DreamWear Problem

Not really expecting anyone could assist me with this - just doing some "venting" - geddit - mask, air - vent....... anyway!!!

I recently finished up my CPAP trial and toward the end of it I was using a medium frame, medium nose piece DreamWear mask and was doing pretty well with it. Had a couple of minor leaks but nothing to be worried about.

Now I've purchased my own machine (Resmed 10 Elite - was using Resmed 10 Autoset in trial - but in CPAP mode) and DreamWear mask, I'm having issues with the mask now! First few nights were fine, but then I started getting a little bit of pain on the inside of my nose (near the tip of my nose). Then for a couple of nights I started getting (according to Sleepyhead) significant, but still in acceptable range, large leaks (assume cause its' hurting a bit, I'm pulling at it in my sleep to adjust it, hence the leaking). I though I may have over tightened the mask so I loosened it off a bit - last night was a disaster! Sleepyhead basically gave up saying you're beyond help - go see your supplier!!! Large leaks all over the place! AHI was still under 1 however.

Can't understand why I was doing so well on the borrowed DreamWear, but my new one is giving me problems...... can these things take a while to "work in" and settle down?

Full disclosure - in my cpap trial, my pressure settings were staring at 6, ramp up to 9 On my new machine they've upped my pressure to 10, and I've set my starting pressure at 8 (still found it hard to breath starting at 6).

davidb01 wrote:Not really expecting anyone could assist me with this - just doing some "venting" - geddit - mask, air - vent....... anyway!!!

*snobby butler voice* "Very droll, sir"

I have been using the Dreamwear as well and I was getting a soreness under the nose. It takes some adjustments and to make sure you are wearing the frame correctly. I thought I would try the Dreamwear but it is not working for me because I breath out of mouth. My primary mask is an Amara View which seems to be working for me. I do struggle with leaks from time to time. There is a good video on the Phillips Respironics website to show how to wear the Dreamwear. https://www.sleepapnea.com/products/mas ... rview.html

I am not currently wearing my DreamWear mask because after using it for a couple of months and fighting it I switched back to my old mask.
It has been relegated to the number 2 or backup status. But to your sore nose, I had the same problem wearing a medium per the template guide provided
but ended up using the extra wide. That took care of that issue.

The Dreamwear was great until I tried to sleep on my side. Then nothing but loud noises and leaks. Of all the nasal masks I tried, the Dreamwear was the worst ever.

Not sure what's going on with it!!!

I've had it for about 2 weeks now, the first 10 nights - no problems at all and no leaks! Then - my last 4 nights have been significant leaks, significant leaks, major leaks, major leaks! On period last night it was leaking for about 20 mins!

I may try the medium-wide pillow as bryansong suggests....

I hope I'm not starting to open my mouth at night. I have always been a mouth breather and thought I'd need to go full-face mask. Then, when I started my trail I was surprised how natural it was for me to keep my mouth closed now I was getting enough air to breath through my nose (I've always felt, when lying down, I could never get enough air through my nose). A few nights ago my wife said I was opening my mouth and it sounded like a jet engine taking off! (though - sleepyhead didn't report any significant leaks that night!). I really hope I'm not reverting to being a mouth breather!

So just how much is

davidb01 wrote:last 4 nights have been significant leaks, significant leaks, major leaks, major leaks

?? How much time total (% of the night in large leak)?

Are you sleeping through the leaks that you are seeing reported?

Hi Pugsy,

I'll post some Sleepyhead data later this evening when I get home from work!

I do vaguely remember fiddling with the mask during the night - but not often. So it is waking me slightly, but it's not constant or anything (I'd get more disturbance from kids during the night than I would the mask).

It's not affecting my AHI - that's still consistently under 1.

As promised, here's my Sleepyhead data for the last week. As you can see - day after day, large Leak rate was 0%, then a couple of days 3% and 5% (still no big deal) but then over 20% and then 14%. I'll monitor it for the next couple of nights, but I have an appointment with me sleep clinic on Thursday.... I can swap my mask within 30 day purchase, so if I continue like this for the next couple of nights I may swap it for something else.

