I need feedback and comparison of nasal pillows masks

dieselgal · Post by **dieselgal** » Mon Mar 26, 2007 10:28 am

Ok, I have pretty much figured out that I am a nose pillow type person. I don’t tend to care for the nasal masks that cover the nose and they don’t tend to fit me well either.
So, with this in mind I would like to ask everyone who uses a nose pillows type mask
which mask they use, if they like and and why. Also if you don’t like it I would like feedback on that too.
I already have the Optilife so I know how that one works, but input on any others would be appreciated. I also really would like experiences from Comfort Curve users.
I am on the hunt for my next mask so all input is appreciated.

Wistful · Post by **Wistful** » Mon Mar 26, 2007 10:33 am

I love the swift, after trying the breeze which felt very invasive, the swift is light, comfortable (as it goes against the nose) and hasn't interfered with my side sleeping. It is nice not to feel covered in mask equiptment.

Good luck!
Wistful

rested gal · Post by **rested gal** » Mon Mar 26, 2007 10:44 am

dieselgal, here is a link to some pretty interesting discussions about a lot of masks. Several of the most popular nasal pillows interfaces are in the list:

LINKS to MASKS - nasal mask, nasal pillows, nasal prongs
viewtopic.php?p=35286

Probably more reading than anyone could ever want to do...

The more info we come across about masks, the more, uh...well, confused we can get about which one to try next. And which one after that, and after that.

My personal two favorites (both are nasal pillows masks) are in my sig line below. If there'd been more room I'd have listed the Breeze with nasal pillows, too:

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Mar 26, 2007 11:32 am

That is definitely a lot of reading and for some reason some of the posts won't come up.
SO....if you are using a nasal pillows system now and don't mind sharing your impressions please let me know or even PM if you like.

DreamStalker · Post by **DreamStalker** » Mon Mar 26, 2007 12:56 pm

Anonymous wrote:That is definitely a lot of reading and for some reason some of the posts won't come up.
SO....if you are using a nasal pillows system now and don't mind sharing your impressions please let me know or even PM if you like.

Links seem to work fine for me ... as for a lot of reading? ... that's cuz there are a lot of folks who ask the same question as you just have.

Basically, with any mask it is a matter of opinion (impressions) by each individual ... in other words -- what works great for one may be pure torture for another. I have tried 5 different pillow interfaces and for now still find the Breeze as my favorite although all of them have worked to some degree. For someone else, the Breeze is the worst thing ever invented.

Try reading the posts and you will get a feel about what others thought and how they coped with the issues or modified the mask to make it their favorite as I have with the Breeze.

Best of luck!

Linda3032 · Post by **Linda3032** » Mon Mar 26, 2007 1:06 pm

I love the Aura, but it takes work (headgear runs too large, need a stretchy strap to help secure it), but once you get it to work, it's great.

Here's a recent link regarding nasal pillows.

viewtopic/t17649/Need-help-with-interface-decision.html

Lyza · Post by **Lyza** » Mon Mar 26, 2007 1:40 pm

I currently am using the swift and with some modifications to clip the hose on top of the headpiece so that it sways outwards some i can easily sleep on either side with no problems, and also I've added some moleskin to both sides of the face straps to prevent the horrible facemarks left in the am from their horrible stitching on them. Alternatively you can get pad-a-cheeks and they will serve the same purpose.

I tried and loved the aura -decapitated. However, I never felt fully rested on it. I could move and sleep as freely as i wanted on it, but again I never felt fully rested on it. So it now has a new home with Linda...

I have a CL2 that I've worn once and it pulled at my nose too much and made my nose too sore the next day.. I'm sure adjustments would fix that, but I'm lazy so until I get motivated to try it again, My swift does me good for now.

The only drawback I would say to the swift is that If you have a bedmate the exhaust might be bothersome to them, and it tends to be noisy at higher pressures and if you bury your head in your pillow like me, you'll hear the wind sound more than if you lay on the edge or side of the pillow.

