long, irritating leaky night w/ swift....grrrr

[svh]

Why, why, why. Why will it be fine sometimes, and then other times just leak like a seive? So annoying! My AHI was fine, but my leak was much higher than normal (and than it should be). This is mainly rhetorical, of course, just needed to vent! I may look into getting a second mask for this kind of night! I'm considering the Nasal Aire II--I like how minimal the Swift is, but it is loud....

[pipesmell]

Had the same thing happening with my Swift after a couple of weeks. What I did two nights ago was loosen up all the straps, and re-adjust headgear.

This really made a difference. I guess I did'nt realize that over time things got loose, and giving one strap or two a tug here and there slowly got things all out of whack.

Good luck, Jim

[Snoredog]

that noisy thing wouldn't even make a good sling-shot.

but it is probably oils on the skin and on the interface, use what you want to clean it off the nose but dawn citrus antibacterial liquid hand soap works great cleaning masks and leaves a nice smell.

I know you ain't supposed to use it, but then again the mask mfg's are not buying my masks either.

Got 2 years use from a single UltraMirage Full Face mask cushion, still using the rest, so that do not use antibacterial soaps is a bunch of malarkey.

[Slinky]

I liked my Swift but absolutely DETESTED the Swift headgear. It does need almost constant readjustment. I've switched to the ComfortLite 2 and am VERY pleased w/it. The headgear is comfortable, stays in place and doesn't need re-adjusting. My particular CL2's hose swivel is not as free and easy as the Swift's and the F&P HC 407 nasal mask's hose swivels but one of the PAP "pros" suggested putting a minute dab of vegetable oil on the swivel and that solved that annoyance. I understand this is not an unusual problem w/the CL2 but doesn't happen w/them all.

I also found, contrary to my DME RT's recommendation, that the Medium pillows leaked less and were more comfortable than the Small pillows. That was on a tip from another PAP "pro" who told me the pillows should NOT be penetrating well into the nostrils but rather the pillows should lay against the bottom of the nostrils and seal and the "head" of the pillows should just barely enter the nostrils.

[SelfSeeker]

Hi SVH,

Sorry to hear of your bad night.

No way am I promoting the Swift, since it did not work for me, but found different things that may help you, if you like Swift and able to sleep with it.

Were is the leaking coming from?

There are many post about using teflon tape at the end peices. I tried that. It did work for a few day. I know that if I hold the end peice, by the head gear the noise would stop. So I tried to fix that a few times.

Brenda mentioned chapstick on the nose. I used blistik, it helped with some leaking from the nose. Now that I have lanolin at home, I think the thickness of it may help as well.

I found the headgear easy to put on. I kept my long hair over the bottom strap so it would not ride up.

But no matter what I did, I could not stay asleep with the swift on, because I kept adusting it. After two weeks I was exhausted.

I love the Nasal Aire II. I am lucky enough to have a canula size that fits my nose. I can sleep for 5 hours in a row, I have not done that in well over 20 years.

What ever you do, you need to find an interface that lets you sleep. I did not realize that interfaces can make such a big difference in sleep unitl I tried the Nasal Aire II.

[svh]

The leaks come from the nostrils--occasionally from the tip of my nose but mostly from the pillows getting slightly dislodged when I move.

I've ordered the sizing star for the nasal aire--we'll see....

[greyhound]

In general, I've had pretty good luck with the Swift - occasional nights with large leaks for a period of time, but in general, a good experience.

If you're experiencing leaks at the tip of your nose, you may have "slotted nares" which sometimes present a problem with nasal pillows. You may get better results by using a larger pillow size - even a large. Good luck!

By the way, what is your average pressure and Swift leak rate?

[svh]

My pressure is 8.5, and my "normal" leak rate for the Swift is about 30. I've had several nights in the low 40s, and I the leaks really disturb my sleep, since I'm constantly adjusting the thing....

