Mask Envy? Can a mask really DO this?

OldSeaRock · Post by **OldSeaRock** » Fri Aug 12, 2005 8:44 pm

I'm new. Been on a BiPAP for 10 days now. I'm fortunate to have found this forum, met you folks.. and I've actually listened and found success!

Mask Envy?

I rotate between a Breeze w/Nose Pillows and a Resmed Activa. Why rotate? I've not learned to master the Breeze - otherwise, it would be the only mask I'd use.

I've used several masks. My DME is locally owned, very hip with regards to customer service savvy and they've been FRIENDS as much as vendors.

Can a mask really DO this?

When I use the nose masks, I get good sleep. I wake up when the alarm goes off in the morning and feel pretty darned rested.

When I use the Breeze (let's say nose pillows from now on..), I wake up WIDE AWAKE and ready to roll at 5am! No alarm clock needed... and the alarm is set for 7am, FWIW.

There is, to me, an undoubtable amount of performance difference that I get between the nose masks (and I tried...3?) and the nose pillows (Breeze is the only one I've tried).

The nose pillows are sensational - they feed me that air, the pressure seems to be greater (even though the setting on the BiPAP is the same) and heck, I wake up earlier and better rested. That's even with me struggling (at times) with the nose pillows and the irritation job they do on my nares.

Am I off my rocker? Is this possible? What have others experienced .

Sleepless on LI · Post by **Sleepless on LI** » Fri Aug 12, 2005 8:50 pm

OSR:

I have noticed, since I switched at the end of July to the Swift, with nasal pillows, the pressure seems so much more intense. I actually turned on the CFlex for awhile, but then turned it off and get better AHI's for some weird reason without it on. But I think it's probably because when the air enters a large area like a nasal mask, ie., Activa, you have to actually breath it in before you really feel it. With nasal pillow interfaces, the air is being sling-shot up your nasal passages, sort of ready or not, here it comes.

It's amazing to me that after 10 days, you feel ready to roll, sleep through the night and have two favorite masks. I am thrilled with how I feel, but never sleep through the night. It's happened maybe twice since I started my therapy at the beginning of June. You are very blessed to have the results you have, and in record time, too. I am so happy for you.

yawn · Post by **yawn** » Fri Aug 12, 2005 8:58 pm

Hi oldsearock,
Don't know about the "being off your rocker"...I don't know you well enough to comment on that . As far as the mask question, I agree with you and Lori. I prefer the air pressure that I feel with my Swift vs. my Activa. With the Activa, I felt as if I had to "suck" in the air. Breathing with the Swift is effortless. I can't say that I feel better after using one or the other but I do prefer the Swift.
Amy

OldSeaRock · Post by **OldSeaRock** » Fri Aug 12, 2005 9:02 pm

Oh, I have to fiddle with the mask sometimes and that sort of thing but I go right back to sleep. I didn't mean to sound like I was getting 100% uninterrupted sleep - my apologies.

But when I look back to my initial report, when I woke up 207 times in a "slightly under 7 hour period".. well, having to adjust the mask once or twice doesn't seem to be so bad.

What's amazing is the way I feel during the day. Yes, I'm very blessed to have these results, no doubt about it !

But the difference between the pillows and the mask is astounding! The results speak for themselves. I spoke to my R/T and she told me that she'd heard of stories like this (ie, the difference between pillows and masks) but that since she doesn't have apnea, she's got no real basis to go on other than what people say... and she gets "all kinds" of feedback.

snork1 · Post by **snork1** » Fri Aug 12, 2005 9:36 pm

Maybe I am the odd one out.....

I rotate between the Activa and the Swift. There are things I like and don't like about both, but I actually get a little better results with the Activa.
But dang it I REALLY like to be able to scratch my nose!

...so I rotate.....

wading thru the muck! · Post by **wading thru the muck!** » Fri Aug 12, 2005 9:48 pm

Snork1,

I love the advantages of the Swift too!

rock and roll · Post by **rock and roll** » Fri Aug 12, 2005 11:48 pm

Snork, I am with you, I alternate between the Swift and Activa. Best two I have found. I use the Breeze occationally, when I am soaking my Activa and Swift, and it is just alright to me, I could use it if the other two did not exist, but it is so bulky, too many adjustments that I have to wrap rubber bands around to keep in place and I have never gotton the pillows adjusted right to where my nostrils don't feel sore in the morning.

