Dreamwear: air out the top?

I have been using a PR Dreamwear for a few weeks now. Last night, I noticed there is a flow of air coming out on top near where the hose from the machine attaches. The air flow is coming from around where the plastic cylinder rotates freely inside the fitting, not where the hose goes over the cylinder. I am just asking if this is normal. I never noticed it before.

I think what you are feeling is right where the normal venting holes are so it is to be expected and considered normal.
The bulk of the normal venting comes out at the top with only a small amount of venting occurring at the cushion.
With the venting coming out the top there is no bouncing back onto your face or over onto your bed partner. Less chance of vented air being annoying to anyone.

I took a close look at it. There are no actual holes at the hose fitting. It is obviously designed to be a rotary fitting. The plastic tube that the hose plugs on to rotates in the fitting housing. The fit is rather loose and there is no specific seal (like an o-ring) so air comes out around the rotating tube. If that is by design, then fine, but just thought I'd check.

Give me a little bit to dig out my DreamWear mask and play with it to see if what I feel is what you feel.
I do know that the primary venting is out the top by design.
Never really looked to see what holes (if any) there were to accomplish this feat.
I will report back shortly.

The vent holes are very close to the junction between the hard plastic "O" thing meets the soft silicone frame.
While I suppose it is possible that the O junction isn't completely fitted properly which would allow for some air leaking out the O junction....those vent holes are so close to the junction that it would be really difficult to figure out where the air is coming from when just feeling it on top of our head.

It's real easy to make sure that the big O fitting area is properly fitted though...easy to see with mask in your hands before putting it on your head.

The vent holes are between the O thing on the frame and the white part that attaches to the long hose....they are in the clear area in between. I can't see them well enough to count them but maybe around 12 little tiny holes.

ok, Thanks. I will look again tonight. Maybe my "close look" wasn't close enough

rhodesengr wrote:I have been using a PR Dreamwear for a few weeks now. Last night, I noticed there is a flow of air coming out on top near where the hose from the machine attaches. The air flow is coming from around where the plastic cylinder rotates freely inside the fitting, not where the hose goes over the cylinder. I am just asking if this is normal. I never noticed it before.

I, too, swore, that that part of the hose and attachment was/is loose on my mask. It actually was roaring and my spouse could hear it. I felt it was not normal. even hubby looked at it and thought it was leaking. It was a loose fit for sure. I felt I was not getting enough air blown in.

due to other issues plus this one, I am back to wearing my old mask and a chin strap.

DeniseR7 wrote:

rhodesengr wrote:I have been using a PR Dreamwear for a few weeks now. Last night, I noticed there is a flow of air coming out on top near where the hose from the machine attaches. The air flow is coming from around where the plastic cylinder rotates freely inside the fitting, not where the hose goes over the cylinder. I am just asking if this is normal. I never noticed it before.

I, too, swore, that that part of the hose and attachment was/is loose on my mask. It actually was roaring and my spouse could hear it. I felt it was not normal. even hubby looked at it and thought it was leaking. It was a loose fit for sure. I felt I was not getting enough air blown in.

due to other issues plus this one, I am back to wearing my old mask and a chin strap.

Hmmm, interesting. I actually find very LITTLE airflow from the vent holes in the elbow connection at the top and NONE around the fitting. I get a LOT of venting from the cushion--opposite what Pugsy found. Maybe that's why I find the DreamWear so silent while other people are really complaining of the noise. Perhaps there's a defect in some of them?

The Dreamwear has a vent at the top where the hose fits into the frame. This gives it two vents as there is also one at the bottom of the nasal piece.

yes. for sure holes at the top. Saw them clearly when I took a "closer" close look. Not sure why I didn't see them the first time. I also did a little test and the air is definitely coming out the little holes and not around the rotary joint. So I guess my question is answered. Air coming out at the top is intentional.

