masks - Sleep Disorders Message Board

bothered · 01-25-2008, 03:20 PM

i'm a newly diagnosed apnea patient and have been trying to get used to my bipap for 3 weeks now. i'm having a heck of a time with the nose pillows. i've tried different sizes, and that doesn't seem to help. i feel like the headgear moves around too much and i feel like the seal around my nose isn't what it should be. if i tighten the straps, i feel like the pillows are being shoved up my nose and my nose actually hurts from being pushed all night.

what experiences have you all found with the nose pillows? is there something i can do, or should i look into a different type of mask?

thanks for all responses!!!

sleepseeker · 01-26-2008, 01:11 PM

It can be very fiddly adusting the masks i suggest that if you cant sort it out then you should go back to your sleep clinic they should be able to sort it out for you.

TacEMT · 01-27-2008, 10:38 AM

I tried the pillows for a long while and could not tolerate them, i switched to the nose mask and its been a great nights sleep ever since

Janet4571 · 02-20-2008, 10:58 PM

I hated the nasal pillows. Tried them at the beginning five years ago. Switched to the Mirage Activa and loved it. No leaks, sleep the night through, and I can sleep comfortably on my side. I'll never use anything else. Even got my friend to try it and now she is hooked.

sztoomuch · 02-21-2008, 01:28 PM

Like you, I am a newly diagnosed apnea patient. My first study was done using pillows, and it went well. The technician had about 30 different sizes. When I went to actually pick up the mask, though, I had only three size choices: Small, Medium, and Large. Now, I have been gifted with an odd sized nose such that one side needs a medium, the other, a large. My DME didnt carry such a mask. I found here that such masks do exist: The Puritan Bennett ADAM nasal pillows allow for a separately sized nasal pillow for each side. That is a mask I am currently looking in to.

Currently I am using a ComfortGel Nasal Mask from Respironics. It does not fit me well; I have two scabs on my nose because of it. At night, I put a band-aid over the scabs, and thankfully, they are healing well.

Other masks available are the full face mask (FFM), Hybrid (nasal pillows with interface covering your mouth), and there is an oral mask out there for those that breathe through their mouth only. If I could get Nasal pillows to fit, they would be my first choice. Why? With Nasal pillows on I can read. I cannot do that with a nasal mask. I suggest that you go back to the place that gave you your first mask, let them know of your difficulties, and ask for options.