I'm beginning to feel like a pest for posting questions so often!  Sorry - but this is the only place I can ask questions.  I'm wondering if some of you would post what kind of masks you like.  So far I've tried the Comfort Gel, Mirage Swift nasal pillows and the Breeze mask.  I see posts where people like so many kinds.  I've had trouble with all of the above - the gel one is too constrictive, and the other 2 tend to have air leaks.  I've read a lot of people who like the Activa but that one too looks like it's pretty constrictive.  I'm wondering if anyone uses the Puritan Bennett Breeze Dreamfit mask or the Nasal Aire II by Innomed.  I'm about at the end of my rope.  I really like the Breeze but I end up messing with it half the night because it leaks at each corner at the bottom.  The night before last I went back to the original Comfort Gel, took a Lunesta and slept pretty good.  Tried it again last night with no sleeping pill and thought I was losing my mind.  Went to bed at 10:20 and finally at 1:15 I took it off.  I know that's not good but I couldn't stand it another minute.  I find it ironic that the thing that's supposed to help my sleep is helping me NOT get to sleep!!  Also, in reading through posts, is there some kind of computer card or something that I can get so I know how many apneas I'm having in the night, what my oxygen level, etc is?  I know this is a dumb question, but all this is so new to me.  Any help will be much appreciated. (Sorry this is so long!)

Regarding you statement the Breeze leaks at both corners, if you are talking about the shell shaped"Plenum" (look in your manuel for names of parts)- then you have a defective breeze.  The plenum, which holds the pillows, has a seam welding the top and bottom shell peices together, Hold it up to a light, if it has a crack or seperation that light shines through, this is the problem.  Sometimes they arrive this way from the factory, and you should be able to return it to the supplier for a replacement!!
I hope it is still under warranty, but if not, you can purchase just the "front assembly"or plenum shell seperately.
The breeze, with the correct size nasal pillows (which is usually one size up from what you think fits) is the quietest most leak free off all the interfaces you have mentioned.  I have slept in this interface for Four years.  As for your swift, I would also recommend you experiement with the different size pillows,and rotation of the barrel.  You asked about the Activa, it is a wonderfully comfortable and great sealing nasal mask.  I don't care for the innomed nasal aire  at all.
  As for getting information from your cpap, it depends on the make and model you have whether or not it is downlaodable..please post it's make and model.  However, most machines only give information regarding air flow (apnea hypopneas etc) not oxygen levels, or sleep information.

Okie - thanks for the reply.  I didn't make my post clear enough - I don't use the Breeze with the nasal pillows - this has the mask that goes over the nose.  I took the whole set-up to the medical supply place a couple of weeks ago and the respiratory therapist said everything looked fine and gave me a new mask - just the mask.  I don't have any literature on it at all because they guy who did my sleep study just handed it to me as I was leaving and said I might as well take it because they can't use it in sleep studies.  I used it again last night and find that if I put it up high, the leaks are better.  I like the Breeze because I don't like the additional strap from the mask around the back of your head like most of the others have.  The Activa has that too, right?  Does that strap from the mask around the back bother you at all?  That Comfort Gel is the pits (whoever named it "comfort" obviously didn't try to wear it all night!).  Although I'm sure there are tons of people that absolutely love them and think I'm crazy!!  With the Swift I tried both the small and medium pillows (the large I couldn't even get in my nose) and it didn't seem to make any difference with the leaks.  It's been awhile since I've tried it so maybe I should give it a go again.  From all the posts I've read it seems like it's alot of trial and error.  I think if it weren't for this message board, I'd be making reservations at my nearest mental health hospital for a long term stay!! LOL!!  It gets so frustrating and depressing at times.....  As for my CPAP machine, I have the Remstar plus with C-Flex.  I keep reading about folks that have read-outs about how my oxygen they're getting, how many episodes, the amount of leaks, etc.  I don't know if mine can be set up to find that information or not.  Also - another question.  Do people go for another sleep study periodically and use the mask that they normally wear to see if everything is how it's supposed to be?  I know I ask some really dumb questions but this is new stuff to me.

The with the machine you have you can get software that will allow you to "read" the events.  Keep in mind that the software was aimed at the folks that give the tests, so they are not as user friendly as some folks would like.  I will pm you with details on where you can get the software if you want it, it runs about $200 with the reader.

Well I am also a newbie.... but because of my weird phobia in past about things on my face at night, and because I am a relatively new scuba diver, I find I can now tolerate the Swift nasal pillows.  I had a sleep tech properly fit the nasal pillow size to me and help me fit the straps so that they are comfortable and not pulling up on my nose. And I find that the strap configuration for the Swift makes me feel less entrapped. Although, finding the right pillow for my head made the biggest difference.  I looked for a medium density pillow that was either down or one of the new down substitutes (found one of the latter ones at Linen and Things). This pillow made all the difference in the world. The pillow molded and gave in all the right ways to the hose and such so that I have found that I have no leaks at night nor do I feel uncomfortable at any time. Try changing your pillow for your head first before you give up.  
I hope it helps  

You might try one of the memory foam type pillows, made a big difference for comfort with head gear for me.

Mike wrote:

You might try one of the memory foam type pillows, made a big difference for comfort with head gear for me.

I tried one of those once, but they do not give easily and it takes alot of pressure, they tend to push things off unless it is heavy and is able to make the proper indentations.  

Hmm, might have to get the name on mine as it seems to have enough give.  It has a gel part in the middle, maybe that makes the difference?

Mike wrote:

Hmm, might have to get the name on mine as it seems to have enough give.  It has a gel part in the middle, maybe that makes the difference?

That very well could be!    and yes! I would like to know the name on it.

Thanks, guys - I'll try experimenting with different pillows.  I do use a down one but maybe a different one will work better.  I may try the Swift again and see what happens.  I appreciate all the help and ideas.  

I originally had a convential mask with a foam-like piece to go around my nose but i found it was uncomfortable.  In order for the old mask to stay on i had to put it so tight i had marks on the sides of my head for hours the following day.  My new mask (ResMed Mirage Activa) has a suction feature where is doesn't have to be tight at all and it will stay on.  The only downsides are it being a little bit larger of a mask, as well I noticed that it causes a bit of irritation on the bridge of your nose, possibly because I'm recenetly diagnosed and have not been using cpap for too long now.  All I know is this mask is very comfortable and i can easily sleep for 9 hours a night, no problem.

 - Mitch -