Nasal pillows for side sleepers?

[Janknitz]

Thanks, the Swift for Her didn't come with the headgear covers (maybe because it's a sample) but I'll check in with my sleep lab tomorrow to see if they have them. Hmmm, I don't see them on the CPAP.COM website either.

I have the PR S1 APAP, and my AHI's have been remarkably low (0.3) so it will be easy to tell if there's a problem. But in my tests this afternoon I was started with the largest size pillows (medium) and had some leakage, but none with the small even with a lot of movement and attempts to purposely dislodge them. I noticed my nostrils are slightly elongated, and the pillows seemed to shape themselves to my nostrils quite effectively.

I have the headgear fairly loose, but I can tell those tabby things are going to bother me, so I may just pad them with a little bit of something for the night. I'm tempted to try to heat them up and bend them out just a smidge, but we'll see.

The other thing that is happening is that I feel like I'm coming down with a cold.

My oldest daughter has one right now, and I feel like I'm just in the beginning stages myself, so it may be my only night to play with the Swift for a few days. I have a FF mask to use if my nose is too congested, but I really hate the FF mask and I am so looking forward to this instead. Fortunately, the silicone comfort pad I ordered from cpap.com is supposed to be delivered tomorrow so hopefully my nose will feel better with the FF mask.

[MarylandCPAPer]

When you buy a "Swift LT for Her" mask, it should come with the blue covers depicted with the Swift FX and three sizes of nasal pillows -- XS, S, and M. DMEs don't always seem to want to give you the entire package, but that is what comes with a new Swift LT mask. If you are just given one to try out, you may not get all of that unless you purchase a new one.

There is also a Swift LT that comes with S, M and L nasal pillows. I don't think it has the blue covers. From what others have written here, the fit is different between the Swift LT and the "Swift LT For Her" versions.

Quite a few here have reported some problems with the newer LT nasal pillows not lasting long and possibly being defective. I have had problems with the nasal pillows collapsing. I switched to an OPUS 360, whose nasal pillows I prefer, but I am finding the straps to be uncomfortable lately during side sleeping and have been having dental pain lately that I think may result from the location of the straps on the OPUS 360. I don't have those problems with the Swift LT.

I also have the PR System 1 APAP. My AHIs have not gotten below 4 with any of the three nasal pillows masks I've tried. 0.3 is outstanding!! Which mask have you been using? I too am still searching for my "perfect mask" for side sleeping. Unfortunately, we all have different sizes and shapes of faces and nares, so this can take a lot of trial and error.

Please keep us posted on your experiences with masks. Good luck in getting over your cold fast!!

[Craig P]

The other thing that is happening is that I feel like I'm coming down with a cold.

My oldest daughter has one right now, and I feel like I'm just in the beginning stages myself, so it may be my only night to play with the Swift for a few days. I have a FF mask to use if my nose is too congested, but I really hate the FF mask and I am so looking forward to this instead. Fortunately, the silicone comfort pad I ordered from cpap.com is supposed to be delivered tomorrow so hopefully my nose will feel better with the FF mask.

I find that when I come down with a cold, if I take nyquil or equivalent, I have very little trouble breathing all night.

[MarylandCPAPer]

The CPAP.com listing for Swift LT for Her includes in the listing "custom ResMed Soft Wraps for additional frame padding and comfort." I believe these are the blue covers I mentioned.

https://www.cpap.com/productpage/resmed ... r-her.html

"Soft Wraps The Soft Wrap is a cloth padding for the Mirage Swift LT mask frame. The package comes with 1 pair, a left and right side wrap. These pads help prevent red marks and discomfort when tightening the headgear."

This mask on CPAP.com is listed as including three sizes of nasal pillows (XS, S and M).

I got my Swift LT for Her from a local DME. It included the "soft wraps" and those three sizes of nasal pillows.

I hope this helps.

[fiberfan]

I prefer sleeping on my side though since I sleep in a chair the position is a bit unusual - my travel size pillow rests on a table to the side of the chair. I can get reasonable leak rates with both the Swift LT for Her and the Swift FX. The pillows on the FX fit my nares better a bit better than the LT for Her pillows.

