Leak Reduction in the Swift LT

[Volcanomom]

Hey guys. I had a really good couple of first weeks with my cpap, but the last week hasn't gone so well. I'm really having trouble with leaks. I don't have a data capable machine, so I don't know how many or percentage or anything, but I wake up feeling them, and hub can hear them. Today I was almost as tired and wiped out as before therapy. I'm going to try a different size pillow tonight. I wash my face right before masking up so I've taken that advice. Mainly I think it's because I am a side sleeper. I wondered if anyone else is a side sleeper and uses the LT. I have my 30 day follow up pretty soon, so I want to try everything before I decide to try another mask. So...having tried: strap adjustments, with AYR gel, without AYR Gel, face washing and trying to sleep only on my back........any other suggestions?? Thanks!!

[PaulyWally]

I started using my Swift LT 11 days ago and at first had some problem with leaking. Turns out I was mouth breathing in the middle of the night. Any chance that you're doing the same? I'm now mouth taping and my leak stat is now 0.00 l/s. Will either keep with mouth taping or try the Mirage Liberty mask which is a combination of nasal pillows and mouth mask. If mouth breathing isn't your problem I would suggest you try loosening (yes, loosening) the top straps (particularly if you've been feeling pressure on your nostrils).

Good luck.

[JayC]

I don't know your hair length, although it may not matter.

I put on a stretchy hair band around 2 inches wide more or less (Goody brand in the drug store or grocery store...often sold afew in a package.) This keeps my hair stable, but more importantly, stabilizes the mask without overtightening. I wear the tube in the clip on top of my head, which could more things around even more; and this headband stops that. Also, I pull hair whose roots are an inch or so above the back strap out from under the strap and put them over/covering the back strap. This also stops sliding on fleshly washed hair.

I am a confirmed side sleeper....both sides in same night. I have apneas when on my back probably mostly from my tongue blocking, but that might be only part of it. According to sleep study, little or no apnea in other positions. Hyponea with low stats is my biggest issue.

After I wash my face, I give at least areas covered by any mask parts a swipe with cotton ball and witch hazel. I am major oily. (although that means I'll never wrinkle!!)....and sensitive with mild to moderate rosacea (which is one reason Swift LT is best for me at this point....) Sometimes I spray water on the cotton ball before I put the witch hazel on it, if I am feeling particularly skin sensitive.

I also sleep near the edge of the pillow, and that seems to help some as well. Sometimes I get away with being almost on my stomach and STILL registering zero leaks.

Hope some idea here helps you...

All the best.

J

At least a few times a week, I have data on the LCD of zero leaks.

Sometimes the nasal "thingy" acts up in one or both nostrils....and won't behave in the middle of the night. Although that is not always because the headgear is moving.

[Volcanomom]

I started using my Swift LT 11 days ago and at first had some problem with leaking. Turns out I was mouth breathing in the middle of the night. Any chance that you're doing the same? I'm now mouth taping and my leak stat is now 0.00 l/s. Will either keep with mouth taping or try the Mirage Liberty mask which is a combination of nasal pillows and mouth mask. If mouth breathing isn't your problem I would suggest you try loosening (yes, loosening) the top straps (particularly if you've been feeling pressure on your nostrils).

Good luck.

I have a chin strap, and I don't *think* I'm doing too much mouth breathing. I did at first, but I seem to be getting trained to keep my mouth shut (wonder of wonders!). I switched to the large pillow last night and from my perspective it seemed slightly better (though more uncomfortable), but hub said he could still hear leaks. I will try loosening the straps. My instinct is to tighten, so mayble I've over done it. Thanks for the feedback!

[Volcanomom]

I don't know your hair length, although it may not matter.

I put on a stretchy hair band around 2 inches wide more or less (Goody brand in the drug store or grocery store...often sold afew in a package.) This keeps my hair stable, but more importantly, stabilizes the mask without overtightening. I wear the tube in the clip on top of my head, which could more things around even more; and this headband stops that. Also, I pull hair whose roots are an inch or so above the back strap out from under the strap and put them over/covering the back strap. This also stops sliding on fleshly washed hair.

I am a confirmed side sleeper....both sides in same night. I have apneas when on my back probably mostly from my tongue blocking, but that might be only part of it. According to sleep study, little or no apnea in other positions. Hyponea with low stats is my biggest issue.

After I wash my face, I give at least areas covered by any mask parts a swipe with cotton ball and witch hazel. I am major oily. (although that means I'll never wrinkle!!)....and sensitive with mild to moderate rosacea (which is one reason Swift LT is best for me at this point....) Sometimes I spray water on the cotton ball before I put the witch hazel on it, if I am feeling particularly skin sensitive.

