by doze hurts

Arg. I had to pull my mask off last night around 6:00 am because I just couldn't take it anymore. The tip if my nose is sore cause the pillow seems to push it up ever so slightly and the skin around my nose stings were ever the pillow touches. It seems like the ouchy build up over time -- will I get used to it over time?

I have a Swift LT with small pillows.

Yes. Your doze will toughen up with time. For now, go get yourself a tube of Ayr's Saline gel w/ Aloe and rub that on your doze to help relieve irritation and heal the tissue. Also use it right before you put on your mask (will not hurt mask). In time you won't need the gel anymore.

If you are anchoring the smaller hose that attaches to the mask with the clip attached to the strap that runs over your head, make sure there is not too much tension on that hose. If you have the clip holding the smaller hose close to where it joins the main hose, try moving that to the other side of that juncture so that you have it clipping on to the larger hose. It can kinda pull up on the tilting part that anchors the pillow and put too much pressure on your nose.

You could also try loosening the straps a bit along with using the Ayr's gel.

@ silver123: I hadn't even thought of using the clip on the larger hose. Thanks! I am using the Respironics performance hose, so I hope the clip doesn't damage it. It seems more fragile than my other hose. Hmmm. But I'm gonna try that, even if I have to go back to my other hose.

@ mbridget: You aren't alone with that. Last night was my second night with the LT. My dose hurts too, even though I was using the Swift II, another nasal-pillows mask by ResMed, for some five months. The differences in the pillows are making me have to toughen up slightly different part of my dose, I guess. It took me several nights before the Swift II didn't bother me at all, so I expect the same starting out with the LT, in harmony with DreamStalkers comments. Once I figure out the LT, though, I think I'm gonna like it even better than the Swift II, and I loved the Swift II. Thanks for posting that question. I'm sure it and the answers it got helped many more than just you and me.

@ the lurkers: Howdy. You know who you are. We hear you breathing out there.

jeff

My nose killed me the first night that I used the Swift LT but I realized that I had the straps too tight. I looked like Rudolph the red Nosed Reindeer the next morning! LOL. Loosen the straps up and things will be much better. You have to especially have the lower strap quite loose. Mine is so loose that I can easily slip a couple of fingers between the strap and my head. I do have to have the upper strap a little more snug but not tight and that strap needs to be re-tightened each night. The straps have to be looser than you think they need to be. Try switching to the medium pillows too. It may make a huge difference as you may be having to pull the straps really tight to make the small pillows seal. If you have too much pressure on the pillows, it will make it even harder for them to seal as the design intends. I do not have a large nose or nostrils but I needed the medium pillow.

If you can, treat your nose gently today. My ENT doc told me to alternate warm and cold compresses and to apply Ayr Gel frequently in a massaging fashion. It helped and my nose was ready to try the mask again the next night. It does seem that our noses do toughen up with time. Good luck and I hope your nose feels better tomorrow morning.

Here is a lengthy thread on SWIFT LT with useful info -

viewtopic/t37126/viewtopic.php?p=274398#p274398

Also, using pillows that are too small tend to cause nose pain. Try the mediums and see if you don't do better.

JeffH

JeffH is right -- stole my thunder
I was using large pillows on my Headrest and had constant sore nose issues -- ayr gel and all, but since I changed to the XL pillow it's solved my problem......

good luck
cheers
goose

sorry i don't use a nasal interface so i won't be much help.. but...........

here's a kiss fot it hope it feels better

Using a larger pillow is huge IMHO with the Swift LT. I always used small nasal pillows with any nasal pillow mask I've used. But the medium works best for me with the Swift LT. I tried my small pillows a few weeks ago, and I felt I was gasping for air. I didn't realize the air flow is even better with the medium pillows.

Yes, use the AYR gel. It helps a lot.

I think the Swift LT is the best mask on the market. I've tried MANY, and I'm in love with this mask (sorry hubby ). I don't feel any need to even look around for another mask. I used the Optilife for a year before getting the Swift LT, and it doesn't even come close to the comfort of the Swift.

FYI: I make sure I pull up the hose and route it down the side of me under the covers to keep it from flopping over the side. Oh....I guess I better mention I don't route the hose over my head because it pulled up on my nares too much. I like wearing it down. I change sides I sleep on and have never had a problem. I have an open shelf on the bottom of my night stand. I route the hose from the side (not the front) of the night stand up to the bed. It has worked well for me, and I've never experienced any movement with the machine on the lower shelf. My previous bedroom set didn't have the shelf, and I had my cpap fall on the floor one night because I rolled the wrong way. My husband said he never saw me jump up so fast. All I thought was "I can't get water in the CPAP!!"

Good luck to you mbridget.