Optilife mask

Well I finally got my Optilife mask. The Apria rep brought it on tuesday. It only took me about 1/2 hour to show him how to put it together and adjust the straps. It is really just a matter of picking the right size pillow and tightening the straps.
First night went badly. I used the medium pillows and had leaks all night. I tried all kinds of adjustments, still had major leaks. Kind of got used to the CL2 hose routed over my head and the optilife hose hangs down,but it only took a little while to get used to that. I did use Padacheeks and the headgear was really very comfortable. The plastic part that the headgear hooks onto doesn't touch your face, only the straps. I could sleep in all positions with no trouble.
Night two, I used a rubberband around the pillows to pull them closer together. Slept much better, no leaks! Checked my smartcard and found my #'s were about the same as always. AHI under 0.5, no large leaks.
The Optilife is quieter than the hybrid and CL2 but the exhaust comes out in a more concentrated stream. It is VERY loud when it hits the sheets or my arm, and DH(who likes to feel the breeze from the hybrid and CL2) wasn't happy when the air hit him.
The only real down side to this mask (for me anyway) is the hose. It is very stiff and has a tendency to pull at the pillows when I roll over. It hasn't pulled the pillows out of my nares but it is uncomfortable.I've read that the hose softens up over time, we'll see.
Over all this is a very nice, easy to use mask. Of course, mouth breathers will still have to tape.

Brenda

bdp522 wrote:Well I finally got my Optilife mask. The Apria rep brought it on tuesday. It only took me about 1/2 hour to show him how to put it together and adjust the straps.

LOL! Glad you were able to walk him through it...

Thanks for the review!

When I first started therapy, I tried the nasal pillows on the CL2. After 3 nights I switched to the simple cushion and have been using that for 10 months now.

With that in mind, does someone who couldn't tolerate the nasal pillows stand a chance of liking the Optilife? I'm way past due for a new mask, but just haven't been able to decide if there is one out there I would like any better than my ComfortLite 2 with simple cushions. The RT at my DME says that all her patients who have tried the Optilife have loved it, but that they were all pillows users to begin with.

I am so new to this that I shouldn't even be allowed to post! I will say that I had a hard time with the CL2 nasal pillows and tried the Optilife. Somewhat better, BUT, I read here to use a gel and I bought Balmex skin protectant from Walmart. Sure does make the nose happier.

Mike
PS, I am trying the CL2 again tonight, but I'm agonna lube up the nose first.

The optilife nasal pillows are stiffer than the CL2 and hybrid pillows. It does help to use ayr gel, chapstick, lanolin, or any lubricant. I have read that the pillows soften up after a week or so, I will use the Optilife for a couple of weeks to see if this is the case. Like any new mask...each night the Optilife is a little better.

LindaB, what was it about the nasal pillows that you didn't like? If it was the fact that something was touching the nares, you won't like the Optilife. If it was soreness, you might try a lubricant. Actually if they made a simple cushion for this mask (looks like it would be easy enough to do), I think many more people would be able to use it.

Brenda

I'm a 30+ day hose-head newbie and I've been using the OptiLife for 9 nights now and I am loving it! This is my 4th mask and the best so far. My second fav is the ComfortLite2, but the plastic head gear was a bit much.

I've been able to manage the hose by clipping it to the upper edge of my pillow, on the bed edge side. I tuck the hose under the pillow slightly, along the edge, to help support the weight of the hose and huggie. I have enough hose length that I can roll over and face the middle of the bed and not pull on the mask. The hose lays over my shoulder in this position. When I roll over to the edge, the hose falls onto the bed beside me.

I also find that the silicone nasal pillows need washed every day (like all masks) to keep a good seal. I was also using a size that felt good but had leaks, so I went up a size and now no leaks!

Hope that helps.

-Rich