Mirage Swift and nose feelings

Hello folks,
I'm looking for some advice or suggestions. I'm new to CPAP, having it for almost two months now. I've been using a Comfort Classic mask but recently picked up the Mirage Swift from my respiratory company. I was hoping it would fix a problem where too much pressure on the sides of my nose tends to cut off the air flow.

The Mirage seems promising, but I have a weird problem with it: I have an adversion to things pressing _up_ against my nose. Or nares, if that is better stated. It's a weird feeling that I can't put in to words. Not claustrophobia or suffocation. Maybe like an invasive feeling perhaps? Well, not quite. Maybe it's the feeling of the pillows being stuck up my nose. I get the same weird feeling when my GP sticks the scope up my nose during routine exams. (No, my finger feels fine up there. But anything else... )

Anyway, the feeling makes it hard to fall asleep. During the night I'll wake up one or more times with the feelings intensified and have to take the Mirage off for a bit until the feelings abate, or will have to play with the adjustments until it doesn't feel invasive. A couple times I've tossed the Mirage on the floor and grabbed the Comfort Classic to sleep out the night.

I spent an hour last night reading a book with the Mirage on, to see if that would help. But I still work up during the night.

Does anybody have suggestions on how to acclimate to the Mirage.

Thanks in advance...

For one thing, the Swift is not supposed to be "stuck up your nose". You shouldn't feel anything inside your nose. The Swift pillows cushion the outside of your nares. You don't want the straps too tight. There are posts in this forum that have tips for better Swift fits. I'll see if I can find them.

Maybe the nares are kind of "tickled" by the nasal pillows on the Swift? I have had my CPAP for about 2 months and started with the Swift.

I equate it with first getting glasses and, unused to the nose pads, felt them "tickle." After a while (sorry, I do not know how long after ~42 years) I never felt the glasses unless they hurt.

Maybe you should try the next size of pillows? You should have gotten 3 sizes with your Swift. Maybe that would "tickle the nares" less.

I always did have to fiddle a lot turning the pillows out or back in and shifting them. Once I got that done, they only leaked when I turned to sleep on my side, about 10 times a night. Since that is how often I was waking up with the apnea, I thought that was counterproductive.

Now, I am using the ComfortLite while waiting for my backordered ComfortLite 2.

Yes, here it is. Click on this link, and it will take you to other links regarding making the Swift fit better.

viewtopic.php?t=3934

Linda3032 wrote:For one thing, the Swift is not supposed to be "stuck up your nose". You shouldn't feel anything inside your nose.

Hi Linda, thanks for the reply. It's not that the pillows are stuck up my nose- they are outside the nares like they're suppose to be. It's just that they're pressing up against my nose. Pushing backwards. It's an unsettling feeling.

Oh- and thanks for the link to Rested Gal's colletion of links. Wow! That's a lot of information. Thanks!!

[quote="birdshell"] Maybe you should try the next size of pillows? You should have gotten 3 sizes with your Swift. Maybe that would "tickle the nares" less.

I always did have to fiddle a lot turning the pillows out or back in and shifting them. Once I got that done, they only leaked when I turned to sleep on my side, about 10 times a night. Since that is how often I was waking up with the apnea, I thought that was counterproductive.

Now, I am using the ComfortLite while waiting for my backordered ComfortLite 2.

Hi Birdshell. I'm using the medium set at the moment. The large ones were, well, too large. I can try the small ones tonight but they look like the straps would need to be tighter for them to seal well?

I'm trying not to keep the straps tight because that enhances the feelings. I checked it in the mirror to make sure I don't have pignose from the tension now. The pillows aren't totally collapsed from the tension.

I agree with you on the side turns- it doesn't take much for the thing to shift. Maybe that's helping to wake me up. Well, I'm off to go reading through Rested Gal's set of links. Thanks again!

Forum,

Was it the CL2 or the Swift that someone came up with the fishing line trick?

Was anyone able to come up with a trick to keep the Swift against the nares without having to tighten up the straps?

I use the Aura, and the pantyhose trick - but I know that won't work with the Swift.

Linda3032 wrote:I use the Aura, and the pantyhose trick - but I know that won't work with the Swift.

Interesting. I need to do some reading.

I also was having problens with the nose pillows been on it for 2 months now couldn't sleep kept getting leaks and it just felt wierd to me than a friend told me about the ( Breeze head gear) and now I have been able to get a good nights rest can sleep on my side which I do all the time without having air leaks.


http://www.cpapman.com/npb.html#anchor203037


Doddie

Doddie wrote:I also was having problens with the nose pillows been on it for 2 months now couldn't sleep kept getting leaks and it just felt wierd to me than a friend told me about the ( Breeze head gear) and now I have been able to get a good nights rest can sleep on my side which I do all the time without having air leaks.

Hi Doddie. I have a friend who used the Breeze headgear for a while. He went through three (I think) of them before switching to a different style. This was over the course of a year or so. The problem was that the plastic spine kept breaking where it comes down from the forehead. As I recall the plastic was brittle and couldn't take any twisting. He did say he liked the Breeze except for that spine thing.

Hope your experiences continue to be positive!