Swift II vs swift LT ...any suggestions ?

Hi,
I currently have an Mirage activa nasal mask and have had problems with my eyes and also waking up with my teeth hurting every morning. So I went for a mask fitting this morning and thought that I would try the swift LT nasal pillows. I found the head gear to be very comfortable but i felt as thought I could not breath. I couldn't get any air in and it was hard to breath out. Has anyone else experienced this?

With the swift II I found that I did not have the same breathing problems but the head gear was not as comfortable. Does anyone use this mask?

In the past I have also had problems with some masks accumulating exhaled breath within the mask and creating rain out. Will this be a problem with these masks?

Thanks for your help. I have learned so much from lurking around this web site. Without you I would not have made it the last 6 months.

Did you just try on the masks or did you test them hosed up to a machine, I love my swift LT. I dont find it hard to breathe in. But, everybody's different.

I tried them on hooked up and laying down in bed, moving from side to side etc. Maybe the RT had it put together wrong, or had the wrong size set up. I don't know but i really liked the LT headgear much more, I just couldn't breath.

You might try the next pillow size up. I get less leaks with the small pillow but feel like I am working really hard to move air. The medium tends to not seal as well and leaks. My remedy was to trim more plastic from the opening in the small pillow for more airflow and that worked fine. You have to trim both walls since it is double walled. I used very fine micro-surgical scissors and on ly trimmed a 1 -2 mm or so. But try moving up a size and see if that helps first.

silver

I haven't tried the Swift II, but I use the Swift LT. I was originally fitted with the medium pillow, but am now using the Large. It seems easier to breathe with the large.

In other words, a smaller pillow may seal OK, but the holes are smaller - maybe try a larger pillow.

Sam

Thanks, I'll try that. I didn't really think about it at the time of the fitting since both masks were from resmed and I was using small pillow with both.

Oops., I was referring to the Swift LT. the pillow sizes seemd to vary from the Swift II, at least to me. I also got some rainout with the Swift LT and insulated it both hoses, both the short one and the 6 foot. That seemed to take care of it.

I'm a side sleeper usually so the LT was much more comfortable for me though I use a system to hand the hose so I don't fight with it all night and to help the rainout.

There is also the Swift LT For Her that is supposed to be designed a bit smaller for women. You might check and see if that is available to try.

Good luck!

silver

With the Swift II I used the large pillows. On the Swift LT the medium, the double wall of the LT is more restrictive and I felt I wasn't getting enough air. I raised the pressure 1cm and have had no problem.

I use both, but prefers the LT. The nasal pillow sizes are different even though the manufacturer is the same. I use a small on the LT, but a medium on the II. No rainout on the II so far, but condensation in the detachable pillow portion on the LT so I stick a piece of tissue in there (rolled up) to absorb the few drops that collects in there.

The II's headgear stays on better for me, but the LT is both lighter and more comfortable for me since I tend to switch sides when I sleep.

I know I promised to post a photo of my tissue in the pillow thingy, sorry for the delay. I had a bike accident and tore my rotator-cuff ... couldn't move my arm around too much lately.