Short nose

Last night was my seventh night with my CPAP. I thought the Swift II would work fine as I didn't seem to have any problems at the sleep study but now there are problems developing. Number one is the fact that as a side sleeper the tube across the front gets pushed on by the pillow and then pushes against my nose making it sore.

But the thing I want to ask about - I have found that I have to angle the pillows or nasal tube just right or I find it hard to breath. I tend to think it is because my nose is so short. If the exhaust is not practically blowing on my upper lip I feel like I'm having to work to inhale and exhale. Have any others had the same problem? I'm thinking about trying another mask but reluctant to spend the money.

Exhaust should not blow on your upper lip ... you may have put the pillow sleeve on backwards.

DreamStalker wrote:Exhaust should not blow on your upper lip ... you may have put the pillow sleeve on backwards.

Or upside down.

O.

Well, the tech was the one that set it up and all. I had problems getting the mask on at first but managed to remember how to do it by which side she had the tubing on. But - how would I be able to tell if the pillow sleeve is on wrong? Should the Initial that indicates the size be facing a certain way?

Maybe that's why I'm having so much trouble and my nose is so sore? I hope so.

When you are wearing the pillows the size initial should be on the left side of your nose and facing away from your face.

Were you given the literature that came w/your Swift II? Dig it out and take a look at it to see if the DME put it together right or not. Sometimes they aren't as swift as they should be - especially given the popularity of the Swift masks. Or maybe he/she tried to put it together like the original Swift and there is a difference in how they go together. I'm not familiar w/the Swift II tho I have an original Swift I no longer use.

You may find the PAPpillow will work better for you since you are a side sleeper. A google search will bring up pictures of one so you will see how they accomodate side sleepers. I can vouch for how comfortable the pillow itself is whether you are a side sleeper or not.

And it can easily take a week sometimes to find that a mask just isn't the mask for you. Your DME supplier should be willing to exchange that mask at no charge to you or your insurance if you return it w/in 30 days. But don't wait until the last minute to returne and exchange it if that is what you end up having to do.

Jirel,

Hopefully Rooster provided the answer about whether you have the Swift put together correctly. I had the old Swift, but could not remember well enough to describe putting it together.

I stuck with the Swift for four months -- about 3 1/2 month too long. I know, I know...many people love the Swift. For me, though, as a side sleeper, I could not get comfortable without dislodging the nasal piece.

If you decide the Swift won't work for you, there are a number of good alternatives out there in nasal pillows. First, though, you may want to get a pap pillow, a memory foam pillow or a Target Shapable pillow that will better allow you to hang the edge of your face off the bed pillow without dislodging your mask.

I switched to the ComfortLite 2 and have been reasonably happy with it. There are a lot of fans on this forum of the Twilight-Aura-Headrest (it keeps changing names), the Breeze, and other nasal pillow systems.

Janna

Thanks all! I did have the pillow sleeve on wrong. Last night seemed to go much better although I'm still getting pressure on my nose from the pillow. I need to go looking for a different pillow. I've been reluctant to because with my back problems changing a pillow is usually bad news, but I'm already having to do more massaging and stretching because of the cpap so I guess I should just bite the bullet.

Still - thanks again for the help.