Poll for women using FFM's and Hybrids

[Rebecca R]

Hi Ozij,

It's good to hear the Hybrid is working for you. IMO it does take a bit of patience and work in the beginning, but perhaps that is true with any mask. After the first few tries, I was almost positive it wasn't going work for me, like the Quattro and Liberty before it. I am glad that I kept working on it--trying every combination of pillows and cushions and adjustments. I read and reread forum suggestions & instructions, and watched and re-watched the video. One night a combination came together for me and I have achieved a flat leak line ever since.

For those who route the hose from above:
The sound of the vented air hitting the hose is easily confused with the sound of a leak. Make sure the hose it out of the way of the air stream before you start attempting to seal a leak - youi may find out it's not a leak at all.

Perhaps I am alone in experiencing the following issue with Hybrid leaks, but for what it's worth: When first tweaking my Hybrid, I often would have a leak on the mouthpiece that I could neither fix or locate. It was loud and annoying enough to drive me crazy. No amount of wiggling seemed to work. I always ended up taking the mask off and starting over again. I couldn't understand how some nights it sealed like a dream first try and some nights it took several re-maskings (is that a word?).

Finally, I discovered that when masking up sometimes the bottom of the cushion would wrinkle ever so slightly when rotating the chin flap over my chin. Maybe I am just slow but at least I figured it out. A tiny wrinkle is enough to make a lot of noise and I couldn't feel the leak against my face, since it was under the chin flap. Now when it happens I simply lift the chin flap and push the cushion up. Works every time.

I find the Hybrid very silent - except when the vented air hits the hose.

This is my only complaint about the Hybrid. With the Swift and the extra length of flexible hose made it very easy to route the hose from above. With the Hybrid I have had to get used to tucking the hose under my arm and dragging it around with me as I flop around in the night.

Being a person who prefers hose routing from above means this posed a challenge. My solution is a "Hozer", set up so that it dangles the hose at about shoulder height, and a Resmed InletTube-Swivel-Assembly- for the Aciva. The inlet tube is very flexible so that when it's properly set up, the hose has a kind of J shape when approaching my face, and is kept clear of the vented air. The additional swivel (connected to the main hose) helps a lot too.

What a brilliant idea!!!

I have a question. Is your Inlet-Tube-Swivelly-Add-On-Thingy the width of a regular hose, or is it narrower like the Swift-Swivelly-Hose? I'm just wondering if I can find a way to adapt my Swift-Swivelly-hose to achieve the same result ( ResMed not shipping to Canada issue and not wanting to inconvenience my American aunt more often than necessary ).

Thanks for the great idea. You are very clever Ozij!

r

[echo]

Being a person who prefers hose routing from above means this posed a challenge. My solution is a "Hozer", set up so that it dangles the hose at about shoulder height, and a Resmed InletTube-Swivel-Assembly- for the Aciva. The inlet tube is very flexible so that when it's properly set up, the hose has a kind of J shape when approaching my face, and is kept clear of the vented air. The additional swivel (connected to the main hose) helps a lot too.

What a brilliant idea!!!

I have a question. Is your Inlet-Tube-Swivelly-Add-On-Thingy the width of a regular hose, or is it narrower like the Swift-Swivelly-Hose? I'm just wondering if I can find a way to adapt my Swift-Swivelly-hose to achieve the same result ( ResMed not shipping to Canada issue and not wanting to inconvenience my American aunt more often than necessary ).

Thanks for the great idea. You are very clever Ozij!

r

oh this is exactly the same setup I use when I'm using a non-Activa mask...! I just take the small flexible tube and use that to extend the normal hose, with a swivel connector in between. My Activa tube is slightly smaller in diameter than the normal hose but I haven't noticed any negative effects. Also this extension prevents the sensing line in my P&B hose from hitting the mask on the inside. I also use the over the head hose management method.
I think the Swift hose is even smaller but may also work??

