Activa v Swift Statistics

[Sleepless on LI]

Last night I couldn't use my Swift as one of the hoses separated from a connector. Tried to tape it, but no luck. I had to go back to Activa. It wasn't a good night except I had no mouth breathing (as far as I know) and absolutely no mouth bursts/puffs which has been my biggest problem lately with the Swift.

But here is what else I noticed. Not only the discomfort level was elevated as I dislike nasal masks, but it leaked horribly. My leak rate went from 32 to 42, and I had a huge maximum leak rate. Also, my AHI, which was staying between a 0.1 and 0.5, with no hypops or snoring, went up to a 1.2 with hypops, still no snoring.

I now wonder if some people should wear nasal masks as opposed to nasal pillows at all. I was always of the belief since I got a nasal pillow interface, and just had this discussion on a thread the other night with Old Sea Rock and others, that the pressure seems to be so much stronger, even if it's set at your usual pressure, with a nasal pillow interface. But now that I look at the numbers, they are corroborating same.

Also, I am thinking that I might try to turn down the pressure once I get back on the Swift as it might be too strong for me and what is causing the mouth breathing and puff incidents since I feel I had zero last night with this mask. I know I was asleep and may not have awakened to an incident of either/or, but I usually wake up for anything that happens. I know I was up each time I turned over due to the hose being where it is on the Activa. Boy, I really got used to using the Swift, and last night really made me appreciate it all the more.

[WillSucceed]

Interresting thread. I've had some questions about the pressure needs of nasal pillow vs. nasal mask.

One thing that I have noticed is that with the nasal mask (Activa, for example) my nares can collapse slightly when I inhale. With nasal pillows (any brand) because the air is being "injected" right into the nares, there is no collapse and, I find that it is simply easier to inhale.

I realize that all of this is highly individualized, but based on pure mechanics, nasal pillows just seem like a best connect as they are more direct.

[Sleepless on LI]

Hi, WS. I think you have a great point about the nares collapsing and their inability to do that with pillows. All I know is, I have to rig something up with some type of duct tape or something for tonight. After being on the Swift lately, I just can't use the Activa anymore. It's not even good for an occasional switch. I know a lot of good and knowledgable people would disagree with me on that, but the numbers and my quality of sleep were greatly affected. I wonder how long it will take to send me a new hose? I'm going on cpap.com right now to look.

[MaskedMan]

I have been rotating the Activa and Swift for over a year. I don't have the data to back it up, but I would say that I generally feel better the days I have worn the Activa.

On my last business trip, I wore the Swift for 7 days, then came home and wore it about 3-5 days. I switched off to the Activa for few days and I felt noticably better. It was almost night and day difference.

I love the Swift because it travels well and is more comfortable, if there is such a thing as more comfortable in masks! I don't feel as horrible as with my pre-cpap days, but definately the therapy does not seem as good. I usually wear the Activa 4-5 days a week and the Swift 2-3 days a week. If I felt as good wearing the Swift then I'd always use it.

This is just my personal experience - no machine data to prove anything, so its all my personal feel.

[ufo13]

Lori: What part of the hose came appart? If it is the short hose which connects to the connectors etc. i have put a liitle super glue on the parts and put them back together! works like a charm. i have done this many times over the years with many interfaces.
If not let me know what the problem is and maybe we can reccommend a FIX. can't see you buying a new hose or part if you don't need to! also i keep a spare SWIFT on hand all the time.


Hope this helps you,
steve,
ufo13

[Sleepless on LI]

Steve,
Oh!!! I just ordered one on this site. I will definitely try the super glue, though, because it separated just where you guessed. The short hose itself that goes from the connection of the cpap machine hose to your mask, right where it meets the clear part of the connection that goes to the machine hose rubber part, came off the clear connector (boy, was the redundant or what???). Of course I had some paper medical tape standing by (used in the old Breeze days of trying to keep the headgear from adjusting on its own) and tried to tape it up. Still leaked. The super glue doesn't melt the tubing itself? I figured it would. Do you think maybe duct tape would work, also?

Now I don't know if I could cancel my order with cpap.com or should maybe just keep another on hand for if/when this happens again. I am afraid that with super glue and condensation getting in the tube, perhaps it will cause it to eventually come apart. How long did your fix last?

Masked Man,
Is this not what makes our cpap world go round? It's such an individual thing for each person. I just know from having the software that even my numbers don't like the Activa anymore. But it's what works for each person that that person will use. I had a lot or problems, too, last night with mask leaks, even with the straps loose and eventually mole skin under certain areas to try to prevent them. Not too much luck there. But thanks for your feedback. It's always great when we can find a mask we like, as much as one can possibly like a mask.

_________________

CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): cpap machine, breeze, activa, hose, tubing, cpap.com, CPAP

[ufo13]

To WILL:

Thanks for your usual astute insights and observations etc. YOU are very helpful to all of us, even us "OLD" timers! You are a very interesting person and we appreciate your observations very much as well as your helpful nature! greatly appreciated! By the way my wife and i were just up your way - went over the bridge by the Power grid exhibit bdg. on the US side and into Canada. Were we anywhere near your area?

My best to you!

steve,
ufo13

[ufo13]

Lori: The fixes i have done lasted for a long time. no the parts never melted etc. you don't need a lot of super glue. i don't use the heated humidifier much so i don't know about the longevity of the fix under those conditions with a heated hum. But give it a try, can't hurt! as for a spare hose, after ordering a few of the SWIFT masks i have the extra from the old mask etc. like i said i keep a spare and i also have one in my car with my PB 420 as i travel alot, brother in Yuma, son in Utah, cousins in Calif and NJ etc. etc.! I do have the crossover humidifier for the PB and have used the Fixed hosed with that quite a while, but i haven't used the fix on the heated rem star as i said. i also would go to: MYRESMED.COM and send a note to them by e-mail and i think they will send you a new hose etc. it is under warranty for 90 days i beleive!

