My review of the Respironics Dreamwear!

http://cpapguy.blogspot.com/2016/02/res ... eview.html

Hello! I have been using the Respironics Dreamwear nasal mask, with a size medium nasal cushion, for a little over thirty consecutive days. This mask has been on the market for a few months, and there are a considerable number of reviews available to you! I hope that my personal experience can offer you some insight into the mask itself and what it has to offer, along with the problems that I encountered! So, let’s get to it!


The Respironics Dreamwear: What’s included?
• Medium Frame (The frame of this mask is not solid plastic. It is the tubing that connects to the nasal cushion and sits along the cheeks to the top of the head.)
o You can also get this piece in a small or large frame if needed.
• Small, medium, large and medium nasal cushions (This is the piece that touches your face sitting directly underneath your nose.)
• One size fits most headgear.
• Fabric wraps (These are velcro wraps that offer extra padding along the mask frame.)
• Quick connect at the exhalation port elbow

The Respironics Dreamwear: Specifications
• Weight: 0.81 lbs (I cannot find this information anywhere online, so I weighed it myself)
• Small frame length: 19 in
• Medium frame length: 20 in
• Large frame length: 22 in
• Not made with natural rubber latex
• Category: Nasal Mask
• HCPCS Reimbursement Code: A7034. A7035, A7032


The Pros
• It is lightweight and able to maneuver in lots of different positions.
• There is no pressure at the bridge of the nose.
• I can finally wear a mask similar to pillows.

The Cons
• Tubing at the top of head is somewhat awkward throughout the night.
• Exhalation port noise.
• Discomfort directly underneath the nose and above lip.
• The frame stretches over time causing the mask to be over tightened to assure leak control.


My Personal Experience

As I wrote above, I’ve worn this mask for thirty days. And this frame of time is crucial into what I’ve experienced. When I first started using this mask, I found it was very comfortable and relaxing. The range of movement I had with the tubing connected at the top of head was comforting as I moved from side to side. Even so when somewhat pushing the mask into my pillow throughout the night. I did not have to wear the headgear tightly, just snug.

The comfort began to change after thirteen to sixteen-days. I noticed that leaking was starting to become a factor. Now, I want to be clear; this was not according to any clinically downloaded data through any external software. My leak was within normal limits. The leak I experienced was based entirely on comfort. I noticed that the silicone frame had stretched, and needed tightened; this has become worse over time, but at the one month mark, it seems to have reached the limit (so far).

The comfort of the mask was now starting to decline. Not greatly by any means, but considerably after how well it fit in the beginning. The seal was solid throughout the night, due to having to tighten the mask. However, this created a pressure point underneath my nose pushing on my mustache, upper lip, and nostril. I was waking throughout the night with discomfort. It did not cause any sore or irritation. After a hot face rinse, I never had a continuing problem throughout the work day.

My review of this mask may be somewhat biased because I was very much hoping for a mask that I could use that was similar to the nasal pillow style. I have never been able to tolerate a nasal pillow due to the structure of my nostrils and to hold a seal, so I was very much determined to make this particular style work. I have to say that I am very much impressed with the range of movement you have, even if the headgear must be tightened over time. You still have the exhalation port noise that comes with covering them slightly with a pillow or sheet. However, it adds a great strength to the mask.

The Dreamwear is stated by Phillips Respironics to be a nasal cushion style when billed through insurance. However, the way it interacts with your nasal passage and fit, it resembles much more a nasal pillow (in my opinion). So it truly is somewhere in between a nasal pillow and a nasal cushion not only in the build but also in the way it interacts with you! So, I took the same precautions most patients receive when using nasal pillows. Acclimating to the pressure intensity, humidifier utilization and furthermore as this helped greatly with my comfort.

In ending of my small review; I like this mask very much! I believe there are some users out there that could benefit from the mask and also, a number that likely won’t. That doesn’t make it an unsatisfactory mask by any means. If you are looking for a comparable mask to nasal pillow but want something that is not as obtrusive, then give the Dreamwear a test drive! I think you will find it comfortable, and you may not even have the issues that I experienced!

I hope my little bit of information helps someone along the way! Have a great night of sleep!

Nearly identical to my experience except that my trouble began earlier than 13 days out. The first few days, I thought it couldn't get any better although the noise was a problem at all times. When the mask was a tiny bit out of place, I had my breathing obstructed in addition to the leak noise waking me. I tried a new cushion in another size. It became harder and harder to keep the nose cushion in the correct position, and I developed a decent sized sore beneath my nose. I woke up with pain, too.

This mask is SO close to the perfect solution to me.... But being able to breathe is very important. In my case it was not just exhaust hitting anything causing noise but flow through the frame, which got louder when I was on my side.

I also told the DME that they really should package this mask with a short lightweight hose so that you don't have that heavy heated tubing pulling on your head.... That really negated the benefits of the top of the head connection to me.

Thank you for your excellent review.

I too have the dreamwear mask and like but haven't been wearing the last few nights. I will be going back to it after a short break from use.

I have a couple of issues with it, I currently have a scab under the nose on the philtrum from where the bottom of the make rides. I'm going to let that heal
and maybe that area will toughen up. This is probably caused because the head gear had to be pulled so tight to stop the leaking, seal. I might be able to loosen it a little.