[ozij]

I've used the UM FF for years because as a tummy sleeper, I need a mask that does not vent at the mask/hose 45 degree angle as most do, because the vent would be blocked by bedding - it's higher up on the mask in the UM FF, plus that mask also has an odd size (small shallow) that works for me, though I suspect not a lot of others.

That is a very good reason to use the UMFF - one of the reason I liked the mask. How did you discover you need a "shallow"? Did you get measured on the 3D template?

have a question. Is your Inlet-Tube-Swivelly-Add-On-Thingy the width of a regular hose, or is it narrower like the Swift-Swivelly-Hose? I'm just wondering if I can find a way to adapt my Swift-Swivelly-hose to achieve the same result ( ResMed not shipping to Canada issue and not wanting to inconvenience my American aunt more often than necessary ).

I first read about using the Activa's inlet hose for added "swivelability" when RG suggested adding it to the ComfortLite 2; It's been used by Velbor on his FFM, DreamStalker to extend the length of his Opus -- the Opus's short hose is really too short, and is wider than the Swift's or Breeze's or Headrest's .

My Activa tube is slightly smaller in diameter than the normal hose but I haven't noticed any negative effects.

Hi echo, I'm always happy to see you posting. I thought that Activa tubed looked narrower on the outside -- but may be the same as the main hose, only made of thinner, lighter plastic since it can be short. Be that as it may, the real problem of connection a narrow tube to a mask meant to be inserted directly into the main hose is the gauge of the connectors.

The mask inlet side is meant to be inserted into a standard hose -- so you would need a connector that either hugs it from the outside -- that's very wide, I don't think they make those as connectors -- or settles inside it -- but that is also a problem, since the inside inlet is narrower than than the main hose inlet, yet still wider than a narrow tube inlet. When I tried the connectors I had at home for my narrow tubes and for hose to hose connection -- and looked the potential selection of connectors on cpap.com -- none seemed to fit. figured than in the long range, I would in any case be better off with the right width of tube.

So I'd say this is a case where troubling your aunt may be justified, Rebbecca.

O.
P.S in case anyone is wondering why I decided to try the less-voted-for Forma, and not a Quattro -- it was finances: the fact I could get a Forma with 2 sized of seals in the box - not possible for a Quattro.

[echo]

Thanks Ozij I was gone for a little while, 1 month holiday followed by 1 month, ah, let's say "recovery", dealing with doctors, job hunting websites, etc.

You could be right about the Activa tube diameter being the same... I wonder if the specs are posted but I am too lazy to look them up right now!

As far as connecting the Activa tube to the mask, I must say I haven't noticed any problems with the rubber connector being smaller than a normal hose rubber connector. All my ffm's have fit in there.

Maybe you are referring to the smaller swift hose then? OK agreed you would have that problem. Sorry R Try cpapauction, you might be able to find a use activa for cheap, keep the tube and and then resell just the mask part.

[ozij]

Yes, I was referring to the Swift's narrow tube.
Read about your job loss on your delayed sleep phase thread, echo. I'm sorry about that.

O.

[echo]

Thanks Ozij. I should just shut up about it rather than mentioning it all the time but I guess it helps to talk about it. While the official reason was company "reorganization" I can't help but think that I was targeted for my inability to show up at the official starting time even though I was working 12+ hours for quite some time and traveling a ton. I was the only one from that dept to be let go, but at least i survived the past 3 reorg's they did starting in 2008. I'm much happier now, though, and looking to start a new career path, but am waiting for the people I interviewed with to sort out a few things.. will of course post as soon as I have more info .

[Julie]

I discovered the small shallow size when I had a lot of trouble with other masks (both nasal & FF), then my DME in Halifax (NS, Canada) suggested I try it because I'd also used the "shallow wide" in a Comfort Select nasal early on, and she was right.

[Rebecca R]

Sorry R Try cpapauction, you might be able to find a use activa for cheap, keep the tube and and then resell just the mask part.

