Last Breeze Comment Before It's Over

[Sleepless on LI]

I am giving up with my Breeze. If you read my Quick Breeze Comment thread that lasted six pages or so, I have been trying to get used to this device now for about three or four days. After having blisters around my nose and leaking problems, etc., two nights ago, I got it to work without leaks. Last night when I put it on, I couldn't use it as it wouldn't work without leaks right off the bat no matter what I did. I used my medium and large pillows, both to no avail.
Is the Breeze supposed to make any noise at all aside from the inhalation? I am getting a sort of crackling leak noise, although not loud. If I push up HARD against the bottom shell, forcing the pillows into my nose, it becomes silent.
Also, do you think this may be a pillow size problem, even though I was able to get a quiet night out of the mediums two nights ago?
I am giving up soon and don't know if I should put the money towards trying XL pillows or just put it towards trying the Swift. I am desperate and not too happy throwing good money after bad. I even went back to Target and bought THE shapeable pillow. No luck.
Thanks for any input.

[Newsgrouper]

Sleepless:

This may have already been covered but are the pillows seated properly in the shell? Gentle pressure on the pillows should be enough to seal them. Also, my Breeze is among the quietest of my interfaces. Could the leaks be at the bottom of the pillows causing the noise?

[rock and roll]

Hi Sleepless,

For what it's worth and of course it's all so frustratingly subjective, but I love my Swift compared to my Breeze and it has become my favorite interface. I still have to adjust it several times a night but it's the least obtrusive and most comfortable....for me. My breeze is quiet but clumsy and it haS TOO many adjustments that can get out of wack while tossing and turning at night. I hope you find an interface soon that agrees with you. This part is a royal pain but stick with it.

[Sleepless on LI]

Hey, R&R, long time no "see"! Good to hear from you. I know there is a conflict of Breeze vs Swift and which is the better mask, but from the photos of the Swift, I didn't think it looked too conducive to side sleeping, so I chose the Breeze. Thet, coupled with the issue of people's complaints of noise associated with the Swift. I am almost at the point of giving up, though. Blisters were bad enough, but leaking when it didn't leak the night before? I might as well have stuck with the Activa, if it weren't for the pressure sores started to form and the nightly leak adjustments. So you have those adjustments, too, with the Swift? Is there such a mask where you can ever sleep through the night? I was starting to think maybe I needed XL pillows since my Breeze won't sit comfortably without pushing against my nose, and even now that isn't stopping leaks. It may just not be the right interface for me. So far, nothing is.

Newsgrouper, the pillows are supposed to just go one circumference into the shell, no, leaving the two lines around sticking out? I hope I've been inserting them correctly, although I think I have been. I just am at a loss, but can't stand what is going on anymore. I just don't know if maybe my nose is not the right shape for nasal pillow interfaces or maybe I need XL pillows? I am feeling defeated!!!

[JL]

Sleepless

Sorry to hear you're still having problems. Since your nostrils are probably still pretty sore you may be shifting around alot without realizing it to get them to stop irritating...thus leaks. Would probably be best to just rest your nose several days, use your Activa, then try the Breeze again. Try the large pillows since they won't go up into your nostrils so much which adds extra pressure on your nostrils and whole nose.

Jim

[Guest]

Lori: what rock&roll said is ditto for me. we know how you feel. many of us have had some bad expiriences with some masks also and have had to go and try (buy) another until we found a good one even when insurance didn't pay for it! that's the thing, once you open it, it's yours. and years ago before a great website like this one you just had to take your chances etc. now at least you can't get some input from all the great people here and try to form an educated opinion ref a mask etc.
at this point the only advice i would give is what i would do! i would order the mask you think will work for you (and you read my posts) so you know what i have as well as rock &roll and others. in the meantime while waiting for the mask to come i would apply neosporine etc to heal your nares before trying the new interface. that is the thing i like about the swift ---it is just a simple deseign without any bells and whistles, plastic, various adjustments, etc. just a simple deseign that works great for many of us! as i posted before the pillows adjust to your nares with a simple twist back and forth and the headgrear doesn't have to be too tight, and i have never had a leak even at a steady fixed 18cm pressure. will it be the right interface for you? i can't say for sure! it is so subjective! i can only relate my experiences with the various masks etc. if theres anything you still are in doubt about please ask, one of us will get back to you!
wishing you the best,

steve'
ufo13

[Sleepless on LI]

