The Bella Loops. Your Experience??

[NateS]

Has anyone ordered and tried the new covers for the Bella loops. If you have how did they work out?

Mine were shipped but I haven't gotten them yet. Standby for further developments.

[Gaga58]

Just now catching up again...I too am jealous of Pugsy's leak line!! But hope to one day achieve it??? I've left off on the Bella's for now...things are rather harry-cary around here at present and not gettng as much sleep as I'd like...battling a mask is not on my list of to do's. I will get back with them later on as I do like the "nothingness"!

[mnfe]

I just got a pair and tried them last night. I did also get the covers for them. I did not have a good night. I woke up with my mask on my chin and an awful headache. According to Sleepyhead, it looks like I had it off for about an hour. I think the hose is too heavy, I need to hang it somehow. My ears were a little sore but I had it kind of tight, I'm hopeful that if I hang my hose I can loosen it a little.

But for now.....big fail on the Bella loops.

[ems]

Yeah... the hose does seem heavier with the Bella Loops... not sure why. Fortunately, I'm not a restless sleeper and hang the hose around the corner of my bed with a bit of it tucked under my pillow. It's usually fine that way, except when I'm having a bad nite - and then nothing works.

[NateS]

The postman handed me a box containing my Snuggle Hose set this morning from cpap.com, consisting of covers for both the Bella Loops and the original Swift FX headgear.

The back of the label on the package states:

•Prevents red marks on face
•Decreases irritation
•Makes headgear more comfortable to wear

Looking forward to trying the pair for the loops tonight and will report back!

Regards, Nate

[NateS]

I just got a pair and tried them last night. I did also get the covers for them. I did not have a good night. I woke up with my mask on my chin and an awful headache. According to Sleepyhead, it looks like I had it off for about an hour. I think the hose is too heavy, I need to hang it somehow. My ears were a little sore but I had it kind of tight, I'm hopeful that if I hang my hose I can loosen it a little.

But for now.....big fail on the Bella loops.

I too discovered by trial and error that hanging the hose overhead is almost a must for the Loops, even though I resisted it at first.

But when I stopped to think about it, it makes sense. A strap over your head (headgear) at a 180 degree angle from the hose resists the natural pull of the weight of the hose.

With no headgear, there is no 180 degree resistance to displace the pulling effect.

Your ears can't take over that job because they're not on the top of your head.

Nate

[ems]

Very true, Nate. But, if one doesn't like anything hanging over the head, you have to figure out other ways to make it work. I couldn't sleep with the hose hanging over me... I'd be up all night.

[Pugsy]

I don't like hanging the hose over my head. Never have. I am able to just lay the hose on the bed and around the pillow and I really don't have any issues with the weight of the hose pulling the nasal pillows out of my nose when using the Bella Loops.

I also received my Snuggle Covers for the Loops in today's mail. Haven't put them on yet to get a preliminary fit. Got a few other things going on at the moment but I will use them tonight.
My initial thought....I think the bulk is going to be an issue for me. I think they are going to be too thick for my preference. It is going to feel more like when I tried using the gray side cheek covers.
Too much bulk to suit me but I will report more when I have them all assembled.

[mnfe]

I like the loops so I'm going to try. I think I have some Command hooks around somewhere, maybe that and a hair band? I just hope my hose is long enough, I am a side sleeper and it's the rolling over that gets me. Plus I sleep under a window so I may need to be creative.

[NateS]

Well I managed to get the Snuggle Covers threaded over the cheek straps and laced back onto the pillows and will try them tonight.

Unlaced one end of each strap, and off with those annoying useless too-short pink tubes~

When I opened the package, I was puzzled to find two large metal paper clips inside, with no instructions whatsoever.

It didn't take me long to figure out what they were for, however, after I tried to get the straps inside and up through the cover/tube. No way were the cheek straps going to go anywhere without being first attached to the paper clips! And then I had to figure out how to keep the straps attached to the paper clips as I pulled them through!

After a little trial and error, it worked when I slid the ends of the straps on sideways, and wrapped around the clip with the first notch trapped within the clip.

With a little patience, they were threaded through, straightened up and the tips re-laced into the ends of the nasal pillow!

To sleep, perchance to dream. And try them out! I'm optimistic.

