CPAPtalk.com

Thanks everyone --I will certainly try some of these great ideas!!! I never thought to put my mask on while its blowing air--what agreat idea!! I have not used the ramp feature since day one--I am only at a 7 and the ramp feature made me feel like I was suffocating so I never use it.

I HAVE to use some humidity--I live in Arizona --you have heard it is a "dry" heat--I have my humidifier on a setting of 2. I realized I was using the medium the last few nights--so tonight I will switch to the small one and I will loosen up the top straps---I am on the last setting up there ---so from what everyone has told me--that must be too tight.

Thanks all --have a great night's sleep!!
Carrie

I just got my Swift FX two days ago. So far, I seem to be having the same problems I've had with the other one, but it is somewhat more comfortable; lighter.

Since I am paranoid about everything, could someone answer this for me, as this is the reason I wanted to switch masks in the first place. Both of these masks irritate the right inside of my nose; a soreness just inside and near the middle. Can this cause any permanent harm to my skin there?

If its causing issues inside the nose then your definitely using a pillow thats too small. The pillows are supposed to sit against the bottom of your nares not inside them.

One other thing to do is once the mask is on and in place to twitch your nose & upper lip, it should cause the pillow to re-seat itself for a slightly better fit.

Thank you. I didn't even think about using anything bigger because I didn't want to stretch my nose out.
So just the little top part fits up to your nares?

OCNorsk wrote:Thank you. I didn't even think about using anything bigger because I didn't want to stretch my nose out.
So just the little top part fits up to your nares?

Not my orginal post but I can answer yes. At first I was using S since my Liberty was S. I was afraid I would stretch out my nose too! But as others have said the pillows are not suppose to fit inside your nose.

My FX works best when I swivel the short tubing towards my head and use the Papcap loop on top to hold it down. If I just lay still on my back all night, it's perfect. But if I move around a bit, it may lose the seal. The LT, on the other hand, is solid as a rock and seals tight even when I toss and turn. I love them both and use them in rotation for variety.

Thanks.

I'll keep trying.

Thank you. I didn't even think about using anything bigger because I didn't want to stretch my nose out.
So just the little top part fits up to your nares?

Yes, the pillows should rest against the OUTSIDE of your nares only, never in them.

The best thing to soothe the soreness is lanolin cream (sold as Lanisoh nipple cream in the baby aisle, but CVS carries a generic form that's less expensive right next to it). Some people find putting this cream on right before the mask helps seal it, but I find it makes the nasal pillows slip around and can't get a good seal with anything but squeaky clean pillows. When I use lanolin, I use it in the mornng so there's plenty of time for it to absorb.

I am one week into using a CPAP maching and nose pillows. My therapist said I needed the XS size. After 2-3 days the inside of my nose was bleeding. I have been reading this forum and realized I was making two mistakes. First off, I was placing the pillow inside my nose and I had the head band pulled real tight. I have now loosened the head band and that stopped the bleeding. I also tested the S size pillow. The good news is that I used more water in the humidity chamber and I feel better this morning. The bad news is that I kept waking up all night readjusting the pillows since they would slip and I would have leaking.

I know I am going to have to experiment with the two sizes. I am wondering if the pillows are to just sit on the outside of the niar, does that mean the smooth surface underneath sits on the upper lip?

Thanks for all of your help,
Linda

linda1234 wrote:...

I know I am going to have to experiment with the two sizes. I am wondering if the pillows are to just sit on the outside of the niar, does that mean the smooth surface underneath sits on the upper lip?

Thanks for all of your help,
Linda

YES it does, Don't tighten the straps too tight but not too loose either. The back one should be tighter than the rubbery top one though.

Hi everyone, well I have had much sucess in the last few days with my FX thanks to all your suggestions. I switched from the Medium size pillows to the Small --AND then I loosened up the top rubbery head band while tightening up the velcro band that goes around the back of the head. What a difference that made!!! I am strictly a side sleeper --so I needed to have a pretty firm fit to allow the side to side movement. I had a 0.00 leak rate this morning and it was the 1 st night that I slept with the FX all night. Up until now --after about 5 hours I was taking it off and throwing it on the floor--hahahaha!!

Thanks so much for all the great suggestions!!

Carrie

WOW--- great results last night!! I feel so much better now that I am finally getting some quality sleep.

Pressure = 7.2
HI = 1.5
AI = 0.1
AHI = 1.6

LEAK = 0.00L/s

I love a success story when it comes to using CPAP. Thanks for this thread, it will bring hope to others who are struggling.

Karen

I am still having trouble figuring out if I am putting the pillows on correctly. I am not sure what I should be feeling when I insert the pillows. I have tightened the straps as suggested and they do stay on better. And I turn on the air before I insert the pillows. But I do not sense any air coming in through my nose and no leaking around the pillows. Should I feel air going into my nose? Some nights when I open my mouth, I can feel the air coming out and other nights I sense nothing. Which is right?
The good news is that I am not having any more bleeding on the inside of my nose, so I must be doing something right!

I am beginning to wonder if I should try a different mask, one that goes around my nose. Have you tried one? Which would you recommend?

Thank so much for your help,
Linda

One other questions....how do you get those numbers that indicate how you are doing, AHi, pressure, leaking amount, etc.

Linda