Hybrid Question

quilterB · Post by **quilterB** » Sat Aug 05, 2006 12:50 pm

I have been using the hybrid for about a month now. I have cut the chin flap off and it has made a big difference in the wearability. I seem to get a good fit and it is much easier to fall asleep. My problem is that I can only sleep for 4 or 5 hours before the nasal pillows start to leak. Once that happens, I have a difficult time keeping the mask on. It then seems to develop leaks in other places. I have tried taking it off and starting over, but it just doesn't seem to work as well as when I first start out. Any ideas?

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sat Aug 05, 2006 1:02 pm

Seems to me that your face is getting moist due to the humidifer or sweat. After 4-5 hours when you get leaks, wipe the face dry before putting the mask on. Also, the overhead strap could be getting loose and causing the pillows to move. So, put close to attention to that also.

If you can wear any mask for 4-5 hours without leaks, then you have overcome the biggest hurdle. It is something minor that is bothering you.

snoozie_suzy · Post by **snoozie_suzy** » Sat Aug 05, 2006 10:25 pm

I have kept my humidifier at level 1, so that I get some moisture but not too much condensation in the mask. I still have the chinflap on mine because it actually helps keep my jaw more forward than pushed backwards. Someone posted here before (can't remember who) about using dental floss to tie in front of nasal pillows, halfway up the pillows and tie on the adjacent plastic posts to keep them stable and not pop out. Perhaps that will help?

I mostly stay put in my sleep and am not an "active" sleeper so perhaps that is why I don't have a lot of leaks, but the other night when I couldn't fall asleep I noticed a few times the nasal pillows sprung a leak.

Good luck

Issac · Post by **Issac** » Sun Aug 06, 2006 12:25 pm

You can get 2 sets of pillows every month if you have medicare or insurance. It's good to have good, new pillows to use every other week. The cushion is one a month, but the pillows are 2 pair a month. hope that helps.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sun Aug 06, 2006 3:09 pm

Issac wrote:You can get 2 sets of pillows every month if you have medicare or insurance. It's good to have good, new pillows to use every other week. The cushion is one a month, but the pillows are 2 pair a month. hope that helps.

Are you advising to get 2 pairs of pillows after the 1st month and try the dental floss experiment on the old pair?

dcndcn · Post by **dcndcn** » Wed Aug 09, 2006 7:01 pm

[quote="Issac"]You can get 2 sets of pillows every month if you have medicare or insurance. It's good to have good, new pillows to use every other week. The cushion is one a month, but the pillows are 2 pair a month. hope that helps.

Stryker5777 · Post by **Stryker5777** » Thu Aug 10, 2006 10:04 am

Okay.. I got my hybrid last Saturday, so I'm kinda new fitting the hybrid. (It seems to be very difficult, but also a VERY worthwhile process). However, I have some ideas:

1.) Perhaps the reason your pillows are leaking is because you have too small or large of a size and you need to adjust the height to the taller postition? I myself seem to be able to use both the med and the large pillows but the large ONLY seems to fit in the taller postition. Also check and re-check that the slots on the pillows line up with your nasal slots. I've had this problem and once I found the correct positioning I haven't removed them since. (I just wash it as one piece.)

If this doesn't seem to help then I would suggest trying something that might sound as silly as taping your mouth shut (but we practice this quite a bit don't we?) However, find a tape that sticks to your skin well (3m micropore, masking, .. whatever you'd like) and try and tape [short piece] the first flaps[of the nasal pillow] to the underside of the front of your nose. Also one more long piece across the tip of your nose to push the tip in [a little bit] toward your face. The sides of the tape should ancore well on both sides to both you mask and your skin. This seemed to work for me and will probably work for you. Let me know if it does.

2.) As for the rest of the leaks that your having issue with there's a couple of ideas on this forum ( a recent one also invovles taping of sort too.) viewtopic.php?t=12124 I would personally recommend that you try the next size up or down in mouth cushion again. In your case like mine it sounds like you might need to go up. I've been using a Med (chin flap removed), However I think tonight I'm going to try the Large mouth cushion, since I may have been wrong.

Also when fitting this it would seem that loose fitting is a no no. It has to be very snug (not strangling tight, but very snug). Actually if it makes your cheeks puff a little from the tightness its actually benefical too. When you first put it on it seems to help me to suck in my lips until after I have the top secure. As for the chin flap like I said I removed mine originally on my MED I'm thinking I'm not going to do the same on the large. It just needs a little differnt positioning and it actualy seems to kinda help the seal. As well as it also helps with encouraging nasal breathing. if you can fold it back slighly you should be able to stick you chin in and then release to fit it nice and snug.

I guess these are just some ideas that have worked for me.Let me know if this helps or not..

The omeone(s) who designed this mask needs to go back to the drafting board for a while. Its VERY functional but ALMOST BARELY! Some more customization to the individual's face needed to be a built in feature.
Does anyone know about the Beta shell that somebody mentioned on this forum..??? (FREE upgrade, do I hear..????)

Best of Luck,

Stryker5777

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sidesleeper · Post by **sidesleeper** » Thu Aug 10, 2006 1:41 pm

You can get new pillows every month if you have medicare or insurance. It's really 2 seta a month, but thats overkill. You can get a new cushion, too. Call your DME and get set up for your replacements.