Frustrated with Swift.....ok with everything...

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Sep 05, 2005 2:43 pm

I had another bad night with my Swift. I got so mad I almost threw it away. The darn thing keeps leaking. I woke up at 2:00 am and spent 20 minutes trying to get it to stop leaking. I got so mad..I finally switched over to my Activa. I don't understand why the swift is giving me so much trouble all of a sudden. The Activa is ok but I really don't like having a mask on my face. The swift seemed like such a perfect solution but I guess it was only temporary. This really is a never ending battle.
Amy

yawn · Post by **yawn** » Mon Sep 05, 2005 2:46 pm

Oops...got Guested,...
Amy

Sleepless on LI · Post by **Sleepless on LI** » Mon Sep 05, 2005 7:02 pm

Amy, my love, I am so sorry you are going through such hell with the software and now the Swift. I wish I had the answer for you. Why don't you disassemble it, clean it all up nice and new, put it back together like you never used it before and readjust all the straps, etc. and give it another go? Have you noticed exactly where the leaks are coming from? I know it's kind of hard with the Swift sometimes to do that. I paper-taped the plug that goes in one end of the barrel. You could try that. I think that helped me.

By the way, I just ordered the Aura. I know, a lot of people have given input and not all of it is good, but I'm going to give it a try. This one is also an out-of-pocket for me, but I get something in my head and can't get it out, so I had to give it a shot. I just ordered it from this site. It's nice that anything over $100 is free s/h. I'll let you know how it works once I get it. Ground shipping is estimated at 5 days, so hopefully by Saturday.

In the meantime, if Swifty is still giving you a hard time, just use the Activa for now. I don't know if you considered going back to the hose down position, have you? I did. I just can't use it in the up position, even with the great invention of the rigging Tridens came up with. I'm just more comfortable with it down. How about trying that? A N D what pillow are you using? Maybe something to do with that? Just grasping here, Amy. Go with me here...Keep me posted. And with what gas costs nowadays, I'll be sorry, too.

By the way, anything new yet with the software? If not, uninstall it all, start from scratch and hopefully you'll get successful this time. Otherwise, you're going to make me buy a plane ticket to Indiana to troubleshoot this, you know...then you'll really be sorry.

rock and roll · Post by **rock and roll** » Mon Sep 05, 2005 7:26 pm

First off, give you Swift a good soaking in vinegar and water to clean it and get it to swell a little. Then make sure all is connected tightly. It really is a great interface but will shift when on a pillow and leak from the nose. Try to not use a pillow or use one that is very flat. Don't give up, trial and error are part of the game.

snork1 · Post by **snork1** » Mon Sep 05, 2005 8:17 pm

I have and USE both the activa and the swift. Neither is perfect, both have their plusses. Alternating between the two of them works pretty well for me. I like to be able to scratch my nose with the Swift, but the activa just plain works.

Where exactly is the Swift leaking for you? It will not seal as well as the activa under ANY circumstances, but it should be sealing "good enough". What pressure are you running? If the leak seems to be a "mystery leak", try wrapping the end plug area with some teflon plumbers tape. If its leaking at your nares, try different sizes of pillows, then work on fine tuning the fit if its still a problem. Try rotating the barrel a bit with the air flowing. Just a bit of of movement can make a big difference. Then if all else fails, try tightening or looseing the straps a TINY BIT at a time, especially the top strap. Also play around with where you attach the tube if you run it UP.

The Swift LOOKS simple, but really needs a fair amount of fine tuning AT FIRST. Once you get it figured out, its pretty easy.

yawn · Post by **yawn** » Mon Sep 05, 2005 8:26 pm

Why don't you disassemble it, clean it all up nice and new, put it back together like you never used it before and readjust all the straps, etc. and give it another go? Have you noticed exactly where the leaks are coming from?

