Swift FX - Leaks and cold air blowing on me

[Laurie1041]

One night I do well and the next I end up fiddling/readjusting my mask due to loud leaks and that cold air blowing out the exhaust is sending me over the deep end. I am getting exhausted and frustrated so I must reach out to whomever has any ideas. Just venting, but I feel so sleep deprived that I feel like tossing that mask out the door. It does not stay in place even with Velcro. I cannot sleep on my side. I allow the pillows to fill before placing them, I am using Lanisoh for irritation, I changed my pillows to a size small, and as I mentioned before, I applied Velcro to the back head strap. I am tangled in hose (I am ordering a hose hanger). I am just super cranky and I feel like I must be doing something wrong. My plan for tonight is to use the SoftGel and place some moleskin over the bridge of my nose until I can get some new ideas for the Swift FX. I apologize for my negative attitude - I am just really, really fatigued. Laurie

[dtsm]

It's possible the Fx just isn't good for you.

Change and try something else, maybe the LT [believe there is a LT for Her model]. Not everyone does well with Fx, including me. I tried 3 nasal pillows for about 2 months, the LT, the Fx and the Headrest. The LT works well for me - the only downside is exhaust vent blows to my spouse! Second was Headrest, with the Fx a distant third.

Good luck.

[Laurie1041]

Change and try something else, maybe the LT [believe there is a LT for Her model]. Not everyone does well with Fx, including me. I tried 3 nasal pillows for about 2 months, the LT, the Fx and the Headrest. The LT just works well for me - the only downside is exhaust vent blows to my spouse! Second was Headrest, with the Fx a distant third.

Good luck.

Thank you! I just emailed the woman at my DME and requested a demo of the LT. I pick it up on Monday. I'll have to use my SoftGel - which I don't find very soft in the meantime. I am on the hunt for a mask that does not drive me loopy all night. Laurie

[kempo]

Laurie, I have been using a HoseBuddy hose hanger for the past 3 weeks and it helped big time for me. I also use the FX.

Good luck

[Janknitz]

The LT is great and very stable compared to the FX, so you may find it really good for you.

When I first started using the fX I had my good nights and bad nights with it. At first I was mightily disappointed with the FX for the same reasons you are complaining. But, with some tweaks, it has turned out to be even better than the LT because it is so much more lightweight and comfortable. The LT is so much lighter than other types of masks, but it feels like a vise to me now, after using the FX almost exclusively (sometimes a few nights with the LT help me come back to the FX refreshed).

The hose hanger helps immensely because it eliminates a couple of issues you're having:

1. Less arctic air because if the hose is coming from over your head, the air is blowing UP and away from you, not down and on you (it's still a bit of a problem because it bounces off the bedclothes. I always wrap my top arm up in the blanket or sheet).
2. No hose to wrestle with--it's "managed" by the hanger.
3. The hose hanger tends to stabilize the nasal pillows because you don't have the weight of the slinky hose forever pulling them away from your nose.

[dtsm]

The hose hanger helps immensely because it eliminates a couple of issues you're having:

1. Less arctic air because if the hose is coming from over your head, the air is blowing UP and away from you, not down and on you (it's still a bit of a problem because it bounces off the bedclothes. I always wrap my top arm up in the blanket or sheet).
2. No hose to wrestle with--it's "managed" by the hanger.
3. The hose hanger tends to stabilize the nasal pillows because you don't have the weight of the slinky hose forever pulling them away from your nose.

Highly recommend pur-sleep hose management system: http://www.pur-sleep.com/products/prodD ... rch=&page=.

I've got two of them. One permanently set up in our bedroom, the other I take when I travel. Plus full refund policy if not satisfied. Bret does a good job.....

[violilnmom]

Hi, I started using my CPAP machine in May. I have the Swift FX as well, and had trouble with it but now I'm doing fine. The biggest change I made was to switch to new nose pillows after two weeks. My leaking was primarily caused by the nose pillows getting old. I know two weeks doesn't seem "old", but the silicone breaks down quickly, esp if you have the least bit of oily skin, as I do.

