Help treating nose sores from Swift FX

[beanfruit]

It seems as though over the last 3 weeks using the Swift FX (small pillows), I've developed two sores on the outside of my nares. Both are closer to the part in between my nares, one on each side. (Pardon that very non-technical description - brain is cloudy.) A few questions for potential treatment...

1. Do you think I might actually need a size medium pillow? My DME thought I would be an XS or S. I'm wondering if it is "pinching" the middle of my nose and that's why I'm getting this irritation. (The S pillow doesn't just go right into my nose, I have to do a little wiggle to get around the middle part, but apparently my nares themselves are small? In the DME's opinion anyway.)

2. I've seen Lanisoh recommended...I had been using a little Ayr gel on that part of my nose for a while. Are they meant to be used for the same purpose, or is the Lanisoh better suited to prevent this irritation? And - will Lanisoh help resolve the irritation or is it preventative only?

3. From folks who have had these little sores before, how long until they clear up? I'm debating switching to my Mirage FX while they heal but I don't sleep as well with it and being just 1 month into therapy I'm nervous about switching when I feel like I'm almost at the point of Basic Treatment.

Thanks for any advice you can share!

[jjborders]

I use the same mask, and I have a tube of Lanisoh. It works wonders when my nostrils get irritated. It's pure lanolin, and I put light coating on in the morning and in a couple of days the irritation is gone. I got it at Walgreens in the baby section (nursing mothers use it).

James

[DaveLP]

It gets better with time, provided you do have the right pillow size. I used an Opus 360 for almost two years before trying the Swift FX. In the first weeks of using the Opus, I had nasal irritation. I never used a lubricant, but found that adjusting the tension on the mask straps helped tremendously.

The Swift pillows tend to adhere to my nose slightly when I take it off in the morning, but other than a little soreness that goes away quickly, there are no lasting effects with the Swift. I'm still experimenting with strap tension to find the sweet spot with the Swift FX.

[kempo]

Try the medium size pillow. Using the right size pillow can make a world of difference.

[Pugsy]

Lansinoh freely all day to promote healing.

Might also consider the barrel cozy so the silicone isn't directly against the nostril area. I love mine. So soft....

http://www.padacheek.com/PACSwiftII_Barrel_cozy.html

Also be careful not to over tighten that top strap. It is easy to do and will sure put unneeded pressure on the nostrils.

[beanfruit]

Thanks everyone - I decided since I made it through a month, this weekend I'd order some things to make my experience more comfortable. I think a pair of medium pillows, barrel cozy, hose hanger of some sort and hose snuggie are in my future!

Pugsy - You mentioned not over tightening the top strap...I've been experimenting and I feel like if I have the strap too loose, the mask "flops" against my top lip, like it is saggy. Is that typical, or might that be too loose? I'm hoping the barrel cozy might lift the mask off my lip a little bit.

[Pugsy]

Pugsy - You mentioned not over tightening the top strap...I've been experimenting and I feel like if I have the strap too loose, the mask "flops" against my top lip, like it is saggy. Is that typical, or might that be too loose? I'm hoping the barrel cozy might lift the mask off my lip a little bit.

The top strap should not put enough tension on the nostrils to turn the tip of the nose up. We call it piggy nose.
I have the mask top strap looser with the barrel cozy than without. Never thought about saggy though maybe it is just a bit saggy..it just sorts of rests on the area between top of lip and the nostrils. It has to rest somewhere. If the bottom of the pillow is up in the air then top strap is too tight. Sores are caused by things being too tight. Now a bit of tenderness is the only discomfort (minimal at that) that a person should maybe expect. More from virgin territory having something rub against it. Give the barrel cozy a try. If you hate it.. I will buy it from you. Mine is getting old and tired and I will be needing a new one soon anyway. BTW it does also help with the rainout in the pillow that forms from the moisture in our own breath. That was the main reason I bought it. I use it full time because it feels better against my skin than the silicone not that the silicone was unpleasant..

[Janknitz]

Um, just want to double check because I'm not sure from your description:

The S pillow doesn't just go right into my nose, I have to do a little wiggle to get around the middle part, but apparently my nares themselves are small? In the DME's opinion anyway.)

You do know, don't you, that the nasal pillows do not really go IN your nose--they sit against the outside rim of your nostrils?? If anything a very small portion of the tip goes into the nose but should not touch the walls inside your nose at all. I'm guessing you do know this, but some DME's do not and tell newbies that the pillows must fit IN the nose.

A hose hanger will hold up the slinky hose over your head and prevent that drag that pulls the pillows down to your upper lip.

See the fitting tips on my blog below.

[ems]

Might also consider the barrel cozy so the silicone isn't directly against the nostril area. I love mine. So soft....

http://www.padacheek.com/PACSwiftII_Barrel_cozy.html

I just ordered mine and can't wait until it gets here!

Bean... as far as the top strap... if I make mine too tight, I get a headache. I had a few nites of getting use to the silicone on my lips also... finally just made it as comfortable as I could, and now awaiting my cozy.

[beanfruit]

Okay, a cozy is definitely in my future

And yes, I know just the tip of the pillows is what goes in my nose (I can't stand having things in my nose, otherwise I might have just tried to get that whole thing in there had I not found this board!) What I mean is that the pillows lean inward a little too much and I have to move them outward to get the tips in and situated right.

They're like this: ____/ \____ and I need them to be more like this: ____/ \____

[Pugsy]

The Swift LT is very similar to the Swift FX. In fact I used it till they came out with the FX. It does allow more mobility with the angle of the pillows as the thing the pillow attaches to actually swivels a bit. Just a thought.

The barrel cozy may be enough to do the trick though.

[beanfruit]

Okay, so my ASCII rendition of Swift FX pillows above (and the subsequent rendition of how I need to move them apart a little to fit) was an epic fail. The second 'drawing' should have several more spaces in the middle.