Comfortlite 2 -- size and pillow vs. direct seal...

I was given a comfortlite 2 mask with a nasal pillow interface last week, size medium (I tried it out for a few seconds, while awake and seating up and it seemed to fit...). Well, after a few nights, it is clear this is not working. I get a lot of leaks around the nares so I need to push the pillows way up and I get nose sores and pain that wakes me up. I am thinking the pillows are too small. I called my DME to ask for the next size up and they are telling me that I am out of the 30 day trial period and will need to pay from my own pocket! (No wonder they stalled me for the first couple of weeks with a mask that did not work for me...) No need to say, I am not happy with the DME, what's new???

Questions:
- My Optililfe and PB Breeze masks were size medium. Why would this mask be a size large??? Aren't the sizes calibrated from one brand to the next? Am I missing some adjustment tricks?
- Should I buy a Direct Seal Cushion, and if so, what size best match a medium or large (there are 6 sizes...!)


Thank you.

The pillows aren't that expensive (all things monetary are relative, however).

I couldn't get a Petite size pillows out of my DME (they just ignore my phone calls), so I ordered them online:

http://www.cpapsupplyusa.com/Respironic ... 3050x.aspx

I'm using the Smalls, and they seemed too big, but after tweaking with the metal bars some, I might be wrong. They've been okay the past two nights.

Have you tried tweaking the mask some?

http://global.respironics.com/UserGuide ... 20Clin.pdf

http://global.respironics.com/UserGuide ... 20Clin.pdf

I had to bend the metal bar UP to get the pillows to meet my nose, and then IN to get the pillows closer together for my small nose.

I'd recommend buying the size Large pillows online and see what happens.

Cheers,
Barbara

xian said

Should I buy a Direct Seal Cushion, and if so, what size best match a medium or large (there are 6 sizes...!)

babette said:

I'd recommend buying the size Large pillows online and see what happens.

the direct seal nasal pillow comes in sizes that are numbered; my rt recommended the size 5, saying that most people use that size...i used the medium on the swift --i much prefer this type over the regular 'flanged' nasal pillows

the nasal pillows come in sm, med, lrg, etc

while they are both nasal pillows, they are not the same item

sharon1965

Thanks, after more heated discussion with the DME, they are sending me the next size up pillow (Large), free of charge. I'll see how this work, and I may buy the direct seal from CPAP.com, for comparison (I hope they'll be able to recommend a size based on flanged pillow experience... )

I realize a flanged pillow is "juste" $30, and I am lucky that I can afford it. It is the DME's attitude that annoyed me. What good is a mask if the interface does not fit? "Selling me" a mask that does not fit means the deal is off, or at least not done yet. I am not talking about style (I could see that they would not want to exchange my mask for a different one after 4 days), I am talking about size. (I could certainly tell that the pillow size was not correct and that I would not be able to use the mask at all, or even test that the style is right for me...). Finally, I think the DME understood... until next drama!

And the saga of finding the ultimate mask continues...

Thanks again for the feedback

Xian, oh trust me, I do feel your pain and agree with you about your DME problems. After one week I was DONE with my DME and am completely ignoring them now. I don't take their calls, I don't return them. Sort of like the way they treated me...

Anyway, that's why I suggested getting another size pillows somewhere else.

I also recommend changing DME's. Ask your sleep doctor for another recommendation. If your insurance only will deal with this one company, then contemplate out of pocket purchases online and on Ebay. You can buy masks on Ebay, sometimes they are a deal, sometimes they are not.

And people do trades and sell here, too.

I need to call my insurance and verify some of the stuff the DME told me, and to find out if they will switch to another company. I think my insurance will. And I'm lucky to live in an area where there is a wide choiceof DME's. Not that the hospital that referred me to my current lame-o DME recognizes that... grrr....

I'm getting adjusted to my CL2 with the small pillows. I was convinced I needed the Petites, so I bought them online. But one night of those and they leaked too much, so I think I was wrong. I can handle a $30 learning experience.

Cheers,
Barbara

Xian, you might want to remind your DME (in case they forgot) that the ComfortLite 2 is a Respironics interface and Respironics will replace it for them FREE, all they have to do is fill out the form w/in 30 days and send it to them. Resmed and Fisher & Paykel will also replace their interfaces FREE for the DME in the same manner.

Even my cheap arse local DME gave me the two sizes of nasal pillows and two sizes of simple nasal cushion w/my CL2 mask!!! Your local DME must REALLY be one cheap sheister!