Different things to try?
Hi All....
Long time lurker, finally got my butt in gear to start posting. I'm a relatively new UARS / OSA diagnosee and have been on some Swift FX pillows for therapy to date.
They are comfortable enough, but I find that with my movements during sleep (I'm more of a side / tummy sleeper...but move all around), the pillows just don't stay still. I've done a bunch of adjusting (different suggestions on this and other related forums) and the fit seems good...but only until I move. I feel like I am constantly being woken up by leaks...especially if the hose puts any downward force on the pillows at all.
With thanks to those who have helped get access to certain software, I think the numbers back it up...max and 95th percentile leaks are high almost nightly, but median are low....and it is rare I truly feel rested in the morning in spite of the low AHI numbers.
Soooo....I'm thinking I need to see my DMI. From my work, I know that more points of contact (i.e. more headgear connections to a mask) will be a bit more stable than what I have on the pillows. So I am thinking a nasal mask or ffm might be a better idea.
Anyone have thoughts on the Quattro Air ffm or Mirage FX nasal mask or any suggestions to make the Swift work a bit better?
Cheers,
Mike
INFORMATION ON APNEA BOARD FORUMS OR ON APNEABOARD.COM SHOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED AS MEDICAL ADVICE. ALWAYS SEEK THE ADVICE OF A PHYSICIAN BEFORE SEEKING TREATMENT FOR MEDICAL CONDITIONS, INCLUDING SLEEP APNEA. INFORMATION POSTED ON THE APNEA BOARD WEB SITE AND FORUMS ARE PERSONAL OPINION ONLY AND NOT NECESSARILY A STATEMENT OF FACT.
RE: Different things to try?
Mike, Welcome to the forum. I am a FFM guy myself and like the Quattro Air. I do use a widely popular cloth mask liner with it. As you get into the FFM world it is my opinion that each mask works for a certain percentage of the population. Since the curvature on our faces is different, what works great for me may be of no use to you. If your DME has a location where you can go in and try several masks until you find one you like, that is ideal. If you buy online, make sure you understand the return policy and fees.
RE: Different things to try?
Hi PsychoMike,
WELCOME! to the forum.!
What STL Mark said.
Another thing you could try if you want to continue using your pillows is to get some HPA Lanolin, (found in the baby isle of most stores,) and swav a "LITTLE"bit into your nostriles and that might help you to get a better seal. I know it is used for irritation but it can work for that as well.
Best of luck to you.
trish6hundred
RE: Different things to try?
are you sure you are using the right size pillows? i have seen many posts about people using pillow sizes that are too small. also, are your pillows needing replacement? did you have fewer leaks when they were new?
RE: Different things to try?
(08-17-2013, 07:57 PM)trish6hundred Wrote: Hi PsychoMike,
WELCOME! to the forum.!
What STL Mark said.
Another thing you could try if you want to continue using your pillows is to get some HPA Lanolin, (found in the baby isle of most stores,) and swav a "LITTLE"bit into your nostriles and that might help you to get a better seal. I know it is used for irritation but it can work for that as well.
Best of luck to you.
Hi Trish...thanks for the welcome and the suggestion. It isn't so much the seal, but rather keeping it when I move. I have tried the lonolin thing (as well as a thicker anti-chafe type skin moisturizer/protectant I have for cycling) and with or without, I can hold the test fit pressure (~20 cm water?) just fine, but the moment I move I get a whoosh 
INFORMATION ON APNEA BOARD FORUMS OR ON APNEABOARD.COM SHOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED AS MEDICAL ADVICE. ALWAYS SEEK THE ADVICE OF A PHYSICIAN BEFORE SEEKING TREATMENT FOR MEDICAL CONDITIONS, INCLUDING SLEEP APNEA. INFORMATION POSTED ON THE APNEA BOARD WEB SITE AND FORUMS ARE PERSONAL OPINION ONLY AND NOT NECESSARILY A STATEMENT OF FACT.
RE: Different things to try?
(08-17-2013, 08:02 PM)oak Wrote: are you sure you are using the right size pillows? i have seen many posts about people using pillow sizes that are too small. also, are your pillows needing replacement? did you have fewer leaks when they were new?
Hi Oak,
The pillows are a large and seem to be about right...lots of good contact around the nares and they don't "fall in" to the nostrils. It is something I can check with my DME about, though.
I am thinking that this has been an on-going issue...I recall bringing it up at my 1 mo. follow-up and was told the numbers were good and the leak rate was okay (probably in terms of L/min). A bit of a head scratcher, to be sure.
INFORMATION ON APNEA BOARD FORUMS OR ON APNEABOARD.COM SHOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED AS MEDICAL ADVICE. ALWAYS SEEK THE ADVICE OF A PHYSICIAN BEFORE SEEKING TREATMENT FOR MEDICAL CONDITIONS, INCLUDING SLEEP APNEA. INFORMATION POSTED ON THE APNEA BOARD WEB SITE AND FORUMS ARE PERSONAL OPINION ONLY AND NOT NECESSARILY A STATEMENT OF FACT.
RE: Different things to try?
just my individual situation, but i use the swift fx as well as a nasal mask (Wisp), and I love the Wisp but I get more leaks than with the pillows...everyone is different, though. i know what you mean by being woken up by leaks, though. i still have to fiddle with my pillows a few times per nite.
08-17-2013, 09:56 PM
(This post was last modified: 08-17-2013, 09:58 PM by vsheline.)
RE: Different things to try?
(08-17-2013, 08:30 PM)PsychoMike Wrote: The pillows are a large and seem to be about right...lots of good contact around the nares and they don't "fall in" to the nostrils. It is something I can check with my DME about, though.
Hi PsychoMike,
Might be worth trying Medium pillows, though, to see if they are better or worse in this regard. Medium ones might remain in the nostrils more securely.
Take care,
--- Vaughn
The Advisory Member group provides advice and suggestions to Apnea Board administrators and staff on matters concerning Apnea Board operation and administrative policies. Membership in the Advisory Member group should not be understood as in any way implying medical expertise or qualification for advising Sleep Apnea patients concerning their treatment.
RE: Different things to try?
(08-17-2013, 08:24 PM)PsychoMike Wrote: It isn't so much the seal, but rather keeping it when I move.
In my own experience using the Swift FX pillows (size M) they will leak half-way through the night when I turn in bed unless I wash both the pillows daily and my nose before bed. The oils that build up on the pillows during the night make keeping a seal very difficult and the moment you turn it will break the seal.
Since washing my nose before bed (with bath soap) I seem to be able to keep the seal all night, in any position. The bath soap might be keeping my skin dry enough.
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