The other issue, is I wake in the night having to adjust the interface because it's moved and restricting my breathing. I does have a sweet spot that's some times hard to find.
My wife told me that one night my mask was making lots of noise but I wasn't snoring so she figured I was ok. I'm sure that happens when my mask interface is misaligned.

I'm hoping these issues get worked out because I do want this to be my full time mask.


Bryan

Sounds like a nice mask, which I will not be trying until they make one in my size.

I tried the Dreamwear. I tried both the regular version and the smaller size. No luck in getting it to fit. Even with the fit pack of nose pieces to work with. With only the back strap adjustable, I could not get it to fit.
Also note, it does not come with a short hose.

I didn't mention I tried the Medium frame first but was having trouble when
someone mention I might need the Large frame instead so I purchased the large.
It is a better fit for me.

I would add that it is important for people to use the smallest sized cushion that fits their nose regardless of what the fitting card says. It pretty much says this in the instructions, but it is easy to overlook.

I came from a P10, and after a week, decided to go back to the P10.

For me, the medium frame didn't fit my head. The large fits, but, for my head shape, it doesn't fit very securely. It is constantly sliding around, and I certainly would not be able to use it without hanging the hose from overhead. The ability to drag the hose around was one of the things that drew me to the mask, so this is definitely a minus for me.

The mask fits well when I put it on at night, but by morning, for reasons I cannot explain, there are leaks that I just cannot control.

The vent is really only good for me if I am not partially burying my face, which is the position I like to sleep in. In this position, it is constantly bouncing off my pillow, and making lots of noise. I don't even notice the vent with the P10. The mask itself is much noisier to me than the P10.

The P10 has a much more minimalist feel, although I am sure I would get used to the straps on the Dreamwear if I wore it for long enough.

Finally, my AHI, and snore index are higher when using the Dreamwear. With the P10, both of these are almost non-existent.

With the toughening up of my nose over the last several months, the P10 almost feels like nothing at all, even if I am burying my face a little, and the hose is putting pressure on my nose. While I am certain that the Dreamwear is a great mask for some people, it is definitely not the right mask for me.

Michelle-OH wrote: Sounds like I'll be sticking with my P10 if the dreamwear is louder, I like to bury my face too. And if you still have to hang the hose, even with the top of the mask attachment, that's a bummer.

Don't get me wrong. I have read stores of people who can drag the hose along with the mask no problem. I think this is an issue with the way the mask fits my particular head, and not an necessarily a problem for everyone.

I would like to add that the headgear strap slides up the back of my head, and then the mask gets pulled off by the tubing when I turn to the other side. I find that if I wake up enough to pull the back strap down, the mask will seal again. The problem with that, of course, is that I have to wake up enough to figure out the problem and fix it, so by then I am plenty awake. I think the strap would be more effective if it fit lower on the back of the head. The constant sliding up and down also makes knots in my hair.

I have to keep the mask tighter than I would like for it to seal well. That mashes the tissues of my face and causes some interesting bags under my eyes. Not the look I prefer.

I considered adding a strap but I think that might hamper the airflow on the sides.

Having used nasal pillows for about 9 years, I really like the nose cushion because it doesn't go inside my nose. Comfortable and soft. this feature alone makes me want to use this mask and find a way to have it work for me.

I have the medium frame with the "fit pack" of cushions. I changed from the small to medium cushion, and that worked better. I may experiment with the other sizes.

I still want a perfect mask.

Catnapper - Joanie

Catnapper wrote: I still want a perfect mask.

I don't think it exists. I know a couple of people in real life who have used cpap for years. One uses nasal pillows, and the other uses a nasal mask. Both of them chose the best mask they could find, and neither would switch now because they have gotten so used to the peculiarities of their chosen masks that they no longer really notice them.

After my Dreamwear experience, I think that the P10 will be my mask for a very long time.

If I ever manage to lose a substantial amount of weight, I will for sure be making a sleep lab appointment to confirm my continued need of CPAP.

It will not replace my P10 but it will give me a change when my nose gets sore.

I have mixed feelings, I think. It seems a lot better than the Wisp and Eson, which I used for the Densensitization and Titration, respectively. I have no soreness anywhere either, and like that it is light-weight and so on. But-- it's quite loud. Even when it's adjusted right. Have a hard time adjusting it as well. The line between leaking like a sieve and not is very marginal, and you can move around and get it leaking. I would guess the noise MIGHT be due to minor tiny little adjustment between your nose and skin-- at least what I am thinking, because once in awhile I can get it to not make noise, but it doesn't seem to last.

I like the attachment at the top-- seems to keep the tube completely out of the way.

Nice review, CPAPguy.
I have been using the Dreamwear for more than 3 months now, and still really like it. I have the hose suspended on the headboard of the bed, so don't notice it or feel the need for a short hose. Am also still using my original frame and nosepiece, no leak issues yet unless it needs to be realigned after sleeping on my side.
I had not been able to get used to the Swift FX or P10. Both irritated my nose and I hated the elephant trunk hose in my way. The Dreamwear has yet to make my nose sore or bother my cheeks.
I'm not sure my CPAP compliance would be very good without this mask! This said, I totally agree that each of us has different issues and preferences and YMMV.