Optilife Headgear`

Treesap · Post by **Treesap** » Fri Jul 27, 2007 9:17 am

Anyone else using the Optilife headgear have problems with it stretching? The back part of mine seems to be working it's way up at night. There's not strap to tighten the back strap. There's only one on the front straps going over the cheek and one over the top of the head, and the one on the chin of course.

I think this will be "my" mask, so I need to know if anyone has any suggestions on this or if they have the same problem.

DreamStalker · Post by **DreamStalker** » Fri Jul 27, 2007 9:18 am

Treesap wrote:Anyone else using the Optilife headgear have problems with it stretching? The back part of mine seems to be working it's way up at night. There's not strap to tighten the back strap. There's only one on the front straps going over the cheek and one over the top of the head, and the one on the chin of course.

I think this will be "my" mask, so I need to know if anyone has any suggestions on this or if they have the same problem.

Wear your hair in a pony tail and flip the back strap under it.

Treesap · Post by **Treesap** » Fri Jul 27, 2007 9:21 am

Thanks DS, but that won't work. I can't have a big pony tail lump on the back of my head while I'm sleeping.

ufo13 · Post by **ufo13** » Fri Jul 27, 2007 9:38 am

Treesap:

Go to the search box and put in "ufo13". That should bring up my post for "tips for swift users"! It is a simple and inexpensive fix for the same problem many of us had with the Swift. I think it will work just as well on this mask for you! Easy to do and worth a try! Hope it helps!

All the best!

Steve,
ufo13

jasper · Post by **jasper** » Fri Jul 27, 2007 10:07 am

Great suggestion Steve. It's amazing how the same problems keep on cropping up, and have already generated a bunch of good solutions. I, like Treesap, have made the Optilife my new #1 mask, and occasionally it does ride up. I have some strips of Velcro on my workbench and I now know just where they're going!

I also like your suggestions about setting the pillows into the nares. I do that, and also find that I get a better seal if the pressure is on before I bring the pillows to my face. Helps them seat better.

Treesap, I PM'd you about the Small pillows. I'll get them out just as soon as I can. Still have the Petite size I'd be willing to swap for another Medium (or give away) if anyone else is interested. Sorry your dog ate the other spare Medium, but at least he got some enjoyment out of it.

ufo13 · Post by **ufo13** » Fri Jul 27, 2007 10:19 am

jasper:

Glad you are having good results with the mask and I hope this fix makes it even better! Let us know how it works for you, as I am sure others with this interface would be interested also!

All the best!

Steve,
ufo13

Andrep · Post by **Andrep** » Fri Jul 27, 2007 11:31 am

Glad your optilife fits well.

I bought one and couldn't fit it.

zzzzzz!! · Post by **zzzzzz!!** » Fri Jul 27, 2007 3:01 pm

Mine slips up in back at night too (and even if I wanted to make a ponytail, it would only be about 1/2 inch long--no help there!). I turn from side to side a few times during the night, so my solution up to this point has been to give the back and the chin strap each a tug downward after I turn over. I may give ufo13's suggestion about the extra strap a try, though.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Jul 27, 2007 3:10 pm

I also have been using the optilife for 2 months now. I have the same problem with it slipping up the back of my head. It usually results in a leak which wakes me up. Sometimes it doesn't happen at all. I sleep on my back with the pillow at an angle (couch pillow under the pillow) and pull the back strap as far down as it will go. I like the mask alot and find this to be the only problem but one I can live with.

Treesap · Post by **Treesap** » Fri Jul 27, 2007 4:06 pm

I'm with you on that. It has the least amount of issues for me. A little slippage is small. I usually wake up if it slips off too much because the air is blowing in my face. It usually only happens once in the night, which is much less inconvenience than I've experienced with the other 8 masks I've tried.

jasper · Post by **jasper** » Tue Jul 31, 2007 7:23 am

Tried your Velcro solution ufo13, and it really works! I didn't think it would at first, since the Velcro loops didn't seem to catch. However, I went ahead and stapled a strip to the rear strap, and it didn't budge all night.

Tonight I'll remove the protective strip and stick the Velcro right to the strap. Now my new "good" mask will be a "great" one. Never thought I'd be saying that about any mask

Great suggestion Steve, thanks ...

gasparama · Post by **gasparama** » Tue Jul 31, 2007 7:39 am

I've had an Optilife for a little over a month now, and haven't even been able to go to bed with it even one time. The pillows flip out of my nares everytime I lie down. Nevertheless, after I charge into my overpriced DME's office and demand that they give me all the pillows and show me how to fit the proper one, then I'm going to try ufo13's solution.

Treesap · Post by **Treesap** » Tue Jul 31, 2007 7:42 am

Gasparama,

There's a guy on ebay who sells it for about $53 and he gives you 2 of each size of pillows.

If you have insurance which will reimburse you from ebay, then it's way worth it.

jasper · Post by **jasper** » Tue Jul 31, 2007 8:16 am

It's a shame the DME would hold back on the pillows. The mask comes with 4 sizes, and you should be able to try them yourself.

Other points in fitting and using the Optilife besides correct pillows size:

I found that the pillows angle that works for me is much shallower than the 45 deg angle they recommend starting with.

I use pads on the cheeks straps, and also padacheek's wing pads (padacheek.com)... and now ufo13's Velcro strip.

The hose management clip really is necessary to keep the pillows angle from moving. I toss around a lot, and it really helps.

Set up the strap adjustments and pillows angle looking in a mirror, and then try it out at your pressure lying down (probably good advice for any mask).

Some pillows users like to apply Ayr gel or some other product containing lanolin or aloe. I tried it once, but find I do just fine without.

Like Treesap says, these masks are available online, and will come with everything you should get. You can trade other CPAPers for the sizes you don't need.

Good luck

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Tue Jul 31, 2007 4:47 pm

[quote
I found that the pillows angle that works for me is much shallower than the 45 deg angle they recommend starting with.]

How did you learn about the 45 deg. angle? No one said anything about that to me. I intend to tell the sleep doc about the omission of the other 2 pillows. I'm really beginning to boil here. Can't get a machine with info on it, now I'm jilted out of two pillows.

I think the RTs at this respiratory dme think customers are all too stupid to manage their own treatment. I will look on ebay, but won't bid until I have my little confrontation with the locals.

Jane

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