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I am at 3 weeks with the swift fx for her. I don't have any problems but wonder if I should be trying other masks while I have the chance with the 60 day fit guarantee in case there is one that I would like better. Problem is I can't go back to the swift fx if I don't care for the new ones. Also, should I try something other than nasal pillow masks for the rare time I may get a cold? My other question is about my pressure. It is set to 5-9 and my 95% is running 8.92. Average for 23 days is 6.87. I'm thinking I may need it set a little higher. My next apt with sleep dr is a month away. Should I just wait till then or try for an eariler apt or call? Any suggestions? Thanks

It is 30 days in most places. Some Dme's allow you to keep the old masks because they can't sell them anyway.

The Swift FX is about the most popular nasal pillows mask there is. I wouldn't jump ship just because you wonder what a different mask is like. Stick with it and talk with your sleep doc or whoever is providing your masks. BTW, do you have that 60 day policy in writing? I haven't ever been offered that. I have a Swift FX, and Opus 360 and an Aloha. I like the Opus 360 the best, the Swift next, and the Aloha not much at all.

Re: your pressure, it looks like you're running right at your upper limit; you need more pressure. I'd set the low limit at 7 and I wouldn't set a high at all (i.e. set it at 20). There's no real need to set an upper limit unless you experience runaways which only 2 people currently on this forum have reported. But since you're seeing your doc in another month, I'd stick with the way things are now and not mess with the settings in order to avoid making a mess of the data that the doc will (one hopes) look at. Let the doc make that call for now. Later when you have more time on the mask, or if the doc isn't particularly interested in your settings, then you can change them. Just my advice.

Thanks so much for your reply. Yes, I do have the 60 day guarantee in writing. I thought it was very generous too! I will check out the other masks you mentioned on our hosts site. And I'll probably just wait about the pressure then. Thanks again

Jujubee is using the DME I use and they do a 60 day thing. As many masks as you want within the 60 days.

Does he want the used mask back? I never needed anything beyond my first mask choice when I got my first mask from them.
So I never knew if he wanted it back or not. They can't sell it.

I have had a couple of colds since beginning cpap therapy. I was able to continue to use the nasal pillows. I still don't own a full face mask.

Don't worry about that 95% pressure thing right now. Remember the definition is AT OR BELOW that pressure.
People tend to forget the OR below part. You may be reaching the max of 9 cm for brief periods but with your average so low it probably isn't for long. How is the AHI?
I don't think anything is in need of urgent change. No rush to move up the appointment.
I wouldn't change a thing right now.

FWIW...I have tried a bunch of nasal pillow masks and the Swift FX remains number one.
If you are doing well with it...it's going to be hard to improve upon.

If the Swift FX is working for you then I would stop with the doubts and stick with it

I wore my first mask for 6 months before deciding to change. You DO get to change your mask every six months if you need to - so if you are comfortable with the mask you have, I wouldn't worry about it too much. My first mask was an Opus 360 and while it was a nice mask, I was always fighting leaks - I switched to the same mask you have now, and I love it. My insurance initially paid for a full face mask for me as my pressure was low and when I got sick I couldn't breathe worth a flip, and my apnea is severe, so I needed SOMETHING. I found that when my pressure was pushed up to 8 I actually breathed BETTER with the nasal pillows when I was sick because the air moved right through that sick gunk. I actually breathed better with my mask on at night than I did without it during the day!

If you aren't having any problems with the mask you have - go ahead and keep it for the first six months - because moving to a mask that is uncomfortable is miserable.

Thank you Puggsy. I did ask Carl if I could go back to the first one if I didn't like the the next one. He said no, he sends it back. I better just stick with it. I do seem to knock it loose when I sleep on my side but its a quick fix so I'll just keep it. For the last 7 nights my AHI is 2.8 and leaks .28 and 95% 6.00. I think those are pretty good numbers yes? At some point I may want to turn on the feature that stops it if you remove the mask for a minute and then restarts when you put it back on. And I should probably get the link to the clinical instruction book. All in all, I'm pretty satisfied with how it's going. Thanks again for your help!

Thanks guys!
Quietmorning, That is exactly what I was worried about. I'm glad to know it still works when you're sick. Thanks
Cosmo, So right! Second guessing and doubting are my worst enemies! Good advice!

If you're knocking it loose, try the Swift LT during your next mask change. If you don't like it, you can boot it for the Swift FX.

I find the Swift LT pretty hard to knock loose. But some people are antsy and don't like all the LT straps which but they don't bother me at all.

Those are great numbers.
Your leak numbers beats mine from last night by a mile.

Here's the link for the manual
http://www.apneuvereniging.nl/forum/pdf ... manual.pdf

I wondered if Carl was a stickler for sending it back...
My first mask was the Swift LT (the Swift FX wasn't out yet) and I never felt the need to change to something better.

You can always use your insurance (and whatever schedule it goes by) for further experiments and maybe the full face mask if you really want to try one BUT Carl has demos of those full face mask that you can try on in the office and get a sort of idea if it might even be possible.

For your Swift FX replacement supplies.... Other than the nasal pillows that headgear and hose will last forever with proper care.
Plus you know someone who doesn't live too far from you who has extra Swift FX stuff if you have an emergency and no back up.


In addition to using the Swift FX (and its forerunner the Swift LT) I have tried the Opus 360, the Respironics Optilife (don't go there, can't say anything good about it), a couple of nasal prong masks (stick way up your nose and the fit has to be absolutely perfect and my nostrils were an in between size), the Aloha (I really liked it but not more than the Swift FX), and the Pilairo (which probably would be my 3rd choice in preference after the Aloha). My 4th choice would be to go back to the Swift LT...the Aloha is very similar and more comfortable IMHO.
I just like the least amount of stuff on my face as possible.

If you spot something you really want to try..send me a private message because I might be able to point you in a not so expensive way to try something new so you don't have to give up a mask you know works well.

Did you look at the barrel cozy from Padacheek for the Swift FX? I found it helped stabilize the pillow a little and it is super comfy against the skin.
http://www.padacheek.com/PACSwiftII_Barrel_cozy.html

Puggsy, Thanks, I just ordered the barrel cozy and will print the manual tomorrow. Very glad you're close by. Thanks again for all you do! JuJubee