Hi there, newbie first time post, long time reader...

Recently diagnosed with OSA and CSA ...I had a loaner bipap machine issued by my doctor to collect data, (yes, I updated my profile, but will post more information), and I'll get my own machine in the next week or two...but I had the same nasal dreamwear and I had some irritation after 7-10 days of using it. I sleep on my side. Someone suggested "badger balm" which I have on order, but I used Burt's bees "Sensitive skin daily moisture cream - with cotton extract" on my upper lip, nose area pre-sleep and then the day after and I seem to see a noticeable improvement in irritaion. More to come...

NJbreather

Ive been up and down with my Dreamwear. For awhile I even thought I couldnt use it because it seemed like it just wouldnt stay in place. The last week Ive been using 3B cream and just tightened the straps a bit with huge success. I think you can make it work but have to keep on tweaking it.

Seems my problem is that I'm opening my mount at night. Took my DreamWear back yesterday and got an Amara View to try - absolutely horrible mask! Only way I could get air to stop leaking into my eyes was to pull harder on the straps which then hurt the sides of my face (it's very rigid on the sides of the actual mask which dig into my cheeks).

However it did cut out any large leaks. I still had significant periods of major leakage (according to Sleepyhead, probably cause I was pulling at it and adjusting it all the time!), but for the 3.5hours I managed to use it for I had no large leaks at all.

I've now swapped that one for a Resmed F10 to try - see how I go with that.

I probably still get a DreamWear eventually too and see if I can train myself to use it, but for now - looks like it's full-face for me! (Bummer!)

David, buy a soft cervical collar (cheap as chips from your local pharmacy) and use this. I couldn't use my P10 nasal pillows because of mouth breathing and changed to a Dreamwear. No change so I went for a chinstrap. While it worked it was yet another constriction. The collar changed everything. My Dreamwear, soft cervical collar and I are beginnning to enjoy an uninterrupted nights sleep.

I also practice using my tongue to stop mouth breathing during the day, directing airflow through my nose. Unless I'm exercising I only nose breathe during the day and this is now becoming part of my nightly routine.

Try the collar and see what happens.

Good luck

davidb01 wrote:Seems my problem is that I'm opening my mount at night. Took my DreamWear back yesterday and got an Amara View to try - absolutely horrible mask! Only way I could get air to stop leaking into my eyes was to pull harder on the straps which then hurt the sides of my face (it's very rigid on the sides of the actual mask which dig into my cheeks).

However it did cut out any large leaks. I still had significant periods of major leakage (according to Sleepyhead, probably cause I was pulling at it and adjusting it all the time!), but for the 3.5hours I managed to use it for I had no large leaks at all.

I've now swapped that one for a Resmed F10 to try - see how I go with that.

I probably still get a DreamWear eventually too and see if I can train myself to use it, but for now - looks like it's full-face for me! (Bummer!)

I'm finding the back strap of the DreamWear is stretching so I've had to cinch it up again. I feel a little bit like I have a pig nose, but my AHI went from 0.3 to 0.0, 2 nights in a row now, after tightening it up. I'm sleeping better, too.

Dreading a little bit when the weather heats up. I don't relish the feeling of silicone against my sweaty face (the part that goes under the nose).

I'll be going back to my DreamWear and just teaching myself to keep my mouth closed (great tips - thanks!). As I mentioned above, I first tried and Amara View - hated it! Uncomfortable as anything! So then tried a Resmed F10.... only way I could get it to stop leaking was to pull it tight and then it felt hard on my cheeks (and also made it feel claustrophobic). Also - my AHI for the night was 3.9 with a couple of central apneas! With the dreamwear my AHI is consistently under 1 (even with the leaks) and I never have centrals! So - I'll be getting my Dreamwear back from my sleep clinic and be training myself to keep my mouth closed!