Hey, Jim. Found me on this thread again, bitching and moaning about my Breeze troubles. I feel like such a complainer, and believe it or not, I am not usually. I have to say, I didn't even try sleeping with it last night when I found I couldn't get it to seal with either size pillows when I put it on. Yes, my nares are totally sore and I've been using the Neosporin to help them heal. After one night w/out the Breeze, they look and feel much, much better, I'm happy to report. I just don't know why it wouldn't seal with either size last night? I was going to chance it again, but ended up "ripping" the thing off when neither one would seal without leaks right off the bat. Do I need XL pillows so they can rest at the bottom of the nares without having to force that shell up against my nose like I have to to stop any leaks at all, which I hear shouldn't be happening with the Breeze?

Steve, thanks again for the support. My DME is in the midst of ordering me the Remstar Auto c/C-Flex and told me to put on the prescription the Swift nasal system. He said the worst that can happen is, my insurance won't pay for it. But we are going to give it a try and see if maybe they will help me out here a bit. That may take a week or a little longer, but it would be nice not having to spend even more money after this Breeze and the Target pillow. And I am seriousy considering the XL pillows before I entirely give up.

[mikemoran]

Lori,

If you can wait a few days before you buy a new interface I can give you some feedback on the large versus the large dialator pillows. That is how I ordered mine because I knew the Swift Mediums were too small for me. Will be trying the large tonight and if I get problems the dialators tomorrow night. If you like how the headgear works with the Breeze then you may be only talking about a $20 fix to make it work.

The Swift Pillows and the Breeze pillows are both made of silicon. If you are blistering it is best to get away from that type for a few days anyway. It almost sounds like an allergic reaction. Maybe the soap you cleaned them with.

If you really want to try the Swift, PM me and I can send you mine to try. Won't be able to send it out till the weekend tho.

[john5757]

I know there is a conflict of Breeze vs Swift and which is the better mask, but from the photos of the Swift, I didn't think it looked too conducive to side sleeping, so I chose the Breeze. That, coupled with the issue of people's complaints of noise associated with the Swift. I am almost at the point of giving up, though.

Sleepless,

I tired on many masks and the only reason I did not try the Swift early I had the same impression as you the photos did not appear that the mask is conducive to side sleeping. I decided at this time to try nasal pillows and have already tried the Comfortlite and the Breeze. I had a professional fitter tried to fit me with a Breeze but I find it uncomfortable and it hurt! The fitter could not get the adjustment in the ballpark and I was not going to borrow it at the time.

I decided to get the Swift on my own and when I got it I was surprised how small it was as compare to the pictures I have seen. I change the pillows from medium to to large since the medium was leaking a bit. I found the Swift to be one of the most comfortable interfaces I owned. Second I find that the Swift was much easier for me to breath out as compared to the other interfaces. It was like that the swift acted like it has a built in easy exhaust function and I was presently surprised by that. There is some interference with with pillow when side sleeping but I find with the lightness of the interface made it easier to work around this issue as compared to my activa. One issue that I can see with the swift the exhaust tend to blow on my arm near the pillow. The swift is now my favorite interface.

I forgot, I am deaf when sleeping so noise is never a issue.

[Sleepless on LI]

Mike, if you're not the sweetest thing on earth...what an offer. But I couldn't take your Swift. I think a mask is a personal thing and I wouldn't dream of it. But you are an angel to offer.
I really think the blisters are from how tight I made the mask the first two nights to keep it from leaking. The first night, I didn't even know that the back extended, so it was so short on my face, it scrunched up my nose. And the second night, I made it tight so it wouldn't leak. I think it was just an irritation, rather than an allergy. I have never been allergic to anything so far in my life, I hope it's not starting now.
Meanwhile, I was thinking of XL pillows, not the dilators. They say the dilators go further up your nose and they sound really uncomfortable. But I am very curious to hear how you do with them. They do make XL pillows, you know, rather than going to the dilator type. Why did you choose that instead? I'm curious.
Thanks again for your gracious offer to send the Swift. I just spoke with the DME and they think they can get this done for me by tomorrow and make an appt. for me to come in and pick it all up. Hopefully, the Swift will be a part of that package.
You know, I've been saying all along, maybe my nose is just not cut out for a pillow type interface. Hope I'm wrong, but who knows??? (no pun intended, knows-nose???).
Have a great day. Hope it's cooler where you are than here on Long Island. It's scorching and humid...

[Sleepless on LI]

It was like that the swift acted like it has a built in easy exhaust function and I was presently surprised by that.

Sounds like a great option.

John, very interesting reading your post. So you, too, found the Breeze uncomfortable and hard to adjust right. Maybe we have the same type of structure to our faces, or noses. All I know is I am getting weary. So you are having some trouble side sleeping, as I thought, with the Swift. I am trying so hard to find something that doesn't leak and that I am not up every few hours adjusting, even if for a couple of seconds. Did you try that shapeable Target pillow yet? Bought mine yesterday but didn't work well with the Activa last night. My Activa, I think, decided to let me have it for leaving it in the case for so many days unused. I think it's jealous of the Breeze (yes, I am starting to lose it...).

So I guess overall you are giving the Swift your vote. If I get it from the DME, it will be interesting to see if it will leak for me, too. I am really starting to feel like a jinx. My girlfriend swore first by the Oracle, said she recommended it to many people who LOVE it. I hated it. Got TMJ, irritated gums, felt like it was popping out of my mouth each night. Then went for the Activa, which is not supposed to leak. Leaks for me, but was far better than an Oracle. Then buy the Breeze and we know that story. So who knows if I'll even have any luck with the Swift? Something's gotta give soon. I am trying to be so compliant and using my CPAP every night since I got it, but this is not fair!!! I know, who said life is fair?

[tomjax]

Mask preferences are like elbows and other things, everyone has one.
If there was a best car and best color, there would only be one.
Same for masks. Whatever works for you.

I do not think everyone has the knack to adjust the breeze. It can be a bit challenging.

4 days is not nearly long enough.

If the breeze is properly adjusted, it is barely percietible. The pillows will barely touch your nares.
Test this by gently lifting the plenum up from your nose and notice how little pressure is required to maintain a seal. virtually none!!
Coordinating all the adjustments is absolutely essential to make it all come together.When you get it right, it works.

The pillow size must be experimented with. The irritation will usually go away in a few days. If it is too tight, it may continue to cause problems.
If you are in the small percentage of users who cannot get it right, then try something else.

It should be totally quiet. no sound at all.

works for moi.

[Guest]

Is the joint on the breeze plenum cracked and leaking?

[rested gal]

the pillows are supposed to just go one circumference into the shell, no, leaving the two lines around sticking out?

Correct.

LI, you've tried really hard with your Breeze. I'm sorry it's not working out well for you. The Swift is a good one and definitely worth trying...suits a lot of people, so might be just the one for you!

You needn't ever feel as though you're complaining! Hey, saying what's not working and asking for advice is not complaining - it's what we all have to do. The details you've mentioned about what was happening can help others, even if it didn't work out for you.

Don't give up on nasal pillows interfaces in general just because one brand doesn't work out for you. Each manufacturer's pillows interface is very different from the others -- headgear, shape/feel/size of the pillows, pressure points, etc. ANY of them can be a disaster for one person and the best thing since sliced bread for another.

I'd set the Breeze aside, if I were you. Try some others, like the Swift. If the Swift suits you, that will be great - it suits many people! Rotating masks from night to night, as snork1 often suggests can help.

Some people have found they a mask they discarded, then brought back out weeks down the road, sometimes works better than when they were going through a nightly struggle with it.

At any rate, get your nose healed up before you try the next nasal pillows interface. You'll find one that works for you, I'll bet!

[ufo13]

hi Lori:

your probably getting bored hearing from me but just a few more comments for today. sometimes it's not easy with this stuff but do not let what happened to you w/ the breeze steer you wrong. it may take time and i know it's frustrating but you will get to an agreeable solution for yourself! keep the faith because your getting closer to the end of the battle (of the equipment) you are getting one of the best auto cpap machines and interface (swift) in my opinion and i think the whole thing will start to get eiser for you now! work on getting your nares healed for a few days and when you get your new equipment i think things will be much better! don't worry to much about any noise or side sleeping with the swift, i think you will be OK, or at least much closer to a good solution.

my best to you!

steve,
ufo13