problems with mask

im having a lot of problems with my mask. i just can't seem to get it right.

last night it spent almost the whole night riding up and almost poking me in the eye. so i thought.. it's too tight. i loosened it and then had so many leaks.

i sleep either on my right side, or on my back. Due to back problems, I can't sleep in one position all night

any suggestions? I don't have my card reader yet, so don't know quite how bad the leaks are, but i know that i woke up a lot last night with them

xiola wrote:
im having a lot of problems with my mask. i just can't seem to get it right.

How long have you been trying the Swift? I know that it's a best seller and that many users love it, but I can't get it to fit comfortably without leaking and those straps on my cheeks push the nasal pillows off my nose every time I turn.

If you're comfortable with the nasal pillows, you might try the Breeze or the Headrest. If not, I can't help, as I think nasal masks are awful, just as many nasal mask users can't tolerate the nasal pillows. In any case, the mask is everything. Once a comfortable, non-leaking mask is found, all good things will follow!

Xiola, you've had a lot of trouble adjusting it seems - why won't you try other masks?

Headgear is critical - I don't recall if the Swift's is any good - and width is important (IMJ the Swift is more likely to be dislodged by side pressure than the ADAMS/Breeze pillows but they require better headgear (CONJO works).

I have found the pad-a-cheeks fleece makes the frame much more comfortable. Initial adjustment, you need to adjust the straps on top of your head to barely bring the pillows into contact with the bottom of your nose, then use the back-straps to snug that contact into a light seal. That keeps the frame out of your eyes. Final suggestion is to try the papcap. It can soften the interface and keep it from shifting, especially for folks with smaller features.

xiola wrote:im having a lot of problems with my mask. i just can't seem to get it right.

last night it spent almost the whole night riding up and almost poking me in the eye. so i thought.. it's too tight. i loosened it and then had so many leaks.

i sleep either on my right side, or on my back. Due to back problems, I can't sleep in one position all night

any suggestions? I don't have my card reader yet, so don't know quite how bad the leaks are, but i know that i woke up a lot last night with them

sronsen wrote:
How long have you been trying the Swift? I know that it's a best seller and that many users love it, but I can't get it to fit comfortably without leaking and those straps on my cheeks push the nasal pillows off my nose every time I turn.

If you're comfortable with the nasal pillows, you might try the Breeze or the Headrest. If not, I can't help, as I think nasal masks are awful, just as many nasal mask users can't tolerate the nasal pillows. In any case, the mask is everything. Once a comfortable, non-leaking mask is found, all good things will follow!

it's been about a month i think. im very comfortable with the nasal pillows style masks.

this one seemed to work fine for the first week or so. then all these problems started.

so i guess i call the DME and just ask for a different mask? or is this something i have to pay for to try?

BigNortherner wrote:Headgear is critical - I don't recall if the Swift's is any good - and width is important (IMJ the Swift is more likely to be dislodged by side pressure than the ADAMS/Breeze pillows but they require better headgear (CONJO works).

yeah, i do better on my back than on my side as far as leaking goes and keeping the mask still

I know this sounds weird but how long is your hair? I pull my hair out over the back strap of my mask and it holds in place wonderful all night. I switch from my back to my side and use a buckwheat pillow.

If your hair is long enough try this and let me know if it works better.

xiola erote:
this one seemed to work fine for the first week or so. then all these problems started.

Well, there goes my theory, which says that a night or two will tell you if the mask is right. It did when I made my initial mask decision and for every mask I've tried since.

I believe that many, if not most DME's give you 30 days to finalize the mask purchase, but it's been a long time since I did mine, and time has done nothing to improve my memory. You may have to pay for another mask out of your own pocket. In that case, I suggest that you buy on-line. The two masks I suggested are approx $75 and $95 respectively, plus shipping from the best on-line sources. Speaking for myself, it's money well spent if it solves your problem. If not, then make your DME earn his or her money. IMHO, the only meaningful service they provide is helping you make the initial mask choice. Once you've found what works, you know what to re-order or what MAY work as another choice.

YawnGirl wrote:I know this sounds weird but how long is your hair? I pull my hair out over the back strap of my mask and it holds in place wonderful all night. I switch from my back to my side and use a buckwheat pillow.

If your hair is long enough try this and let me know if it works better.

my hair's really long, i usually pull it back in a ponytail, and then put the lower strap under and the upper strap above.

i can't sleep with my hair down because it gets wayyyy too tangled lol

sronsen wrote: You may have to pay for another mask out of your own pocket. In that case, I suggest that you buy on-line. The two masks I suggested are approx $75 and $95 respectively, plus shipping from the best on-line sources.

well that sucks. i simply don't have the money right now.

im gonna give my DME a call and see if im eligible for another mask

added: they're closed for the holiday weekend lol This isn't a critical problem, i can live with it for now. i just am annoyed that i can't get it right and it is waking me up a lot.

it's weird, the mask riding up towards my eyes is new in just the past two nights. i don't know what i'm doing differently. but tonight ill try refitting it again to see if i have better luck

I really have no clue what's going on with your mask. Sounds strange, especially since you had it working okay for awhile. Maybe ridiculous, but check to be absolutely sure your nasal pillow is not upside down (the fat, wider side of the bulb should be against your face under your nose, the thin side with the ResMed imprint should be away from your face)--and the little "wings" on the hard side frame should be pointing up on your cheeks. Again, perhaps a silly question, but is the clipholder on top of your head and not in the back? It is true that you need to keep the top strap loose and just barely touching the top of your head, while the back strap is a little tighter to prevent movement of the nasal pillow. Not much more can go wrong....so it's a puzzle!

plr66 wrote:I really have no clue what's going on with your mask. Sounds strange, especially since you had it working okay for awhile. Maybe ridiculous, but check to be absolutely sure your nasal pillow is not upside down (the fat, wider side of the bulb should be against your face under your nose, the thin side with the ResMed imprint should be away from your face)--and the little "wings" on the hard side frame should be pointing up on your cheeks. Again, perhaps a silly question, but is the clipholder on top of your head and not in the back? It is true that you need to keep the top strap loose and just barely touching the top of your head, while the back strap is a little tighter to prevent movement of the nasal pillow. Not much more can go wrong....so it's a puzzle!

You know, I did that after I the first time I cleaned my mask. The pillows don't really state which way they go I had to put it on and look in the mirror and at the picture on the mask manual. You would think it would be obvious, but with the swift lt it is an easy mistake especially if your not use to the mask.

YawnGirl wrote:You know, I did that after I the first time I cleaned my mask. The pillows don't really state which way they go I had to put it on and look in the mirror and at the picture on the mask manual. You would think it would be obvious, but with the swift lt it is an easy mistake especially if your not use to the mask.

Yup--I should have mentioned that I wore the Swift LT pillow upsidedown for an entire night when I was fairly new to it. Not sure it would cause the problems described, but heck, it's worth checking.

Sleeprider wrote:I have found the pad-a-cheeks fleece makes the frame much more comfortable. Initial adjustment, you need to adjust the straps on top of your head to barely bring the pillows into contact with the bottom of your nose, then use the back-straps to snug that contact into a light seal.

that did it! I resized it following this and it didn't move around at all while i was going to sleep

of course.. i woke up at 7 am with it off, and hanging neatly on the hook, and i have no memory of taking it off, BUT it wasn't leaking or slipping while i was going to bed.

ill try again tonight

thanks!