OK swift users...

[Phillip]

1 week on the swift and I feel like I have been boxing. My nose is very sore. I have heard many of you say you switch masks. When the swift hurts you goto nasal, and when your nose is well you go back to swift. Seems absolutely crazy to me.

Do you get used to the swift with practice, because other than feeling like I have been hit in the nose, I love the mask.

Thanks
Phillip

[bigheadr]

I have used a Swift for the last month and at first, my nose openings were sore but I have gotten use to it. I also, switched from the medium size nasal pillow to the large size nasal pillow and it helped. I had problems with the air swishing noise but I have gotten use to it. I tried a small piece of screen gauze (tulee) for a while to cut down the noise and it worked but I haven't been using it since I have gotten use to the noise.

[Jeff V.]

Check here. Lots of stuff about how to use the Swift.

http://www.talkaboutsleep.com/message-boards/viewtopic.php?t=11926

[sanctacaris]

I've been using the Swift (snd CPAP) for 6 days now, and it's been pretty good to me. Today, though, my nostrils are pretty sore. The problem:I forgot to lube up my nostrils last night before I put the mask on (also, I was in bed--and mostly sleeping--for about 10 hours). I've been using a water-based lubricant my DME gave me, but I gather KY and other water-based substances work well, too. If you haven't been using a lubricant, that might help a lot. Also, I found after the first night (which was pretty rough) that the large "pillows" fit me better than the medium ones my DME had set me up with and that the straps were a bit too tight. As long as I remember to use the lubricant I've found the Swift (and CPAP in general) surprisingly easy to get used to. Still waiting to wake up feeling refreshed, though....

--S

[Phillip]

sanctacaris...I am praying that refreshing day will hit you.

[Phillip]

Nice post Jeff V.

[Larry2]

I don't care what anyone says. The only product made soft enough to go INSIDE the nose is a product called Nasal-Aire II. If you don't believe me, line them all up and put them in your nose !

The Breeze is OK, because it doesn't go inside but seals up against the nose.
Going in the nostrils is ideal, but the silicone or rubber must be soft enough to be comfortable over long periods of time. 8 or 9 hours is a very long time.

[rested gal]

[heretolearn]

Time was really the best solution for me. I would have sworn that I could never adjust to sleeping with anything touching my nostrils. Weeks past and I found myself having to switch masks every couple of nights just to avoid those painfull pressure points! After several months, I found that I could sleep for a week or so without switching masks. Now after being on PAP for eight months, no more sore nostrils!
( Like RG, I love the Aura, too. The only problem I have with it is that it is a real hairstyle crusher! I usually wear the Aura now when I have to wash and set my hair the next morning. )

[Phillip]

Thanks for all the thoughtful replies. Masks are a very polarizing subject.

[snork1]

The NasalAire II was the one that caused nasty pressure sores for me.
The catch to the NAII is you have to be one of the lucky ones that fit their limited sizes EXACTLY. Alas I am not one of those lucky people. One size leaks, next size up causes sores.

I use as large size Swift pillow as I can fit under my nose. This seems to spread out the pressure a bit, seals better and sits outside the nose instead of in it.

And of course using a lube is a MUST.

I actually use a combo of AYR gel and Castor bean oil. The castor oil has better staying power than the AYR but isn't quite as slippery, and it heals, but it doesn't seem to attack any of the polymers involved.

And of course I alternate with a different mask with different pressure points.

[frequenseeker]

It could be that those having problems with Swift pressure on the nose are wearing the headgear too tightly. You can have the headgear very loose and the pillows will still work. Mine is like that just because it works best that way in my experimentation.
You might be surprised how loose you can have it adjusted and still work and not leak. See how loose you can get it. You might be so used to the snug fit that other masks need so that you are doing the same thing to the Swift and probably mashing its pillows into your nostrils. This scenario fits your discomforts and need for lubrication.

For sanctacaris: if you had a machine that gave you nightly data you might find out that you are not having good enough results and need to increase pressure, or try another machine/pap solution method. So many people are on cpap and not doing well and not knowing why and not changing machines...
I progressively went through 3 machines and a lot of other adjustments on the last one (VPAP III) that made all the difference. I went from AHI 45 to less than 3 eventually as I got everything optimized. I don't feel well if AHI is over 3. If you don't have your data and ways to improve it, you are missing the benefit of pap.

[Phillip]

That turned out to be the solution freq. I saw my DME's respiratory therapist and she said I had it way too tight. She loosened it alot and this morning....no sore nose. I slept six hours straight and don't even think I moved. Woke up laying just the same as when I went to sleep.

She also said the large pillows were for me rather than the small ones.

Thanks

[Guest]

[Phillip]

Stephen....I am good now that I have loosened the mask up and went with the large pillows. Put some KY Gel in your nose before bed and it will help with the dryness. The humidifier will naturally help too.