Hybrid Revisited

Vader · Post by **Vader** » Fri Mar 23, 2007 7:03 pm

After the huge disappointment of the Soyala full face mask, I was determined to find another full face mask. I hate to say it but that mask was a total waste of my money.
Unfortunately, my UMFF was causing me to have aggravated neck problems and I am unable to use it, even though I still think that it's a great mask.
So with few other good options, I was determined to find another full face mask. I decided to try the Hybrid again.

I tried the Hybrid about six months ago, and I really hated it. In spite of being "fitted" for one at my DME, I just could not get comfortable with it in any way. This time I went out and bought the complete system (unlike what the DME offered originally)
To my (cough,cough) surprise, the DME had it ALL wrong!
Evidently I was originally fitted with the wrong size face insert and the wrong size nasal pillows.

Unbelievably, now I LOVE this mask! ...
I realize that the new style headgear helps a lot, but I'm quite sure the good fit is mainly due to experimenting with the different configurations of mouth and nasal pillow sizes.
The weird thing is that the Hybrid fullfilled all my hopes that I was expecting from the Soyala FF. But as I said, the Soyala FF was extremely disappointing.

I'm sure that all of the many previously offered Hybrid reviews have covered all the bases, so there's really no need for a play by play here on my part.
But I will say that after two full weeks, I have not had any leak problems from the very first night. I have not had any irritation of my nares either.
I think my only real complaint about the mask is that I wish it had an improved quick disconnect on the straps. Other than that, it's actually quite comfortable. And to think that this was once the mask that I "kicked to the curb". LOL

I did notice that I was getting a dry mouth in the morning, but I changed my hose from a 10 foot to a six foot, and increased my humidity from 2 to 4, and that seems to have corrected that problem.
I definitely can't say that the Hybrid (or for that matter ANY mask) is the answer for everyone, but I am really glad that I gave it a second look because I would never had known what I was missing.

So needless to say, never say never....

DreamStalker · Post by **DreamStalker** » Fri Mar 23, 2007 7:11 pm

So you cleaned it up off the curb huh ... well glad you were able to make it work for you. Now that I ordered the new headgear, I will need to pull mine out sometime this month n give it another shot too. I'm fiddling around with the Opus this weekend.

Best of dreams!

Snoredog · Post by **Snoredog** » Fri Mar 23, 2007 7:21 pm

better use it for a week or two and get some Ayr gel I can't stand anything sticking in my nares.

I think the Soyala FF sizing is hosed. I was comparing the Medium cushion to the UMFF Medium cushion and there is a 3/4" difference in the vertical dimension.

My Pupil to chin measurement is 3-3/4" exactly what the Medium UMFF measures.

I then measured the Medium Soyala FF, it only measures 3", a full 3/4" shorter!! no wonder the sucker doesn't fit!

That could be why it felt like a wet bath robe hanging off my nose and leaked so badly.

And I used their template printed to actual size. I think that template is screwed for any kind of sizing purposes.

I held the template up in a mirror again, and it again said I needed the Medium, where I should have gotten the Large.

Vader · Post by **Vader** » Fri Mar 23, 2007 7:38 pm

Snoredog wrote:better use it for a week or two and get some Ayr gel I can't stand anything sticking in my nares.

I think the Soyala FF sizing is hosed. I was comparing the Medium cushion to the UMFF Medium cushion and there is a 3/4" difference in the vertical dimension.

My Pupil to chin measurement is 3-3/4" exactly what the Medium UMFF measures.

I then measured the Medium Soyala FF, it only measures 3", a full 3/4" shorter!! no wonder the sucker doesn't fit!

That could be why it felt like a wet bath robe hanging off my nose and leaked so badly.

And I used their template printed to actual size. I think that template is screwed for any kind of sizing purposes.

I held the template up in a mirror again, and it again said I needed the Medium, where I should have gotten the Large.

I've used the Hybrid for two weeks already, and so far no irritated nares.
I use the largest size so they are just sealing the inner edge of the nares.

You may be right about that SOYALA sizing, Snoredog.
Anybody got a large they want to trade for my medium?

I think I may have to start trading off some of these masks that aren't working for me. I'm hanging on to that Soyala nasal mask though...

SleepySandy · Post by **SleepySandy** » Fri Mar 23, 2007 7:41 pm

Vader wrote:I'm sure that all of the many previously offered Hybrid reviews have covered all the bases, so there's really no need for a play by play here on my part.

Vader - I would love to read your thoughts about the Hybrid and how it compares to the UMFF. I have a UMFF and I am considering a different FF mask. I really don't like the UMFF and having the mask "float" on my face.

