"I switched to the Swift LT" ...because?

[SheZAAM!]

I hated the Quatro full face mask my DME gave me to try out. I got panicky, couldn't sleep and couldn't get comfy on my side with it. Since I had 30 days to exchange it for a different mask, I went in after a week and got the Swift LT after reading about it on here. What a difference!!! I took to it right away and haven't looked back since.

[Guest]

Why are you not happy with the Breeze? Why are you switching?

[The Texan]

I switched FROM the Swift LT to the Optilife because of the very poor pillows it had, including several I bought. Their life span was 2-3 weeks max, before they started collapsing. I am satisfied with the Optilife but will try the Olympus 360 next time. the only way that I will go back to and recommend an Swift LT is when Resmed proves that they have fixed their problem with the pillows and replaces the 4 that I have/had.
Bob

[Spuddlethud]

Why are you not happy with the Breeze? Why are you switching?

I cover it here.

[Kiralynx]

I was considering trying a Swift Lt, but decided against it after reading about the problems people were having with the pillows and their quality.

I'll stick with my Comfortlite 2 and my Headrest.

[twokatmew]

I cover it here:

Mirage Swift LT - It seems everyone loves this mask, including side sleepers, but I just don't see how that's possible. With those side "rails" on the cheeks, how can that not cause problems? While on my stomach my head is hanging off the edge of the pillow with my cheek pretty much on the pillow. I would think that would just cause one heck of an indention.

I'm a side sleeper. I use the Swift LT and the Regenesis buckwheat pillow. I have no trouble at all side sleeping, and the mask keeps the seal quite well. The Regenesis pillow allows me to smooth out the area where the "rails" protrude from the soft wraps, but the angle of the rail goes toward the nose. As a result, I probably don't have to smooth that area unless I were to turn my face into the pillow, which I don't. FWIW, even without the soft wraps, those rails don't actually touch your face.

My FlexiFit 406 nasal mask left red indentations on my forehead (even with the PadACheek forehead pad*, after I had to raise pressure and thus tighten the mask further). BTW, I was getting leaks into my eyes, so I had to tighten the mask.... I've been using the Swift LT exclusively for the last 11 nights, and the indentations on my forehead are still there, though the redness is beginning to fade. This is after using the 406 for almost four months, and those indentations are like the ones my glasses leave behind my ears. I can live with red marks, but I don't like indentations on my face -- especially ones that hurt!

The Swift LT leaves no marks on my face, and I sleep on my side all night. I do use the soft wraps. The Swift actually seems to seal better now that I've increased my pressure. It was quite a trick learning just how to adjust the headgear and pillows for an optimal seal, but I think at last I've got it. BTW, I no longer use Lansinoh on my nares. And now I've written this, watch the Swift LT start to ravage my face and leak like a sieve....

* The PadACheek forehead pad worked great till I had to raise my pressure. I have a narrow/shallow nose bridge, and the design of the forehead piece on this mask is quite uncomfortable when I have to tighten the mask to accommodate the idiosyncrasies of my nose bridge at higher pressures!

[mdintx]

I switched to the Swift LT from my first mask, the ComfortGel Nasal because it was hurting the bridge of my nose. The Swift LT was incredibly comfortable though I never felt as good as I did with the ComfortGel. After a while, I started to feel like crap. I thought it was because of the age of the mask but it turned out that I was mouth leaking. I set about learning to control my leaks but as successful as I was, I never felt great. I would consistently get leaks of 0.0 and AHI's of 2 or below but still would feel okay at best. Then the pillows started to give way every 6 weeks. I went on MaskQuest 2009 and have settled down with the UMFF. While not as quiet or as comfortable as the Swift, I feel much better.

[Hurricane]

Everywhere I go on this forum there are people that just swear by the Swift LT. What I want to know is why you switched to the Swift LT. I see a little here and there, but nothing organized. The comments on the product have an anecdote here and there but rarely, if ever, specifics about what they were switching from and why.

So how about we give this a shot:

"I switched to the Swift LT from my former favorite ___________ because _________."

Obviously elaboration is welcome.

Just as the search for the better mouse trap, as for trying many other type masks, the Swift, and the Swift LT, for a long time have the least negatives for me, is it perfect heck no, just better than others i have used, Just like the better mouse trap I,m still searching, this quest is far from over, I have been searching for the bad pint of Guinness beer, and still haven't found that either.
Ed

[Uncle_Bob]

"I switched to the Swift LT from my former favorite Quattro because it helps me feel like i'm still sleeping naked."

[Spuddlethud]

I switched to the Swift LT from my first mask, the ComfortGel Nasal because it was hurting the bridge of my nose. The Swift LT was incredibly comfortable though I never felt as good as I did with the ComfortGel. After a while, I started to feel like crap. I thought it was because of the age of the mask but it turned out that I was mouth leaking. I set about learning to control my leaks but as successful as I was, I never felt great. I would consistently get leaks of 0.0 and AHI's of 2 or below but still would feel okay at best. Then the pillows started to give way every 6 weeks. I went on MaskQuest 2009 and have settled down with the UMFF. While not as quiet or as comfortable as the Swift, I feel much better.

