Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by BeeAsleep on May 14, 2009 at 5:12pm

Swift LT for her is the BEST, and with the pad a cheek covers it is actually comfy. No marks at all and I am a side sleeper as well.

Jennifer Green said:

silent and comfortable....sounds like a good choice to me! Will check it out...thanks for the advise..

Duane McDade said:

save yourself a lot of trouble and check into a swift L.T. "for Her" The breeze leaks and makes noise. The L.T for her is silent and comfortable. Res Med makes this product.

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Permalink Reply by Judy on May 14, 2009 at 5:42pm

The OptiLife is one to consider. You have two options w/it: nasal pillows or a nasal cradle cushion. As I remember it the OptiLife comes w/two sizes of each. The nasal cushion is much like a simple nasal cushion - except it doesn't cover as much "face" as a nasal cushion mask. It covers just the end of the nose so in that respect is much like nasal pillows but w/o the need to worry about fit: space between nostrils vs space between pillows; size of nostril opening vs size of the nasal pillows. Since I need a chin strap due to mouth leaks I've had some challenges w/the under the chin fit w/the OptiLife and if I don't figure out how to overcome that I may well be cutting it off so that I can use my chin strap. I believe the under the chin piece is meant to be a stabilizer and not a chin strap for holding the mouth closed altho it may well serve well in that capacity for some. I like that I can run the hose over my head or down under the covers w/me or out to the side thanks to its free swinging hose swivel.

The Swift LT is a tremendous improvement over the original Swift. I hated the side mount of the hose on the original Swift and never tried the Swift II. When I learned the hose had been moved to the center w/a good free swiinging swivel I was interested in the Swift LT. I'm not a real fan of nasal pillows to begin with but I do prefer the "less is more" concept of any mask. I want something lightweight and not much to it. I didn't see much difference between the Swift LT and the Swift LT for her - and to be truthful wasn't sure which one I was provided with. I believe maybe the LT for Her because the headgear is light blue??

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Permalink Reply by Judy on May 14, 2009 at 5:54pm

I'll tell you a mask I do like and which is my favorite: The Respironics Simplicity simple nasal cushion. Take a look at that simple nasal cushion on the ComfortLite 2 in the picture that was posted. The Simplicity simple nasal cushion is just about that same size.

But much less headgear. Just straps for headgear. Top straps, bottom straps and a center strap from back of head to forehead. No heavy forehead piece to cause discomfort or marks, no rigid piece between forehead and bridge of nose. Just soft headgear strap. Totally flexible between forehead and bridge of nose. That center strap is too long for most of us. But it was a simple enough matter to take up a fold or pleat in the center of that strap at the top of the head and to hold it in place w/a strip of velcro until I found just the right fit. Then I cut the pleat/fold out and put the cut ends back together w/that same velcro strip. Works like a charm and has held for months w/no problems whatsoever. The Simplicity is very lightweight, there is very little to it.

And I can easily use a chin strap with it. Again, a simple, lightweight one. The Respironics basic white chin strap, PN 302175. A comfortable, soft, silky chin cradle, one strap up each side. Four small velcro squares. Place one on the top headgear strap on each side of the head, run the chin cradle straps up to the velcro and then to the top of your head where you place the other two small velcro squares to hold the ends in place to fit. Stable, secure and comfortable.

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Permalink Reply by Daniel on May 14, 2009 at 6:07pm

LT for Her is light blue and is packaged with XS, S, and M pillows. It also has little flannel booties to pad your cheeks from the headgear. The Regular Swift LT is dark blue and it comes with S, M, and L pillows. It does not have any booties.

The OptiLife is packaged in a number of different configurations. It all depends on how your provider has ordered it from Respironics. It can come package with four sizes of nasal pillows (P, S, M, and L). It can come packaged with P, S and M pillows along with M, L and LN (Large Narrow) cradle cushions. It is also packaged with M and L pillows along with M, L and LN cradle cushions. It can even come packaged with no pillows or cradle cushions at all, for the DME who wants to fit each patient based on their need. And for the cost-conscious DME, it is even packaged with no headgear.

Jennifer, I'd recommend the packaging with the P and S pillows along with the cradle cushions. The Respironics part number is 1036801 for that combo.

Daniel

Judy said:

The OptiLife is one to consider. You have two options w/it: nasal pillows or a nasal cradle cushion. As I remember it the OptiLife comes w/two sizes of each. The nasal cushion is much like a simple nasal cushion - except it doesn't cover as much "face" as a nasal cushion mask. It covers just the end of the nose so in that respect is much like nasal pillows but w/o the need to worry about fit: space between nostrils vs space between pillows; size of nostril opening vs size of the nasal pillows. Since I need a chin strap due to mouth leaks I've had some challenges w/the under the chin fit w/the OptiLife and if I don't figure out how to overcome that I may well be cutting it off so that I can use my chin strap. I believe the under the chin piece is meant to be a stabilizer and not a chin strap for holding the mouth closed altho it may well serve well in that capacity for some. I like that I can run the hose over my head or down under the covers w/me or out to the side thanks to its free swinging hose swivel.

The Swift LT is a tremendous improvement over the original Swift. I hated the side mount of the hose on the original Swift and never tried the Swift II. When I learned the hose had been moved to the center w/a good free swiinging swivel I was interested in the Swift LT. I'm not a real fan of nasal pillows to begin with but I do prefer the "less is more" concept of any mask. I want something lightweight and not much to it. I didn't see much difference between the Swift LT and the Swift LT for her - and to be truthful wasn't sure which one I was provided with. I believe maybe the LT for Her because the headgear is light blue??

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Permalink Reply by Judy on May 14, 2009 at 6:44pm

Thanks, Daniel. I have the Swift LT for Her then. But it didn't come w/any cheek pads. On the other hand, I haven't found that I need them with it. I only used it about two weeks as I still prefer my Simplicity simple nasal cushion altho I'm not ready to give up on the OptiLife yet.

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Permalink Reply by Jennifer Green on May 14, 2009 at 8:30pm

Thank you all for the great information and suggestions! I'm taking notes and going to be able to go in prepared to ask for what I actually need as opposed to whatever they happen to give me...wonder if I can trade in this Breeze???

Daniel said:

LT for Her is light blue and is packaged with XS, S, and M pillows. It also has little flannel booties to pad your cheeks from the headgear. The Regular Swift LT is dark blue and it comes with S, M, and L pillows. It does not have any booties.

The OptiLife is packaged in a number of different configurations. It all depends on how your provider has ordered it from Respironics. It can come package with four sizes of nasal pillows (P, S, M, and L). It can come packaged with P, S and M pillows along with M, L and LN (Large Narrow) cradle cushions. It is also packaged with M and L pillows along with M, L and LN cradle cushions. It can even come packaged with no pillows or cradle cushions at all, for the DME who wants to fit each patient based on their need. And for the cost-conscious DME, it is even packaged with no headgear.

Jennifer, I'd recommend the packaging with the P and S pillows along with the cradle cushions. The Respironics part number is 1036801 for that combo.

Daniel

Judy said:

The OptiLife is one to consider. You have two options w/it: nasal pillows or a nasal cradle cushion. As I remember it the OptiLife comes w/two sizes of each. The nasal cushion is much like a simple nasal cushion - except it doesn't cover as much "face" as a nasal cushion mask. It covers just the end of the nose so in that respect is much like nasal pillows but w/o the need to worry about fit: space between nostrils vs space between pillows; size of nostril opening vs size of the nasal pillows. Since I need a chin strap due to mouth leaks I've had some challenges w/the under the chin fit w/the OptiLife and if I don't figure out how to overcome that I may well be cutting it off so that I can use my chin strap. I believe the under the chin piece is meant to be a stabilizer and not a chin strap for holding the mouth closed altho it may well serve well in that capacity for some. I like that I can run the hose over my head or down under the covers w/me or out to the side thanks to its free swinging hose swivel.

The Swift LT is a tremendous improvement over the original Swift. I hated the side mount of the hose on the original Swift and never tried the Swift II. When I learned the hose had been moved to the center w/a good free swiinging swivel I was interested in the Swift LT. I'm not a real fan of nasal pillows to begin with but I do prefer the "less is more" concept of any mask. I want something lightweight and not much to it. I didn't see much difference between the Swift LT and the Swift LT for her - and to be truthful wasn't sure which one I was provided with. I believe maybe the LT for Her because the headgear is light blue??

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Permalink Reply by Mike on May 15, 2009 at 3:09am

thanks guys. I'm going to tell her about these other options. Then maybe she'll keep the mask on at night.

Judy said:

I'll tell you a mask I do like and which is my favorite: The Respironics Simplicity simple nasal cushion. Take a look at that simple nasal cushion on the ComfortLite 2 in the picture that was posted. The Simplicity simple nasal cushion is just about that same size.

But much less headgear. Just straps for headgear. Top straps, bottom straps and a center strap from back of head to forehead. No heavy forehead piece to cause discomfort or marks, no rigid piece between forehead and bridge of nose. Just soft headgear strap. Totally flexible between forehead and bridge of nose. That center strap is too long for most of us. But it was a simple enough matter to take up a fold or pleat in the center of that strap at the top of the head and to hold it in place w/a strip of velcro until I found just the right fit. Then I cut the pleat/fold out and put the cut ends back together w/that same velcro strip. Works like a charm and has held for months w/no problems whatsoever. The Simplicity is very lightweight, there is very little to it.

And I can easily use a chin strap with it. Again, a simple, lightweight one. The Respironics basic white chin strap, PN 302175. A comfortable, soft, silky chin cradle, one strap up each side. Four small velcro squares. Place one on the top headgear strap on each side of the head, run the chin cradle straps up to the velcro and then to the top of your head where you place the other two small velcro squares to hold the ends in place to fit. Stable, secure and comfortable.

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Permalink Reply by Daniel on May 15, 2009 at 1:46pm

If you got the LT for Her when it first came out, there weren't any cheek pads. About a month into production, they started being included in the packaging.

Daniel

Judy said:

Thanks, Daniel. I have the Swift LT for Her then. But it didn't come w/any cheek pads. On the other hand, I haven't found that I need them with it. I only used it about two weeks as I still prefer my Simplicity simple nasal cushion altho I'm not ready to give up on the OptiLife yet.

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Permalink Reply by Jennifer Green on December 15, 2009 at 10:17pm

This is an update to my original question posted eons ago! I had to wait 6 months with my insurance to get my new mask, but have been using the Swift LT for her for the last month...it is quiet, fits well, and leaves NO marks! I LOVE IT! Thank you all for the suggestions! I would highly recommend this mask...the only thing I found that took getting used to was the difference in pressure going from a mask to nasal pillows...the pressure seems so much stronger since it is so concentrated as opposed to diffused. Again...thank you, thank you , thank you!!!!!

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Permalink Reply by Judy on December 16, 2009 at 4:53am

I'm glad the Swift LT for Her is working out for you, Jennifer! Sleep well!

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