Hi Lori, I can't tell where the leaks are coming from. Sometimes I wonder if it's not really leaking...the sound of the exhilation ports can be loud too. When I'm half asleep, I wonder if that's what I'm hearing. I used to be able to sleep on either side but now, I can't stop the leaks when I'm sleeping on my right side. I'll take it all apart and clean it and then try again. I also have taped the ends like you suggested. I also wear the tubing in the upright position but not the way Tridens had suggested...that didn't work for me.

By the way, I just ordered the Aura.

Let me know what you think of it. I hope you like it.

In the meantime, if Swifty is still giving you a hard time, just use the Activa for now. A N D what pillow are you using? Maybe something to do with that? By the way, anything new yet with the software? If not, uninstall it all, start from scratch and hopefully you'll get successful this time. Otherwise, you're going to make me buy a plane ticket to Indiana to troubleshoot this, you know...then you'll really be sorry.

I am going to use the Activa for awhile. It's not as comfortable as the Swift was but at least it doesn't leak as much.
I guess you didn't see my post from yesterday....my hubby got the software working!!!!! He ended up uninstalling everything and then reinstalling from scratch. Unfortunately, he didn't choose the option to NOT erase the data from the card after downloading. I'm afraid to mess with it now....I'll just keep the data on my computer. Please know that you are welcome to come to Indiana ANY time!!! We would have a blast together!

Amy

yawn · Post by **yawn** » Mon Sep 05, 2005 8:32 pm

snork1 wrote:Where exactly is the Swift leaking for you? It will not seal as well as the activa under ANY circumstances, but it should be sealing "good enough". What pressure are you running? If the leak seems to be a "mystery leak", try wrapping the end plug area with some teflon plumbers tape. If its leaking at your nares, try different sizes of pillows, then work on fine tuning the fit if its still a problem. Try rotating the barrel a bit with the air flowing. Just a bit of of movement can make a big difference. Then if all else fails, try tightening or looseing the straps a TINY BIT at a time, especially the top strap. Also play around with where you attach the tube if you run it UP.

The Swift LOOKS simple, but really needs a fair amount of fine tuning AT FIRST. Once you get it figured out, its pretty

HI Snork,
I've done everything you suggested. I alternate between the medium and the large pillows and I run my machine on a pressure of 10. I used to have great success with the Swift. It's just in the past 2 weeks that everything went haywire. I even thought soaking the parts in the vinegar cured my leaks but they're back... in just a few days. I know I need to be more patient but it's hard when you're half asleep and you just can't get the mask to cooperate. I'll work on it again in a few days...I'll use the Activa in the meantime. Thanks for your help
Amy

yawn · Post by **yawn** » Mon Sep 05, 2005 8:34 pm

rock and roll wrote:First off, give you Swift a good soaking in vinegar and water to clean it and get it to swell a little. Then make sure all is connected tightly. It really is a great interface but will shift when on a pillow and leak from the nose. Try to not use a pillow or use one that is very flat. Don't give up, trial and error are part of the game.

I tried the vinegar a few days ago and it seemed to help...but the leaks are back. I sleep with 2 pillows. The bottom one is very flat and the top one is a tempur-pedic. I have to sleep with pillows....I get a stiff neck if I don't.
Amy

rock and roll · Post by **rock and roll** » Mon Sep 05, 2005 9:07 pm

Can you just try the tempupedic and do away with the other. If you are getting a stiff neck sleeping on a tempurepedic pillow, you might discuss this with a doctor. You might have other issues.

Sleepless on LI · Post by **Sleepless on LI** » Mon Sep 05, 2005 9:13 pm

Amy,
Swift makes a lot of noise at 10. When I had adjusted my settings this week to auto 6.5-10, I was amazed at how quiet it is at 6.5 compared to 10. Like Ozij once said, the more pressure, the more noise you're going to hear. I don't think it's leaking, but rather making normal noise. If you don't feel air escaping or hear whistling, I think you're safe. Now that you have the software running which I had no idea was fixed, you should be able to tell by your leak rate. What is it???

