Hybrid mask users....Please help!!

[texmels]

Hello and good evening. Just seeking a little help from the experienced hybrid users in the group.

Well, I finally received my Innomed hybrid mask, and have used it for the last two nights. Like many past posters, lots of leaking around the nasal prongs when I turn in bed. I have read lots of helpful hints and solutions posted by other hybrid users including adding floss, rubber bands and lycra bands around the nasal prongs to help keep them in place. I have watched the instructional video that came with the mask, but the suggested adjustments do not seem to help. I have fitted myself with the medium nasal prongs, and the small size mouth piece. After trying all the pieces and sizes, i'm sure I have the sizing right.

Does anyone have a picture of how the mask looks with the floss, rubber bands, lycra band (or any other quick fix) looks after it is applied. I tried the rubber band but I dont think I attached it right because it did not seem to make a difference. For me a picture would be really helpful if anyone has one to post. I really would like to give this mask a chance and I know it is too soon to give up on it.

I appreciate the knowledge and help that I have already recieved in the the short time since I've joined. Many thanks!

[KSMike]

I may have posted the original thread on the floss (or maybe someone posted something similar earlier), but I'll try to put up a picture of that this evening. I don't have the Innomed version but that shouldn't matter as far as that goes.

[Beckah54]

Check out this post.


viewtopic.php?f=1&t=36928&p=322402#p322402

Good luck!

[chunkyfrog]

Here's another:
viewtopic.php?p=441576#p441576
--and the momma of them all:
viewtopic.php?t=15104

[texmels]

thanks for the links and the pics!
I need to go out and get some ladies tights asap:-) In the mean time, I cut my wide hairband last night to make it more narrow and wrapped it over the pillows. there was still some leaking when I turned on my side, but the headband is not as elastic the way the tights would be.

[KSMike]

Here's a shot of how I've used floss. It's just two wraps around the underside of the pillows and then knotted several times so it can't come apart. I found that two wraps hold up far better than one, and can go many weeks between replacement even when getting washed with soap & water every day. The hardest part is tying the knot without causing the floss to tighten up too tightly. The goal (at least in my case) was not to "cinch them down" but to just keep them from having too much of a mind of their own.

[texmels]

thanks ksmike, i was putting the floss lower down at the base of the nasal prongs. I will try it your way tonight and see if it helps me

[Eureka]

I had some difficulty "taming the hybrid." (I'm a slow learner!) I changed the pieces around, trying all combinations. Finally settled on one. I don't use any floss or rubber bands. I do use Lansinoh on my nose and I think that really helps get a seal. I also made a strap from soft micro fleece and put velcro on both ends, and I use that instead of the tights. Seems to work well. Easy to get the right tension by using the velcro.
I started with the Liberty and couldn't make it work at all. I moved to the Hybrid and like it a lot. Hope you can get it "tamed" because I think you will like it in the long run. BTW I use a wipe to clean the mask every night before retiring, then wipe my face good. I wash the mask weekly with Dr. Bronner's soap.

[LinkC]

If you can get a good pillow seal with nipple grease (easier to spell and more fun to say than Lansinoh... ), a SLIGHT tightening of the overhead strap will often let you eliminate the grease. Your face may vary.

When I first started with the Hybrid, bedtime looked and felt like a Samurai battle ritual. Bands, grease, poking at the pillows, reseating, etc. I was convinced my face was gruesomely misshapen. But apparently my mother was wrong. Now I use none of that and can be masked up with minimal leakage by the time auto-on kicks in. It's a matter of learning (trial/error) exactly what each adjustment does.

I will try to get some pics of headgear placement, tho it will likely be slightly different for everyone.