Cautiously optimistic

[SaxChick]

Picked up my ResMed S9 AutoSet and Swift FX mask a couple days ago, and I'm cautiously optimistic that this stuff is gonna work!!

I'm having pretty good luck with the Swift FX Pillows, but I am still experimenting with the adjustments. The 1st night, the pillows irritated my nostrils a little bit. The 2nd night, I loosened up the headgear, and got the pillows positioned more comfortably -- but then I found that the weight of the hose (Climateline) tended to pull the pillows down from my nose. I'm going to try a Mirage Quattro Full Face next week.

So, I've slept fairly well the last couple nights, despite feeling a little like Darth Vader, but my husband, bless his heart, has finally had 2 good night's sleep in a row (no snoring/snorting/gasping from me!).

This is an awesome support group!!

[Emilia]

Go to the store or pharmacy and buy some Lansinoh lanolin. Find it on the baby aisle by the nursing stuff. A tiny dab on each nostril...edges and just inside.... should prevent any irritation. I've used it every single night since I began using pillows and have never had any irritation. A tube will last you a year.

[Mary Z]

You can also by a hose holder (or your husband can figure out a way to do the same thing) that fits undeer your mattress and holds the hose up over your head. It takes the pressure off the hose pulling at your nostrils. Good luck. Keep us posted.

[Janknitz]

Try hanging your hose above your head so that the weight doesn't dislodge the nasal pillows. You can hang your hose over the headboard, from a hook on the wall, or use a commercial hose hanger (look for them on cpap.com). I have my own homemade hose hanger made out of a clothesline pulley and a couple of weights that works very well.

I think you will find a huge difference between the comfort and sealing ability of the Swift FX and Quattro, and my guess is that you will want to go back to the Swift ASAP.

[SaxChick]

Hose holder - excellent idea!

re Swift vs Quattro: I have a lot of nasal congestion due to allergies. Most of the time, a daily sinus rinse keep it pretty well under control, but a couple times a year, I get a whopper head cold, and am completely "stopped up" for a couple days. It seems like it would be a good idea to have an alternative to the nasal pillows available in that case ...

[SMenasco]

Amen on the Lansinoh. Not only will it help with comfort, it really helps to seal up.

[Gaga58]

Sax...same problem with the headcolds/sinus allergies and I actually find the Swift helps keep my sinuses open. I had a terrible bout a couple weeks ago, to the point of bad nose bleeds, but through it all, once I strapped on the mask I was open and able to breath. I am keeping a nasal mask as backup just in case too. I've not had any problems with the nasal irritation, but I use the ayre gel as our Walmart apparently has never heard of Lanisoh!!