Also, it is very easy to make your data non-erasable. I know you don't want to touch anything now, but I wouldn't worry if it's working. You probably just had an installation gliche and it's over. I don't think you have to tiptoe around with it now that it's correct. All you have to do is go to your C drive, choose Program Files, then Respironics and Utilities. There's a file there you click on, "Don't erase data after download." Click on that and then answer "Yes" to the question it asks.

Also, when you transfer the data when uploading your info from the smart card to the software, it will ask you, after it updates the database at the end of uploading, if you want to erase data. Choose "No."

It's really easy to do. I wouldn't worry now. And about Swift, I think it's normal. Let me know what your leak rate is and we'll know if you're having a problem or not. I'll bet you're not. Deep breaths, in and out...you're going to be fine, I promise.

yawn · Post by **yawn** » Tue Sep 06, 2005 3:41 pm

Sleepless on LI wrote:Also, it is very easy to make your data non-erasable. I know you don't want to touch anything now, but I wouldn't worry if it's working. You probably just had an installation gliche and it's over. I don't think you have to tiptoe around with it now that it's correct. All you have to do is go to your C drive, choose Program Files, then Respironics and Utilities. There's a file there you click on, "Don't erase data after download." Click on that and then answer "Yes" to the question it asks.

I hope you're right...I did what you said to do. I guess I'll see what happens tomorrow when I try to download tonight's data.

Here's the info. from the nights I wore the Swift:
1st night: Large leaks mins, = 0, Avg. Leaks/min = 36.45
2nd night: Large leaks mins. = 111, Avg. Leaks/min = 51.24
3rd night: Large leaks mins. = 0, Avg Leaks/min = 35.99

I have no idea whether or not my Avg. leaks are ok...they seem a bit high to me.
Amy

Sleepless on LI · Post by **Sleepless on LI** » Tue Sep 06, 2005 3:51 pm

Amy, the 2nd night seems a bit high. I was told between 30-40 is fine. However, mine with lower pressure went down to 20-25. Last night, when I went back to 10 cms., it was up to 32. Seems like the 2nd night, you were leaking higher, unless you are mouth breathing. Is that possible? Also, that 111 mins. of large leaks is not good. Notice how nights 1 and 3 for you were zero and the 2nd night was 111? You could have been laying in such a way on the barrel or tugging at the straps so that it caused a leak for a while and were so deep in sleep, you didn't notice it. Did you look at the graph of the leaks to see if it was a straight line or if you had a huge peak at one point on that second night? In any event, they aren't horrible numbers at all. Only the 2nd causes some concern.
As far as downloading your data tomorrow, don't even give it a thought. I'm sure it will be fine. How do you like having the software, by the way? Don't become like me and go crazy over the numbers, having to see them every day. I don't know why I'm like that, but I am with everything in my life. If it's available, I will take advantage of it. I'm doing that with this, too. First thing I do every morning after my only cup of tea for the day is made is walk upstairs, upload my data and read my last night's events. Should I get a life? Do we need to answer that? Thought I had one until I got OSA...now I'm a bit consumed.
Let me know how it goes tomorrow. But I don't think your Swift is leaking. Remember, part of the number takes into account the exhaust ports, too.

OldSeaRock · Post by **OldSeaRock** » Tue Sep 06, 2005 4:57 pm

Hang in there, Amy... and if the Activa works then stick with it.

seagull · Post by **seagull** » Tue Sep 06, 2005 5:23 pm

You might as well try the small nasal pillows too. The med. were more comfortable for me, but definately leaked around the nostrils. Usually just in one spot where it just wasn't quite fitting. I have been frustrated with my swift too. I don't sleep soundly in general and I think I pay way too much attention to it shifting. I have been using my comfort gel. I couldn't get comfortable with that last night though, so I just took it off.

Sleepless on LI · Post by **Sleepless on LI** » Tue Sep 06, 2005 5:42 pm

Seagull,

Me, too, about paying too much attention lately to shifting and the small pillows. They surprisingly work for me, too.

Amy,

try the small pillows (good advice, seagull!!!).