Boo hoo - no lab rat needed.

I received my much awaited ComfortLite2. I had an elaborate and very kewl lab rat plan for the nasal pillows - given I could use them, which I wasn't certain at all I would be able to. My first experience with nasal pillows rubbed my nares raw and I couldn't get enough air.

The UPS driver came while I was home and it took everything in me not to tackle him. I took my precious delivery and went to face the mirror and the verdict on yet another mask. I dreaded putting this large ugly thing on my head, but hey, my earlobes have had enough of the Mirage Vista headgear digging into them.

I was surprised when I lifted the mask out of the box how incredibly light it was. I lifted it over my head and threaded my ponytail through the top - it slid in place like it was made for me. I didn't have to adjust one strap. This immediately made me suspicious. There was certainly a conspiracy by Respironics to best my Resmed Mirage Vista, that had served me for a year.

Then I dutifully tried the various interfaces: Nasal pillows small and medium and nasal cushion small and medium. The mask was so easy to adjust between the scroll wheel to adjust the length of the piece to the nose and the two fingered clip to adjust the angle to the face. Now I just had to try the simple nasal cushion. I was surprised to find the small was like wearing a rudolph nose, it wouldn't even fit over my entire nose and the medium was too small pressing on the side of my nose which made my already deviated septum close further.

Oh no! Now what. I can't use nasal pillows. I decided to give them a try. The headgear was so light and comfortable, maybe I could stand toughening up my nares to the abuse of nightly direct seal pillows.

I used them for two nights with the expected resulting redness and the beginnings of sores. Then out of desperation, before the third night I tried the medium nasal pillows. Voila and eureka! Perfect fit! I slept through the night and felt rested. Wow! No rubbing or soreness.

Just in case this honeymoon phase ends, I hedged my bet by ordering a large simple nasal cushion. It arrived and proved to fit perfectly over my rather small nose. I have to wonder how anyone with a more noble proboscis would be able to use the simple cushion as it doesn't come in extra large. The large wouldn't fit my hubby's nose.

I have determined that this seemingly bulky giant of a headgear is actually light and comfortable. After one short week, I don't seem to need either a nasal pillow lab rat or a strap to keep the nasal interface secure. Drat! Perhaps over time the need will prove out. If not, I'll just have to live with a mask that for me, has proven to be a perfect fit.

By the way, my numbers have settled down and AHI is once again under 1. A curious thing however, is that my pressure is higher. Leaks aren't bad, but it seems to take more pressure to prevent events than it did with my Mirage Vista mask.

LOL!!! Good report, Gasp. Glad to hear it's fitting you and working out so well. The CL2 worked well for me too, although I did have to do a few fixes. Hope you get many, many nights of good sleep with it!

Congratulations! I liked the CL2 the best of any nasal pillows mask I tried. I especially liked the many areas of adjustment. The Medium nasal pillows fit me best. And evenutally I also tried the simple nasal cushion. But I found I liked the Small simple nasal cushion better than the Medium nasal pillows. I liked the way it fit lower on my nose, just below the bridge. Since using the CL2 I've always thought that it was a great first mask for new patients to try since it gave them the opportunity to try both nasal pillows AND nasal cushion plus it comes w/two sizes of each. It was because of the CL2's simple nasal cushion that I tried the old Respironics Simplicity Petite simple nasal cushion which has turned out to be my most favorite mask of all.

Thanks Rested Gal and Slinky : ) I did sleep well with it, even through all the thunder storms we had last night - a first! Now if only my hubby would have slept I may not have had to get up as early!

Slinky, I looked at your fav mask and it looks like the nasal cushion is a bit wider at the bottom. I wish my nasal cushion size medium nasal cushion would have worked as it fit better height wise from the bridge of the nose to the bottom of my nose. If it were wider it wouldn't have pushed the sides of my nose in. Yoo hoo, Respironics, are you listening? : )

Also, it looks like the hose on your fav has to be directed out below the face versus over the top of the head. I like over the top - but so glad it works for you!