[Marietjie]

I don't see them on the CPAP.COM

Janknitz - this is where I saw the SwiftFX and wraps - http://www.cpap-supply.com/Swift-FX-p/61500.htm

The other thing that is happening is that I feel like I'm coming down with a cold.

Oh my! Got my flu (and swine flu)injection 2days ago - it is autumn in South Africa and people are sneezing
all over everybody else! I HATE FLU!
Janknitz - I truly hope you get better very quickly

[Valkyrie0]

I am a side/stomach sleeper and tried several different masks.I started with the FX and found it I couldn'tget it adjusted properly, and it leaked. After unsuccessfully trying several other masks, I when back to the FX for its comfort, and got it to work.
Although the med pillows seemed to fit better, the large pillows leaked a lot less. I tried Ayr lube around the nostrils, but the pillows slide around after I positioned them, and started leaking.The pillow and my nose needed to be totally clean and dry. I also found the pillows didn't need to be too tight, since the seal was made when the pillows puffed up under pressure, like a balloon. Seating the bottom of the pillows near my face and pushing in the sides, also seemed to stop leakswhen they occurred.

I had to fuss a bit and got frustrated with the FX. I essentially gave them up, but went back to them when nothing else came close to them in comfort (for me). I took some fussing and trial and error, but it was worth it. I got the tips by searching this forum. Without this forum, I would have never gotten the FX to work properly.

The biggest factor for me was to use a larger pillow than I thought I needed.

Good luck,

[Janknitz]

MMMMMMMMMMMM!

I had a great night!

I padded the right side of the headgear with a microfiber cloth because I just knew it was going to dig in when I slept on that side, and with the padding it was just perfect.

The pillows were comfy even at my highest pressure, albeit slightly noisy. No discernible leaks. No sore spots. I loved that I could turn without having to reposition the hose. I didn't even have to make sure the pillow was in just the right spot so that it wouldn't dislodge the mask and cause leaks. I slept until 5:30 a.m. without coming fully awake once, and then easily went back to sleep after hitting the ramp button (I don't like full pressure when I'm awake and breathing OK).

It was also wonderful to be able to scratch my nose when it itched--a little thing that drove me NUTS with all the masks, especially because various leaks tickled my nose.

My nose was very clear this morning and I don't feel at the moment like that cold is getting the upper hand. I

This is the first time since I started CPAP about 45 days ago that I feel truly rested. And this has been my goal--to have a mask I could just put on and go to sleep in, no muss, no fuss. Just sleep . . .

[Marietjie]

This is the first time since I started CPAP about 45 days ago that I feel truly rested. And this has been my goal--to have a mask I could just put on and go to sleep in, no muss, no fuss.

[zaban3]

I am a committed side/stomach sleeper currently using Swift LT and some sort of "gel" pillow from Target. So far it is working great except for the fact that I swear my nose is getting crooked from the nasal pillows pushing my nose slightly to the left! I have the Swift FX on order from DME and should get it next week. I will trade a crooked nose for a good night sleep.

[Jersey Girl]

I too am a side sleeper and love my Swift FX. It does take a tiny bit of tweaking to get the fit exactly right so that the leak rate is very low. I love this mask - it is like wearing nothing at all - it is so light. I find that my Regenesis buckwheat hull cpap pillow also helps tremendously. I sleep with my Swift FX every night and love it. I highly recommend it for side sleepers - I even turn over during the night and try the other side with this. I can move around as much as I need to...just like in the days before cpap. I also am a person who likes to watch a little tv just before I fall asleep and the Swift FX is great for this because of its unobstructed view.

I only go to other masks if I get a really bad cold.

So, if you are a side sleeper - I recommend the swift fx - highly!

Regards,

Jersey Girl

[Muse-Inc]

I wore my beloved former Respironics OptiLife pillow mask for almost 2 yrs until I started losing therapy air. I am a committed side-sleeper. This mask is more minimal than the Swift. I used a Kleenex Ultra-Doux wrapped around the straps for padding, a small piece of tape kept it in place...lasted for a long time without causing irritation.

Sounds like you found a good mask -- congrats!