Help with leakage on Swift LT nasal pillow mask

marydye · Post by **marydye** » Tue Jul 17, 2012 7:47 am

I have been using the Swift LT nasal pillow mask for three weeks now and seem to be having more problems with leakage unless I am sleeping on my back which is hard for me to do for long periods. When I roll over on either side it starts to leak so it keeps me awake trying to adjust.

Pugsy · Post by **Pugsy** » Tue Jul 17, 2012 7:53 am

Perhaps a different bed pillow would help. Something that doesn't come into much contact with the mask when you roll over onto your side. I used the Swift LT for well over a year until the Swift FX came out and I could sleep in any position I wanted to (preference is on my side). I do use a buckwheat hull pillow (Regenisis) and like it because it lets me make sort of a nest for the mask which lessen contact pressure. There are cpap pillows with cut aways for masks but you can easily make your own with a cheap Walmart memory foam pillow and cut away the side holes to allow mask to rest without touching things too much.

jnk · Post by **jnk** » Tue Jul 17, 2012 7:55 am

marydye wrote:I have been using the Swift LT nasal pillow mask for three weeks now and seem to be having more problems with leakage unless I am sleeping on my back which is hard for me to do for long periods. When I roll over on either side it starts to leak so it keeps me awake trying to adjust.

I use a light-weight hose and route the hose over my head so that I can basically ignore the hose completely when I roll over onto my other side. But for me, like Pugsy said, the big secret is the bed pillow. A relatively firm foam pillow with a squared-off edge allows me to sleep on my side and let the mask hang off the edge of the pillow. You will eventually find what tricks work for you as you try different things. It is fun. Kinda like an experimental treasure hunt. You will find a way!

nanwilson · Post by **nanwilson** » Tue Jul 17, 2012 7:57 am

Have you tried using lansinoh on your nares prior to putting pillows on? Don't laugh....it is the stuff nursing mothers use to keep their nipples supple..can be found in the baby isle at walmart or any pharmacy. It kinda makes the pillows sticky and they stay on your nares much better. Its a small tube, cost about $10, but will last about a year as you only use a small dab on each nare every night. Do a search above in the blue banner for the word lansinoh and you will get a ton of info on it.

Janknitz · Post by **Janknitz** » Tue Jul 17, 2012 8:15 am

The pillows may simply be worn out. Medicare will pay for two replacement sets monthly. ResMed profits when they wear out quickly.

jnk · Post by **jnk** » Tue Jul 17, 2012 8:33 am

Then there's always the o-ring fix/mod. I've gotten nasal pillows to last more than a year using that mod, as shown at the following link:

viewtopic.php?p=411149#p411149

JoeP · Post by **JoeP** » Tue Jul 17, 2012 10:08 am

I use lansinoh and did the o-ring thing, my Swift LT is great when it comes to leaks. I can sleep in any position with no problems.

now the Swift FX on the other hand, still struggling to control leaks with it. I really want it to work out since it has a nicer hose/swivel than the LT but i just can seem to get it to stay sealed.

jnk · Post by **jnk** » Tue Jul 17, 2012 10:40 am

JoeP wrote:I use lansinoh and did the o-ring thing, my Swift LT is great when it comes to leaks. I can sleep in any position with no problems.

now the Swift FX on the other hand, still struggling to control leaks with it. I really want it to work out since it has a nicer hose/swivel than the LT but i just can seem to get it to stay sealed.

Yep, Joe, I tried the FX, too. Ended up giving it away to a guy who needed it more than I. I never could could the FX to work for me as well as the LT. It worked well, just not as well for ME as the LT. So, I've stuck with the LT.

And as for the, uh, nares cream, I don't need anything to make my nose any stickier than it is.

Maxie · Post by **Maxie** » Tue Jul 17, 2012 12:14 pm

I just got a Swift FX nasal pillow mask and I use the ear loops. I love it but one think I noticed is that the hose coming out of it that connects with my CPAP machine hose is a bit heavy. I don't know about the Swift LT but it may be similar in that respect. I have a hose clip (a velcro strip with a clip on the other end) that I clip to my nightgown to keep the hose weight from pulling the mask away from my nose. It works as I've not had any problems with my new mask and I do love the ear loops!

squid13 · Post by **squid13** » Tue Jul 17, 2012 12:25 pm

JoeP wrote:now the Swift FX on the other hand, still struggling to control leaks with it. I really want it to work out since it has a nicer hose/swivel than the LT but i just can seem to get it to stay sealed.

I use the same O rings on my Swift FX and have no leak problems.

JoeP · Post by **JoeP** » Tue Jul 17, 2012 1:17 pm

squid13 wrote:
JoeP wrote:now the Swift FX on the other hand, still struggling to control leaks with it. I really want it to work out since it has a nicer hose/swivel than the LT but i just can seem to get it to stay sealed.
I use the same O rings on my Swift FX and have no leak problems.

They helped, but still didnt completely eliminate the leaks. They arent big leaks and dont show too bad in sleepyhead but they are enough that they wake me up and then i focus on them. I have been working to ignore them.

lazer · Post by **lazer** » Tue Jul 17, 2012 2:06 pm

Maxie wrote:I just got a Swift FX nasal pillow mask and I use the ear loops. ......... It works as I've not had any problems with my new mask and I do love the ear loops!

I have a stupid question. I've seen this mention of using the "Ear loops" with the Swift FX nasal pillow mask before and have yet to ask. How do you do this?

Maybe the DME didn't give me all the parts or whatever to accomplish this with my Swift FX assuming it is part of the package?

jnk · Post by **jnk** » Tue Jul 17, 2012 2:18 pm

https://www.cpap.com/productpage/resmed ... loops.html

Please note that, sadly, the mannequin is not included.

The ear loops seem to be a girl thing, lazer, so I'm not sure we're supposed to know about it.

lazer · Post by **lazer** » Tue Jul 17, 2012 2:28 pm

jnk wrote:https://www.cpap.com/productpage/resmed ... loops.html

Please note that, sadly, the mannequin is not included.

The ear loops seem to be a girl thing, lazer, so I'm not sure we're supposed to know about it.

Thanks! I did not realize it was an accessory (add-on).

Oh my, that pink around my ears would be seXy!

jnk · Post by **jnk** » Tue Jul 17, 2012 2:31 pm

Yep, you'd have to watch out for that little flirty geico lizard if you got those. I mean, if you had ears, and all.

Maybe one day they'll make Ear Loops for Him in army camo, or sumthin'.

http://www.resmed.com/us/products/swift ... clinicians

Help with leakage on Swift LT nasal pillow mask

Help with leakage on Swift LT nasal pillow mask

Re: Help with leakage on Swift LT nasal pillow mask

Re: Help with leakage on Swift LT nasal pillow mask

Re: Help with leakage on Swift LT nasal pillow mask

Re: Help with leakage on Swift LT nasal pillow mask

Re: Help with leakage on Swift LT nasal pillow mask

Re: Help with leakage on Swift LT nasal pillow mask

Re: Help with leakage on Swift LT nasal pillow mask

Re: Help with leakage on Swift LT nasal pillow mask

Re: Help with leakage on Swift LT nasal pillow mask

Re: Help with leakage on Swift LT nasal pillow mask

Re: Help with leakage on Swift LT nasal pillow mask

Re: Help with leakage on Swift LT nasal pillow mask

Re: Help with leakage on Swift LT nasal pillow mask

Re: Help with leakage on Swift LT nasal pillow mask