Nasal pillows

Babbie · Post by **Babbie** » Sat Nov 05, 2005 8:18 pm

I know there are a ton of you guys who like/love the Swift nasal pillow system but it didn't work at all for me ---it just leaked something awful. I now use the Activa and I like it a lot but would like to try another nasal pillow (just so I have something else to switch to once in awhile). Has anyone tried the Swift with no luck (like me) and tried another pillow that worked better as far as leaks go?

rested gal · Post by **rested gal** » Sat Nov 05, 2005 8:39 pm

Hi Babbie,

Did the Swift you tried have all three nasal pillows sizes with it, so that you could try all three of them at home? Just curious, because I've heard of some DMEs giving people only one nasal pillows piece with the Swift and withholding the other two sizes, even though the Swift comes with all three in the box.

ProfessorSleep · Post by **ProfessorSleep** » Sat Nov 05, 2005 8:45 pm

I agree with RG - I had a really rough start with the Swift. It took a good bit of experimentation to get it working, but the tweaks offered in this forum really helped. That doesn't help with your original question, but I thought I'd throw in that there is a good bit of "fiddling" to be done with the Swift to get it right before you throw in the towel--make that pillows.

Babbie · Post by **Babbie** » Sat Nov 05, 2005 9:15 pm

RG--yes, I started out with the small, then after reading the posts, I tried the medium--the large wouldn't even fit in my nose!! I seemed to get a pretty good fit first thing, then a couple hours after falling asleep, I would wake up with air just blasting everywhere!! Hence, I would fiddle around with it (take it out, put back on,) trying to get a good seal again. I even read the massive thread about the "slotted nares", which I have. It seems like to get a real good seal I have to have the thing so tight, it hurts the underside of my nose as well as inside. I could deal with the pain because I think that would go away, it was just the air jetting everywhere that got me so frustrated I'd yank the thing off for the rest of the night.

Thanks ProfessorSleep--I'm glad it's working for you. Dont you love this forum---we're all "fiddling" together!!

Bonnie · Post by **Bonnie** » Sat Nov 05, 2005 9:42 pm

I found that there was a "break in" period with the pillow. After a week of various ailments, mainly a sore nose, it gradually became comfortable. I didn't have any leak problems but I remember waking up that first week a bunch of times with the whole thing in my hand! Once I played with the straps and found a good fit and padded it with fur fabric I have not had problems. Once a comfortable mask is found for your face, the rest falls into place.

ProfessorSleep · Post by **ProfessorSleep** » Sun Nov 06, 2005 1:06 pm

Babbie, what they said - I agree with the previous posts. But I also discovered (thanks to the folks here) a couple of other things that really made a difference. Lori and RG get the credit for emphasizing the "proper" way to fit the Swift - loosen everything up, then tighten the back strap first, just enough to keep it close to your nose, then the top strap. I found that the snugger I had the headgear, the worse it fit. I now have it adjusted so it fits over my head quite easily and is "in place" where it should be. I couldn't even call it snug, just without any real slack. It made a HUGE difference when I accepted the mantra "first the back, then the top, not too tight...first the back, ...) Well, you get it.

It also does take some time to "break in" - both the swift and, I suppose, my nose. It took some good tweaking, and some trial and error with the bed pillow. I have a Papillow, which I am deeply attached to, but being able to hang your nose with the Swift off the edge of the bed pillow can really help.

True, it won't work for everyone, but some of the things needed to make the Swift work were counterintuitive (such as *not* tightening it when it leaks). I would say a couple of weeks of tweaking finally did it for me. Oh yeah, that and the PadACheeks!

Sleep well!
and good luck to you, whatever you find as an interface!
Beth

Babbie · Post by **Babbie** » Sun Nov 06, 2005 2:28 pm

Bonnie & ProfessorSleep---thanks guys! I'm gonna try it again. I'll remember about the straps, back strap first. I think what I was doing was, I'd get a leak, tighten some more, another leak, tighten again, etc. It was really uncomfortable and I just could NOT stop the leaking. It's gotta be a good mask or so many on here wouldn't love it. I probably won't try it until next weekend---if I can't get it to work the way you guys do, I don't want to lose any more sleep than I have to! Thanks again.........Kathy

WAFlowers · Post by **WAFlowers** » Sun Nov 06, 2005 3:15 pm

If you tighten the straps of the Swift too much it'll leak. And hurt! It'll hurt like heck!!!

OTOH, if the straps are too loose (sloppy, floppy, flappy loose) it won't seal and will leak with the slightest movement.

But like that blonde burglar in the children's story, when you get it just right a bear could come in the room and you won't wake up .

Babbie · Post by **Babbie** » Sun Nov 06, 2005 4:38 pm

LOL Bill!! Maybe you and Beth are right - I just haven't "fiddled" with it enough yet. I'll keep trying. Thanks for the encouragement all!! Kathy

sleepybarb · Post by **sleepybarb** » Sun Nov 06, 2005 4:51 pm

I've gotten to like the Swift; although I had a rough initial month with nose blisters and irritation to start. I find that if I get the straps tightened right (and yes, I agree the lower one should be done 1st), then aim the pillows straight into my nose, and then tilt them a bit up (inner ends up, outside down), they will stay comfortably in the nostrils and seal nicely. Tilting them up also seems to stop the occasonal tea kettle whistle effect of the Swift. So my suggestion (in brief) is to tinker a bit with the angle of the pillows (but make sure you don't block the exhaust air).

Now, if I could keep my cat from sleeping on the cpap machine and turning it off while I am sleeping...

Apneaat22 · Post by **Apneaat22** » Mon Nov 07, 2005 2:27 pm

Wow I am pretty excited about getting my Swift (hopefully today). With my "Comfort" Gel (you just can't express sarcasm to the highest degree online) I find if I don't have it wrenched to my face, it leaks with any sort of movement. With it that tight, yeah its not too comfortable at all. I think I bruised myself last night, but it didn't leak once

I like this whole don't make it too tight idea. May get a good nights sleep finally. I am waking up more since I have been on my CPAP than off it, but I guess thats not totally true since I woke up every 5 minutes or so and just didn't notice it in the sleep study.

Hope it works for you all and crossing my fingers for myself

Apnea@22

Babbie · Post by **Babbie** » Mon Nov 07, 2005 2:49 pm

I actually did LOL---the "Comfort" Gel is the first mask they gave me. I think the "comfort" part is just hysterical---it's the most uncomfortable thing I've ever had on my body!! It felt like I was strapping a brick to my face!! I plan to try the Swift again this weekend. I haven't used it for a month or so but still can remember "fiddling" with it most of the night to get the leaks to stop. I'm like Roger with his Comfort Curve "I really want to like this mask!!". It seems like everyone else just loves it---I'm hoping to get it to work for me as well. Maybe I'm just not patient enough or am doing everything wrong. But I'm going to try again!! Good luck, Apnea@22---keep posting to let us know how it goes!
Kathy

kurrykid · Post by **kurrykid** » Mon Nov 07, 2005 2:51 pm

Just remember not to tighten the straps too much. I can just about slip my fingers in between my straps and my head but the swift seems to sit there pretty well.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Nov 07, 2005 2:53 pm

Thanks, Dave ----I'll give all this advice a try!!

Apneaat22 · Post by **Apneaat22** » Mon Nov 07, 2005 2:58 pm

I cant even PRY my mask up more than a 1/4 inch with my "Comfort" Gel I have to keep it so tight. Come on UPS bring me some relief.

Good luck with your second go on the Swift, your good results is my encouragment.

Apnea@22

Nasal pillows

Nasal pillows

Tilting the pillows?