Hybrid mask

cpap309 · Post by **cpap309** » Mon Jul 31, 2006 10:56 am

I have been trying to use my new Hybrid mask for 2 weeks and so far am 100% unsuccessful. I have practiced during the day and then used it each night for a short time. The consistent problem is the nasal pillows--they always leak. I have tried all 3 sizes with no success. If I hold my nostrils while the medium nasal pillow is in use I can stop the leak--but that makes it impossible to sleep. I even tried a rubber band around the nasal pillows to keep them sturdier--again with no success. If I try to tighten the headgear to make the nasal pillows stop leaking they just seem to recess farther into the soft plastic. I have even had one nasal pillow come out of the mask. That concerns me as to how effective the C-pap would operate.
IS ANYONE HAVING A GREAT DEGREE OF SUCCESS WITH THIS NEW TYPE OF MASK? I think the mask idea is great but it appears to me the nasal pillows need to recess into a solid piece so they don't move.
Thanks, John

Casca · Post by **Casca** » Mon Jul 31, 2006 10:59 am

I have the same type of mask and while I dont' use it regularly because I prefer the regular nasal mask I have had no issues like what you are describing. I have felt that the longer you use it the softer the nasal things become and the harder it is to keep them from leaking - but that was after over 3 months of use. I'm 100% compliant so I'm using my stuff 8 - 9 hours a night every night. A lot of people don't do that (I'm told).

oldgearhead · Post by **oldgearhead** » Mon Jul 31, 2006 12:05 pm

With my Hybrid, I can use either the large or the medium pillows. I cannot use any lubrication with the large pillows or they will not stay in place. However, I can use lubrication (Bag Balm) with the medium pillows.

My Hybrid doesn't leak if I wear my upper partial plate. I must use 2 layers of Moleskin at the corners of the mask, on nights when I don't sleep with the partial plate.

CPAP309 - Are the pillows not be tall enough for you, or is the angle is all wrong?
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tooly125 · Post by **tooly125** » Mon Jul 31, 2006 2:10 pm

some one else on the board said that they called the hybrids customer support and they were very helpful

Maybe worth a shot??

Maryb · Post by **Maryb** » Mon Jul 31, 2006 2:32 pm

sounds like you need a stiffer pillow? The Breeze comes with a longer stiffer pillow called a "dilator". Maybe that would work. I've tried my Breeze pillows in my Hybrid and they fit the holes in the cushion.
But first call hybrids customer support as Tooly suggests.

Maryb

bdp522 · Post by **bdp522** » Mon Jul 31, 2006 3:18 pm

I have only been on cpap for 4 nights so far, but I use the hybrid mask. I played with it all day when I got it, and tried different ideas that I read here. I finally settled on Med cushion, Sm pillows, and tied dental floss from one of the top head gear posts to the other to hold the pillows "in" more. I took the mask off at some point the first night, had a small leak the next night, and have had no problems the last 2 nights. I clip the hose to my sheet about midway up the hose so I don't get tangled in it, and still have plenty of room to roll back and forth. I have found that if the headgear is too tight it will leak. I have had tender nares, but chap stick and ayr gel are keeping that under control.
I really like the hybrid mask(never thought I'd like anything about cpap!) and find it to be fairly comfortable. I have also ordered the pad-a-cheeks and papillow.

inacpapfog · Post by **inacpapfog** » Mon Jul 31, 2006 3:30 pm

Here's another success with using the dental floss, anchored from top post to top post.
I have found that by limiting the foward movement of the nasal pillows in this manner, they do not shift out of place during the night as I move around! I can squish my face/ mask into my bedpillow as I side-sleep and the nasal pillows stay in place! (Prior to the floss, minor shifts in the mask frame seem to cause the pillows to pop out of place in a forward motion! I had tightened the top strap to address this issue, but it just left too much residual nare pain! This adaptation allows me to keep the top strap fairly loose! No pain at all!)

Maryb · Post by **Maryb** » Mon Jul 31, 2006 3:59 pm

regarding the dental floss fix....
aren't you at risk for the dental floss cutting through the nasal pillows?
I was thinking of trying gardening twist-ties.

Maryb

inacpapfog · Post by **inacpapfog** » Mon Jul 31, 2006 4:57 pm

Good point , Maryb!
Think I'll go work with mine now and replace the floss with something more surface friendly! Maybe a covered elastic (ponytail holder)?
Thanks for the caution!

maskjkie · Post by **maskjkie** » Mon Jul 31, 2006 5:08 pm

cpap309 wrote:I have been trying to use my new Hybrid mask for 2 weeks and so far am 100% unsuccessful. I have practiced during the day and then used it each night for a short time. The consistent problem is the nasal pillows--they always leak. I have tried all 3 sizes with no success. If I hold my nostrils while the medium nasal pillow is in use I can stop the leak--but that makes it impossible to sleep. I even tried a rubber band around the nasal pillows to keep them sturdier--again with no success. If I try to tighten the headgear to make the nasal pillows stop leaking they just seem to recess farther into the soft plastic. I have even had one nasal pillow come out of the mask. That concerns me as to how effective the C-pap would operate.
IS ANYONE HAVING A GREAT DEGREE OF SUCCESS WITH THIS NEW TYPE OF MASK? I think the mask idea is great but it appears to me the nasal pillows need to recess into a solid piece so they don't move.
Thanks, John

John,
You might want to try a couple of things:
1. Trim the chin flap off the oral cushion. This will reduce the weight and the oral part won'yt pull the pillows down.
2. You might want to cut the thin bar that connects the nasal pillows. This will allow you to position each pillow optimally in your nares. This will also allow you to use different size pillows in each nare.

Hybrid mask

Hybrid mask

Re: Hybrid mask