if it's a good seal it is silent....

[taswulf]

I started with a F & P HC405 nasal mask and it's fine, in fact I've just purchased a new silicone face piece for it.

Hot summer weather in Australia created a lot of sweat under the mask & I've just purchased F & P HC482 nasal pillow.
Took a little getting used to but it makes for a much cooler sleep and no sweat.

Tas

[James @ Intus]

Main reasons for switching from a nasal cushion to a nasal pillow mask include:

- Bridge of the nose problems (skin irritation/breakage etc.)
- Wanting to wear glasses before sleep
- Less claustrophobic / lighter experience
- More flexibility to route the hose (like with the ComfortLite for example)
- Reducing leaks (smaller seal area normally equals smaller chance of leaks)
- Reducing pressure marks (though this can also be achieved with RemZzzs)
- Reducing sweatiness, as Tas mentioned (may not always apply in the UK)
- Increasing side sleeping comfort (can also chieved with special CPAP pillow)

People generally find a humidifier very desirable when wearing a nasal pillow mask as it can feel dry and cold when 'pumped in' directly. It also helps reduce sinus problems. Free nasal breathing is o course a requirement, just like a nasal cushion mask.

[tallishbloke]

to pillow or not to pillow

Hi Dohboy
Both the standard nasal masks and nasal pillows have their advantages. First it is important to make sure you don't actually require a full face mask, and you can generrally gauge that by considering how well you can breathe through your nose, how often you wake up with your nose congested or blocked in the mornings, and speaking to your partner etc to see if they may be aware of how much you breathe through your mouth during sleep.
You can use all nasal interfaces (masks / pillows) with or without a chinstrap as an alternative to a full face mask, but this combination might not be as effective.
Nasal pillows masks are often lighter, have less obtrusive headgear than standard masks. ALso, because surface area of the area that is the seal is smaller, it is easier to create an effective seal. They are useful where people suffer from claustrophobia, because you generally cannot see it once you are wearing it and therefore are less aware of it. Because they are usually smaller, you may not catch it with the pillow as much.
Unfortunately, the lightweight nature of nasal pillows masks can also be 1 of their downfalls. They are often easire to dislodge or move on the head, causing a leak, which can wake you. Some say they can be a bit noisier. Some pillows masks can have poorly designed exhaust vents causing cold necks on partners lol. Also, because you are getting direct jets of air up your nasal passages, you are generally more likely to suffer symptoms like a cold (congested nose / runny nose / sneezing). These in some cases can be overcome with the use of a humidifier. Very loosely speaking, the higher the CPAP pressure requirement, the less likely you are to suit a nasal pillows mask, but this is not always the case.
You pays your money and takes your choice, or hopefully, if you are in the UK, you can speak to your healthcare provider and they can help you choose.

Good luck

TB

[MrsDanvers]

Nasal Pillows vs full face

In less than a year I've worked my way from a nasal mask to full face and now I'm on a full face with nasal pillows, the Resmed Mirage Liberty.

http://www.resmed.com/us/assets/documents/product/mirage_liberty/patient_brochure/1011501_mirage-liberty_patient-brochure_amer_eng.pdf

The nasal mask didn't work because I'm a mouth breather so I tried a full face mask. This was Ok but I never managed to have a leak-free night and as time went on I was having a lot of problems being woken up by the air leaking from the top of the mask and blowing in my eyes, and I was gettign sores on the bridge of my nose and underneath my nose,so at my last check up I was offered the Mirage Liberty.

It is lighter on the face, suits you if you alternate sleeping positions, which I do as arthritis in my knee prevents me sleeping flat on my back the whole night, and seems to leak less.

When I did find the mask leaking through the nasal pillows being moved as I shifted position I've sorted by applying some micro-pore tape across the top of the pillows ( and my nose).