The Bella Loops. Your Experience??

General Discussion on any topic relating to CPAP and/or Sleep Apnea.

Results on the BELLA LOOPS...

Best thing since sliced bread!
3
5%
It took some fiddling but it working great now.
13
22%
I'm still fiddling with it and determined to make it work.
5
8%
It works but I still switch masks every so often. Nothing works right all the time.
8
13%
I'm getting frustrated with it.
2
3%
I gave up. Maybe I'll try again later.
4
7%
It was a failure.
1
2%
I don't have a Swift Bella, I just want to vote!
24
40%
 
Total votes: 60

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Papit
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Re: The Bella Loops. Your Experience??

Post by Papit » Sat Mar 17, 2012 11:37 am

Nate, how long had you been using the pillow that apparently got stiff on you?
Thanks, --Mike

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NateS
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Re: The Bella Loops. Your Experience??

Post by NateS » Sat Mar 17, 2012 1:52 pm

Papit wrote:Nate, how long had you been using the pillow that apparently got stiff on you?
Thanks, --Mike
I should write these things down. Maybe I put it in my SleepyHead notes but I don't see a way to Search them by keyword. So I'm going to make a wild guess and say maybe 4-5 weeks?

Nate

I see Medicare Code A7033 says they allow you two (2) pairs per month.

_________________
Mask: DreamWear Nasal CPAP Mask with Headgear
Additional Comments: ResMed AirCurve 10 ASV; Dreamwear Nasal Mask Original; CPAPMax Pillow; ResScan & SleepyHead
Central sleep apnea AHI 62.6 pre-VPAP. Now 0 to 1.3
Present Rx: EPAP: 8; IPAPlo:11; IPAPHi: 23; PSMin: 3; PSMax: 15
"I've had a perfectly wonderful evening, but this wasn't it." —Groucho Marx

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Papit
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Re: The Bella Loops. Your Experience??

Post by Papit » Sat Mar 17, 2012 3:06 pm

Thanks for the survey. Do you no longer use the standard Swift FX headgear in favor of the Bella ear loops?

Also, that's good info re. Medicare Code A7033. Can you post the web link to that reference here?

Thanks, Mike Papit

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Mask: DreamWear Nasal CPAP Mask with Headgear
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NateS
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Re: The Bella Loops. Your Experience??

Post by NateS » Sat Mar 17, 2012 10:12 pm

Papit wrote:Thanks for the survey. Do you no longer use the standard Swift FX headgear in favor of the Bella ear loops?

Also, that's good info re. Medicare Code A7033. Can you post the web link to that reference here?

Thanks, Mike Papit
So far, I have stuck with the Loops only since trying them and adding a chinstrap.

Enjoy:

http://www.resmed.com/us/documents/1013 ... sories.pdf

Nate

_________________
Mask: DreamWear Nasal CPAP Mask with Headgear
Additional Comments: ResMed AirCurve 10 ASV; Dreamwear Nasal Mask Original; CPAPMax Pillow; ResScan & SleepyHead
Central sleep apnea AHI 62.6 pre-VPAP. Now 0 to 1.3
Present Rx: EPAP: 8; IPAPlo:11; IPAPHi: 23; PSMin: 3; PSMax: 15
"I've had a perfectly wonderful evening, but this wasn't it." —Groucho Marx

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Papit
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Re: The Bella Loops. Your Experience??

Post by Papit » Sun Mar 18, 2012 3:07 pm

Outstanding!

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Gaga58
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Re: The Bella Loops. Your Experience??

Post by Gaga58 » Tue Mar 20, 2012 4:46 am

I didn't vote yet as last night was my first night with my Bella's...and I'm just not sure WHAT I think!! Was home early yesterday afternoon and decided I'd take a nap with the new loops...went on great, didn't take much to get them to fit and seal, could hardly tell they were there and I thought, "ohhhh wow!! PERFECT!" Then last night, I got ready for bed put them on and I ended up fiddling and fooling with the blasted things for 20 minutes trying to get, first the pillows to seal, and second the straps to not feel like they pulling my ears off!! I laid there and kept adjusting and adjusting because I could not get the pillows to quit leaking...when I finally did I felt like the straps were a little tight, but they didn't hurt so went to sleep...woke up at 3 and took them off and my ears were so sore I could hardly stand it! Checked my numbers and they were way higher all across the board this morning. Will keep trying since my first go went so well...why the second didn't I have no clue. I even went back and read all the previous posts...about 10 mins. in I tried Nate's suggestion on putting the cushions up behind the ears and attaching the side straps, no go for me on that on at all, so we'll see!!

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portiemom
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Re: The Bella Loops. Your Experience??

Post by portiemom » Tue Mar 20, 2012 11:18 am

I have had some of the same issues along the way with the Bella Loops, they will give me great therapy for days and then boom, horrible night, then after a few days of suffering with another mask, I don the Bellas and they are working like a breeze (no pun intended as the breeze is the other mask). No set reason why this happens, just does, and I'm not the only one with the same issue as you. I do however use NateS' pink cover at the very top of the ear and very bottom, it seems to keep it stable for me as I am a restless sleeper.

