Hose management with nasal pillow

[maliolani]

If you get a nasal pillow mask, like Resmed Swift FX, is it still possible to route the hose so that it goes towards the top of your head instead of down towards your body? When I look at the FX video, it doesn't appear that there is a swivel that allows that, and all the pictures show the hose down.

I just got CPAP 5 days ago with a non-nasal-pillow mask from Respironics which I hate. But I did kluge together my own hose management system that routes the hose over my head to the wall, and I would like to keep using that, but with a nasal pillow mask of some kind. I get my "final" non-lender CPAP machine and have an opportunity to express my preference about masks the day after tomorrow.

[Pugsy]

The Swift FX swivel nozzle will rotate a full 360 degrees. You can definitely route it over your head if you wish.
The Swift LT...will of course rotate because the pictures show it.
So will the Opus 360.

[allinknots]

I have this exact mask and I route the hose over my head. I have my hose running over a swivel plant hook, and I use a velcro strap to hold the hose to the plant hook. That longer hose attaches to the Resmed hose. After I have the Resmed FX mask on, I swivel the FX hose upwards, and attach a hose clip: wrapping the velcro strap part around the mask, leaving a little hose slack, and attach the clip to the silicone strap at the top of the headgear, near the adjustment clip. This works just fine for me, *except* when I accidentally snag a piece of my hair into that clip!

If you need a clearer explanation, plz let me know.

hth,
All in Knots

[lostsheep]

I am a newbie with a Swift FX, and have started tying the hose to the top head strap. It keeps the weight of the hose from causing leaks as I change position from my back to either side, and I really don't have to worry about hose position. It stays loosely curled around above my pillow. I can still get leaks from the changing strap pressure, but it is easier to manage when I can focus on just the mask position.

Having the hose fixed to my head also helps prevent the exhaust air from hitting things like blankets or pillows (or my paws), making loud noise, and causing me to think that there's a leak. The angle of the exhaust port swivels along with the hose position, so it is sort of pointed towards the top of my head in this configuration.

[sewsleepy]

The Swift FX swivel drove me crazy at first because it swivels freely and whenever you move, it swings around to wherever it wants to go, which is usually not where I want it to be. I found that if I put a stout rubber band around the outside of the part right next to the swivel, it keeps it from swinging around and it works a lot better for me. I can still turn it the way I want it to go but then it stays put due to the friction against the rubber band.

[wittymomma]

I find if mine goes up over my head, it leaks non-stop! I have to keep mine laying around me..

One of my BIGGEST issues lately has been that the air is so cold.. and it blows on my lips making them cold lol.

[maliolani]

Thanks for the replies. Hopefully I can try a nasal pillow mask. I've heard nothing but bad things online about Kaiser's DME supplier, Apria.

It seems odd to me that people prefer warmed air. My biggest complaint in this last week of CPAP, apart from the leakage problems as I turn from side to back to side, is that the air (without any humidifier) is too warm, suffocating me. I want the air to be cool, like leaving the window open.

[Pugsy]

It seems odd to me that people prefer warmed air. My biggest complaint in this last week of CPAP, apart from the leakage problems as I turn from side to back to side, is that the air (without any humidifier) is too warm, suffocating me. I want the air to be cool, like leaving the window open.

We are all individuals and have our preferences. Some like things warm and some don't.

Wanting warmer air like WittyMomma...there are a few tricks from hose covers to a heated hose that are available to try to help.

I like cool..not cold though. This winter with bedroom really cool (the way I like bedroom) I was having ice cube nose..and hose cover helped some but not enough so I bought a heated hose.

[chunkyfrog]

Cool air is not so cold when still as it is when it's moving.
Warm air feels cooler when there's a breeze.
This is why we wear shorts in warm weather and use the air direction switch on our ceiling fans.

[allinknots]

I find if mine goes up over my head, it leaks non-stop! I have to keep mine laying around me..

Hi, Wittymomma. If you're fine with the hose laying on your bed, then that's great! But if you'd rather have it going over your head, here are a couple tips to make it work:

Leave a little slack in the hose, then use a hose clip as follows: wrap the strap portion around the tube, and then clip it to the silicone mask strap. I clip it a little off-center so the vented air does not blow right at the hose, making noise. Alternatively, you can wear a Pap cap, and clip the clip to the cap.

I'm surprised you're feeling cold air with this mask. (So far, this is one of just a couple masks I've tried that does not seem to be cold!) Do you have a heated humidifier on your machine, and/or a heated hose?

hth,
All in Knots