Thanks, Gasp, for posting your observations. I have always felt that the CL2 has the most comprehensive design. With the height and angle adjustments, the 3 interface types in multiple sizes and the spacing and curve adjustments for the nasal pillows and direct seals, it is the best "straight out of the box" solution. Add the headgear with four anchor points and is a great recommendation for those wanting to try a comfortable and stable nasal interface.

Gasp,

Glad to hear you slept through the night with the CL2! I sometimes wear that one .... and always get a chuckle when I put it on. It rubbed against my forehead so Karen made a CL2 padacheek for me - it is pink and purple. When I look in the mirror it looks like I have a giant psychelic bug on my head

Like some of the other masks I've tried, it works for me some of the time .... and when it works it works really well. I've been through 8 or 9 masks so far and have 3-4 that I use on a fairly regular basis. Can you tell I'm impatient? Or perhaps I should say patience-challenged?

Mindy

I have nasal pillows and the simple cushion. I love the way the simple cushion feels, but it leaks like a sieve. Does anyone have suggestions on how to stop the leaks with the simple cushion?

I would love to try direct seal pillow some time too. If anyone has any they are willing to give up (I'll pay for them), let me know. I would probably try the 2 smaller sizes.

Treesap wrote:I have nasal pillows and the simple cushion. I love the way the simple cushion feels, but it leaks like a sieve. Does anyone have suggestions on how to stop the leaks with the simple cushion?

I liked the simple cushion too and had the same problem you are having with it. A simple homemade strap around my head to cradle and steady the little nose thingy took care of that for me. I use the homemade cradling strap around nasal pillows too, to keep them steady.

The homemade strap:
Leg cut off a pair of pantyhose tights (TIGHTS, not regular pantyhose.)

Tied behind head with a doublestart knot :
http://www.fieggen.com/shoelace/doublestartknot.htm

One of two homemade straps can be routed like so:
http://www.tnlc.com/Lara/laura/osa/aura-strap6ways.jpg
That picture shows them being used with the Headrest mask, but one or two homemade straps can work wonders with the ComfortLite 2 as well as with many other masks.

[quote="rested gal"]A simple homemade strap around my head to cradle and steady the little nose thingy took care of that for me. I use the homemade cradling strap around nasal pillows too, to keep them steady.

I've used Rested Gal's homemade straps for various masks to stabilize - they are very comfortable and work well

Mindy

mindy wrote:Gasp,

Glad to hear you slept through the night with the CL2! I sometimes wear that one .... and always get a chuckle when I put it on. It rubbed against my forehead so Karen made a CL2 padacheek for me - it is pink and purple. When I look in the mirror it looks like I have a giant psychelic bug on my head

Like some of the other masks I've tried, it works for me some of the time .... and when it works it works really well. I've been through 8 or 9 masks so far and have 3-4 that I use on a fairly regular basis. Can you tell I'm impatient? Or perhaps I should say patience-challenged?

Mindy

Oh! I want a pad-a-forehead too! I'm sew fairly well so do you think I could make one, or does it involve special materials not easily obtained that Karen is able to get?

Hi Gasp,

Here's the web page with the picture of the CL2 "psychedelic bug. The fabric I got is the very last swatch at the bottom of the page (pink/purple tie dye) and it's even better for real than on the web page Even though I do sew, this one is a little more complex and getting the sizing just right would be a bit more of a challenge than I feel like going through!

http://www.padacheek.com/PACCL2.html

Mindy

mindy wrote:Hi Gasp,

Here's the web page with the picture of the CL2 "psychedelic bug. The fabric I got is the very last swatch at the bottom of the page (pink/purple tie dye) and it's even better for real than on the web page Even though I do sew, this one is a little more complex and getting the sizing just right would be a bit more of a challenge than I feel like going through!

http://www.padacheek.com/PACCL2.html

Mindy

Thanks so much! I think I'll give it a go myself. Also, I'm going to add a hose cover for the exposed hose to hopefully reduce rainout. I'll post a picture when I've completed the project. Woo hoo - a lab rat is needed after all : )

testforecho wrote:Any chance to have the nasal cushion here in Australia?

You are responding to a post that is over 8 years old.