Doc wants my tonsils, any suggestions on a good nasal pillow

[divajojo]

Yeah, I know those two are unrelated, but I thought it might get someone's attention. When I met with my sleep doc yesterday, he said my tonsils were very impressive and if it hadn't appeared that I was improving with the therapy, he would recommend taking them out (my mom had that argument for years with my ENT as a child). I truly don't want them taken out. Anyone out there had your tonsils removed in adulthood??

As I mentioned in a previous post, my doc recommended the Fisher Paykel FF mask and I'll get it in about a week, but he also suggested the nasal pillow types since I'm a side sleeper who likes to burrow down in my pillow. My specific concern with the nasal pillows is that I'm at a higher pressure (probably not the highest of everyone here, but anyway) and use to have a problem with nose bleeds. I'm concerned about that force of air being concentrated directly into my nose instead of breathing it in from the chamber of a FF mask. My doc tried to tell me there was no difference, but I know better. I know good and well there's a difference between that pressure of air being concentrated into a chamber as small as the mask and being concentrated and directed through those two little holes (don't try to tell me different, the laws of physics won't support - I don't know all, but I KNOWS that much). Even I know that the same pressure of air will hit with more force the smaller the path it's given - I wonder how ignorant these people think we are. But, just in case - do you have any insight into that issue? Are there any high pressure users (I'm at 17/13 on a BiPAP) using nasal pillows and what has been your experience? Thank you.

[ozij]

Hi Divajojo
Tonsils: Do a search, for tonsils - one of us definitely had his tonsils removed in the last few months, I remember his reporting it.
Pillows and pressure: I think you're right to wonder about that rush of air, though I know some posters use nasal pillows with your pressure (mine is very low).

Recommendations: It's very very much a personal issue... however there a number of things that might heighten your chances of success with any kind of pillow mask:
1. Make sure your hose hangs down from the wall above your hear (or from the headboard. That way, when you turn around the mask doesn't twist you nose out of joint....
2. Get a lubricating cream, water based cream, and use it in your nares (nostrils?). AYR or KY gel were recommended by a Resmed representative in a chat. Don't wait for your nose to get sore, start out with the gel.
3. Be prepared for discomfort after a few days of use. Your nostrils have never come into contact with anything for such an extended time, and they have to get used to it.
4. When they get sore - give them a short (2-3 night) rest and use your other mask.
5. Consider buying a memory foam type of pillow - there have been a number of threads on the subject recently.

I am very happy with a Breeze. One of its advantages (and drawbacks...) is that it has almost limitless adjustment options. If you decide on it - take time to fiddle with it, and test all those adjustment points - they make a difference.

Good luck, whatever you decide.
O.

[rock and roll]

I was a pillow sceptic but now own a Swift, Breeze and Nasalair (kind of a pillow), and I love them. The Swift is my favorite. I have a pressure of 14 so it's pretty high. I like one pressure versus the auto, works better for me and if and when it does not I can always go back to auto. I also toss and turn a lot, rock and roll if you will and I am a side sleeper. With a memory foam pillow, the pillows are very compfortable.

[Teej813]

Bump...

I too still have my tonsils and am wondering how that affects OSA. Are there many of us here that still do?


teej

[rock and roll]

I still have mine as well. Doctor used to want to take them ouot but they never even mention it anymore.

[Ann N.]

divajojo-

I have been using a BiPAP at the exact pressures you are asking about-- 17/13 -- for almost two years now. For over a year and one half of that time, I have also been using the Breeze with nasal pillows quite successfully. I have no problems with that setup. It is very comfortable. The pressure is applied equally in the whole internal nasal area.

Previous to the Breeze, when I went through some nasal masks and ff masks, I found that the BiPAP at that high pressure would produce kind of a billows effect -- the mask would go in and out with my breathing and that was quite distracting. I also found that masks of any type would leak more than the nasal pillows at high pressure. I think that that was partly because of the much longer distance around the edges of the masks than around the edges of the nasal pillows, thus presenting more opportunities for the masks to leak than for the nasal pillows.

I have also tried some other newer versions of nasal pillows. For me the Breeze works out to be the best overall interface for use with a BiPAP at high pressures. But as you know, what works for one person may not be satisfactory for someone else.

Ann

[divajojo]

I'm sticking to my Ultra Mirage FF mask until the Fisher Paykel comes in, I'll give it a try for a few weeks and if it doesn't work out, I'm open to trying the nasal pillow - I'm also going to look into the memory foam pillow, a lot of people have been saying great things about it. Thanks, folks.

[MinMan]

OK, I have look at several different brands of pillow.

I'm chemically sensitive and nasty allergies, whats a decent memory foam that doesn't outgas nasty fumes?

[rock and roll]

Minman,

Get a contoured 100% natural latex pillow and you won't get the gases and smells of manufactured foams.

[JimH]

I still have my tonsils. the ENT says he wants to avoid taking them out as with the surgery they have to knock you out and you can't wear a mask. Besides, I hear the same argument over and over that if you have apnea now, you will probably still have it after. the only differnence will be the lack of noise due to snoring.