Now, when the Activa FF comes out....

Sleepless on LI · Post by **Sleepless on LI** » Sat Aug 13, 2005 5:56 am

R&R, I am with you on the opinion of the Breeze. I just took it one step further and got rid of mine. It just wouldn't work for me, no matter what I did (I won't go back to that-I think you all remember my saga ).

May I ask one question? The Activa and Swift have been my two best masks so far. But if you are all so happy with the Swift, why do you rotate between the two, just for variation every now and then? Since I got the Swift, I haven't used my Activa. Is that strange? I'm just curious to know the reasons why you would go back to a bulkier nasal mask when the Swift is just so light and so much less restrictive and Darth Vader-ish.

Is it supposed to be a good thing to do, to switch from mask to mask, for your therapy?

rock and roll · Post by **rock and roll** » Sat Aug 13, 2005 12:12 pm

Sleepless,

I use the Swift the most but some nights my nares will be sore, or my sinus's are bad, or I just am uncomfortable and then I use the Activa.

jordiboy · Post by **jordiboy** » Sun Aug 14, 2005 9:38 am

OldSeaRock,

Since you are on bi-level, what are your IPAP and EPAP settings? The reason I am asking is that the Activa is unusable for me after switching from CPAP to bi-level (VPAP III).

I typically use the ramp feature and fall asleep with the Active without any problems. But, after I am asleep, I get too many arousals from the Activa bellowing effect. If there is a large difference between the IPAP and EPAP settings, the Activa becomes very irritating to me.

WAFlowers · Post by **WAFlowers** » Mon Aug 15, 2005 4:57 am

OldSeaRock wrote:Am I off my rocker? Is this possible? What have others experienced .

If you're off your rocker then I'm right there beside you taking the same fall! I used to fall back asleep after a 7am wakeup, now I roll out of bed fully functional at 5:30 using the Swift.

When I use a conventional mask (ComfortSelect) I don't sleep as well and am draggy through the day. It isn't as bad as pre-xPAP, but it ain't great either! I checked the data log on my machine and I had a bit more leaks (a 1 hour spike in the middle of the night) but about the same number of events. I can't figure it out.

Also, since I started to use the mask a week ago I've lost 25 pounds, women are calling me "handsome", "cute" and "good looking" and I've got to get new pictures taken because my formerly bald head is now covered in long thick wavy hair! The last is really amazing because it used to be thin and straight.

(And if you believe that I've got a uranium mine in Canada for sale.)

MaskedMan · Post by **MaskedMan** » Mon Aug 15, 2005 6:40 am

I rotate between the Swift and Activa and feel better wearing the Activa. I like the Swift better, but for whatever reason I just feel physically better when using the Activa.

Sleepless on LI · Post by **Sleepless on LI** » Mon Aug 15, 2005 8:03 am

HOLD THE FRIGGIN PHONE, WAF. YOU LOST 25 LBS. IN ONE WEEK??? Okay, I'm committing suicide, brb. How much total weight do you have to lose, for God's sake? I have been eating great and healthy, drinking tons of water and exercising three times a week for about 6-7 weeks now and have lost a damn 11 lbs. I had a total of 25 to lose. What the heck? Please tell me this was a typo. I have never heard of a 25 lb. one-week weight loss in anyone before.

All kidding aside, if that is true, I don't know how healthy it is to lose that much weight in such a short time. And I swear this is not sour grapes talking. I think you would feel depleted and ill, but you're saying you feel great. Do you mean one month's time maybe? Even that is unheard of, I think. They say 1-2 lbs. a week is considered great and the way to go to keep it off. I need a clarification on this one...

WAFlowers · Post by **WAFlowers** » Mon Aug 15, 2005 9:58 am

Calm down Lori. It was a joke, along with the hair growth.

The bit about all the comments from women was true though .

rested gal · Post by **rested gal** » Mon Aug 15, 2005 10:15 am

ROTFL!!!

Mask Envy? Can a mask really DO this?

Mask Envy? Can a mask really DO this?

mask rotation is good

Re: Mask Envy? Can a mask really DO this?