As the owner of a Comfort Full mask, I can say that there are a lot of improvements that could be made to the mask. Due to its shortcomings, I only use it in emergencies (like a bad cold) and even then, I give serious consideration to just not using my cpap machine rather than suffer with the mask.
The biggest negative of the mask is that, as a side sleeper, I cannot maintain a seal. I am awakened many times a night by the sound of air escaping the mask and then spend the next several minutes trying to eliminate the leak(s). I often wonder if my quality of sleep under these conditions is any better than the quality of sleep during apneas/hypopneas.
Maybe its my fault for being a side sleeper, but I would think that someone could invent a full face mask for those of us that suffer that affliction. I am also puzzled that a comfortgel type of seal hasn't replaced the old sealing system. I have used four different types of masks, and the comfort gel continues to be the one that gives me the best fit/comfort/seal.
Finally, the last time that I used my full face mask, I got a whopper of a rash on the part of my face where the mask rested. It was gone within about 24 hours, but while it lasted, I looked like crap and I itched.
Interestingly, I was just in the process of ordering a Resmed Mirage Full Face mask (from CPAP.com) in the hope that it would be the answer to my needs when I decided to check the message board and found this thread. Based on the pictures that I saw (Version II didn't look much better than Version I) I think that I will probably go ahead and order the Resmed mask.
End Of Call For Questions: Respironics ComfortFull2
-
Barb (Seattle)
- Posts: 663
- Joined: Wed Aug 03, 2005 6:41 pm
I can only say that I have the same problem...it's less when I clean the mask verrrrrry well before using, but still I'm awakened a lot. Yes, we are awakened a lot, and may be tired during the day (I still am) but at least I'm awakening from noise, and not lack of oxygen Sad, huh? The "less of two evils" instead of entirely adequate treatment, which is what we SHOULD be receiving. Make this full face mask into a gel with a LOT of "squishy" area that you can tighten down very tightely, but would be comfortable because of the cushion. It would mold right to the contours of the individual face. I bet I could make a mask if I had the materials better than the ones out there.finallyrested wrote:As the owner of a Comfort Full mask, I can say that there are a lot of
The biggest negative of the mask is that, as a side sleeper, I cannot maintain a seal. I am awakened many times a night by the sound of air escaping the mask and then spend the next several minutes trying to eliminate the leak(s). I often wonder if my quality of sleep under these conditions is any better than the quality of sleep during apneas/hypopneas.
For Definition): cpap machine, resmed, mirage, cpap.com, seal
_________________
CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): Awakening, seal, clean
_________________
CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): Awakening, seal, clean
-
Barb (Seattle)
- Posts: 663
- Joined: Wed Aug 03, 2005 6:41 pm
??????????????
There has been no reply...is anyone even READING this?
(can ya tell I had a bad couple of nights with my "Comfort"Full?
(can ya tell I had a bad couple of nights with my "Comfort"Full?
Unfortunately, the mask image links provided in the first posting raise more questions than answers, and the all too brief feature/benefit table doesn’t tell us much about how the mask will perform.
It would be helpful if Ms. Laurie Scott would help all of us understand the process that Respironics used to decide the mask was an improvement. Understanding that logic is important so we can gain enough confidence to risk a future purchase. This means that if we can hear the details of the process that tells us how many people found the mask worked better, versus how many didn’t see any difference, and how many found it wasn’t as good as the current design, this information will be seen as critically important details. Because of our lack of mask buying successes, mask purchases over the Internet have become too risky a gamble to those of us who have more leaking masks than is reasonable. It is my belief that most of the people on this forum have had more bad luck with mask fit performance than those who have had a good experience with new mask purchases. Repeat purchases of an already successful mask aren’t included in my assumption because the repeat purchase has no or little element of risk.
To do some of that faith building in this mask, please take us beyond the marketing literature and work with us so the large number of users on this forum can regain the confidence we’ve lost in mask designs. Continue on with the area of replacement parts, their expense, availability and expected life cycle. As has been stated in earlier postings, the lower connections for the mask look like they would be miserable to engage in a prone half asleep position and they don’t look they would survive night of tossing and turning.
Leak rates, the really big issue. Please show us the design’s Vent Flow rate chart and actual leak rate results of the field testers. In my case I use the Respironics Auto-CPAP with CFLEX, and find it is easy to overwhelm the machine’s internal logic when the leaks of my full-face mask get too high. When this happens, my machine stops being an Auto-CPAP and becomes a simple CPAP operating at the lowest set pressure. During these leak periods the machine stops recording events and leaves us to struggle through the night at pressures too low to be adequate and no information recorded during large leaks to know it wasn’t inadequate. To help us gain confidence in the mask’s design, please group the leak field results into percentile groupings. This is the kind of information we need to understand how we might fare from a potential purchase. It will also go a long way towards confirming our uncertainty in the mask’s design, or it could help us look past our list bad mask experiences so we can put down the plastic for a purchase.
