Exhaust venting differences in masks? FX Nano quite breezy

Hi folks,

Thanks to the kind suggestions of folks here I'm doing a bit of experimenting to see what works well. I'd started on the AirFit P10, but had some nasal irritation and thought I'd try the Swift FX nano to see how that works.

When I tried setting up the FX nano yesterday I originally thought I had a leak in the hose or swivel coupling because so much air was coming out. After testing by blocking the mask I found that there's no leak, just much, much more air coming out the exhaust vents (like a breeze) than when I wear the P10 (barely perceptible). Breathing effort seems much easier with the FX nano as a result.

Is this type of difference between the amount of air exhausted (at the same pressure level, of course) between masks typical? Is the breezy exhaust normal for the Swift FX Nano?

Thanks for the continued good advice. I'm determined to find a setup that works well!
Scott

The P10 is in a special class of its own because it has a very new diffused venting system.
I think a couple of the F & P masks also offer this new diffused venting system.

What you are experiencing with the Nano is typical for that mask and others when comparing to the P10.
There really is no comparison and the diffused venting was/is a brilliant idea.
I wouldn't be surprised if more and more of the new models that come out will have this sort of venting.

So nothing is wrong with the Nano at all...you just got spoiled by the P10's diffused venting.
Pretty much all the other masks will vent like the Nano...some more than others.

Perfect-- thanks Pugsy! Just wanted to make sure the FX Nano mask (and the operator) was operating correctly before giving it a whirl. I'll test drive it this afternoon when I'm resting and reading.

It's interesting, though, that while the P10 is quiet and non-breezy for this human it feels harder to exhale with that one than the FX Nano.

Sibbs wrote:Is this type of difference between the amount of air exhausted (at the same pressure level, of course) between masks typical? Is the breezy exhaust normal for the Swift FX Nano?

there's just as much air coming out of the p10 as their is out of the fx nano.

look at the vent rates that are posted in the back of the manuals for each one.

just as much air.

however, the p10 diffuses it instead of sending it out in a stream... that's the difference.

hopefully, diffused venting is the wave of the future.

I changed my bedmate over to a p10 instead of a swift because I didn't like the cold blast that I'd get from the swift.

It's so interesting. I just tested the Nano for a while and a steady stream of air comes from the exhaust whether I'm breathing in and out or not.

Guess your point is just that-- it's a stream with the Nano and a diffuse cloud with the P10.

Sibbs wrote:It's so interesting. I just tested the Nano for a while and a steady stream of air comes from the exhaust whether I'm breathing in and out or not.

Guess your point is just that-- it's a stream with the Nano and a diffuse cloud with the P10.

yup! all masks vent something in the neighborhood of 20 lpm at 4cm to around 50 lpm at 20cm pressure.

the vent table for the swift fx is:

cm lpm
04 - 20
08 - 29
12 - 37
16 - 43
20 - 49

the vent table for the p10 is:

04 - 20
08 - 29
12 - 37
16 - 43
20 - 49

(I just googled up both manuals and pulled that out of the back pages. )

F&P is starting to put diffusers on some of it's masks too... though theirs looks more like a fuzzy filter clipped on over the holes, and is optional, where the p10's is built in.

hard to believe that the p10 is blowing out as much air as the swift, but the numbers prove it.

Awesome data! I love this community.

I don't know what size nasal pillow you are using with the P10 but if you are having trouble exhaling only..try going up a size if you can. I had some trouble with the XSmall (which I can use in every other nasal pillow mask out there) and it was enough trouble breathing that I lost sleep. Going up to the small made a huge difference and still fit fine.
Now if you are already using a Large...can't go up for sure and I don't know if going down would make it worse or not. So sorry.
I found that the XSmall fit just a little too good and the walls of the cones got compresses or sucked in on each other with sort of a vacuum effect and then I couldn't breathe well.

You may like the Swift FX nasal pillows better than the P10 because they don't seem to do that.
But beware...they vent like the Nano...still better than some of the other NP masks but it's a lot stronger vent than the P10.

Pugsy wrote:I don't know what size nasal pillow you are using with the P10 but if you are having trouble exhaling only..try going up a size if you can. I had some trouble with the XSmall (which I can use in every other nasal pillow mask out there) and it was enough trouble breathing that I lost sleep. Going up to the small made a huge difference and still fit fine.

I actually went from medium to large for the opposite (sort of) that reason, I felt like I had trouble *inhaling* with the mediums, probably wouldn't have bothered me at all sleeping, but laying down and trying to take a deep breath, it felt like I had a stuffy nose...

I was speaking with a former co-worker, whose wife is on cpap (and with MS)
He mentioned that the sound of her nasal cushion mask tends to disturb him,
but he acknowledges that her comfort trumps his peace. (nice guy)
I am following this thread in hopes of discovering something that will work for both of them.
I am tempted to suggest she try a Sleepweaver Elan, as mine was very quiet.
(--I used it until the breeze became too hard on my eyes.)

chunkyfrog wrote:I was speaking with a former co-worker, whose wife is on cpap (and with MS)
He mentioned that the sound of her nasal cushion mask tends to disturb him,
but he acknowledges that her comfort trumps his peace. (nice guy)
I am following this thread in hopes of discovering something that will work for both of them.
I am tempted to suggest she try a Sleepweaver Elan, as mine was very quiet.
(--I used it until the breeze became too hard on my eyes.)

finding out what she uses would be a good starting point, and exactly what about it bothers him. if it's the mask vent being noisy, or the air stream being noisy when it's blowing on the bedding, there may be ways to diffuse it.

That's going to be hard; detail guy at work--at home, not so much.

Help. My wife (myjanine) is finding this mask to be the most comfortable of all the available options (the Swift FX Nano, pictured below). But... The annoying exhaust venting is now what wakes Janine up several times each night. Have any of you experienced this same annoyance... and found a solution? EDIT: She is telling me that the exhaust blows onto the bedding and "bounces" into her face.
Here's what we're talking about: