New problems with Swift LT pillows

[SheZAAM!]

Hello!

I've been on CPAP since 12/18/08 and sleeping well and daily with it since 12/30. I'm regularly getting AHI's <1.0 and feeling great. However, the past 2 nights have been very frustrating. Sunday night I couldn't get my right nasal pillow to stop leaking. It's not big enough to register as a leak, but there's a microscopic blast of air that chills my noise, blows into my eye and is generally extremely annoying. I fiddled with it until 2:30am, at which point, I swapped my pillows out for my other one and went to sleep. Last night I got a good seal right away, then woke up at 1:30am. I thought it was almost morning, so I took the mask off, went to the bathroom, then realized it wasn't morning, so I put the mask back on and had a hell of a time getting a seal again.

My machine still registers 0.00 leaks, but my AHI's are up to 2.4 and 3.1 respectively.

Any ideas? I have 2 pillow sets that I swap around so each one gets used (and washed) every other day. My insurance won't replace it until 3/23/09.

OH..and I do use the Ayr-gel nightly.

[jnk]

My love affair with the LT is slowly ending as well. The pillows deteriorate too quickly. I may be going back to the Swift II. The perfect design for me would be the overall design of the LT with the pillows being made like the Swift II's.

[5aces]

After six months,I too have found the nasal prongs increasingly pliable,to the point where the seal is compromised.

With this Swift LT headgear,one is always tightening up the straps before use,as it stretches over the night.

I prefer to have those prongs snugged up just right to have a flat leak line.

Prongs are double walled and once the inner wall of one prong had collapsed down,making the opening larger and not seal properly.

I do not rotate the prongs but you have reminded me to finally put in a new set.

Truth is,one can be driven to distraction from these seemingly small events.Can't stand an air leak!

[sepool]

I have good results with my Swift LT when I use the largest possible size for me, and when I replaced the pillow after about 3 months. I wash about once a week (or two weeks) and I find I don't have to readjust the headgear ever.

About 2 or 3 times a night, I find I do have to reseat the pillow in my nostrils - kind of pulling it slightly out and letting it reseat itself.

My pressures are averaging about 17.

[Hawthorne]

That top strap on the Swift Lt is sometimes a problem for me. I do not have the hose clip on because I prefer the hose to be down. I have found that, unless that top strap is firmly help by the little "teeth" in the buckle for that strap it will slip and need readjusting. If I make sure it is gripped in the little "teeth" it stay fine.

I wish they had made that top strap with velcro like the back strap. It would never slip then. I may put some little 2 sided velcro strips or squares in that top one. That would probably hold it fine.

[Bonnie]

Like sepool I wash the pillows pretty infrequently. I think that helps the pillows last a bit longer. I was able to trade out the sizes I don't use and have an extra supply to rotate with. I have to adjust the head straps each night, no biggie, takes a few seconds. The velcro strips on the back to keep the straps from riding up never have to be adjusted, just the top ones. I find when I hose up and start the machine I pull the pilllows out slightly and let them back in to get a great seal while the air is blowing along with adjusting the nozzle up or down until it feels comfortable. As a restless side sleeper I have to say the LT suits my needs very well.

Hawthorn, I TRIED the velco on the top, big mistake. Ripped my hair out. I think there has to be some movment up there.

[Hawthorne]

Thanks for sharing your experience with the velcro, Bonnie!

I guess I'll just keep making sure the strap is tight in the teeth on that buckle as I have been doing.

I also pull the pillows out a bit and let them reseat (adjusting the nozzle too if needed) once I have the air going. It does seem to help the seal.

You're right. All these little things just take seconds.

I rotate my Swift LT with my SnappX nasal prongs interface which I also like very much. If I have trouble in the night with the Swift LT leaking ( happens once in a while) and I can't get it seated again very quickly, I just take it off and put on my SnappX, which I keep handy. I do like them both!

[Debjax]

I have used the LT now for only a few nights, and have it adjusted now so it does not leak at all. Takes me about 10 minutes to fidget with the pillows to get them in my nose right, sealed properly AND giving me air, and I do know my AHI's are up from <1 to 1.5 - 2.5 when I use that over my Micro (which does leak into the eyes on occasion). Had to use the Micro last night, have a sore nose (zit on the tip, darnit), so until that is gone, Micro for me...last night I found that although I really loved my Micro before using the Swift LT, after the LT the Micro just feels cumbersome and bulky...

[SharkBait]

Be sure and give the Lanolin a try to help with those seals. I love that stuff (even though it's 10 bucks a 2 oz tube...).

I'm back and forth between the headgear and the Swift LT, and I'm slowly coming back around to the LT. It's just so minimal and comfortable! I, too, like to have the hose come down so I have no obstruction from reading. I finally got the headgear just about "perfect", but now I'm finding I prefer the LT because there's nothing at all distracting my vision.

[dynamite]

I have been quite happy with the Swift LT. I did find that I needed to wash pillows every other night and wash my face every night in order to maintain the seal. I am curious about the lanolin mentioned. Is there a product or brand that works for sealing purposes? Also, my husband who is 6 days new to CPAP is not adjusting well to the Swift LT. He finds it uncomfortable after a few hours and takes the mask off in his sleep. I noticed that his nose has slotted rather than rounded shaped nares. Is there a better mask choice for him? He is unwilling to shave the beard and mustache that he has worn for 40 years. And, of course, one size does not fit all.

[ichitumi]

I've been using my LTs since I started cpap therapy back in 9/08 or so. I have used the Swift II as well (better seal), but gave that up and went back to the LT.

I have the aforementioned leaks into my eye, etc. every now and then. Usually, pulling it away from my nose and springing it back in works ... or rotating it up and down a couple of times does the trick as well.

Worst comes to worst, I start over and go to my backup Swift II.

(likes to be prepared)

[SheZAAM!]

I figured out that my pillows are worn out. I also found out that my HMO gives me new ones every month, which is not what I was told when I got my CPAP. Since I'm going out of town tomorrow, I stopped by the DME to pick up my February AND my January pillows. Somehow I got 3, but I'm not complaining. Plus, I ordered a set from Ebay, so soon I'll be flush with nasal pillows.

I'm tossing my old ones tonight.

[tattooyu]

I have been quite happy with the Swift LT. I did find that I needed to wash pillows every other night and wash my face every night in order to maintain the seal. I am curious about the lanolin mentioned. Is there a product or brand that works for sealing purposes? Also, my husband who is 6 days new to CPAP is not adjusting well to the Swift LT. He finds it uncomfortable after a few hours and takes the mask off in his sleep. I noticed that his nose has slotted rather than rounded shaped nares. Is there a better mask choice for him? He is unwilling to shave the beard and mustache that he has worn for 40 years. And, of course, one size does not fit all.

Since your husband has slotted nares, perhaps a straight nasal mask, or full face mask (FFM), would be better for him?

[boston]

i use the swift lt and my first set of pillows lasted about 3 weeks, 4 months later im on my second set still. i only wipe them with the cpap wipes (almost daily).

[Debjax]

Be sure and give the Lanolin a try to help with those seals. I love that stuff (even though it's 10 bucks a 2 oz tube...).

You can get three tubes for 19.84 at amazon.com, if you are a Prime member, 2nd day shipping is free.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001EPQ1US

It's too thick for me....pain to clean off in the am.