So I now change out my nose pillows to a new set every 2 to 2 1/2 weeks.

Also, I put the back strap in place and then pull out some of my back hair to go over the strap, so my hair is next to the pillow instead of the strap.

Third, I use a satin pillow case, which allows me to move around on the pillow and my mask moves with me easier while sleeping on the satin pillow case.

I know when it's time to switch to a new set of nose pillows because I will start having to fidget with my mask because of leaking. Soon as I switch to a new set I get a great night's sleep once again. Good luck to you.

[Janknitz]

Mine don't wear out as quickly as 2 weeks, but the pillows I was using last night definitely met their expiration date--leaks all night. I finally got up at 5:30 a.m. and switched to a new set when I could no longer get the old set to seal at all. Bliss, I slept well for the last hour at least.

[ChelseaChestnut]

I am tangled in hose (I am ordering a hose hanger).

Until you get your hose hanger, you can try what I do to keep the hose out of the way. I bought one of those removable hooks from 3M and hung it on the wall behind my bed. I put a rubber band around my hose and hung it on the hook. Works like a charm and only cost me $2.39!!!

[ChelseaChestnut]

I am tangled in hose (I am ordering a hose hanger).

Until you get your hose hanger, you can try what I do to keep the hose out of the way. I bought one of those removable hooks from 3M and hung it on the wall behind my bed. I put a rubber band around my hose and hung it on the hook. Works like a charm and only cost me $2.39!!!

[trike-mike]

Interestingly enough, I am finding that I rather like the blast of air. Most of the time.

One of the things that I tend to start to dislike is when, for whatever reason, the air from the blower doesn't seem cool/fresh. In these cases, the fresh air blowing off the FX vent is refreshing and mitigates the feeling of hot/stale air going up my nose.

I have the hose supported so the slinky is loose enough to usually point up but can point down just as easily with little difference with just a flop of it from one to the other.

[Laurie1041]

Hi, I started using my CPAP machine in May. I have the Swift FX as well, and had trouble with it but now I'm doing fine. The biggest change I made was to switch to new nose pillows after two weeks. My leaking was primarily caused by the nose pillows getting old. I know two weeks doesn't seem "old", but the silicone breaks down quickly, esp if you have the least bit of oily skin, as I do.

So I now change out my nose pillows to a new set every 2 to 2 1/2 weeks.

Also, I put the back strap in place and then pull out some of my back hair to go over the strap, so my hair is next to the pillow instead of the strap.

Third, I use a satin pillow case, which allows me to move around on the pillow and my mask moves with me easier while sleeping on the satin pillow case.

I know when it's time to switch to a new set of nose pillows because I will start having to fidget with my mask because of leaking. Soon as I switch to a new set I get a great night's sleep once again. Good luck to you.

All great ideas! How do you get a supply of nose pillows? Do you buy them online or through your DME? Are they covered by your insurance? How many do you buy at a time? Thanks, Laurie

[Laurie1041]

Laurie, I have been using a HoseBuddy hose hanger for the past 3 weeks and it helped big time for me. I also use the FX.

Good luck

Hi,

Where did you get the HoseBuddy and have you tried others? Thanks, Laurie

[kempo]

Right Here: https://www.cpap.com/productpage/HoseBu ... ystem.html

It's the first one I have used and it is well made and works great.

[scrapper]

When you get the FX, it usually comes with three sizes of nasal pillows.............decide what size is best for you, and trade the other two for the size you need on a thread entitled "The Great PIllow Exchange" here on the forum. Immediately you have three sets.

For replacements, I believe most insurances cover 2 sets every month. You can order them through your insurance or at cpap.com--whichever one is a better price for you. I've had a set of pillows last several months, and some that only last a couple weeks--it's highly variable.

As far as the vent on the FX, I covered it with about a half layer of one of the S9 filters--taped it on top and bottom--that eliminated the forceful draft and reduced the problem to a very manageable, unnoticeable state.

I had a hose hanger that I loved, but with the FX, I just pull the hose along side my body under the covers, and turning is not a problem.