Bleep/DreamPort nasal mask review thread

[bjhunt01]

I sorted it out last night, but did still notice significant noise on inhale. I sent Bleep a recording to confirm if that's expected.

I'll try the silicon tape.

Stuart confirmed the noise wasn't unexpected (so don't expect "silence"), but he suggested making sure the diffuser is tight against the vent, potentially using rubber bands to ensure that.

This is what I have done once ... the noise has completely disappeared. But my spo2 level went down, not drastically but I decided not to pursue it that way. The other problem that arose was that it was difficult to exhale without using a flex mode. And I do not like the flex mode respironics ... it settles a decallage the way I breathe and expires and the way that the algorithm of the cpap provides that I will do it.

Just wondering: what sort of spo2 change did you note?

I finally tried the rubber band technique last night, and turned on the spo2 tracking for my garmin. If we trust the numbers, says avg dropped from 94% to 92%.

Is that worth worrying about?

Sorry for the delay, I had not seen the notification. 92-94 spo2, no worries to be there. The important thing is to wake up fresh like a rose. By cons I'm not sure that the watches give us a fair reading spo2 level. With a good spo2 device, I went down to 87 when I wanted to eliminate 100% of the noise. I finally chose to accept more noise. Since my last comment on the Bleep, I changed my device for an airsense 10 autoset. Unlike the flex mode of respironocs, the Resmed EPR mode is fantastic to use. For someone with 14-20 pressure like me, the EPR mode makes using the Bleep even more enjoyable. Good luck.

Hi Centrum: What is your EPR set at? And do you use the Ramp? If so at what setting and for how many minutes? Thanks!

[KungFuCow]

The problem I continue to have is the deal breaking during the night and waking me up. I am using the Bleep pads to clean my face after showering and Ive only managed to make it through one night with the mask staying sealed. Even trimming the ports and using the excess to plug holes hasnt helped. Go to bed with it all sealed up, wake up at 3AM with air blowing in my face.

Being able to buy some of the material used for the ports for patching purposes would be great as I could beef up the areas that tend to leak.

Im going to try a stronger astringent tonight and see if that helps and maybe not cut the ports. Im concerned there tho that if I have a leak somewhere, I wont have any material to patch it up.

Id appreciate any feedback from others that may have had this issue and how they resolved it.

Have you confirmed the leaks are at the pads, and not at the dreamport connections?

And have you contacted the company for input? They're super responsive.

I have indeed. I can usually put my finger on the pad and move it around and find the air leak. Im on night 5 with it and only one time did I make it all the way through the night without springing a leak. It typically likes to leak at the top of a nostril hole or Ive had it create an air route up one side of my nose despite being smoothed completely before connecting the ports.

I havent contacted the company. I will do so when I get a chance. Im actually kind of local to them.

[KungFuCow]

I would highly encourage you to call Stuart, the owner of bleep, at 919-619-7170. He’ll do a FaceTime or Skype call with you and go through the whole process. It’s worth the time for sure.

Ill do that. Im confident Im putting them on correctly. Theyre sealed tight when I plug them and blow slightly and the night always starts out great. Things tend to go off the rails in the middle of the night when you dont want them to.

[slowriter]

My suggestions on the Bleep after a few months. I know others have raised some or all of these points, but I figure can't hurt to repeat.

I think the mask would basically be perfect with:

• a more flexible hose, like the Resmed n30 (or the p10, I guess?)
• a diffuser (which I am aware they are working on; the DIY option is a reasonable solution in the meantime)
• I don't know if this is possible, but refinement in the dreamport connection so that it's easier to properly connect, and ensure that connection is correct

[Jas_williams]

I have been using the mask for 8 months now and one area I have leaks is the dream ports connecting to the main body then a slight stream of air blowing in my eyes ihave found if I dampen the silicone in the QR clips then it does not leak there any more,

[slowriter]

... if I dampen the silicone in the QR clips then it does not leak there any more,

How do you dampen it?

I don't have a huge problem with this, but it does pop up from time to time.

[Pugsy]

I have been using the mask for 8 months now and one area I have leaks is the dream ports connecting to the main body then a slight stream of air blowing in my eyes ihave found if I dampen the silicone in the QR clips then it does not leak there any more,

Sounds like maybe the tiny neck of the silicone body going into the plastic clip may have a crimp in it. Disassemble it and put it back together again very carefully. Look down inside the clips to make sure the seal doesn't have a wrinkle in it.

[Jas_williams]

... if I dampen the silicone in the QR clips then it does not leak there any more,

How do you dampen it?

I don't have a huge problem with this, but it does pop up from time to time.

A cotton bud or similar i was considering dismantling everything and giving it a good clean.

[KungFuCow]

So I have to take a second to rave about Stuart.

I called to discuss my issue with him last night and left him a voicemail. He texted me later in the evening.

I replied this morning and after a little back and forth, he came to my work (Im ~40 minutes from him) and discussed port placement with me and we discussed some other concerns I had.

This level of customer service is unheard of and I have to give him huge thanks. Im really looking forward to trying the mask tonight with the knowledge imparted to me and Im stoked to see what the future holds for this mask. I think this may be the future of CPAP mask technology.

Team Bleep!

[slowriter]

So I have to take a second to rave about Stuart.

I called to discuss my issue with him last night and left him a voicemail. He texted me later in the evening.

I replied this morning and after a little back and forth, he came to my work (Im ~40 minutes from him) and discussed port placement with me and we discussed some other concerns I had.

