ResMed Liberty Hybrid Mask Users, please comment

[plr66]

I've been working hard at getting any FFM to be as effective as my Swift LT used to be for nearly a full year before ResMed decided it was okay to produce inferior quality pillows.

The ResMed Liberty happens to fit my face pretty well, though leak rate is just a bit above the manufactured level recommended. My AHI, however is nearly 3X what I had with the Swift LT, even after increasing my pressure from 10 to 12 in week-long increments of 0.5 each time.

I would appreciate feedback here about your experiences with the Liberty. Just not sure why my numbers are so bad.

[LinkC]

My experience with a liberty lasted 3 nights. It arrived with a broken nose-elbow*. I had to have a replacement shipped.

During those three nights, I could not get a reliable seal at the corners of my mouth. At that point it went on cpapauctions, and I bought the Hybrid I'm still using.

*seems odd to use TWO unrelated anatomical terms to describe one mechanical part. Just an observation...

[SleepyT]

I've been working hard at getting any FFM to be as effective as my Swift LT used to be for nearly a full year before ResMed decided it was okay to produce inferior quality pillows.

The ResMed Liberty happens to fit my face pretty well, though leak rate is just a bit above the manufactured level recommended. My AHI, however is nearly 3X what I had with the Swift LT, even after increasing my pressure from 10 to 12 in week-long increments of 0.5 each time.

I would appreciate feedback here about your experiences with the Liberty. Just not sure why my numbers are so bad.

And this is why I hesitate to buy a FFM. Even when I switch away from the Swift pillows and try a nasal mask for a night...my AHI doubles or triples! My best numbers have always been with the Swift LT for Her. I'm pissed the pillows are made of that flimsy material now...but I guess I'll stick with this product...because I am unwilling to have a higher AHI. I wish you luck, Plr66....

[teitner]

My expirience is that if you would take a medium ff mask your in trouble as for me I use\used a small cousion instead of taking the one with the large cousion because the amount of dead space makes the pressure go strait from hose to vent causing AHI to go through the ceilling. any way any other ffm goes decent. a large can fit a medium if the person has a rounded full bodied face. (moon face caused by frequent corticosteroid treatment)

[rubymom]

I've been using the Liberty since about May. I never used the Swift as I am a mouth breather. I think the mask is a good one for me though I may try another FFM if I get around to figuring out which one. My numbers are consistently great--usually at 1.5 or less--so I cannot complain nor offer any insight into why your numbers got worse. I do find that I have good nights and bad nights. Some nights I feel like I'm constantly tweaking the mask because of leaks and other nights I don't even touch it. My leak numbers are usually within acceptable ranges though.

Good luck as you figure it out!

[neverbetter]

If you bought the insurance, you may want to trade it in for the real Hybrid.
The two masks are worlds apart in comfort in my opinion. Both have higher leak rates like a full face mask.

[plr66]

Thanks to all who commented here. I am using a Small cushion with Med. pillows, and the fit is good. I also have a Hybrid mask, and never could get it right. It's just not the right shape for my face, regardless of all the different combinations.
Rubymom, your 1.5 AHI info helps me know that it is probably not the mask itself which is the problem. And since my higher AHI is probably not due to a leak issue (as my leak rate is not excessive), I may need to assume that FFM's in general tend to push my lower jaw back, closing my airway more. I've been trying to find a different conclusion, since I do need to use FFM's.

[Snorzitmucho]

I have the Liberty Hybrid Face Mask by Resmed, and sadly must conclude it's a horribly designed piece of junk, at least for me. Apparently for a lot of others, too, based on reviews posted elsewhere. The nasal pillows actually do work for me, but the curve of the mask does not merely allow leaks at the corners of the mask at the sides, but actually results in a flapping effect (think of a raspberry sound) that will smack your face and wake you up. The only solution is tightening the lower strap to the point where the jaw is then pulled backward . . . not good for OSA. Sadly, the basic mask design is flawed, does not allow for adjustment and seal of the mouth area at the sides, and renders it useless for most people. At the price they are charging, it's nearly a criminal sale for most people, IMO.

[Snorzitmucho]

Contacted Resmed about this. Their response: "Yup, different masks fit people differently." Unsaid but implied was, "Thanks for your money, sucker!". Won't buy another Resmed product.

[Guest]

I use the Liberty with the small mouth cushion with great success... most of the time. I like the swift FX, but when my nose is stuffed I find that the liberty works great without a rise in AHI. Tried the Hybrid but it didn't fit my face. BTW, I started out with a large but it leaked so DME gave me a small cushion. I could squeeze it on the large frame but it wasn't right. Called Resmed and got a very friendly lady who overnighted me a small frame no charge. I know some here have had issues with resmed but they treated me pretty well.

[sleepyb]

That's weird. saw my post a guest. Must have gotten logged out somehow.

[OntarioKevin]

This is my primary mask. Just wish it didn't cost twice as much in Canada.

I fiddled with the different nasal pillows, eventually settling on medium pillows with the small frame,

Two tips: having a piece of weak elastic wrapped around the nasal pillows helps ensure that they don't fly out in the middle of the night; and boiling the pillows and soft part of the frame every few weeks seems to keep things supple.

I can't tolerate any leakage (mine is always zero, since I wake up otherwise), so my mask is always strapped up pretty tight. Which makes my front teeth hurt a bit in the morning, but my dentist says it's nothing to worry about.

[millen05]

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[wolewyck]

I've used it but only when I have a headcold, and my 3 nights of Afrin have passed... of the several FFM's that I tried on with the DME, this was the best of the ones I tried on, but it isn't a great fit. I take a small in nasal pillows on the Swift FX, and they don't make similarly small-sized pillows on the Liberty. I also find that it is finicky in terms of leaks, in the small number of nights that I have actually worn it.

[Mask2fit]

Two tips: having a piece of weak elastic wrapped around the nasal pillows helps ensure that they don't fly out in the middle of the night;

I know this will lead onto a hundred jokes but where do you put the elastic OntarionKevin?