Bummed Hybrid user

sleepyred · Post by **sleepyred** » Sat Apr 21, 2007 9:12 am

Well, I have used my hybrid for a week now. Almost ready to toss it into my drawer.

I loved it at 1st, then due to a mistake on my part, am having to use my activa until I heal.

I am using the medium cushion with the large nasal pillows in the tall position (the medium pillows do not reach my nose).

I had trouble keeping the large pillows in my nares so I used the wonderful suggestion of using a shoe lace to hold them in place. So I thought a thin head band would work just as well, wrong! It was too tight.

Now I am suffering from sores in my nares and cannot use it for a while!

So I am having to stop until they heal. Maybe I can try again next week.

I just have that old "keeping my mouth shut" problem. I have to wear a chin strap and the reason I changed to the hybrid is that with the chin strap, I'm grinding my teeth - not good!

I have an UMFF - but my mouth dries out so much I can hardly stand it (this does not happen with the hybrid!

May be I will tape, don't know. I just can't afford dental bills if I continue to grind!

Sleepyred

bdp522 · Post by **bdp522** » Sat Apr 21, 2007 9:52 am

The only 'fix' I needed to keep the pillows from popping out was to place a rubberband from one top post to the other, going around the pillows.
For the sores on the nares, if the ayr gel doesn't work quickly enough try some neosporin.
If you're gonna tape you need to read Roosters post on taping;

viewtopic.php?t=9653&start=0

Brenda

SelfSeeker · Post by **SelfSeeker** » Sat Apr 21, 2007 10:11 am

Sleepyred,

Sorry to hear about your woes with the Hybrid.

I suggest you use a bit of neosporin complete (using a q-tip) to heal the sores.

Most people who have trouble with the Hybrid is becasue of the shape of their chin not making a good seal.

The pillows are designed like an accordian to move or adjust to your nose. If you blocked that with the string you may have lost that effect.

Did you place the upper part of the cushion nicely on the upper part of your lip?

I liked the elastic for positioning the angle better for my face.

I ended up with problems becasue I was clamping to hard. Before you get major aches and pains, what about a simple mouth guard sold at the pharmacy for not grinding your teeth.

Good luck to your.

WearyOne · Post by **WearyOne** » Sat Apr 21, 2007 10:12 am

Hi, sleepyred.

I use the medium oral cushion and large pillows as well. My problem is the height. Often with the pillows in the high position, I'll wake up with a sore nose; not sores in the nose, but a very sore nose. If I use the low position, a lot of times the wouldn't stay put. I do seem to have the best results, though, using the shoe lace tied around my head with the pillows in the lower position. Seems to keep them in place, but they aren't so tall that pressure during the night makes my nose sore.

For me, I tried the rubber band idea and that just didn't work for me, dont' know why. It sounded great.

When I first started therapy, I would wake up with sore spots in my nose. Right away I started using mole skin to cover those places that were just right inside the nostril. (These were not open sores, just sore spots that I knew would eventually turn into sores if I didn't do something.) The mole skin idea worked and now I don't even need to use it.

The Hybrid (with "surgical" removal of the chin piece ) is the best mask I've used!

Hope you heal quickly!

Pam

SelfSeeker · Post by **SelfSeeker** » Sat Apr 21, 2007 10:39 am

I also using lanolin on the nasal pillows to keep them from leaking.

sleepyred · Post by **sleepyred** » Sat Apr 21, 2007 11:07 am

Thanks for the ideas all!

I will try the lanolin - but for the life of me, have not found any! Even in the baby section!

I will try moving my pillows down a bit - but I think my nose is too far away.

I am still afraid to cut the flap - yet! You brave people who have done this!

Have not thought about a mouth guard - might not need it if I can get my nares healed!

The strange thing about this mask is that it does not seem to fit on my face the same way each night - and I don't move the velcro. Maybe I just need a break for a few nights!

Other than the sore nares, and chin leaks, I do love this mask! Right now - it's just a "love/hate" relationship!

WearyOne · Post by **WearyOne** » Sat Apr 21, 2007 11:19 am

sleepyred, I was having the same problem with feeling like it didn't fit my face the same way each night--until I cut the chin thing off. It's hard to take that step, though, I'll admit. I took the suggestion of someone else here and first cut it off one of the sizes I don't use, just to get a feel for it without. Did okay. But still couldn't cut it off the one that fits the best, until I got two backups! With that, I cut away.

I will say that I figured out (and you may not have this problem) that because I'm overweight and have that lovely double chin, with the chin flap on, whenever I would look down in the slightest, that extra chin of mine would push on the chin flap and push the mask away from my face just enough to cause leaks on both sides at the bottom clips. It was causing leaks in that area that woke me up all the time That problem is completely gone now!

I haven't looked for the lanolin yet, but I need to.

Pam

Snoredog · Post by **Snoredog** » Sat Apr 21, 2007 11:22 am

personally, I don't think you will get any better therapy using the hybrid over the UMFF, in fact I would expect worse due to the higher intentional leak rate the hybrid has.

I wouldn't use any lotions, those only make leaks and skin irritation worse. Best thing you can do is wash your face and mask before bed for the best seal. Lotions cause the cushion to slip in relation to the skin where they leak more.

If you are stuffing things up your nose like with the pillows from the hybrid, your nares are going to get sore. Get some Ayr saline gel and put it inside the nares before bed. Going to take a while to toughen up the nares where that goes away, Ayr gel makes that process easier.