I know at my 13 pressure , the exhaust seems like a turbo jet engine coming out, and my cat who loves to sleep on the pillow next to me, I can see her hair being ruffled by the air if I don't get it blocked by the bed covers and I'll get a cat paw swat to the face soon, if its not fixed... Swift is NOT resistant to cat claws either, FYI.

Snoozin' Bluezzz · Post by **Snoozin' Bluezzz** » Mon Mar 26, 2007 2:14 pm

I like my Swift for reasons well documented by me too many times to enumerate. Check out some of my posts on pillows or the Swift.

Briefly:

Light
Non-intrusive
I can wear glasses
I have Learned to keep a good seal.
Good AHI numbers
Easy to clean
I side sleep with it fine - THANK YOU (to all the naysayers about side sleeping).

Like every single interface out there it takes learning, mastering and some tweaking and like every other interface out there, for most folks (from what I have read), every so often it seems to go wacky and just doesn't want to work right. Oily skin, silicone stiffening, straps too tight, straps too loose, or some combination of all of the above.

David

Gerald · Post by **Gerald** » Mon Mar 26, 2007 2:59 pm

Dieselgal.....

It seems to me that the first thing you should do is give some thought as to which type of nasal pillow mask you want. Do you want one with the hose coming in from above your head? Or do you want one with the hose coming in from the bottom (across your chest).

After a couple of crappy sleep tests in which I fought a bottom mounted hose all night long, I was given a CL-2 (hose comes in from above me).

I used the CL-2 for about 5-months....built a swinging arm to carry the hose above me......and made other modifications that allowed the CL-2 to be tolerable.

I purchased a Breeze....and didn't like it.

I then listened to Rested Gal and purchased an Aura. It's doing a better job for me than the CL-2.

My nares are lubricated every night with lanolin (for nursing moms)....and I hardly feel the mask after a few minutes.

Depending on your facial structure, I don't see how you could go wrong with an Aura. If you listen to Rested Gal (sit at her knee....she's the Master), she'll guide you well. Even if the Aura isn't perfect for you, I think it'll be a great big step in the right direction.

Once you get your system stabilized, don't ever quit experimentation. There's new stuff coming out all the time......and it doesn't cost but a hundred bucks or so to try a new mask.

Just remember that it's your health that's at stake.

Gerald

mikemoran · Post by **mikemoran** » Mon Mar 26, 2007 3:06 pm

I have tried them all. The ones with the softest pillows are the Optilife, Opus and CL2. If you like your Optilife, the Opus is not significantly different except for the swivel joint that allows you to run the hose overhead. For that reason alone it has become my mask of choice. It is much lighter than the Swift or CL2 and I find it quieter.

The Aura is a good mask but I found the pillows too stiff and got pressure sores from it. The Breeze wasn't good, if I rolled onto my back because it pulled at my nose.

Good luck.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Mar 26, 2007 3:17 pm

Gerald hit the nail on the head about caring where that darn hose is. The one thing I love about the Tiara Snapp-x I have is that the hose can go above the head or down the chest.
The main thing I don't like about the Optilife is that is is like a horn going down your chest with no other option. I love options and hose management is a great point!

racefan · Post by **racefan** » Mon Mar 26, 2007 5:29 pm

I have tried a few different nasal pillow set ups & have always come back to the Breeze.

sleepyWI · Post by **sleepyWI** » Mon Mar 26, 2007 7:06 pm

I have tried the Swift. I lasted exactly two days with it. It was leaky, painful and noisy. The Aura is a very comfortable mask. When I was using it I often had to touch my face to make sure it was still there. The drawback to the Aura is the rather loud noise on inspiration, although it is quieter than the Swift. The winner hands down has been the CL2, which is comfortable, mostly stable, and quiet. The drawback to the CL2 is that it does require some"fixes" (easily found on here and easy to do) to get it functioning perfectly.

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