No problem. I am managing very well with my Hybrid. I just liked that flexible hose with the Swift, but I checked and it has a vent so wouldn't work, and I also liked to route the hose from above--which was initially to avoid rainout. When I noticed my machine, an S8, was turning itself off (who knows for how long, maybe since I got it. Now I suspect that my early mask removal issues were likely because the machine turned off on me, but I started waking with the mask on, and machine off, and my data showed I slept that way most of the night. Finally I woke up and caught the machine turning itself off). ResMed replaced it with an S9, so I haven't any rainout issues at all. If I had rainout...that would be different.

I'm going to keep my eyes open for an activa or parts, but it isn't urgent, just me wanting every possible comfort.

Good luck with the job hunting Echo. Perhaps a change will be for the better. That company didn't sound very empathetic.


R

[echo]

Thanks Rebecca! And good luck to you with the mask optimizing!

[momof2inmn]

Can anyone who has used the Mirage Liberty or the Innomed Hybrid tell me if the nasal pillow piece adjusts? I have a Swift LT for Her and it swivels up and down which I find helps a ton in avoiding leaks. I recently started having mouth blowouts and am considering using one of these masks since I love the nasal pillows.

Any advice on these two masks would be greatly appreciated!

[brazospearl]

The Hybrid nasal pillows have 2 positions and 3 sizes. There are also Lab Rat award winning tricks to help if they need extra support.

[sunnyway]

I love the Respironics total face masks, the Fit Life and the Total Face Mask. They are of totally different design and fit, but I love both of them.



The leak on the forehead of the Fit Life bothered me at first, but when I discovered that the leak was not harming the effectiveness of the mask, I just learned to ignore it. I just started wearing a PAP CAP, and the leak now blows on the fabric instead of my skin. I like that better. I do a minor hack on the headstraps on both of the masks, velcro-ing the upper strap to the lower strap. That seems to help the fit a bit.

What I like best about the total face masks:
1) non-claustrophic--they cover the entire face but are totally transparent.
2) no rubbing on bridge of nose.
3) the headwear does not have to be tight. In fact, a bit looser is better than tighter.
4) no loud squealing or farting leaks.
5) easy to reseat the mask by sticking a finger under the seal.
6) I can sleep on my side.

I took the FitLife to the hospital when I had a hysterectomy last week. The first night they hooked up oxygen to the little port on the mask. I found the total face mask to be less cumbersome than the ComfortGel w headgear that I also took along. I just slapped it on and was ready for sleep.

(Thank you, the surgery went very well and I am back at home and well on my way to recovery one week post surgery.)

[stilltrying]

I have been thru many mask styles over the last few years. Really like the Fisher-Paykel Nasal Mask but when I flip on my back I immediately become a mouth breather. I have been using the Innomed hybrid after the UM leaked too much. This is better but sometimes the nasal "pillows" (where did they ever come up with that name - clearly a marketing ploy) leak and make a whistling noise that wakes me up. Most manufacturers' masks, especially Respironics, don't work for me; they seem to be designed for men. I have a small nose (broken twice) and very high cheekbones and tend to flip between side and back all night. I just ordered the Probasics zzz-mask, will let you know how it works out. If anyone has a similar face structure & sleeping habits, would love your input!

[Julie]

Hi stilltrying, do you know that sleeping on your back is the worst position for provoking more apneas? Most of us jump through hoops to avoid it, and have come up with all kinds of fixes to make avoiding it work, from sewing tennis balls to the back of PJ's, to using those big long pillows behind us, to who knows what - so do a search on back sleeping here and see if you find something to help.

[plr66]

Hi stilltrying, do you know that sleeping on your back is the worst position for provoking more apneas?

That's right! And you know, I could swear that the Respironics pamphlet with that FitLife mask says it is ideal for back sleepers rather than for side-sleepers & Cpap.com website does say "NOT for side sleepers but works well for users on their back."
Hmm...Now let's see...
Yike.