Hi,

I have been using the Mirage Swift for nearly 2 weeks now and it has been making my nose sore.  Today they came and fitted me with a nose mask.  I asked him which it was and he said it was a respironics profile mask, whatever that is.  I am wondering if it takes time to get used to the nasal pillows and if so, how long?  I have small nostrils so he thinks that is the problem.  Apart from the soreness in my nose I love it.  I hate to have to use this other one all the time, however, it might suit me better.

Wendy

Hi Wendy,

For what it's worth, the Breeze nasal pillows that I originally had hurt my nose, so I switched to a nasal mask (the Respironics Comfort Gel).  Based on what a lot of people here have said, I probably wasn't fitted correctly for the Breeze, and it could have worked out well, but I traded it out for the mask and have been happy with it ever since.   With masks/interfaces, it seems to be that everyone is different!  Did they let you keep the nasal pillows, or did they trade it out for the mask?  I kind of wish I hadn't sent my nasal pillows back, just so that I could work with it a little more to see if I could find comfort.  

In any case, if the mask works for you, great!  If not, keep trying different things -- something will work!

Hi Wendy,
I have been wearing a Mirage Swift mask for four months now.  My dme company sent out a respitory therapist with my machine to mit my mask.  I too have small, narrow nose.  My mask came with a set of different sized pillows of which i use the small size and it works well for me.  The nasal pillows are closer together than on the other two that came with it.  So, i just use the small.  The dme company respitory therapist gave me a suggestion which i have used and it has helped me.  She said for me to get aloe vera gel and apply to the outer edge of each nostril...don't put it up in the nose, just around the rim of each nostril.  Anyway, it's the aloe vera gel w/lidocaine, like you buy for sunburn.  I apply a very tiny bit of that, allow it to absorb and am good to go.  I have mostly had no trouble out of my mask.  I know you have swithched out masks, but i have to say, it would be worth trying down the road again when you replace your mask.  Best wishes for much quality sleep, hoosierkitkat

There is also stuff called "Ayr" which is available at any drugstore in the cold remedy section with the nasal sprays. This is a saline gel lotion and it contains aloe. Applying a thin film of this to the pillows of the Swift will make it slide when it moves and ease the irritation of your nostrils greatly. My equipment specialist has told me I will ultimately get used to the nasal pillows, but since everyone is different, she couldn't tell me how long it would take. In the meantime, using the Ayr is helping greatly.


_________________
Larry

Larry, do you apply the Ayr to your nostrils, or directly on the pillows?  I'm about to try another nasal pillow system (the swift), and I got some Ayr in advance (thanks to all the great advice on these forums!).

My tech told me to put just a bit of the 'Ayr' in my nostrils to help with irritation. Also, increasing the temp of the humifier helped me.

I have recently been diagnosed also.  My dme told me that if I couldn't find the Ayr lotion that I could use plain KY Jelly.  I also asked the pharmacist about it,  and they said it would be ok since they didn't have the Ayr lotion.  I am sorry to report that I don't have a report on how good it did since I only used it one night.  I guess that it worked ok, but I had to give up the in-the-nose masks.  My little nose couldn't take it.  I am back to a over-the-nose, and my nose feels much better.

I at first was worried that my nose would be too sore, but when I turned up the temp on the humidifier the irritation stopped.

Well I tried the AYR for the nasal pillows but it didn't work and they bothered me so I stopped using them and I tired the Respironics Profile Gel mask and it rubbed the bridge of my nose raw and it got infected.  So I went back to the nasal pillows and slept terrible again.  When the sore healed I tried the nose mask again using the AYR and it is fine after 5 nights.  Amazing!  It might be the AYR or it might have been I had the straps a little tight but I don't know.  I think it's the AYR.  It's great stuff!

Wendy

I found that if the mask is on too tight that my nose got sore. My straps are just tight enough to hold the mask in place and that took care of my soreness. Plus the Ayr gel.

Dave