Finally, let me say thank you for having the courage to engage us. Our ability to function daily depends upon good equipment that performs reliably. Unfortunately when it doesn’t, our resistance to trust becomes stronger after each disappointment, so please look past our aggravation and help us understand what this mask has to offer.
It would be helpful if Ms. Laurie Scott would help all of us understand the process that Respironics used to decide the mask was an improvement. Understanding that logic is important so we can gain enough confidence to risk a future purchase. This means that if we can hear the details of the process that tells us how many people found the mask worked better, versus how many didn’t see any difference, and how many found it wasn’t as good as the current design, this information will be seen as critically important details. Because of our lack of mask buying successes, mask purchases over the Internet have become too risky a gamble to those of us who have more leaking masks than is reasonable. It is my belief that most of the people on this forum have had more bad luck with mask fit performance than those who have had a good experience with new mask purchases. Repeat purchases of an already successful mask aren’t included in my assumption because the repeat purchase has no or little element of risk.
To do some of that faith building in this mask, please take us beyond the marketing literature and work with us so the large number of users on this forum can regain the confidence we’ve lost in mask designs. Continue on with the area of replacement parts, their expense, availability and expected life cycle. As has been stated in earlier postings, the lower connections for the mask look like they would be miserable to engage in a prone half asleep position and they don’t look they would survive night of tossing and turning.
Leak rates, the really big issue. Please show us the design’s Vent Flow rate chart and actual leak rate results of the field testers. In my case I use the Respironics Auto-CPAP with CFLEX, and find it is easy to overwhelm the machine’s internal logic when the leaks of my full-face mask get too high. When this happens, my machine stops being an Auto-CPAP and becomes a simple CPAP operating at the lowest set pressure. During these leak periods the machine stops recording events and leaves us to struggle through the night at pressures too low to be adequate and no information recorded during large leaks to know it wasn’t inadequate. To help us gain confidence in the mask’s design, please group the leak field results into percentile groupings. This is the kind of information we need to understand how we might fare from a potential purchase. It will also go a long way towards confirming our uncertainty in the mask’s design, or it could help us look past our list bad mask experiences so we can put down the plastic for a purchase.
Finally, let me say thank you for having the courage to engage us. Our ability to function daily depends upon good equipment that performs reliably. Unfortunately when it doesn’t, our resistance to trust becomes stronger after each disappointment, so please look past our aggravation and help us understand what this mask has to offer.
Roger...
I would have to say that Barb (Seattle) is inside my head.
I have been using the Comfortfull for about a year now. Not my first choice in masks, but the price was right, and I have learned to adjust to it and despite a couple of shortcomings, prefer it over some others I have tried.
I do still get leaks around the bridge of the nose or around the chin, depending on the tightness of the upper or lower straps. Fixing the contour of the mask would be a HUGE improvement.
Making the rubber material around the seal area larger so that it lays against the face when the pressure is applied would go along way in improving the seal as well. I have heard of people using panty liners to make the seal larger.
Toughening up the adjuster on the forehead piece is needed as well. The current piece is VERY sensitive and tends to either readjust itself, or comes completely off sometimes when readjusting the mask on the face.
If you are looking, I would be very happy to beta test the new mask. Either way, I look forward to the Comfortfull 2 coming out and hope my DME folks carry it.
I have been using the Comfortfull for about a year now. Not my first choice in masks, but the price was right, and I have learned to adjust to it and despite a couple of shortcomings, prefer it over some others I have tried.
I do still get leaks around the bridge of the nose or around the chin, depending on the tightness of the upper or lower straps. Fixing the contour of the mask would be a HUGE improvement.
Making the rubber material around the seal area larger so that it lays against the face when the pressure is applied would go along way in improving the seal as well. I have heard of people using panty liners to make the seal larger.
Toughening up the adjuster on the forehead piece is needed as well. The current piece is VERY sensitive and tends to either readjust itself, or comes completely off sometimes when readjusting the mask on the face.
If you are looking, I would be very happy to beta test the new mask. Either way, I look forward to the Comfortfull 2 coming out and hope my DME folks carry it.
Re: End Of Call For Questions: Respironics ComfortFull2
Just curious, did Laurie get back to us on the CF2 ? Can't find it.forumadmin wrote:Howdy cpaptalkers,
Respironics is set to launch its ComfortFull2 in the very near future.
Laurie Scott has headed up the ComfortFull2 revision effort for Respironics and has kindly agreed to answer some of our questions concerning this new product.
He who dies with the most masks wins.