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Pugsy
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Re: The Bella Loops. Your Experience??

Post by Pugsy » Tue Mar 20, 2012 11:40 am

Oh my goodness.. I just had to brag. Lookie at my leak line from last night...second image.
You know I had to order a new Bella Loops set due to accidentally cutting one of them completely apart.
So they arrived Sat I think...didn't use them till Sunday night.
Sunday night...typical leak around my 2 hour mark which is common for me..mostly likely REM at work.
Not a horrible report.
Image

And this one for last night. This is my first flat line night with the Bella Loops. The spike near the end..I was awake thinking about the headache and wishing I had worn the pulse ox but as you can tell..not really many events anyway.. Just wanted to brag on the leak like...it can be done with the loops. I haven't received the SnuggleCovers yet....they were shipped yesterday.
This is with just plain silicone. No barrel cozy...no strap covers.
EDIT..BTW ignore the hours asleep..they are doubled. SleepyHead Beta bug..in older version and in ResScan they are correct.
Image

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sheila1232
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Re: The Bella Loops. Your Experience??

Post by sheila1232 » Tue Mar 20, 2012 11:55 am

I bought the Bella Loops when they first came out. I still like them very much because I can not stand having anything around my head. I do have a problem with getting a good seal sometimes. I think there is a fine line between how loose or tight the straps need to be.
IF you are damned if you do and damned if you don't, pick the one that you are going to have the most fun doing ;-)

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NateS
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Re: The Bella Loops. Your Experience??

Post by NateS » Tue Mar 20, 2012 11:57 am

Wow! Very impressive indeed, Pugsy!

But then you always make me jealous of your leak lines.

I have seen great improvement in mine, especially when I switch to a fresh new nasal pillow, but never as low as yours.

I'm happy to just try to keep mine below the red line in ResScan.

Nate

_________________
Mask: DreamWear Nasal CPAP Mask with Headgear
Additional Comments: ResMed AirCurve 10 ASV; Dreamwear Nasal Mask Original; CPAPMax Pillow; ResScan & SleepyHead
Central sleep apnea AHI 62.6 pre-VPAP. Now 0 to 1.3
Present Rx: EPAP: 8; IPAPlo:11; IPAPHi: 23; PSMin: 3; PSMax: 15
"I've had a perfectly wonderful evening, but this wasn't it." —Groucho Marx

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Pugsy
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Re: The Bella Loops. Your Experience??

Post by Pugsy » Tue Mar 20, 2012 12:23 pm

NateS wrote:I'm happy to just try to keep mine below the red line in ResScan.
The red line is pretty much where I just eyeball things also. Even short time above it I don't panic.
I don't sweat the ups and down.. I just was so pleasantly surprised to see last night's leak line.
I was expecting much worse. I didn't rest particularly well. Thunderstorms..back pain...forgot to take pain pill, etc...amounted to a rather restless night in general. Rain messes with my aches and pains which in turn messes with my sleep in general.

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portiemom
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Re: The Bella Loops. Your Experience??

Post by portiemom » Tue Mar 20, 2012 5:41 pm

OMG, Pugsey that is one wonderful leak line!!!! But then I have to agree with NateS, you're to be envied in many ways my friend. Thank you for your willingness to always help us!!! YOU ROCK!

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Mask: SleepWeaver Elan™ Soft Cloth Nasal CPAP Mask - Starter Kit
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NateS
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Re: The Bella Loops. Your Experience??

Post by NateS » Tue Mar 20, 2012 9:56 pm

Talking about red lines, sometimes I find faint lines across my cheeks when getting up in the morning, especially when I choose to solve a leak signal during the night by just tightening the straps an extra notch.

When this happens, I find that if I just hold some warm water up to my cheeks for 10-20 seconds with the palms of my hands, the lines disappear quite rapidly thereafter. And, of course, it's refreshing too.

Just another Bella tip.

Nate

_________________
Mask: DreamWear Nasal CPAP Mask with Headgear
Additional Comments: ResMed AirCurve 10 ASV; Dreamwear Nasal Mask Original; CPAPMax Pillow; ResScan & SleepyHead
Central sleep apnea AHI 62.6 pre-VPAP. Now 0 to 1.3
Present Rx: EPAP: 8; IPAPlo:11; IPAPHi: 23; PSMin: 3; PSMax: 15
"I've had a perfectly wonderful evening, but this wasn't it." —Groucho Marx

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squid13
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Re: The Bella Loops. Your Experience??

Post by squid13 » Wed Mar 21, 2012 11:23 am

Has anyone ordered and tried the new covers for the Bella loops. If you have how did they work out?

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Pugsy
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Re: The Bella Loops. Your Experience??

Post by Pugsy » Wed Mar 21, 2012 11:28 am

squid13 wrote:Has anyone ordered and tried the new covers for the Bella loops. If you have how did they work out?
Nate and I have ordered them. They were back ordered..just shipped Monday I think..so should be here any day and we will report on them once we have checked them out.

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I may have to RISE but I refuse to SHINE.