resmed swift LT OOOUUUCCCHHH!

[elader]

Hi All,

This mask looked like such a great idea to replace my comfortgel nasal mask. It seems so light and comfortable when I put it on. About 1AM, I wake up and the right side of my nose (the side I sleep on) is literally killing me. I have tried to adjust the thing, but so far, each night is the same story. I think the medium pillows are slightly too small, but the large are way too big. Once I have my M series Auto up and running and recording data, I guess I can loosen up the mask and see if it won't leak.

Anyone successfully transition from pain to pleasure with the swift LT??

[Slinky]

You don't mention what type of pain. Raw nasal passages? Bruised, sore nose? Particular tender, sort spot on one side of the nose interior?

Both nasal passage raw could be from the more direct air pressure into the nasal passages that nasal pillow style masks provide. This can be overcome in a matter of just 1-3 nights w/the use of Ayr Saline Nasal Gel and sufficient humidity from your xPAP's humidifier.

Since you mention sleeping on one side, if it is a sore spot specific to one side of your nose interior it could well be from the nasal pillow on that side pressing/resting against the nasal passage interior on that side. Again, Ayr Saline Nasal Gel can help w/that along w/re-routing your mask hose and either sleeping w/your face close to or at the edge of your pillow or having a very soft pillow you can "punch" a "valley" into for the mask..

IF it is a sore, bruised feeling like your nose has been pushed up all night, it is a matter of headgear adjustment. You have things too tight. Loosen up a bit.

The Swift LT's hose swivel swings VERY freely. You can try running it above your head, take it under the blankets w/you, off to one side, etc.

I've just been "working" w/the Swift LT myself. I'm drawn to it for reasons similar to yours, the lightweight, "nothingness" to it. My biggest problem has been nasal drips and moisture collecting under the "barrel" of the LT against the bottom of my nose and my upper lip. The LT has those nice adjustment gears for this but so far it seems the placement I need is between "cogs" of the "gears" and it isn't working too well - yet. I haven't totally given up. The other problem I"m having is that my nasal openings are more round that oval shape like the pillows and they don't tend to angle as much as the nasal pillows are slanted. I found that a problem to some degree, too, w/the Breeze and the ComfortLite 2 nasal pillows. I, for one, am not ready to give up on the Swift LT yet. And I have found that it takes me 10-14 days to really know whether a mask is not for me or I can figure out the "fix" that works for me.

And, if you are interested in trying a lightweight, almost nothing to it, nasal cushion you might want to give some consideration to the older Respironics Simplicity simple nasal cushion. The Simplicity comes in several different sizes. I have to use the Petite. The Simplicity is not made to cover your nose totally from slightly above the bridge to the bottom of the nose but rather from slightly below the bridge to the bottom of the nose. I did find the headgear extremely large but that was easily remedied by pulling the center strap up to form a fold and using a strip of velcro to hold the fold in place until I found the best fit. I then cut out the fold and velcroed the two cut ends together. For some reason Respironics doesn't taper the velcro ends of the straps. That makes no different w/the top straps but the bottom straps the velcro as wide as the strap demands that you place the velcro carefully or it will rub your neck sore. Again, easily remedied w/a pair of scissors to taper the velcro ends narrower than the strap. The Simplicity is my favorite mask. But I am in the minority.

Another nasal cushion mask I have liked quite well is the Resmed Mirage Micro. Its not as lightweight as the Simplicity and the Swift LT but it has lots of areas for adjustment and is quite comfortable for me. Many others seem to like it as well.

[JeffH]

Sounds like you have the back adjusted too tight.

[elader]

the pain is definitely from some spot on the mask being pressed or squashed against one spot on the outside of my nose for several hours. Like crossing your legs without moving them for several hours. Its very painful but goes away in a few minutes. The pillows arent really shaped for my round nostrils either, but I don't think thats quite the problem. I bet I am cinching the thing too tight. When I have the data reporting cpap up and running, I will play with loosening the fit some.

You don't mention what type of pain. Raw nasal passages? Bruised, sore nose? Particular tender, sort spot on one side of the nose interior?

Both nasal passage raw could be from the more direct air pressure into the nasal passages that nasal pillow style masks provide. This can be overcome in a matter of just 1-3 nights w/the use of Ayr Saline Nasal Gel and sufficient humidity from your xPAP's humidifier.

Since you mention sleeping on one side, if it is a sore spot specific to one side of your nose interior it could well be from the nasal pillow on that side pressing/resting against the nasal passage interior on that side. Again, Ayr Saline Nasal Gel can help w/that along w/re-routing your mask hose and either sleeping w/your face close to or at the edge of your pillow or having a very soft pillow you can "punch" a "valley" into for the mask..

IF it is a sore, bruised feeling like your nose has been pushed up all night, it is a matter of headgear adjustment. You have things too tight. Loosen up a bit.

The Swift LT's hose swivel swings VERY freely. You can try running it above your head, take it under the blankets w/you, off to one side, etc.

I've just been "working" w/the Swift LT myself. I'm drawn to it for reasons similar to yours, the lightweight, "nothingness" to it. My biggest problem has been nasal drips and moisture collecting under the "barrel" of the LT against the bottom of my nose and my upper lip. The LT has those nice adjustment gears for this but so far it seems the placement I need is between "cogs" of the "gears" and it isn't working too well - yet. I haven't totally given up. The other problem I"m having is that my nasal openings are more round that oval shape like the pillows and they don't tend to angle as much as the nasal pillows are slanted. I found that a problem to some degree, too, w/the Breeze and the ComfortLite 2 nasal pillows. I, for one, am not ready to give up on the Swift LT yet. And I have found that it takes me 10-14 days to really know whether a mask is not for me or I can figure out the "fix" that works for me.