That's kind of what I think I'm experiencing with the Breeze right now. All my numbers look good and I wear a chinstrap to keep my yap shut, but I just don't feel like I'm sleeping as well as I did with the ComfortGel. The ComfortGel seemed to leak constantly and I got to the point where I had it on like a vice to prevent the leaks (which went right into my eyes of course). Needless to say my nose and forehead didn't appreciate that too much. Still, overall I think I was sleeping better. Just doesn't make sense though.

I seem to sleep pretty well with the Breeze, but I always wake up an hour or two early and never feel as rested as I did with the ComfortGel. I thought going with the Swift LT would be a good path, but the more I think about it the more I think I might be better off trying a full nasal like the Activa LT.

[mdintx]

I switched to the Swift LT from my first mask, the ComfortGel Nasal because it was hurting the bridge of my nose. The Swift LT was incredibly comfortable though I never felt as good as I did with the ComfortGel. After a while, I started to feel like crap. I thought it was because of the age of the mask but it turned out that I was mouth leaking. I set about learning to control my leaks but as successful as I was, I never felt great. I would consistently get leaks of 0.0 and AHI's of 2 or below but still would feel okay at best. Then the pillows started to give way every 6 weeks. I went on MaskQuest 2009 and have settled down with the UMFF. While not as quiet or as comfortable as the Swift, I feel much better.

That's kind of what I think I'm experiencing with the Breeze right now. All my numbers look good and I wear a chinstrap to keep my yap shut, but I just don't feel like I'm sleeping as well as I did with the ComfortGel. The ComfortGel seemed to leak constantly and I got to the point where I had it on like a vice to prevent the leaks (which went right into my eyes of course). Needless to say my nose and forehead didn't appreciate that too much. Still, overall I think I was sleeping better. Just doesn't make sense though.

I seem to sleep pretty well with the Breeze, but I always wake up an hour or two early and never feel as rested as I did with the ComfortGel. I thought going with the Swift LT would be a good path, but the more I think about it the more I think I might be better off trying a full nasal like the Activa LT.

I keep the Swift LT as my back up. I find that by bumping up the pressure just a little and engaging the EPR (C-Flex for you), I feel decent and can function throughout the day. In that manner, it's a very respectable back up. I think the basic issue for me was difficulty breathing against it. If you haven't already, you may want to experiment with the C-Flex feature of your machine.

[SuperGeeky]

My DME gave a Presentation to our Sleep Support Group. On a whim, I asked if I could take it home. Drove me nuts trying to stop leaks.

Like anything else, I have to go back and reread the instructions which are pretty simple. It works!

If I'm feeling pain on any Mask, I have to say to myself, your doing something wrong. I was tightening way too much! I've got to get a hose hanger. If the hose pulls, creates leaks. Though, Brilliant simple design and easy to maintain!

I have to build up some endurance with my main Mask right now, Comfort Fusion, before using Swift LT. Takes me a while to recover from a 'not so good' night adjusting to a new Mask.


So sleepy............................................................


SG

[remstarcpap]

I've tried alot of other masks, and the LT is the best by far. Comfy on my face, great for side sleeping, and relatively quiet, and doesn't leak all night. I also loved my Swift II but side sleeping tends to dislodge it. I did have problems with whistling noises until I figured out that the medium pillows, although they seemed big, actually were the right size. I wear it relatively loose, and it works so well I forget I have it on. The only thing I would ever change would be the venting, as it blows on my arm or partner sometimes, but overall it's the best of the bunch. I've tried the Swift II, a variety of nasal masks (hate 'em all), the Headrest (nice but terrible rainout), the Nasal Aire II (never got it to be comfortable, and hoses are terrible for side sleeping), and for a long time used the OptiLife Nasal Pillow CPAP Mask with Headgear, which was great for back sleeping but terrible for side sleeping.

[PAPalogical]

I switched from the ComfortGel FF - after 3wks of fighting it, and trying to get my nose to heal (I either had leaks & apneas, or sores). The Dr's office loaned me an Optilife to try (DME told me I'd get used to it - I still have the scar on my nose from trying to get used to is), and it was much better. Since the Swift LT was getting such good reviews, figured I'd get it and buy the return insurance, and haven't looked back yet. Comfortable, stays in place, and I only need to tweak the straps 1-2x / wk. 1st pair of pillows lasted ~6m - probably need to replace the head-gear soon, as it's starting to stretch out (~8m).

My only complaint is the noise (bothers my wife a bit, she uses ear plugs because of it), and the jet of air out the exhaust vent (I still toy w/ the idea of making a baffle or something to slow it down / disperse it).