In nasal pillow styles, what's better than the Swift FX?

[violetpro]

May I please have your opinions on the other styles of nasal pillow masks you've successfully used? I'm considering changing from my Swift FX and am wondering what your preferences are. I've read reviews from cpap.com, but would really like to hear from people in this community I've come to respect, rather than strangers. I understand that masks are very much an "individual acquired taste," but then again, features of masks have both strengths and weaknesses that you've probably experienced. Thank-you.

[Lazer1234]

I've tried the Swift FX, Swift LT and Nuance Pro and all is good, but none of them come even close to TapPap. I have 0 in leaks every night, it leaks never, has never done it.
It is so wonderful to not have to have the band around the head.
I have press about 8-12, but has tried to set the pressure of 20 cmH2O, but it did not leak at the high pressure.

[Kitatonic]

Violetpro, what are your motivations to change or problems with the SwiftFX?

I have curiosity about the new AirFit P10, but I cannot beat the zero leaks and extremely low AHI that I have with the SwiftFX. So for me, I think I stick with what my brain has gotten so accustomed to using nightly. The TapCap would be tempting if not for all my dental issues.

[sleeplessinaz]

Ok, I have tried the Swift FX, Swift LT and Nuance Pro - my very favorite is the ALOHA NASAL PILLOW mask. It stays put, has adjustable headgear that's minimal. Take a look at it to see if you'd like it,
Carrie

[kaiasgram]

Ok, I have tried the Swift FX, Swift LT and Nuance Pro - my very favorite is the ALOHA NASAL PILLOW mask. It stays put, has adjustable headgear that's minimal. Take a look at it to see if you'd like it,
Carrie

What Carrie said.
The silicone on the Aloha is not as irritating to my skin as the FX was, and the nasal pillow base doesn't rest so heavy on my upper lip -- you can adjust the angle of it so not all its weight is on your upper lip.

[kona0197]

I have the Nuance Pro and I love it better than my other mask.

[Kenwood]

Same as above....Swift FX, Aloha and Nuance. My favorite is Swift FX cause of the Bella Loops. Haven't tried the AirFit yet.

[HoseCrusher]

After a couple of weeks on the Nuance I can say it is working very well.

My main issue with the Swift FX had to do with the short hose. Without intervention that hose would only last a few weeks for me. I should add that my wife tells me that I "wrestle bears" in my sleep... in other words I am quite active while sleeping. If the Nuance hose can last a few more weeks I will have a winner.

[HerbM]

I have ZERO experience with any other mask then the AirFit P10 and only 7 days on that.

The P10 is supposed to be quieter than other masks and lighter, less intrusive. I don't know about that.

I do know the P10:

... is giving EVEN this NEWBIE essentially ZERO LEAKS: 0-Med 0-95% 3.6 MAX for 7 hours last night and similar numbers before that.

...is QUIET, quieter than my breathing because I don't even hear it, and so quiet that I literally could not tell it was working and spent the first couple of nights opening my mouth just to be sure the pressure was on. The only time it makes noise is when it leaks because I shifted it out of place (the first couple of days before I understood and got comfortable with the whole idea.)

...is comfortable (once I figured out the right size and how to put it in my nose) -- for 4+ hours last night I didn't even move it or think about it except to marvel that if you put it in just right it is like wearing your favorite baseball cap or broken in house shoes, barely there.

...is helping give (even this newbie) great numbers, AHI last night was 1.86 despite the 2nd half of the night being difficult due to congestion -- I was actually awake much of that time and even awake the mask didn't annoy me; there was no issue about keeping it on even with not much experience and my true AHI was probably 0.7 (most of the events were bogus, i.e., while I was KNOWN to be awake, and several others were machine artifacts, e.g., hypopnea where sleepyhead shows me breathing but just at a slightly reduced volume with good tidal movement, and a few were just very marginal, e.g., 10 second CA.

...works despite my severe congestion IF I can get my nose open to START with and until my both nostrils close up totally -- mostly it not only splints my lower airway but also my nose. However nasal CPAP mask might do this part as well.

...stays on with no excessive shifting around despite the minimalist design and simple head strap. Oh, and the head strap leaves no marks and is barely noticeable too.

...I like it. (But I have nothing to compare except my Oracle Oral mask which I thought would be necessary for me to mouth breath and I used for 2 hours before giving up; it was actually WORSE with the nasal congestion than the nasal pillows.)

...wasn't very expensive ($100 from CPAP.com and came with free shipping and free return insurance -- and NO they cannot have it back.)

Don't know if this helps but it is my limited experience with the Airfit P10

[jaybeem]

I have used Swift FX, Nuance, and Nuance Pro. Couldn't stay with the Swift FX because I was between pillow sizes. I like the Nuance and Nuance Pro better anyway. The design of the pillows makes them more stable for my side and stomach sleeping position.

[Pugsy]

If you could improve on the Swift FX...what would you want changed?
What features are important to you?

We can sing praises of various masks all day long but what we think is the best thing since sliced bread may not even be something you notice. Something that I might find a deal breaker...you wouldn't even notice. Something I just love you might hate.

One of my main preferences is I just want as little as possible on my face and head..hence my preference for the Tap Pap...no headgear at all and I had been thinking of getting a little mouth guard anyway because of some teeth clenching that was causing TMJ pain.

I have used or tried almost all the nasal pillow masks out there except the Respironics GoLife I think it is.
Some I like better than others for different reasons. They all have pros and cons.

[levman]

What HerbM said. Lots of reviews elsewhere in this forum, most love it, a few not so much. Think Swift FX without the jet engine airflow out of the diffuser vents. Some people don't like the one-size-fits-all headgear, but it is adjustable in a novel way that works well for me.

Some folks love the Pilairo Q, I went from the Swift FX to the Pilairo for 45 days but didn't like it much myself.

[MitzyG]

I think success with a mask really depends on personal preference. I love Swift LT because it has more structure, I feel so "one" with the mask. It doesn't leak as much (only 1x per night, usually at 4am!) The exhale holes are less noisy, the hose routes up to the top of my head so that I'm not wrestling with the hose (I think that's why the others leak more). The nose pillows don't hurt my nose, they don't move. I love it.

[violetpro]

Many thanks to all of you who took the time to respond. The search function for this type of general question yields so many results that I thought asking the question more directly would be more helpful, and it was.

I'm due for a new mask soon and would have just reordered the Swift FX. It generally fits my needs and my reports are very good. The only complaint I have is that it sometimes moves from side to side, causing the air flow to irritate the inside of my nostrils, and up and down, which can cause leakage. I think for these reasons, MitzyG's comments may be the answer to these problems for me. Carrie, with the Aloha, does the buckle in the middle of the lower headgear strap bother your head if you're on your back?

I know that in the bigger picture of CPAP issues, these are relatively small ones. However, they have been disturbing my sleep, and now I feel better prepared to make a change. Again, I'm grateful for your replies.

[sleeplessinaz]

Hi Violetpro - the fastener on the back strap is very soft. I am strictly a side sleeper so I never sleep in my back. The headgear is VERY comfortable tho - it is my mask do choice right now. I am due for a new mask and thinking of trying the tap pap, but will always keep my Aloha hanging nearby.