This level of customer service is unheard of and I have to give him huge thanks. Im really looking forward to trying the mask tonight with the knowledge imparted to me and Im stoked to see what the future holds for this mask. I think this may be the future of CPAP mask technology.

Team Bleep!

Very cool.

Were you two able to nail down the problem? Was it just, as you hinted, something about the port placement maybe putting pressure on the adhesive?

[Pugsy]

So I have to take a second to rave about Stuart.

He really is a sweetheart isn't he? He's been using cpap himself for over 20 years. He has been in our shoes first hand.
He really does want to help. He will bend over backwards to try to help someone sort out their issues.
He will be the first to admit the Bleep won't work for everyone...no mask can ever say they can do that anyway.
But if someone wants to make it work and they are having problems....he will go above and beyond normal expectations to help someone work it out.

I hope you get your issues sorted out quickly and successfully. I am coming up on my one year anniversary of using the Bleep.
Still same original equipment he gave me nearly a year ago to try out. Every now and then I have a little bump in the road with it but every bump has been my own making. Usually my laziness jumps up to bite me in the butt. I don't always prep my nose like I should. I got no one to blame but myself.

Folks out there reading this and you have questions...ask them here or give Stuart a call or I can try to help. The phone number posted is his private cell phone....how many people will do that?

I tell you....this no headgear straps and not worrying about sizes of anything and no dents in my cheeks... is pretty darn sweet.
And the few little things that some find annoying ....like hose length or the venting...those are easily fixed. Where there's a will there is a way.

And improvements to the Bleep are in the works. All this takes a lot of time and money though...so be patient.

[booksfan]

Reviving this topic.

Im a relatively new CPAP user and after having my nose butchered by a Phillips Dreamwisp, I decided to give the Bleep a go.

When it works, its great!

The problem I continue to have is the seal breaking during the night and waking me up. I am using the Bleep pads to clean my face after showering and Ive only managed to make it through one night with the mask staying sealed. Even trimming the ports and using the excess to plug holes hasnt helped. Go to bed with it all sealed up, wake up at 3AM with air blowing in my face.

Being able to buy some of the material used for the ports for patching purposes would be great as I could beef up the areas that tend to leak.

Im going to try a stronger astringent tonight and see if that helps and maybe not cut the ports. Im concerned there tho that if I have a leak somewhere, I wont have any material to patch it up.

Id appreciate any feedback from others that may have had this issue and how they resolved it.

BTW, Im using a Resmed 10 with everything set to auto.

Thanks!

I've been using the Bleep since March and it has been a Godsend, given the problems I had with the umpteen other masks I tried my first 14 months on CPAP.

I WILL occasionally have a leak from the tape. It's very odd. It's like a little tunnel straight out from the port. Very strange. But it is enough to wake me. Then I have to get, turn on the light, and seal it with a bit of cut off tape (extra bits from the ports). I, too, use the Bleep pads.

I have about 9 months worth of cut off tape ends. I save them in a Bleep box in case I need them for leak nights. Since I have only used about a half dozen I have a lot of extras! If you need or would like some, I would be happy to send you some. Just PM me.

And I agree...Stuart is AMAZING!! He came by my house once, when I started on the Bleep (I am also pretty local). SO helpful! Takes the concept of CS to another level!

[centrum]

Stuart confirmed the noise wasn't unexpected (so don't expect "silence"), but he suggested making sure the diffuser is tight against the vent, potentially using rubber bands to ensure that.

This is what I have done once ... the noise has completely disappeared. But my spo2 level went down, not drastically but I decided not to pursue it that way. The other problem that arose was that it was difficult to exhale without using a flex mode. And I do not like the flex mode respironics ... it settles a decallage the way I breathe and expires and the way that the algorithm of the cpap provides that I will do it.

Just wondering: what sort of spo2 change did you note?

I finally tried the rubber band technique last night, and turned on the spo2 tracking for my garmin. If we trust the numbers, says avg dropped from 94% to 92%.

Is that worth worrying about?

Sorry for the delay, I had not seen the notification. 92-94 spo2, no worries to be there. The important thing is to wake up fresh like a rose. By cons I'm not sure that the watches give us a fair reading spo2 level. With a good spo2 device, I went down to 87 when I wanted to eliminate 100% of the noise. I finally chose to accept more noise. Since my last comment on the Bleep, I changed my device for an airsense 10 autoset. Unlike the flex mode of respironocs, the Resmed EPR mode is fantastic to use. For someone with 14-20 pressure like me, the EPR mode makes using the Bleep even more enjoyable. Good luck.

Hi Centrum: What is your EPR set at? And do you use the Ramp? If so at what setting and for how many minutes? Thanks!

My EPR is set to 3 with the Bleep. As for comparaison, I set EPR to 2 when I use my dremwear mask. I dont use ramp function. Good luck.

[centrum]

My suggestions on the Bleep after a few months. I know others have raised some or all of these points, but I figure can't hurt to repeat.

I think the mask would basically be perfect with:

• a more flexible hose, like the Resmed n30 (or the p10, I guess?)
• a diffuser (which I am aware they are working on; the DIY option is a reasonable solution in the meantime)
• I don't know if this is possible, but refinement in the dreamport connection so that it's easier to properly connect, and ensure that connection is correct

I'm with you on these suggestion . And I would like larger tape...Much larger tape. It's so easy to cut if it's too large as compare to add when it leak.

[Fetou]

I am really interested in trying this mask, but I am a self-diagnosed/self-pay user. The mask itself does not appear to be on Amazon, although the disposable component is for about $500-600/yr.

Does anyone have a source for this that doesn't require a prescription?