Swift Adjustments?

mikemoran · Post by **mikemoran** » Mon May 16, 2005 8:47 am

This is my first week with a cpap and I am looking forward to the life improvements. I found that during the sleep study the mask drove me nuts so I opted for the Swift from my sleep tech. I have yet to have a full night where I didn't pull it off after a few hours.

The problem is it seems to pinch the center of my nose. Initially it burns a little then after a couple of hours of cold air rushing by its intolerable. Do you have any suggestions on how I might adjust it or modify it to eliminate this pinching?

I am hoping atleast a few hours sleep with it on is helping but getting tired of waking up in the middle of the night. I am still hopeful about this therapy but am starting to dread going to bed.

Any help would be appreciated.

seanconnery · Post by **seanconnery** » Mon May 16, 2005 9:27 am

What size are you using?

You may find that the large may the best bet because it does not penetrate the nostrils but sits at the entrance to the nostrils. What may seem like a good fit when awake may not be the right size when asleep.

Good luck

mikemoran · Post by **mikemoran** » Mon May 16, 2005 11:40 am

Thanks Sean will try that. Been using the medium will try the large tonight.

Janelle · Post by **Janelle** » Mon May 16, 2005 1:35 pm

you wouldn't be getting cold air either if you use a heated humidifier

mikemoran · Post by **mikemoran** » Mon May 16, 2005 2:07 pm

Janelle,

That is what I am gathering from reading the posts on here. Unfortunately Kaiser only gave me a pass through one. I have the heated one on order now.

gailzee · Post by **gailzee** » Mon May 16, 2005 9:20 pm

Your nose shouldn't be pinched. Try the next size nasal pillow, I had to go to the ''large'' myself, it actually is more comfy, and in following my morning computer download, I am seeing less leaks as well.
You mentioned "cold air", is your humidifier able to be heated (I thought all were), anyhow, you might want to try a low setting, and no, it will not make the air HOT, I had to tweak mine up from 1-2 (max. is a 5), I may turn it down to 1.5, now that warmer weather is approaching.
Try different settings. also, I turn my htd humid. on ONLY about 15 mins before going to bed, I used to turn on much earlier and then I'd get steamy, air, some people like the higher humidification, I do not.
Give these things a try, may help..hopefully.

mikemoran wrote:This is my first week with a cpap and I am looking forward to the life improvements. I found that during the sleep study the mask drove me nuts so I opted for the Swift from my sleep tech. I have yet to have a full night where I didn't pull it off after a few hours.

The problem is it seems to pinch the center of my nose. Initially it burns a little then after a couple of hours of cold air rushing by its intolerable. Do you have any suggestions on how I might adjust it or modify it to eliminate this pinching?

I am hoping atleast a few hours sleep with it on is helping but getting tired of waking up in the middle of the night. I am still hopeful about this therapy but am starting to dread going to bed.

Any help would be appreciated.

snork1 · Post by **snork1** » Mon May 16, 2005 9:26 pm

Yup, what they said.
Heated humidifier, larger pillow size.
Also try a bit of AYR gel or other water based lube on the pillows and your nose.

rested gal · Post by **rested gal** » Mon May 16, 2005 10:38 pm

It borders on barbaric, imho, that heated humidifiers are not standard issue with every cpap prescribed. I know that some don't need or want the additional humidity, in which case the heat doesn't have to be turned on. But when it's needed....it's really, really needed. It's not a comfort luxury. It's an absolute necessity for many. Can make the difference in being able to use this kind of treatment for OSA, or not, for so many.

Just think of the majority of cpap users who never see an apnea message board. When treatment is painful... be it bad mask, lack of proper humidification, or being blasted with an uncomfortably high single pressure all night... they are very apt to just drop out. Never knowing, never being told, that there's even such a simple thing as heated humidification. grrrrr.

mikemoran · Post by **mikemoran** » Tue May 17, 2005 6:06 am

Thanks all for the responses. Tried the larger pillows last night but they leaked like a sieve. So tonight I will try the small after a dosing with Oralgel. I really want this to work but 2 hours anight isn't goning to do it.

I am a bit confused why my sleep tech didn't even mention the heated humidifier. You would think they would understand that forced air is not going to be room temperature when its deliverd. Probably doesn't help that wife loves the rom cool at night to sleep.

Once again thanks all, glad i found this board.

Janelle · Post by **Janelle** » Tue May 17, 2005 6:29 am

Another thing with the Swift. Keep the straps of the headgear relatively loose, about 3 fingers worth can be inserted under the straps sideways, not up and down, if you can visualize.

IWannaSleep · Post by **IWannaSleep** » Tue May 17, 2005 10:53 am

Janelle wrote:Another thing with the Swift. Keep the straps of the headgear relatively loose, about 3 fingers worth can be inserted under the straps sideways, not up and down, if you can visualize.

Really? 3 fingers sideways? I think my swift would fall off my face if my straps were that loose.

.

snork1 · Post by **snork1** » Tue May 17, 2005 7:49 pm

I can't get my Swift that loose either, BUT keeping absolutely minimal tightness, especially pulling up IS critical for me. The difference can be an almost imperceptible pull on the straps. I do keep the strap that hooks behind the base of the skull a bit loose, but I don't think even that one is that loose.

make sure to fiddle with the barrel rotation on the swift too. A little tweak there can make a difference.

The Swift shape should match the average key hole nostrils.

rested gal · Post by **rested gal** » Tue May 17, 2005 11:36 pm

I am a bit confused why my sleep tech didn't even mention the heated humidifier. You would think they would understand that forced air is not going to be room temperature when its deliverd.

Just one more example of how you will learn more from message boards like this one than from most "professionals" about practical, useful things to make cpap treatment comfortable - endurable, even!

And they blame the patients for not being "compliant" (I really dislike that word) and dropping out.

Most of the techs and DME employees probably have never had a mask up to their faces more than a few minutes, if that. Very few really know what all night with cpap feels like. The message boards ought to be required reading.

IWannaSleep · Post by **IWannaSleep** » Wed May 18, 2005 12:04 am

snork1 wrote:I can't get my Swift that loose either, BUT keeping absolutely minimal tightness, especially pulling up IS critical for me. The difference can be an almost imperceptible pull on the straps. I do keep the strap that hooks behind the base of the skull a bit loose, but I don't think even that one is that loose.

make sure to fiddle with the barrel rotation on the swift too. A little tweak there can make a difference.

The Swift shape should match the average key hole nostrils.

Right on Snork... that's about how I adjust it too. But in general learning these subtle adjustments takes time with any mask, it's why I say you probably can't tell if a given mask is right for you without playing with it for a few nights.

.

mikemoran · Post by **mikemoran** » Wed May 18, 2005 8:42 am

Loosened the straps, put the large back in, fiddled with the barrell and swabbed with oralgel. Went the longest so far. Thanks for the advice. I think it will be smoother sailing once the heated humidifier arrives.

Swift Adjustments?

Swift Adjustments?

Re: Swift Adjustments?