Trying Swift LT for the first time - getting a sore throat.

[SnoozeFest]

Hello,

I've been using cpap equipment since 2005. I'm still using the same machine after all these years which is a basic Remstar Plus (no c-flex). Long since discontinued but still gets the job done. The mask that I have been using is the Ultra Mirage II and I have had it for about 2-3 years. It works okay, but I have grown tired of fiddling with it on my face to stop the little leaks that develop. Anyway, my coworker was diagnosed with sleep apnea and he was given a Swift LT pillow mask. Well, he has given up on cpap and hates it with a passion. I asked him if I could try his mask and so I have been using it for the past three nights. I absolutely LOVE the fact that there is ZERO leakage, but yesterday and today have noticed a worsening sore throat. I made sure to clean the equipment with my special cpap disinfectant juice using it. Because there are no leaks and it is so efficient, I also dropped my pressure level from 9 to 8. That first night it felt to me like my chest was too full all the time. I have two theories for the sore throat - one is that my throat is not used to such super-efficient air flow. And the other is that my mouth is opening during sleep because the nasal pillow is relatively unobtrusive, unlike the system I have grown accustomed to all these years. Anybody else been through a similar situation?

[Janknitz]

I vote for mouth opening. Try a chinstrap.

[Pugsy]

I would vote for mouth opening. You have no way to tell how much mouth breathing though.
You might try a chin strap and see if it helps the mouth to stay shut.

I see Janknitz had same idea.

[SnoozeFest]

Thanks. I'm pretty much in agreement with both answers. Which chinstrap would you recommend?

[avi123]

I just posted this about it:

Reply,

.......................................I experienced the same when I switched from a F&P FF mask #431 to a Resmed Mirage Softgel Nasal mask, and also tried the Swift FX. The leaks dropped a lot and thus my APAP could suppress all the Obstructives, and thus the AHI dropped too. IMO, the leak rate is proportional to the length of the seal and in FF masks its the longest. The other reason is that nasal masks don't have anti rebreathing valves. Instead they rely on extra flow to carry the exhaled air fast out thru the small vent holes. It is called "passive venting" . On Resmed machines there are different settings for such nasal masks as NASAL, PILLOWS, and FF. With the SWIFT XF it is done to the extreme. The vent holes are tiny and the flow is so hi that I have found this mask to be uncomfortable b/c of the extra flow which is meant to carry the exhausted air out the the vent holes. This hi flow also exists during the inspiration stage and this extra air goes into my stomach as well and causes bloating. I don't get such ingested air when I use the Mirage SoftGel. So I decided to stay with the Mirage. IMO, a chinstrap is a must with any nasal mask, at least in my case. Otherwise, I would become a mouthbreather. The makers decisions of making those nasal masks with no anti asphyxia valves relies probably on the assumption that if the machine stops for any reason then the wearer would switch to mouth breathing. But what about if the person uses a chinstrap tightly on the head . The more cumbersome the nasal mask headgear and the chinstrap are the higher the chance of asphyxiation.

Another cause for the better results in the smaller masks is the smaller Dead Space and this adds to the XPAP faster response to events. With the Mirage Nasal mask all the obstructives are gone, in my case. On the other hand, the poster "Papit" who uses the Swift FX, has all kind of problems with central apneas and burping, which I attribute PARTLY to the use of the Swift FX.

My suggestion to you is if you can take the Swift FX and like it then use it b/c of the better data results that you get.

[Maxie]

When I started to get a bit of a sore throat I upped my humidity and it cured it.

[Pugsy]

Which chinstrap would you recommend?

Chin strap success....again highly individualized.

I would try a cheap 3 or 4 inch ace wrap first if you have one handy.
I even used a sweatband when I was trying things to help keep mouth shut. A cheap $1 sweatband found in Walmart sporting section. It wasn't quite wide enough though..almost.

Others will chime in on what works best for them...one man's treasure is another man's trash though.
The Ruby seems popular along with the PapCap.

[pap4life]

I have used the Swift LT for several years dince it came out... Absolutely no leaks.. Just don;t over tighten the back strap or you will get a sore nose.

I think you will diffinately need a chin strap.. The sore throat is coming from your mouth breathing..get a strap.

[SnoozeFest]

The more cumbersome the nasal mask headgear and the chinstrap are the higher the chance of asphyxiation.

Okay, this makes me a little nervous. Is suffocating something to be really concerned about if I combine the nasal pillow system with the chinstrap should the power go out?

[Maxie]

I have a power failure warning but I can talk with my chinstrap so I'm not too worried about asphyxiating. I use the deluxe chinstrap that I can also pull over my mouth to keep my lips together but I can breath through the mesh if I opened my lips.

[Pugsy]

Okay, this makes me a little nervous. Is suffocating something to be really concerned about if I combine the nasal pillow system with the chinstrap should the power go out?

The chinstrap only acts as a little "reminder" or support to hopefully tell the mouth to stay shut.
They aren't extremely tight..and you can easily eat and drink with one on so no chance of suffocating or anything like that. They aren't worn so tight that they are like a vise. Or they shouldn't be worn that tight.

[avi123]

The more cumbersome the nasal mask headgear and the chinstrap are the higher the chance of asphyxiation.

Okay, this makes me a little nervous. Is suffocating something to be really concerned about if I combine the nasal pillow system with the chinstrap should the power go out?

Reply, if you use a nasal mask that has a complex headgear and a chinstrap that mounts tightly over your head such as the "Ruby", but the mask does not have an antirebreathing valve, then asphyxiation could occur when the XPAP machine stops for any reasons. But if you wear a flimsy pillows nasal mask such as the Swift FX then you could quickly disengage it.

[nanwilson]

Avi..I have woken up very soon after the power went out. Just this past week the power went out twice, both times I felt like I could not breath or get any air...of course my cpap wasn't blowing, checked my stats the next morning and noted I had woken up within 2 minutes of the power going out.....I don't think you can die of asphyxiation in a matter of 2 minutes.
You will not sleep through a power outage nor will you sleep through being too tied up with straps........point is when you can't get any air, you will wake up!

[poppi2]

Here is my solution for not worrying about a power, or machine failure while being strapped up and using a pillow.

viewtopic/t76880/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=75 ... 88#p690334

Earl