1) Cold air blowing down on to me from exhaust port....created air diverter custom cut out of new toliet flapper valve (pic #1)
2) Air leaking at connection of rt angle elbow......wrapped vertical tube with plumber's teflon tape (pic #2)
3) The infamous rt angle swivel connector jamming into pillow and not moving freely with turning side to side....carefully disconnected it from head tubing(pry loose with small screwdriver). Attached straight swivel from a Resmed swift mask. This swivel is slightly smaller than the corregated tube coming from the headpiece. I used a rubber o-ring around the swivel and then used the 2 blue zip strips to tighten it over the attachment. CPAP.com also sells a universal straight swivel adaptor which may also work. I used 6" of corregated tubing to extend it up over the top of the head so the end of the cpap hose was not right on my head. This tubing is avail at medical supply stores which sell home respiratory equipment. This piece then connected to the cpap grey hose via a universal straight connector. This extra piece of tubing was then attached very loosely with a rubber band to the velcro piece at the top of the headpiece. (See picture above and below) Whole unit now moves and swivels freely and is still supported loosely at the top so no pulling from the hose felt down at the nose.
4) I have to use pretty high pressures with my APAP. I avg 16-17cm. Still having leak problems even with mask adjusted all the way in as tight as the interface adjustment would allow. Needed just slight more pressure against my face to keep the seal......Fixed with 1/4" black no slip headband found at Walgreens. I wove the head band through the hole at the top of the interface and around the very top of the plastic plate and then back on itself (creates a self locking attachment), then I pulled the remainder of the band down on either side of the vertical tubing and attached it at the rt angle elbow. This band creates a slightly bigger curve in the whole interface, pulling the mask to my face. The best part is the fix did not involve adding yet another vice like band around my poor head. (See pictures #4,5 and 6)
5) Hose dragging and catching on top of bed shelf or top of matress......Using idea from tread here on hose hangers, I built my own PVC hanger to hang the hose on and attached to the arm with a soft hair scrunci. Whole thing cost me just $3.29! Coming down from above my head, there is no pulling at all. I never even feel it now when I turn and don't have to even touch the hose at all....Result = No waking up while turning to manage the hose. (You can find pictures under Rested Gals links to hose hangers/management)
I hope some of you find these tips helpful.....I now feel like the true lab rat that I am is truely emerging. My next experiment will be on that pesky Comfort Curve. It too will be mastered! LOL
Carol
