How to find the right Swift FX pillow

[DWolf]

So I just traded in my Opus 360 for the swift FX. The Opus was leaving annoying marks and was causing nose irritation. I had used both in the titration and the Swift felt better but the Opus was easier to adjust.

The RT suggested the medium but where I can I find info of just how the pillows should fit in the nostrils. They 'feel' a little big but then I don't know if that's how they are supposed to be. These instruction manuals are terrible at actually explaining how to fit it with their generic drawings.

I tried searching but it's not easy to find a specific thread on this, mainly just talk of how everyone likes the Swift FX.

Thanks

[trytryagain]

Do a google search "swift fx video you tube" It;s a pretty good demonstration from resmed

[gfk]

I happened to find this video on YouTube which might help you.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wcRRbCMu_tk&NR=1

[Janknitz]

I know, those drawings and even ResMed's video don't really explain how the nasal pillows go AGAINST the nose, NOT IN it!

Here's my suggestion. Stand in front of a mirror and try each size against your nose. The pillows are actually the cone shaped parts that go against your nose. The wide base of each cone seals against the outside skin of your nostril and the narrow open end of the cone should penetrate into your nose just a little. Try each pillow size and see what seems right--it's OK if it's a little wide as long as you can get a seal. Often the difference between two adjacent sizes (i.e. Small and Medium) is minimal.

Put your chosen pilow size on the mask and loosen the headgear to adjust it properly. Now, this is how you fit it:
1. Put the nasal pillows up against your nose, but don't put the headgear on yet.
2. Turn on your machine. The pillows must be fully inflated for a proper fitting.
3. Holding the pillows against your nose, put on the headgear and tighten the straps just enough to stop any leakage if you are lying in your normal sleeping position. This is actually somewhat loose, but not so loose you cannot move your head.
4. Try moving around in the bed as you normally would. You can slightly tighten the headgear a little more, but you should not feel like you are being turned into Miss Piggy by the pressure from too tight headgear.
5. If you are still having a lot of leakage, try going UP a size in nasal pillows. The biggest mistake newbies make is choosing pillows that are too small.

If you like this mask (most do) you will find tweaks that will help it work even better (i.e. velcro on the inside of the back strap, hose management).

[DWolf]

Thank you, I watched them and I 'think' I figured out what size to use. I'm going to go with the small tonight and see. The medium seemed to come loose to often.

[robysue]

If you're torn between two sizes, you might also try alternating the size every other night for a while until it's clearer to you which size is giving you a better seal and fitting better against your nose.

[Shellie_p]

The RT that fit me for my swift LT says i need smalls but I do better on mediums, for me they are more comfortable and I breathe better with them. Even though the RT says they are to big. The only time I have had issues with them leaking is when I have a runny nose cause i forgot my flonase. And that's not the fault of the pillows.

[DWolf]

I started out with the small last night but had to change to medium. Just felt as if I couldn't breath with the small. The medium were much more comfortable though I still did wake up with a sore nose. I didn't have that problem with the opus.

So I will have to go out today and get some Lansinoh. I also think I might of had the headgear to tight. I loosened it in the middle of the night.

It seems my AHI was lower on the Swift FX then it had been on the Opus which is a positive.