POLL: Swift FX pillow size

[hose head]

jules--
I want to thank you for your swift fix also. I was hoping to get away from the elastic with the FX--oh well, I guess I bought enough elastic that at least it won't cost me anything.

m

[jules]

It sits better for me than the LT did (without the fix on either) and when I tried it out the first time I though I wouldn't need the elastic. I had just gotten it Friday and it was too toxic to use for a few nights even soaking it that first day.

But Sunday night I tried it without the elastic all night and I have a 38 min large leak in the first hour - oops -- and well I noticed more and more slippage during the night so I put the elastic on for Monday night and my leaks are still not good (mouth breathing - nothing new) but I felt the seal at the start of the session wasn't good until I reset the pillow about 5 times. So I am wondering about pillow size too hence the Poll.

[ozij]

I am using an extra strap with the FX as I did with the LT and the original swift and without it my leak rate went sky high --- but I find the FX more comfortable than the LT by far. However, my data is in the toilet so far.

flame away Rebecca, but you still have to take the final exam as scheduled.

Aha, so that's what they were doing!

<snip>

O.

[scrapper]

I am using the Swift FX and absolutely love it.

In all of my months on cpap, I've privately drooled over the low leak rates I've read about........always seeing my own inbetween 0.04-0.2, wondering why, no matter what I tried, I couldn't achieve 0. It seems like it would be so simple with the right fit.........and of course I understand how it can improve therapy.

All of a sudden, with the Swift FX, I too can achieve 0 leaks!

It didn't happen right away though.........but by accident one night. Since then, I've figured out that despite the headgear being comfortable, the clear plastic adjustable slide MUST be right on top of my head.........and not sliding to the back. When I carefully put on the headgear, paying attention to how it should be, VIOLA! No leaks..........and it can be repeated night after night if I don't just slide into the headgear....

[tattooyu]

I am using the Swift FX and absolutely love it.

In all of my months on cpap, I've privately drooled over the low leak rates I've read about........always seeing my own inbetween 0.04-0.2, wondering why, no matter what I tried, I couldn't achieve 0. It seems like it would be so simple with the right fit.........and of course I understand how it can improve therapy.

All of a sudden, with the Swift FX, I too can achieve 0 leaks!

It didn't happen right away though.........but by accident one night. Since then, I've figured out that despite the headgear being comfortable, the clear plastic adjustable slide MUST be right on top of my head.........and not sliding to the back. When I carefully put on the headgear, paying attention to how it should be, VIOLA! No leaks..........and it can be repeated night after night if I don't just slide into the headgear....

Yes! I totally agree! The top plastic strap must be near dead-center on my head.

However, I have yet to get consistent 0.0 leaks like I did with my Swift LT. Now, mind you, I only get between 0.02-0.04 L/s of leaks, but it is consistent. I'm wondering it the vent flow rate is just different enough to calculate differently with the FX? I don't feel any mask leaks, and my PAPCap keeps me from mouth breathing. Don't know the answer yet.

I have noticed that the pillows sit differently with the FX. For me, to get a good seal (and I always do), the pillows need to sit more perpendicular to my nares as opposed to being angled back slightly. To seal the pillows, I gently press down on the front--the side away from my face--of the pillows where they meet my nares and they kind of "pop" into place and seal very well.

[Craig P]

I used my new Swift FX for the first time last night and I absolutely love it! I have never worn a more comfortable, unobtrusive mask. And with virtually 0.0 leak rate.

I use Lansinoh and tape my mouth.

[Doodeedoo]

Over the years I have used all the Swift models, Swift, Swift II, Swift LT and now for the last two weeks the FX always with the Large size pillow.
Amongst all, the most comfortable is the FX, closely followed by the LT.
The problem I am having with the FX is the poor fitting and high leak rate. I have tried the Secaris ointment and the O-ring fix to no avail. It seems to me that since the FX does not permit to adjust the angle with which the pillow touches the nares, the fit is good only if the shape of your nose happens to match the angle of the pillow. At least the LT allows to move the angle a bit and get a decent fit.
If things don't improve I will go back to the LT for which I will have to buy a new headgear.
David

[RiverRat]

It's tougher to get a good seal on the FX and I don't think the issue is the size of the nasal pillows. On the LT the nasal pillows are unaffected by the straps around your head - as they're pressed into a ridged holder. On the FX the flex of the strap that goes over the top of your head pulls directly on the nasal pillows actually pulling them together. Check out the two masks - IMO it's a design flaw on the FX that changes the dynamics of the nasal pillows whereas the LT' does not.