And, if you are interested in trying a lightweight, almost nothing to it, nasal cushion you might want to give some consideration to the older Respironics Simplicity simple nasal cushion. The Simplicity comes in several different sizes. I have to use the Petite. The Simplicity is not made to cover your nose totally from slightly above the bridge to the bottom of the nose but rather from slightly below the bridge to the bottom of the nose. I did find the headgear extremely large but that was easily remedied by pulling the center strap up to form a fold and using a strip of velcro to hold the fold in place until I found the best fit. I then cut out the fold and velcroed the two cut ends together. For some reason Respironics doesn't taper the velcro ends of the straps. That makes no different w/the top straps but the bottom straps the velcro as wide as the strap demands that you place the velcro carefully or it will rub your neck sore. Again, easily remedied w/a pair of scissors to taper the velcro ends narrower than the strap. The Simplicity is my favorite mask. But I am in the minority.

Another nasal cushion mask I have liked quite well is the Resmed Mirage Micro. Its not as lightweight as the Simplicity and the Swift LT but it has lots of areas for adjustment and is quite comfortable for me. Many others seem to like it as well.

[elader]

OK, spent some time adjustnig the mask - slept with it looser than I thought possible, but it did not seem to leak. Wife heard no snoring, I felt no leaking, and absolutely no discomfort. Much better.

For sure, the nasal pillow thing is strange as compared to the mask, particularily in regard to exhaling resistance, but its not a deal killer.

[strongirish]

I am still learning mine as well. I keep switching between the large and medium as I seem to want one in between myself. This interface with the old style Swift prongs and now we would have something. The ones the LT uses to me are hard to get a seal to keep when tossing and turning which I tend to so. I have not had any pain at all but then I am used to nasal pillows. I bet you are using a size too small and its reaching up to far in your nods. I like this interface however and feel I will be able to make it work and the best side benefit is I can wear headphones over it without any problems.

[BeanMeScot]

If you are using the CFlex, you shouldn't have an issue with exhalation. I have mine set to a CFlex of 3. It's hard to even know I have a mask on as long as I nothing gets in front of the exhalation port.

[elader]

If you are using the CFlex, you shouldn't have an issue with exhalation. I have mine set to a CFlex of 3. It's hard to even know I have a mask on as long as I nothing gets in front of the exhalation port.

Its funny, I am a scuba divemaster and have spent many waking hours preathing off regulators. I am just very attuned to differences in inhalation and exhalation resistance. I think its just the difference between breathing through holes abutting my nostrils and nothing restricting air movement at that point.

[bigk]

I've been using this mask for 3 months now - maybe longer. Usually a zero leak rate. Only one night last week did I use the Activa because my nose was sore. Very unobtrusive great mask IMO.

[BeanMeScot]

If you are using the CFlex, you shouldn't have an issue with exhalation. I have mine set to a CFlex of 3. It's hard to even know I have a mask on as long as I nothing gets in front of the exhalation port.

Its funny, I am a scuba divemaster and have spent many waking hours preathing off regulators. I am just very attuned to differences in inhalation and exhalation resistance. I think its just the difference between breathing through holes abutting my nostrils and nothing restricting air movement at that point.

I can feel a restriction in my breathing if I don't have the pillows lined up correctly. When they are correct, there is just a greater freedom of air movement. When they are not lined up right, it feels a bit like you are not getting enough air. You might try adjusting each pillow until the air seems to be moving better.

[sepool]

Now that you have the mask straps adjusted better, have you tried the large pillows again? I was using the medium pillows with no problem, but I tried the large, and I found them to have less exhalation resistance.

[maxhal]

Have been using swift since I started CPAP. Lightweight allows it to be thrown great distances in the middle of the night

I couldn't get the hang of it for a while, which made me stop using cpap for a while , then tried the liberty full face, and the Hybrid full, and when
I went back to the Swift , I fell in love with it. Apparently I was told that I am not a mouth breather but I still wake up many times with dry mouth, so from time
to time I switch back to one of my FFM's, but just like making up with your spouse, it's always nice to come back to the Swift. If your a side sleeper
try to arrange the pillow so that your face is on the side of the pillow but your nose and the swift are off the pillow. Then you have no excuses about
laying on your nose for too long. It would definitely be hard to use this thing with sore nostrils....so try to stay off them as much as you can

[elader]

well I switched to the m series auto and have been futzing with the confortgel nasal mask to try to get some solid data for a week before throwing another variable in the equation.

[DreamStalker]

I think you will have your system tweaked in no time ... your approach is very good.

[feeling_better]

...I've just been "working" w/the Swift LT myself. I'm drawn to it for reasons similar to yours, the lightweight, "nothingness" to it. My biggest problem has been nasal drips and moisture collecting under the "barrel" of the LT against the bottom of my nose and my upper lip. The LT has those nice adjustment gears for this but so far it seems the placement I need is between "cogs" of the "gears" and it isn't working too well - yet. I haven't totally given up.

Slinky, I am a 'Swift LT only' user now. For your moisture, have you tried these fixes?
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