I do see what folks are saying about the possibility for noise from rushing air sound. If anything gets too close to either the front vent or top vent, you can get some sound. Just life in the CPAP lane I guess. Overall, I like the Dreamwear better than the P10 as it doesn't need any adjusting and repositioning in the middle of the night, or at least much less that my p10.

One thing I have noticed is regarding side sleeping. I mostly back sleep because my bed is elevated. When I side sleep with the DW, I have had several instances of waking up in the middle of the night with a very dry mouth. So it seems I start mouth breathing. I don't recall this happening with the P10.

Dreamwear vs P10. Feels more secure. Waking up less. Needs less fiddling with during the night. No soreness from wearing it at all.

I still have a swift FX to try.

I have lost track of time, but I am a fairly new CPAP person. I think about a month now? I started with a eson nasal mask and then for a week or so I have had this dreamwear mask.

Between the two? I ADORE the dreamwear mask. The day I got it I slept for 81/2 hrs with it.
(Previously I hadn't slept more than an hour)

I think it is pretty leaky.
I am unsure if I am even wearing it right at times.

I also the same day bought an old school waterbed.
...and I installed fans to blow on me so hard from every direction that they drown out any cpap noise or leaks.

I am having lots of ocean and boat dreams.
Loving the storms.

I have no idea of how my therapy is really going because I am just trying to collect some real data first.
I suspect that all the motion from the waterbed may be having an effect?

I still haven't learned what yellow RERA's are ... but I seem to have A LOT of them in the last few days.
...and virtually NO purple Clear Airway (Central).

...but I think this mask is a MILLION times better than my first mask.

One question I do have is that ... is this dreamwear definitely a nasal mask and not a pillow mask?
So no changes need to be made to my settings, right?

Keep it nasal?

It is crazy that I have absolutely ZERO medical support.
I'd b!tch and complain about it ... but I don't even care.

I think y'all are better than I need and I will slowly get up to speed.

I use a ResMed. I have noticed the same problem. There is a huge amount of air blowing upwards into my eyes. This is so bad that I have to use silicone goggles to stop the eyes from becoming irritated. There is a large number of small holes at the top of the fixed ring which is attached to the swivel connection at the top of the hose. On the underside of the ring, there is a much smaller number of holes, with no holes in the middle. I was wondering whether this ring had been attached the wrong way round. It is not possible to alter it.

grAssmObile wrote:I use a ResMed. I have noticed the same problem. There is a huge amount of air blowing upwards into my eyes. This is so bad that I have to use silicone goggles to stop the eyes from becoming irritated. There is a large number of small holes at the top of the fixed ring which is attached to the swivel connection at the top of the hose. On the underside of the ring, there is a much smaller number of holes, with no holes in the middle. I was wondering whether this ring had been attached the wrong way round. It is not possible to alter it.

You are responding to a year old post...but...if you want help with your problem, fill your equipment in your profile so we know what machine/mask you are using. The holes are important for releasing CO2...don't cover them.

Grace~~~ wrote:I have lost track of time... and then for a week or so I have had this dreamwear mask.

Between the two? I ADORE the dreamwear mask. The day I got it I slept for 81/2 hrs with it.
(Previously I hadn't slept more than an hour)

Wauu, I always loose track of time but there I am stunned. I want one too. I never slept more than 9/2 hrs with my full face mask.

well since the thread cam back alive, I'll post an update. Dreamwear continues to be my primary mask. However, I have to use it with a chin strap. Otherwise I do much mouth breathing and I wake up in the middle of the night with extremely dry mouth. I don't really like having to also use the chin strap but seems I am stuck with it. Since it seems I am a mouth breather, you would think a full face mask would be a better solution. In the last year, I have tried a bunch of them and just can't get them to work for me. Either they make the bridge of nose sore or I get all kinds of little annoying air leaks around the mask.

I had high hopes for the Amara View but get too many leak issues with it.

I get consistently good numbers with the DW and chin strap. My 30 day AHI is something like 1.2. I am running my machine at 10 cm h2o and it rarely goes over 11.