My Nasal pillow mask trial...Breeze-Aura and Swift

[Slpyhed]

I was recently diagnosed with moderate sleep apnea and decided to use the advice from this board to try different masks that you all found to be the best suited for you individually.

First off , I use a Remstar with Cflex set at 8 and Cflex set to 2. I also run the humidifier at setting 3.

I gave each mask a five night trial going to bed at my usual time and waking at my usual time.

First mask was the Swift.
I was armed with Ayr gel and ready to go on my first night. After two nights of correct adjustments I was very comfortable with this mask and slept pretty well. i did not like the hose on the side however simply because when I rolled over on that side I could feel it dig into my temple area. Even with a Temperpedic swedish pillow. Slight nasal discomfort was alleviated by the use of Neosporin pain relief ointment. Overall i liked the Swift , then again that was all I new with the exception of the sleep study Ultra Mirage mask that I used. Swift was a bit loud too. Straps hurt the cheeks. No they were not too tight.

Second mask used was the Aura.
Very comfortable in the beginning, but could not deal with the large lock box wanting to get rid of my David Letterman reseeding hairline. I want to sleep, but I also want to keep my hair(what little I have left). I did like the fact that it had a great seal and the nasal pillows were WAY softer that the Swift and not as loud. I might try cutting off the lock box and rigging it like others on this board have done. Worked well on my side.

Third mask used was the Breeze.
This mask I would suggest using one size larger pillows than you might ordinarily use with other brands. Bizarre looking thing, but very well thought out. There is a lot more give to this unit and it fits a big head rather well. Since I am a side sleeper I would not recommend this to back sleepers, but for me it was AWESOME. Great seal, soft pillows, many ways to adjust the unit and VERY quiet. I attached the exit hose with velcro to the brace unit. As Rested Gal suggested I put the strap down low.

My tweener mask is an Activa.
After five days with each mask i used the Activa for a break. I think if I could handle a Nasal mask always that this would be the mask. this is by design an AWESOME piece of engineering. Allot of give even for a side sleeper.

My ratings

Breeze #1
Aura #2 after removal of lockbox
Swift #3

Need a break mask the Activa wins this department.

Your milage may vary.

SLPYHED

[rested gal]

Excellent review of what worked for you, Slpyhd. Pretty much how I found them to be for me, too. Breeze was my favorite for a long, long time; nudged into a close second, lo, these many months now, by my lockbox-removed Aura.

All four that you mentioned are very good interfaces, imho.

[wading thru the muck!]

Why do you feel the "lock box" is making your hairline recede? It does not bother mine in the least.

[rock and roll]

I wish I could blame my hair receding on a lock box


I do believe that hair loss is genetic. Chemo can cause hair to fall out as well as majoor sickness, but I don't believe cpap can cause hair loss, maybe breakage?

[slpyhed]

Go back to my post. The trial was for five days. How could anything make ones hairline recede in five days? That's been going on for ten years.

It was simply pulling at and breaking my hair in the area that is already receding.

If not for that, I would where it every night

Rock and Roll thanks for the laugh.

[capt]

I thought your review on how those different masks worked for you was very informative.

About the hair loss, when I noticed my hair starting to get a little thin, which for some reason was about the same time that my eyesight changed. My eyes seemed to focus in on my golden locks. I had really never paid much attention to my hair before, but now every hair on my head has became a 24kt gold strand to be guarded and protected. I have to be on guard constantly to save and protect those prized strands that I so long ignored. When you mentioned breaking your hair due to the lock box contraption, I knew I was not alone in this lonely battle.

[WAFlowers]

First mask was the Swift.
I was armed with Ayr gel and ready to go on my first night. After two nights of correct adjustments I was very comfortable with this mask and slept pretty well. i did not like the hose on the side however simply because when I rolled over on that side I could feel it dig into my temple area.

As I learned recently (from R&R IIRC) if the hose was on the side and digging into your temple then you had the hose in the wrong place. It should curve away from your face so that when you are on your side it lays on the pillow beside you.

I have the hose on my right side and sleep 3/4 onto my stomach when on that side. Now that I've got the hose in the proper place even turned over that far (the Swift barrel is partly lying on the pillow under my face) the hose is still lying beside me, not under me.

Wonderful!

[Moxnix]

I have been a snorer for a long time. As I got older, my snoring has gotten more frequent and louder. I also noticed I was tired a lot and liked to take naps during the day. People complained about my snoring and I could not sleep in the same room with other people for fear of keeping them awake.

Finally, I asked my doctor about the problem. He sent me home with a machine to check my breathing and pulse while I slept. The results really shocked me! The doc said my airway was closing off up to 70 times each hour, and that I stopped breathing for as long as one full minute at a time! I had severe apnea. He strongly recommended I start using the CPAP machine, since I was risking damage to my heart due to lack of oxygen.

I had read about CPAP machines before and always thought I would never be able to sleep with one, since I am somewhat claustrophobic. Surprisingly, it only took me a few minutes to get used to, and I was able to sleep comfortably from the very beginning with no problem.

The mask portion is just a small apparatus that fits on the nostrils to blow in air that keeps the throat inflated, thus preventing any snoring. Straps over the head are a little annoying, but they are necessary to keep the nose piece in place. If one changes sleeping positions at night, it’s possible for these straps to move, causing the nose piece to slip off.

I have been using a Dreamhelmet, a combination sleep mask sound-muffling pillow for years now, for sleeping at night and for napping during the day. I always find it hard to sleep without the Dreamhelmet, and I was afraid I would not be able to use it with the CPAP mask, but I was wrong about that too.

After I slept with the CPAP machine and mask for a short while, I tried wearing the Dreamhelmet over the CPAP, covering up the straps – voila, it worked like a charm! I found that the Dreamhelmet actually helps keep the straps in place when I change positions, so now I can sleep all night in comfort, not being bothered by sound, light, or changing positions. The CPAP and the Dreamhelmet are the perfect sleeping combination for me.

I now wake up rested, and I have energy that lasts all day long. I don’t feel so run down all the time or feel like I need an afternoon nap, but I still carry an extra Dreamhelmet in the car with me just in case I do need a nap.

[Bookbear]

Congrats on finding a mask that works for you, Slpyhed! I have used the Breeze for over 2 1/2 years and I love it. I am glad it was successful for you, but it's always a good idea to have another brand in reserve in case your sleeping patterns change or for whatever reason you feel that your therapy is declining in effectiveness. Many people here alternate between two different masks.

Good luck, and thanks for reporting your results to the group.

[sunfeathers]

I have been using a CPAP since December 2009. In the last month, I have noticed what I thought was just flattened hair where the top strap fits over my head. Two weeks ago, it was apparent that it was thinning hair. I take methotrexate for another health condition (not cancer) and it did cause initial thinning of my long hair and I have since cut it short. I am wearing a ski cap now with the strap on top of the hat. I think it is helping but would like to know if they make a specific type of cap to wear for this issue. Thanks!

[cobra4x4]

In your review you mentioned the Swift ... Which version?

I ask because with the hose coming out of the side it sounds like you tested the Swift II which is a much older version.

The Swift II has the capability to move the hose to either side, you just need to pull the cap off the one end and the hose from the other and switch sides.