Was it the wind outside, or my Swift pillows leaking?

Hi Forum,

I have now slept for 4 nights on a PB 240E with Swift nasal pillows for an APAP home titration study. I am very comfortable with the pillows, even wake up some times and reach to feel for them as I can't tell, in my half asleep state, if they are still on or not! I have been using the medium pillows, and with some Ayr-type gel have no sores. BUT, last night I think they were leaking a bit, when I lay on my side. Honestly, it was a very windy night out, and I wasn't sure where the "wind" was coming from I will try the large size pillow tonight, just to see what that feels like. I keep the hose exiting from the left side, and have the hose tacked up on the upper head clip.

I was wondering if there is anywhere maybe in the list archives a comparison of different types of pillows? I feel that this is the "style" for me, but wonder if another brand would be more comfortable for a side and stomach sleeper.

Thanks in advance for pointing me in the right direction,
From a new Hose Head (or Hose Nose, as my kids put it).

AII

I know what you are talking about. Even the best size for me is noisy due to the exhaust port, not the nasal pillows. I love the freedom of the Swift, but the loudness is a bit much. Lately, I have been using my comfortGel because the Swift made nostrils a bit crusty, as has been reported happens. I got a sound machine for the room to offset the Swift noise for when I use it. Good luck.

When you sleep on your side with the swift, because of the ... I'll call them cheek pieces... being hard material, it can shift your swift sidways and cause leaking. However I almost always sleep on my side so... I found that changing the position of my bed pillow allows me to do this now with no leaking. I even roll over onto my stomach occasionally. When I do that I pull the bed pillow more under my chest with just enough sticking out to support my head and with one arm kinda thrown up into the mix (kinda sleeping half on your arm and half on the pillow) I can fall asleep that way as well.

I do notice increased noise when I get anything CLOSE to the exhaust port.

BUT... my wife says a little wind noise is almost sothing and WAY better than my window-rattling snoring. She hasn't slept on the couch since I got this machine and the Swift. And she used to do it so often she has a travel alarm clock on the bookshelf in the family room so she could get up for work.

That was exactly my reaction last year....
Take a look at the Breeze and the Everest Aura Headrest Nasal CPAP Interface (aka Aura).

For me both are quieter and better for side sleeping than the Swift.
O.

AII,

After 24 days I am a total fan of the Swift. The large pillows made all the difference for me for comfort and no leaking. I started with medium, switched to small and then went to large. I do not have a large nose or large nares but the extra material seemed to be and feel cushier and to make a better seal. I am a side sleeper who likes to go to almost ¾ when in deep sleep and the large pillows have not leaked at all since I switched to them. Also, my nose is not nearly so sore, I have not had to use gels or creams. Based on lots of info from this forum and another I put a hook over my headboard, route the hose over my head and over the hook and use a Scuncii (pony tail thingy) to hold it in place. With a good tug the hose slides easily but firmly to a new position if I need it and then stays in place.

I found that lots of tinkering, as so many advise, makes a difference in learning what will, or won’t work but after that tinkering I have found that I don’t have to be nearly so careful. Get a reasonable fit on the head gear, use the rotation on the barrel to get the pillows comfortably sealed in the nares and “away we go!” It has really worked for me. I have tossed and turned every which way without breaking the seal. I have struggled with leaks through the end cap but I wonder if the head gear seals are slightly worn. The system I received was a sterilized freebie from the sleep center. There are replacement seal rings available in quantities of ten and I suspect they are offered in such quantities because they are needed. I have learned to just be more careful about that seal before I go to bed.

Perhaps I am still in the honeymoon phase but the Swift and heated humidification are really working for me whereas a much earlier stab with a Respironics Comfort Classic was a total disaster and put me back almost two years in becoming compliant. I do not find the Swift particularly noisy but I also have a HEPA air cleaner running.

David

I think it was the wind outside!