I've gotten a lot of helpful input about other FF masks but I hadn't been considering the Hybrid until yesterday when I was told the Hybrid pillows are much softer than the Swift of CL2 nasal pillows. The Swift and CL2 nasal pillows hurt my nares.

I admit that the idea of having nothing on the bridge of my nose is very appealing but that won't happen if my nares can't handle the pillows.

Snoredog wrote:And I used their template printed to actual size. I think that template is screwed for any kind of sizing purposes.

Snoredog - maybe you can contact that guy at Somnotech again about this. It can't hurt. Did you contact him yet about getting the other cushion from Germany?

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Mar 23, 2007 10:17 pm

I admit that the idea of having nothing on the bridge of my nose is very appealing but that won't happen if my nares can't handle the pillows.

I agree but I am not sure having something stuck up my nose is any better.

bdp522 · Post by **bdp522** » Sat Mar 24, 2007 5:23 am

The nasal pillows don't(shouldn't) go UP your nose. They only rest on the nares. If the pillows are going up your nose, you're using the wrong size.

Brenda

Vader · Post by **Vader** » Sat Mar 24, 2007 7:06 am

SleepySandy wrote: Vader - I would love to read your thoughts about the Hybrid and how it compares to the UMFF. I have a UMFF and I am considering a different FF mask. I really don't like the UMFF and having the mask "float" on my face.

I've gotten a lot of helpful input about other FF masks but I hadn't been considering the Hybrid until yesterday when I was told the Hybrid pillows are much softer than the Swift of CL2 nasal pillows. The Swift and CL2 nasal pillows hurt my nares.

I admit that the idea of having nothing on the bridge of my nose is very appealing but that won't happen if my nares can't handle the pillows.

I'll be honest here. Even though I really like the Hybrid, given a choice I would prefer a traditional FF mask over one that uses nasal pillows.
However, I can honestly say that I haven't had ANY irritation of my nares with the Hybrid. OTOH, I never had problems with the bridge of my nose with the UMFF.
I think if you get the right adjustment of the Hybrid's nasal pillows, it's really not uncomfortable at all (for *me*, anyway)
Initially my DME fitted me with a medium face insert and medium pillows.
It leaked like crazy and my nares really hurt. They insisted that the Hybrid just doesn't work for most people!
Since buying the whole system for myself, I discovered that using large nasal pillows and a small face insert works great. No problems at all for a good fit.

Dry mouth issues aside, in my case, I think the Hybrid wins because of it's smaller and unobtrusive design.

DreamStalker · Post by **DreamStalker** » Sat Mar 24, 2007 8:57 am

So are you using the chin flap or did you whack it off?

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sat Mar 24, 2007 10:49 am

DreamStalker wrote:So are you using the chin flap or did you whack it off?

Personally, I feel the chin flap is there for a darn good reason, so naturally I kept it intact. I can't imagine why one would take it off. It helps stabilize the mask, and it helps you keep a good seal
At least that's been my experience, anyway.

Vader · Post by **Vader** » Sat Mar 24, 2007 10:52 am

Anonymous wrote:
DreamStalker wrote:So are you using the chin flap or did you whack it off?
Personally, I feel the chin flap is there for a darn good reason, so naturally I kept it intact. I can't imagine why one would take it off. It helps stabilize the mask, and it helps you keep a good seal
At least that's been my experience, anyway.

OOPS! the above post was me. i forgot to login

roster · Post by **roster** » Sat Mar 24, 2007 11:01 am

Anonymous wrote:
DreamStalker wrote:So are you using the chin flap or did you whack it off?
Personally, I feel the chin flap is there for a darn good reason, so naturally I kept it intact. I can't imagine why one would take it off. It helps stabilize the mask, and it helps you keep a good seal
At least that's been my experience, anyway.

Vader · Post by **Vader** » Sun Mar 25, 2007 9:03 am

rooster wrote: I cut the chin flap off after just a few nights because it was causing a bad rash under my chin and made me very hot. Without the chin flap, I found the mask much cooler and less bulky feeling and the rash under the chin went away after a few days of otc cortisone cream treatment.

I didn't think about that, but I could see how that might be a problem for some people.
I was using a chinstrap with my Soyala nasal mask, and as good as the chinstrap worked for me, it was hot and really itched my chin a lot.

patbringer · Post by **patbringer** » Mon Mar 26, 2007 9:02 am

I've been the Hybrid for several months back. Few weeks back, I got the new design (I believe it is called Adaptive flow technology). It came with the new grey headgear and upon closer examination, the exhaust holes seem to have a different profile and size.

I love the stability the new headgear offers. This does not leak at all when I toss and turn. The new design does seem quieter and my AHI numbers have been down from around 3 to less than 2. I have no idea if this has anything to do with this adaptive flow or simply the fact that it leaks less.

Cheers!

Pat

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