Anyone know anything about CPAP Helmets?

[Paper_Nanny]

The Quattro works best when it is NOT tight. The mask must 'float' on your face.
http://maskarrayed.wordpress.com/taming ... e-quattro/

Ha! Not when you've got a beard.

Even with no beard, I had to cinch my quattro tighter than "floating" to get it to stop leaking. I tipped my machine on its side so I could watch the leak rate display as I tightened the mask to get the lowest possible leak rate on it. Finally gave up on the Quattro and now I use the FitLife Total Face Mask; it is one step below that helmet and safe for home use! I realy did like the looks of that helmet, though, and was wishing I could have one of my own.

Deborah

[GumbyCT]

No it's true, with any mask but more so with Resmed's to allow the seal to "inflate" by pulling away from the face then allowing it to touch lightly. You should be able to put 2 fingers under the headgear at any point. It is common for many newbies and DME RT's to over tighten a mask and cause it to leak more.

Many times the pressure will move the mask away from the face over time by stretching the straps. Over tightening will also stretch the straps.

Search for Rested Gal's strap thread where she gives tips and ideas to help seal the mask by using homemade straps to keep the increased pressure from allowing the mask to move away from the face.

I use knee high panty hose for my straps bc they are soft, strong, yet light weight and I can get them at the $1 store 3pr/$1.

HTH

ps. IF it were me I would shave any facial hair until I got my OSA in check AND I have cuz the hair will grow back. Either that or use nasal pillows.

[Paper_Nanny]

No it's true, with any mask but more so with Resmed's to allow the seal to "inflate" by pulling away from the face then allowing it to touch lightly. You should be able to put 2 fingers under the headgear at any point. It is common for many newbies and DME RT's to over tighten a mask and cause it to leak more.

That was my concern- that I was over tightening- which is why I tipped the machine to watch the leak display. Looking back on that, maybe I was all muddled up on the definition of "tight" and "loose", "floating" and other applicable terms.

Your point is well taken, though, GumbyCT. Although I had to tighten mine more than what I thought I should be to get it to stop leaking, I am not in any way suggesting that people should tighten their masks up a lot. It's a moot point for me, anyway. I had other issues with the quattro and am glad I found the FitLife.

Deborah

[B3Bear]

Well besides the beard I'm also a side sleeper and tend to grind my face into the pillow. Believe me, if it were just as easy as loosening my mask, I wouldn't have been starting threads asking about CPAP Helmets.

[archangle]

Maybe it's me but IF that helmet had any kind of pressure in it how could you exhale?

Better for hospital use as the doc described. I imagine it is used to infuse O2 at a lower pressure.

Do NOT try this at home folks

The physics of inhalation and exhalation should be almost exactly the same as any CPAP mask. If you have 10 cmH20 of pressure, your lungs have to fight that much pressure.

As Giovanna points out, the problem is that you need a large intentional leak rate to flush out the CO2 and keep the O2 level up.

As she said, it's used for CPAP for intensive care or emergency patients. I suppose it avoids a lot of leak or mask fit problems. It's probably harder for the patient to knock the mask off. I'd be very interested in how well the seal around the neck works. It looks like it's a flap kind of seal that works by being pressed against the skin by the air pressure.

By the way, thanks for posting, Giovanna. Very good info.

[B3Bear]

ps. IF it were me I would shave any facial hair until I got my OSA in check AND I have cuz the hair will grow back Either that or use nasal pillows.

I'm a mouth breather and I tried a chin strap but no dice. I've still got my beard and my AHI is under 3. So what's the problem? When I posted this thread I was desperate and had tried like 11 masks including an oral one, one that went over my entire face, and even tried using using a hose splitter so I could use nasal pillows with the oral mask. And yes I did try shaving my beard and it helped a little but you know what, I'd rather have a few redmarks in the morning and be the handsome bear that I am, then to shave so I can use my mask "properly" and let it gently float on my face on a cushion of air (even the the face pillow digging caused major leaks anyway).