Nate

[Pugsy]

I was puzzled to find two large metal paper clips inside, with no instructions whatsoever.

Well crap. I guess it takes a man to realize there was a tool.. The Paper clip must have fell on the floor and that is where it stay...until now. I guess I will pick it up and use the the NEXT time I try to get the floppy skinny loops through the covers. I did it with sheer determination and lots of cussing. It can be done but I bet the paper clip would have made for a lot less cussing. I am so embarrassed...I didn't see the paper clip till just a little bit ago. Didn't realize what it was for. Thought the dogs had but into things again.

Oh well, they are set to go tonight. The weight of the cover is causing the top of my ear to flop down.
and too tight on the straps makes it worse. I have small ears and it doesn't take much to pull or push the top of the ear down and with that comes loop movement.
Report in the AM.

My first thoughts...too much bulk that will slide off the ears to easily. THey are comfortable though to just have on...I just don't know if they will stay in place.

[Pugsy]

SnuggleCovers for the Bella loops report from last night.

Disadvantage...having to undo the strap to put the covers on means that any adjustments that had previous been "perfect" were lost.
As I suspected the bulk of the covers presented a problem with allowing the loops to slide out of their "groove" behind the ear. Most noticeably for me at the top of the ear.
Short loop covers didn't cover the pink tube covers so I left them in place. I had minor cheek strap indentations on my face this morning. Not a deal breaker though..

They are comfortable though and when I woke (3 times that I remember) with the top of my ear folded down from slippage at least their was no pain.

Here is my report from last night below. Once I reassembled the loop with the covers I pretty much had it back where I had it "perfect" with the above near perfect leak line (scroll up to a previous post of mine to see the report with a super good leak line). If I tried to make it any tighter...the tops of my ears would fold forward from the tension. Any looser and there was no hope of the nasal pillows staying in place with any movement.

Tonight I am planning to use Karen's (Padacheeks) experimental covers for the loops. Velcro closure so no need to disassemble the loops. Thinner material so less bulk. Initial feeling is that they will stay in the groove better. Also...I like the "feel" of the Padacheek material better. It is so soft that it is not even noticed. She has used a super thin material that is more pleasing to touch (IMHO).
BTW....she also has an experimental simple side strap cover with her usual side strap cover fleece. It is wider and just slips easily on and covers both pink covers and it is perfect. There is no need to remove the pink covers to use the side strap cover. I know I will like it but I will also use it tonight to confirm. She pretty much did what I would have done if I had access to a sewing machine and her high quality fleece which has a wonderful feeling without huge bulk.
Here is my report from last night. I do remember at least 3 awakenings due to top of my ears being folded down.


Edit to add what the leak and event line looks like for last night using ResScan

[NateS]

Last night was likewise first night for me with the Snuggle Covers. I think they worked well for me.

They looked bulky but they did not feel bulky when I put them on. I think I slept well although I did get up once for a quick bathroom break, which is unusual for me since I started VPAP. My AHI was up to 2.7 from my 30 day average of 1.36 but that usually happens to me the first night after trying/adding something new or different to the mix.

I was glad to get rid of the short pink tubes, which always felt a little annoying whether on my cheeks or behind my ears.

With the Snuggle Covers on, the straps felt snugger without feeling pinched. But I still had some adjustment and readjustment challenges with the nasal pillows to get rid of the hiss.

I have been having little or no apneas and very few hypopneas up 'til last night, so I'm not happy about the "road signs" below but hope these go away after a few more nights of adjustment. Will see.



Regards, Nate

[Pugsy]

Nate...your road signs were better than mine.

I wonder if the fact that I have tiny ears has something to do with the "bulky" feeling? I just have less area to have a "groove" behind the ear. Very little distance from the top of my ear to the groove where the loop sits...and the bulk does eat up that 1/2 inch....which allows for slippage more easily? Seems very possible that it could be a factor. I can't measure it right now but from the top of my ear to the groove at the top is maybe half an inch. When my hubby gets home I will see if he can get a proper measurement.

[chunkyfrog]

Paper clips! Who'd a thunk it?
I learned to thread elastic through a casing using a big safety pin.
They sometimes sell a tool that does that with the sewing notions.
Instructions? -- probably didn't have an interpreter handy.