If you are a cpap newbie and getting sore nares, that is not a good thing, therapy is hard enough without adding additional pain to the process.

As for dry mouth? that is going to happen, you are putting a lot more air down your throat than normal, takes your salivary glands a while to catch up and compensate (several weeks), drink lots of water. Use the humidifier and get some BIOTENE mouthwash sold in the white bottle next to Listerine. It will reduce the drying effects of cpap, tastes pretty good too.

sleepyred · Post by **sleepyred** » Sat Apr 21, 2007 11:28 am

Thanks snoredog - what do you keep your humidifer set on?

The problem I had with my UMFF last night was (as you know I'm on a straight cpap right now, but not for long!) and when I got back into bed, I was leaking like crazy at my nose. Could not stop it for the life of me. Switched back to the activa for the rest of the night.

I have my humidity set on 2 right now. I've been cpap compliant for 1 1/2 years now. Just trying desperately to fix my mouth breating issues!

Thanks,
Sleepyred

[quote="Snoredog"]

If you are a cpap newbie and getting sore nares, that is not a good thing, therapy is hard enough without adding additional pain to the process.

As for dry mouth? that is going to happen, you are putting a lot more air down your throat than normal, takes your salivary glands a while to catch up and compensate (several weeks), drink lots of water. Use the humidifier and get some BIOTENE mouthwash sold in the white bottle next to Listerine. It will reduce the drying effects of cpap, tastes pretty good too.

Snoredog · Post by **Snoredog** » Sat Apr 21, 2007 11:36 am

sleepyred wrote:Thanks snoredog - what do you keep your humidifer set on?

The problem I had with my UMFF last night was (as you know I'm on a straight cpap right now, but not for long!) and when I got back into bed, I was leaking like crazy at my nose. Could not stop it for the life of me. Switched back to the activa for the rest of the night.

I have my humidity set on 2 right now. I've been cpap compliant for 1 1/2 years now. Just trying desperately to fix my mouth breating issues!

Thanks,
Sleepyred

Snoredog wrote:
If you are a cpap newbie and getting sore nares, that is not a good thing, therapy is hard enough without adding additional pain to the process.

As for dry mouth? that is going to happen, you are putting a lot more air down your throat than normal, takes your salivary glands a while to catch up and compensate (several weeks), drink lots of water. Use the humidifier and get some BIOTENE mouthwash sold in the white bottle next to Listerine. It will reduce the drying effects of cpap, tastes pretty good too.

I've never used mine any higher than 2 on a Remstar and made it through the night. I've only had rainout maybe once. For me, I live in California, we don't usually have humidity here unless it is raining. This time of the year I don't use any heat at all, just in passover mode. If the incoming air gets too cold, I plug in the aussie heated hose.

During the summer with air conditioning, it dehumidifies the air and it becomes very dry, even during those times I only use it in passover mode.

If I use too much humidity, I'll feel congested in no time or feel like I'm not getting enough air.

sleepyred · Post by **sleepyred** » Sat Apr 21, 2007 11:52 am

I've never understood - what is the passover mode?

Thanks -

SelfSeeker · Post by **SelfSeeker** » Sat Apr 21, 2007 12:00 pm

Hello again sleepyred.

Passover mode, is that the humidifier is not turned on, there is water in the humidifier chamber.

There are also some passover humidifer chambers, which have a longer path for the air to move over to collect more moisture.

I also got congested with the humidifer turned on. The air blowing out was to cold for me so I bought the Aussie hose to heat it up.

Pam,

One day I may get the courage to cut the chin flap. I think I would like the freedom of not having my mouth so closed.

sleepyred wrote:I've never understood - what is the passover mode?

Thanks -

christinequilts · Post by **christinequilts** » Sat Apr 21, 2007 2:21 pm

sleepyred wrote:
I will try the lanolin - but for the life of me, have not found any! Even in the baby section!

You can also find it at health food stores- 100% pure lanolin (just don't use if you're allergic to wool )

birdshell · Post by **birdshell** » Sat Apr 21, 2007 4:37 pm

SelfSeeker wrote:Hello again sleepyred.

Passover mode, is that the humidifier is not turned on, there is water in the humidifier chamber.

There are also some passover humidifer chambers, which have a longer path for the air to move over to collect more moisture.

I also got congested with the humidifer turned on. The air blowing out was to cold for me so I bought the Aussie hose to heat it up.

Pam,

One day I may get the courage to cut the chin flap. I think I would like the freedom of not having my mouth so closed.

sleepyred wrote:I've never understood - what is the passover mode?

Thanks -

Just a note about something Chuck/GoofyUT pointed out to me: The ResMed humidifiers do not really heat very much until set at 4 (IIII) or above. If you like the bit warmer air and higher humidity, try the 4 or more settings; otherwise, the humidifier is PRETTY much operating as a passover.

Karen

blarg · Post by **blarg** » Sat Apr 21, 2007 8:49 pm

SelfSeeker wrote:The pillows are designed like an accordian to move or adjust to your nose. If you blocked that with the string you may have lost that effect.

The only leaks that I experience with the Hybrid are around the pillows, and it's mainly due to the angle that they're at. The only way to stop the leaks that I've found so far is to have the top straps so tight that I feel like I got a palm shoved into my nose in the morning.

Last night was on my Aura, and I'm going to try again in a few days when I stop bleeding. Probably with some Lanolin which I hope will work more like glue to keep them in place.

Mask

Additional Comments: Aussie Heated hose for rain out/PapCap Headgear and chin strap