Have a great day!

steve,
ufo13

[Sleepless on LI]

MYRESMED.COM and send a note to them by e-mail and i think they will send you a new hose etc. it is under warranty for 90 days i beleive!

I will. But I didn't get it through my DME. I got it off a Yahoo auction. I guess, though, that if I've only been on treatment since the beginning of June, it couldn't be older than 90 days. Right? Do they ask for a receipt?

You are quite the traveler, aren't you? Nice. See the country, visit everyone and carry lots of spares .

[ufo13]

Lori:

Doesn't matter where you got it, the product should at least last a reasonable time. sooooooooooo a nice e-mail to RESMED stating what happened and you are very happy with thier product otherwise and if a compamy stands behind thier products (by sending you a new hose) or standing behind thier warranty you expect to be a customer for a long time etc. etc.! i have done this quite a few times in the past-just told them what the problem with the product was and what i expect them to do and most of the time i got good results with the outcome. never told them where i bought it etc. just what the problem was and what i requested them to do! i have had good customer care from RESMED, and RESPIRONICS. but PB when my breeze dream seal masks were breaking like crazy (defective plastic part) i got no response!! they eventually fixed that plastic part. but most of the companys try to please thier customers to keep them as customers.


Have a good day Lori! hope the info helps,

steve,ufo13

[Janelle]

I've had this happen a few times with the hose and just push it back in and it stays pretty well. Never have glued it. You might want to give more slack if you are fastening the hose over your head on the headboard or wall, as it will give you more room to turn and less chance of pulling out.

[Sleepless on LI]

Thanks again, Steve. You are truly always such a help. I'm off to write my email.

By the way, I just wrote one to them last night discussing the Swoosh lines from the Swift and suggesting they try to do something so that people don't give up on a great interface because of not wanting to have those marks on their faces in the morning. It was much more eloquent that how I just stated it. Too bad I didn't include the hose in that one, but it broke about two hours later.

Have a great day and thanks for all your advice.

[Sleepless on LI]

Janelle,

I did try to just push it back on, but it didn't work. Then I tried the medical paper tape and it still sprung leaks on me.

I don't affix the hose in the up position anymore. Didn't like waking up every time I turned on that side to make sure the hose was curved enough to not interfere with my face and a few other reasons, so it wasn't that it was being tugged. I did it literally last night when I needed to get up and went to disconnect the hoses. I grabbed it in the wrong spot being I did it in the dark. Next time, I'll just take off the mask. But when you get it in the right position...

[Kermit]

Will and Sleepless,

I fully understand what you are experiencing with the two interfaces.
I love my Activa but use the Swift for many of the reasons you pointed out.

Any nasal mask, when there is no flow through nasal cavity, will have the same pressure in your nares as outside the nose. By pressure I mean whatever you cpap is set to. It stands to reason that when you breath in (air flows through nose), the pressure in the nasal cavity will lessen proportional to the rate of flow. The pressure outside your nose, within the mak and hose housing, will be relatively higher. So what I think is happening, and this has been my experience, is that there is a slight collapse of the nasal cavity. It's the opposite effect of the Breathe-Rite strips some people use to expand the nasal cavity to breathe better. Your nasal cavity acts like a venturi, where air flow creates a vacuum which leads to a collapse.

Using a pillow interface where the nasal cavity pressure will always be so much higher than room pressure, the nasal cavity will expand as there is no pressure outside your nose to resists. Well actually ambient pressure is 14.7 psi at sea level but it's all relative at this point. This simple process with the pillow clears me up and allows me to freely breathe all night and it feels so good as I am not starving for air.

One side note when I used to starve for air, the vacuum I created within me to get the flow moving through my stuffy nose created other problems. Acid reflux as it allowed stomach juices to be "pulled" north while in a horizontal position. It has gone away perhaphs due to my temporary fix using a pillow interface daily instead of once in a while. Not sure but the timing seems to indicate that.

For these reason I need to use a pillow type interfaces as I slowly plug up with any mask. The better solution is to have the surgery and remove tissue that swells up the minute you lie down. Maybe then I might be able to use a mask again. That's my ultimate goal.

Kermit

[Sleepless on LI]

Holy cow, Kermit. How many degrees do you have, you intelligent person? Reading your thread made me feel like I was an idiot, and my IQ is over 140. That was some reply.

Since you are so informed, then can you answer this for me? Do the mouth bursts of air and blowfish cheeks I have been experiencing all night long since I've been on the Swift, and never on the Activa, come from the pressure with a nasal pillow interface perhaps being too high now? I know I was titrated at 10 cms., and you're not supposed to mess with that unless you're using APAP, which my machine has but I have turned off. Actually, I did an experiment. I tried straight CPAP and got such incredible readings and then tried my APAP with the high and low settings being the same. There was really no difference to speak of, although some people have reported a bigger variation. But I am now wondering if these mouth bursts, which are horrible and awaken me all the time, and didn't happen ONCE last night when a nasal mask, as well as no mouth breathing episodes last night that I was aware of on the Activa, are coming from the pressure maybe needing to be taken down a notch. I was titrated on a nasal and a full face mask (had to switch on the night of my study due to extreme discomfort with their nasal mask). In any event, I want to get rid of these mouth breathing problems and I wonder if now that I use the Swift exclusively if that could be the reason for them.

I would be greatly interested in your opinion on that. You seem to be very much in tune with all of these little idiocycrasies of the therapy. Thanks for any further advice you can offer.

PS: I did place my order for the Nose Breathing device last night with Dr. Sue's. Thanks for that great connection.