Swift FX Leak Questions

[beanfruit]

I'm a new CPAP user - almost completed 3 weeks of therapy. Currently using the Swift FX nasal pillows, either XS or S. It was suggested on this forum that I give the S pair a try to combat the leaks w/ the XS. I watched the video about the Swift FX, read some blog posts and thought I had it figured out. Before I was over tightening the mask as well. Saturday night had a lovely sleep, waking up once around 3-3:30am with a small leak (when sleeping on left side), adjusted my left strap a little tighter on that side...and didn't wake up again until 7:30am

Last night I was getting several leaks - or at least I think they might be leaks. Sometimes when lying on my back (I usually do this watching TV for about 5-10 min), I would sometimes feel a little cool air on my upper lip...but I didn't hear any leak. Tried to put my finger by my lip to see if it was coming from the vent or from the pillows and I couldn't even feel it then.

When sleeping on my sides, I tend to get a leak at the bottom of the mask - I can hear the air rushing out. I tried to tighten like I had the previous night to no avail. At one point I had to tighten so much to stop the leak that it made my nose squish up.

My pressure is set at 7-12, with 90% being at 8.1 or so. I use a little dab of Ayr gel around my nares and above my lip right before putting the mask on.

Any thoughts - are the pillows too big? They don't look like it when I hold them up to my nose and they feel good. I've read about using the pantyhose to further stabilize the pillows, but I'm trying to avoid putting "one more thing" on my head/face until I can try to exhaust other options. Thanks for any advice!

[fireman38355]

Dumb question: Are you pulling the covers up close to your face? I've had a few nights where I thought i had a leak, when in fact it was the air coming out of the vent and "reflecting" off the covers back into my face.

Just a thought.

I wish you well with your therapy.

Jeff

[beanfruit]

That's quite possible and might be what is happening while on my back. I think some of the times on my side though it was an honest to goodness leak because I could hear it. I'll try to pay attention tonight!

[Newbie Woman]

I'm dealing with the same thing.

I feel more comfortable with the XS but I seem to have fewer leaks with the S. I've made myself a chin strap out of an ace bandage. I think it holds the side strips of the mask in place and they don't shift around when I'm sleeping. I've also found that I have to pinch the S pillows together when I put the mask on or I'll have leaks I can hear. During the night, I wake up and have to do it again. I would think that the S is too large, but my leak report says it's preferable to the XS.

I've also found that I need the strap on the top of my head to be fairly loose. Not loose exactly, but kind of resting. It's counter intuitive but seems to be right for me.

[Janknitz]

I think you need to fit your mask at the highest pressure (12). If you fit it at a pressure of 7 (or lower if you are using ramp) it's too loose for 12. See the fitting tips in my signature below. In order to fit the pillows at a pressure of 12 you will need to go into the clinicians menu and set the machine for a straight CPAP pressure of 12 with no ramp. Once you fit the pillows, you can restore the pressure to auto 7 to 12.

Nasal pillows should be fit with the machine on and never so tight they hurt or give you a pig nose. Make sure they rest against your nostrils, not in them.