[Snoozin' Bluezzz]

I have been using the Swift for about 10 months now, quite happily I might add, and have found that the sort of leaks you describe were much more frequent when the headgear was too tight. It seems that if the pillow are cinched up against the nares too tightly they lose the ability to flex and keep the seal as you move. I am pretty heavy with a face to go with it and the natural tension of the side straps is almost enough to keep it stable. Also, in my experience, larger pillows are better than smaller. Mediums leaked a lot more than large for me although they felt comfortable. I believe this is for the same reason that loose is better. The pillows get to flex more keeping them on the nares when inflated.

While I do not agree with Snoredog's trashing of the Swift (each to his own I say) I do agree with his comment about facial oil. They leak if I don't use my vinegar spritz every single day. I did not yesterday and had more leaks last night.

Good Luck

David

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[greyhound]

With an average pressure of 8.5, the Swift's "intentional" leak rate is about 30. Even if you've had some nights with leaks in the low 40's, this doesn't seem bad enough (as long as you're not mouth breathing) to adversely affect your therapy.

When using the Swift, I average leaks in the 44-47 range ("normal" is 38 at 12-12.5 pressure), but my AHI tends to be in the 1.5 - 3 range. Couold be better; but could also be much worse.

So, again, I'd try a larger pillow size, focus on your AHI (and how you feel) and don't get too hung up on leaks that get up into the low 40's. Now, if you get lots of large leaks, that's a different story.

[Snoozin' Bluezzz]

Greyhound, what you say makes a lot of sense although I do have one gripe about the Swift (yeah, Snoredog, I have a gripe about the Swift ) when it leaks it is extremely irritating for some reason. If it gets into a noticeable leak mode it will wake me up and keep waking me up until I fix it.

One more thing to offer. Besides larger pillows and wearing it loose, tweaking the barrel rotation can sometimes make a really big difference. I find rotating the pillows down (closer to the base of the nose) helps subdue stubborn leaks when they occur. This may be dependent on nose/nare shape and size.

David

[Snoredog]

While I do not agree with Snoredog's trashing of the Swift (each to his own I say)

So Dennis you say it makes a great sling-shot?

LOL

[Guest]

Ditto on SleepinBleuz suggestion about rolling the barrel of the Swift. I didn't think to mention that. It does help a lot!!! And also, I've forgotten now, who mentioned keeping the fit of the headgear a little more loose. Most of us newbies tend to keep tightening and tightening as we experience leaks. Another valuable tip from one of the "pros" for me w/my CL2 was to fit it a little loose sitting up, THEN lay down. I found I had hit the fit just right while sitting up, altho it felt loose and was leaking, the minute I laid down the pillows fit right in perfect w/no leaks, not even when I rolled from side to side from my back. Haven't had to adjust the fit since that night.

[greyhound]

I guess I've been lucky regarding not having stubborn leaks which have kept me awake. Even when I did have "large" leaks, they didn't awaken me. Maybe if they had, I could have corrected them and had better therapeutic results that night.

In any case, rotating the barrel is a good idea, and I've found that making these adjustments has helped control leaks. In terms of noise, the Swift can be noisier than other masks, but, all in all, I've had a good experience with it.

None the less, we're all in search of the perfect mask and I've been experimenting with the Comfort Curve. I know others have complained about leaks with the CC, but so far, I've found it to be more comfortable and quieter than the Swift and less leaky. But my AHIs are still a bit higher than they are with my Swift.

[svh]

Thanks, everyone! I'm not worried aboui the leaks per se, it's just that they keep me awake. My AHI is still very good. However, I'm tired from having t5o adjust all night long....I'll try the large pillows and see how that goes. The DME fit me with the smalls, I changed almost immediately to the medium ones. Perhhaps the large will be better....

I too, am trying the CC--I used it for a much needed nap today. Got much higher leak than the chart shows I should, but good AHI, and it was SO much quieter!