I've had a lot more leaks on the FX ... the only way to control it is to tighten the straps more than I've had to on the LT. Sadly I've gone back to the LT for this reason.

[ghoundgirl]

I've heard that sometimes you have to go up a size to get a good seal, but:

The Swift FX was my very first mask--I started out with the small pillows, but they never felt right. I switched to the medium and then to the large--still not good. I ordered the XS on the off chance that would be the solution: last night my leaks were .02, best ever!

[Doodeedoo]

I agree with RiverRat, it seems to be a design flaw in the FX. The strap pulls the pillows together. I thought of inserting a piece of plastic to act as a separator to keep the proper distance between the pillows but decided instead to give up on the FX. I visited my DSM 2 days ago and they will exchange the FX giving me a new LT or other mask of my choice. I will take the LT since I know it and it works well for me. They have a 30-day exchange policy.
I cannot go up with the size as I already use the large.
David

[Janknitz]

I don't have the FX (but I really, really, really, really want to try one, so if anyone is disgusted with theirs . . . ) but I do have the LT and I used a fix found on the lab rat page to stop that back strap from slipping. I sewed the hook side of velcro tape (use the non-sticky stuff--it's easier to sew) to the inside of that back strap.

It sounds a bit uncomfortable, but it really is not. And it works very well to stop that slippage. I'm betting it will work on the FX as well.

If you want to "try before you buy" use a piece of sticky back velcro, and the original author suggested stapling it in place. But I sure didn't want any metal staples near my head or bedding

[ufo13]

Use a large size pillow for the FX same as for the LT! Did a fix for the routing of the hose to the rear and also used my velcro fix for the back strap ( Explained in another post about a week ago) and now the FX has become for me comfortable, leak free and the BEST of the Swift pillow series of masks!

All the best!

Steve,
ufo13

[AndrewB]

I'm using the Swift FX with medium sized pillows. My supplier also gave me the large pillows but when she sized me the medium seemed to be her choice. I tried the large on for size and they also seem comfortable and seal well so I might try them soon.

I'm a newbie and have only been on the hose for a month and only with this mask. I must say though that I'm quite fond of it - in fact there have been several times that I've woken up and thought I wasn't wearing anything and had to reach up to feel it. I have long hair that I put over the strap at the back of the head which seems to help keep things in place but when I went for my titration study a few days ago that wasn't an option and it didn't seem to move around.

My leak rates seem to vary from night to night and there are nights that I have to fiddle with it to get a good seal - if I have too high of a leak rate - I have a crappy(er) night but most nights are pretty good.

[sleeplessinaz]

Hi guys---- when I first got my new Swift FX -------I absolutely love it! I have never worn a more comfortable, unobtrusive mask. I used the Swit LT for Her before that--using the size small nasal pillow. Now, I have gone back to the LT due to me not being able to get a good seal on the FX nasal pillows. I tried the small and then I tried the medium--it seems to not fit exactly right in my nares even with the Lanisoh Creme on them. I want to give the FX another try though ---I just hate giving up my weekend sleep to try out the new sizes!!! LOL! I will try adjusting the head gear again--the one that goes on the top of my head is almost at the smallest notch that they have on there!! They must have made the head gear for the head of the hulk!!

Carrie

[nosenabook]

I have the LT and switch back and forth between the small and medium sizes, depending. I have an appointment for another sleep study in a couple of weeks, and expect this will lead to newer equipment. My F&P CPAP is not one of the choices in the profile list!
I had the LT for Her for a few nights and was trying out the S and XS sizes. It was no better than my old leaky LT, so I gave it back and got a new LT. And sighed for the FX they didn't have in stock.

Anyway. My take on the size issues is that these mask makers are only slightly more consistent than shoe makers. Don't be slavishly devoted to one size over another, use the one that fits and works for you. We aren't going to get perfect consistency.