I also sleep near the edge of the pillow, and that seems to help some as well. Sometimes I get away with being almost on my stomach and STILL registering zero leaks.

Hope some idea here helps you...

All the best.

J

At least a few times a week, I have data on the LCD of zero leaks.

Sometimes the nasal "thingy" acts up in one or both nostrils....and won't behave in the middle of the night. Although that is not always because the headgear is moving.

Thanks for the suggestions. My hair is very fine so the head gear slips - I'll try the headband. I'll try the witch hazel too, because I also have oily skin. I totally agree with you about the wrinkles - NOBODY thinks I look my age

I try to "hang" over the edge of the pillow, sometimes it helps sometimes it pushes the set up sideways.

[Lilluanu]

I started with a Swift II, then about a week and a half ago switched to the Swift LT. I definitely noticed the difference in that the LT takes more fine-tuning to adjust right each night because the material of the nasal pillow is more flexible, but I also noticed I had less leaks when I loosened the straps (which I did mostly because the way my RT had fitted it was slightly too tight, causing a couple of small pressure sores on the tip of my nose, not so pretty). When i put on my LT, I turn on the machine then pull the nasal pillows away from my nose and readjust as needed to avoid leaks. I sleep on both sides (which was the main reason I switched from the II, I was tired of the weird marks on the side of my face where the hose was attached). I lay in the middle of my pillow (which is actually 2 regular pillows stuffed into 1 case so it keeps my head and shoulders higher, helps the acid reflux a bit), and I guess I automatically adjust if the pillow pushes on the mask.

However, in switching I've also found I have more rainout issues with my new mask, I think because the mask part of the hose hangs out in open air instead of being against my skin and body heat. I'll probably wrap a wash cloth around it and see if that helps some. I already have an insulated hose cover for the main hose which helps some (though it's a couple inches too short, probably need another wash cloth for that).

Basically, in your case I suggest you try loosening the straps some to where the pillows rest comfortably under your nose instead of being pressed tight against it, and see if that helps some. The air pressure is supposed to be enough to seal the pillows properly, so we shouldn't need tight straps to do so. In fact I suspect the tight straps may cause the pillows to press so tight to our noses that it squishes them out of shape and causes more leaks. Hope it helps!

[PaulyWally]

...snip
However, in switching I've also found I have more rainout issues with my new mask, I think because the mask part of the hose hangs out in open air instead of being against my skin and body heat. I'll probably wrap a wash cloth around it and see if that helps some. I already have an insulated hose cover for the main hose which helps some (though it's a couple inches too short, probably need another wash cloth for that).

snip!

I'm also having rainout problems with this mask but a washcloth around the mask hose has helped. Still waiting for my heated main house to arrive from the US. Keep us posted on your success/failure and good luck.

[Guest]

Hey guys. I had a really good couple of first weeks with my cpap, but the last week hasn't gone so well. I'm really having trouble with leaks. I don't have a data capable machine, so I don't know how many or percentage or anything, but I wake up feeling them, and hub can hear them. Today I was almost as tired and wiped out as before therapy. I'm going to try a different size pillow tonight. I wash my face right before masking up so I've taken that advice. Mainly I think it's because I am a side sleeper. I wondered if anyone else is a side sleeper and uses the LT. I have my 30 day follow up pretty soon, so I want to try everything before I decide to try another mask. So...having tried: strap adjustments, with AYR gel, without AYR Gel, face washing and trying to sleep only on my back........any other suggestions?? Thanks!!

VM,

You may have already thought of this or tried it, but just in case:

Make sure the pillows are pointing in exactly the right direction, by putting on (or at least inspecting and adjusting) your mask in front of a mirror. If they aren't pointing exactly the right way, you'll get leaks. It's a really good idea to have the hose secured to the headgear (I mean the 1' hose that comes from the pillows, NOT the 6' hose that goes with your machine). Most of us LT owners do so, and most of us use the included clip that's on the top of the headgear. How much slack you have in that hose, between the pillows and the clip, can influence the direction of the pillows (too little slack and the pillows will point down too much, too much slack and they'll point up too much). (You can also use a little velcro strap to secure the hose to a different part of the headgear, if you don't like where the clip is.)

Finally, make sure the headgear isn't too tight before you turn on the machine. There's a real natural tendency to over-tighten the LT headgear. The pillows are a little like a balloon. Once the machine goes on, the air flow inflates them a little, so before you turn on the machine, the pillows need to be just a tad looser than feels right, because once the machine starts blowing, the mask will tighten up a little. Too tight might affect the leak issue, besides being a bit uncomfortable.

Good luck!

-Ron