I am new to all this. Been trying to use this mask for about 4 nights now....and so far I've been waking up every two hours because it comes out of place.  I also find that one side of my nose gets plugged and then I can't breath with only one nostril open.  I like this mask because it doesn't cover my whole nose, but I'm wondering if I will keep having problems like this.  Also, I have use a breathe right strip across my nose for me to even wear the mask, otherwise I feel like I can't breathe.

ANY ADVICE, PLEASE HELP. THANKS!  

I have the same issue.  In my case it comes from a deviated septum.  From what my ENT tells me, everyone has one unless it was already fixed.  The degree of deviation however is different for everyone.  Sounds like yours and mine are about the same.  When I am sitting upright, no problem (a little clogged, nothing terrible though).  When I am lying down the side that is closest to the pillow is clogged and the other is open.  I have learned to fall asleep on my back (when my nose is most open) and when i fall asleep then I don't notice.  And by the morning the humidifier does its job and I do OK.

But it took me a while to come to this.  I visited an ENT who first prescribed Nasonex.  Its a nasal spray for allergies but it does help some people with nasal congestion.  Fortunately and unfortunately it was great for allergies... not so good for clearing my nose at night.  I've been told by my doctor, and friends in the biz, that even though the stuff they sell OTC (afrin, dristan, etc) do work they are TERRIBLE and should not be used.  But, I'll admit I have used them sparingly for the nights when I really had issues (when a cold/flu was coming on).  NEVER for more than 3 days no matter what.

My only suggestion is to talk to an ENT.  But it might be time to look at a different mask.  Maybe a full face or a mask like the hybrid/Resmed Liberty.

Thanks for the reply.  I do put on the breathe right strips and that helps some.  I guess I may have to see an ENT.  I am also on a mission to lose weight as this might be a big part of my apnea.

Two thoughts on this.

1)  The ENT is a good idea.

and

2)  I did not like the Swift.  I then cycled through half a dozen other masks - full face and hybrid, I'm a mouth breather.  About a month ago, I got a new Swift.... and now that I can compare to the others, the Swift is the right one for me.  I think I was looking for something comfortable and easy and unobtrusive which would not wake me up at night.  Now that I am convinced that such a thing does not exist, I am able to live in peace with the Swift.  Moral of that story - you may need to try some other masks, but esp if you get your nose adjusted, don't rule this one out!

And good luck with the weight loss.  I have been struggling with the same issue.

Dorothy

Thanks Dorothy.  My health insurance gave me three masks.  All were tried on at an office visit.  The swift was the only was I was able to tolerate at that moment.  I have the other two that I should probably try.  How did you finally get the swift to work for you?  I will be in a good sleep for two hours and then bam, the thing starts leaking air and I wake up.

Another thing is that my insurance won't cover any more masks and won't cover the machine.  I'm only using the "trial machine" for 2 weeks so they can see how I'm doing.  After that I'm not sure what I'm going to do.  

I am using a Swift 2 without any problems, my leakage rate is sometimes higher than it should be but not out of range. HOWEVER when I started using CPAP I had terrible problems with nasal irritation. I was dripping away every morning and blowing my nose for an hour or two after waking up---every single day. I used AYR spray gel and things got a bit better... but then a little detective work paid off. I noticed that I was not using up much distilled water in the humidifier and sure enough when I tried watching I saw that the light was going off frequently and when I pushed the humidifier against the CPAP unit it went on again. A bad connection was leaving me without humidification much of the night! I tied the humidifier to the main CPAP unit with string and within a week I was cured, and haven't needed any sprays or gels since.


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Arthur
Sleeping with a curvaceous blonde autoPAP (Resmed autoset). Surviving, and in small ways doing better. Maybe there will be that big surge of energy, and easier weight loss one day. Hope springs eternal.....

Do you have to use a humidifier with the machine?  I don't have one.

Most CPAPs will work just fine with or without a humidifier. But many human noses will not tolerate CPAP without a humidifier


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Arthur
Sleeping with a curvaceous blonde autoPAP (Resmed autoset). Surviving, and in small ways doing better. Maybe there will be that big surge of energy, and easier weight loss one day. Hope springs eternal.....

There is something called "nasal cycle". It is the periodic alternation in nasal airflow resistance between the two nasal cavities. It is thought to be regulated by the autonomic nervous system, via the sympathetic nervous system, possibly from the centers located in brainstem. It is controlled by the engorgement by blood of the anterior ends of the inferior nasal turbinates and the septal swell body in the area of the nasal valve. (whew!!)
We do not usually breath equally using both nostrils. At any given time, one nostril is more open and has the greater amount of air flow. The cycle has a periodicity of 4 hours on average. It is present in 85% of humans.

I know that on another thread, you state that your pressure is set at 4. Perhaps the flow at "4" is not enough to support breathing thru one nostril.  In fact at 7, I often find that pressure opens the resistance and I often can breath adequately thru the side that happens to be closed at that particular moment.


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My life was restarted on June 29th, 2007

57 yr. male
pre-CPAP apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) of 64
ResMed S8 Escape w/humidifier
ResMed Mirage Swift II nasal pillows system
Prescribed for a 6 but I like to fool with things, and prefer 7