How about an Equipment Review Section

[PajamaGuy]

Got my PR ComfortGel Blue Dull Face mask yesterday and while it's much better than my Quattro Fx, the bridge of my nose is red and sore this morning. I jumped on CPAP.com to (1) Read the reviews to find out how others have dealt with the sore-nose-bridge issue & (2) Contribute my observations which might help others make decisions about the ComfortGel Blue.

I'm unable to find a way to contribute a review on CPAP.com unless I've purchased the product from them...(pretty lame attitude). So I came back here and searched for "comfortgel" - no luck on bridge soreness. I'm thinking there may be a benefit to having an "Equipment" section on this board like most cell phone boards have.

Just an idea...

PJ

[jen4700]

I suggest starting a thread called Comfortgel Soreness Issue - you'll get replies and suggestions.

[chunkyfrog]

Band-aid until it's "broke in". Blister prevention.
Embarrassment if you forget to remove tape until noon at work.

[carolyngoodman]

PajamaGuy,

I am sorry our reviews caused frustration. Our review policy was not created with the mentality to keep out other people who legitimately use the mask. The reason why we require that you have made a purchase is because it is the only way we can verify you most likely have used the mask.

Many sites allow anyone to submit reviews, on those sites, as you see many times with Amazon the manufacturer/publisher flood the reviews with fake reviews. That would be much harder and costly to replicate on CPAP.com. Other sites make up reviews just to make it look like they have more reviews.

Although our reviews do not include the entire population of individuals who ever used that product, you will know they are people who actually purchased the product. We wanted people to be able to trust the sincerity of the reviews. You might not agree with the review, but you know it came from someone in your shoes and not a marketing company.

- Carolyn

[DiverCTHunter]

Many sites allow anyone to submit reviews, on those sites, as you see many times with Amazon the manufacturer/publisher flood the reviews with fake reviews. That would be much harder and costly to replicate on CPAP.com. Other sites make up reviews just to make it look like they have more reviews.

Although our reviews do not include the entire population of individuals who ever used that product, you will know they are people who actually purchased the product. We wanted people to be able to trust the sincerity of the reviews. You might not agree with the review, but you know it came from someone in your shoes and not a marketing company.

- Carolyn

It might be possible to do something similar to the Prescription fax system and have the user fax a copy of the Brick & Mortar DME's delivery slip. My suspicion is that it'd take too many man hours to implement to justify the number of extra (valid) reviews, though.

[Maxie]

When I am considering a new mask I go to our hosts site and read the reviews there. If I see more negative reviews than positive ones, I move on. I have found that in the cpap site, the reviews are honest and no, I don't work for them!

[brucifer]

Many sites allow anyone to submit reviews, on those sites, as you see many times with Amazon the manufacturer/publisher flood the reviews with fake reviews. That would be much harder and costly to replicate on CPAP.com. Other sites make up reviews just to make it look like they have more reviews.

Although our reviews do not include the entire population of individuals who ever used that product, you will know they are people who actually purchased the product. We wanted people to be able to trust the sincerity of the reviews. You might not agree with the review, but you know it came from someone in your shoes and not a marketing company.

- Carolyn

This is not entirely true. If you look at reviews posted on Amazon.com, those posted by actual Amazon customers are flagged as "Amazon Verified Purchase" (See image below.). Reviews posted by individuals who did not purchase from Amazon.com do not get the verification flag. NewEgg.com does the same thing. IMHO the open-review policy lends to the credibility of the reviews since the reviews are not limited to in-house customers who may be reluctant to make honest, negative comments, and since the reviews don't appear to be controlled by the website owners. Another added benefit of an open-review policy is that the company gets more reviews for its products, so the company appears larger (or not as small) as it would otherwise. Furthermore, most consumers are smart enough to read through dishonest sales hype and phony reviews. I'm just as leary of websites that allow only verified-customer reviews as I am of websites that have open-review policies. Also, the cost of adapting a website to allow and manage unflagged reviews to be posted is not much at all. I'm sure your IT people will confirm that.

As a consumer who buys a lot of items from online companies each year, I feel the same way that PajamaGuy does about product reviews. More is better. This is just my honest review.

[chunkyfrog]

With masks, the reviews are subjective at best--even regarding quality and durability, to an extent.
The only meaningful choice is made by your face--"Does it fit; or not?"
We still need a universal 3-dimensional measuring system of predicting what mask(s), in what size,
have the best possible chance of fitting any given, unique, face.
(Yeah, I know, get off the soapbox before I fall and break my little green tushy)

[49er]

With masks, the reviews are subjective at best--even regarding quality and durability, to an extent.
The only meaningful choice is made by your face--"Does it fit; or not?"
We still need a universal 3-dimensional measuring system of predicting what mask(s), in what size,
have the best possible chance of fitting any given, unique, face.
(Yeah, I know, get off the soapbox before I fall and break my little green tushy)

Totally agree with your point about the reviews. My current mask, the Mirage Quattro, has received more favorable reviews than any other ff mask as far as I know. It no longer works for me.

49er

PS - Stay on our soapbox:)

[Wonderbeastlett]

I also have the Mirage Quattro and I've seen really good reviews and really bad. I had to buy the gecko nasal pad to stop the leaks (and its an extra small) and because it cut open the top of my nose. It worked really well stopping leaks and the bruising. Then about 2 weeks ago I tried it without the pad. Its like the pad broke in my mask cushion and it wasn't leaking or anything. I was very happy because sometimes the gecko pad would get stuck to my eyelashes and I couldn't open my eyes! lol Then after 3 nights of just wearing my mask, I awoke to a busted open, bleeding nose AGAIN! I was not happy! I guess I feel like there's no hope for my mask!

[PajamaGuy]

FWIW - I've now been on auto-CPAP 22 nights. (yes, I've used it every night, all night) MY tested AHI of 63 is down around 4.6.I used the Quattro FX (full-face- large) for the first 2 weeks, then switched to the ComfortGEL Blue Full-Face (XL), because the Fx rode up to, and dug into, my eyes. I started with 4-20, then changed it to 10-20. The Blue IS heavier. But I've had 2 nights of non-waking sleep with it. I think I'd reaaalllllyy like this mask if my pressure would stay 15-16 cm, or under. When it gets up to 17 or more, it wakes me up with leaks and it's really a pain to keep the mask sealed. I'm thinking of dropping the upper limit to 17.

I did the bandaid thing on nights 2,3,4, and 5. Nothing on 6 & 7.

I know the DS560HS "adjusted" the a-CPAP after 7 nights - Does anyone know if it did after 21? It just "felt" like it did, but I can't see it.

I do like the CPAPMax pillow!

PJ

[Pugsy]

I know the DS560HS "adjusted" the a-CPAP after 7 nights - Does anyone know if it did after 21? It just "felt" like it did, but I can't see it.

The DS560 is a full time APAP machine when in APAP mode and it adjusts pressures every night all night long depending on what it senses as a need. It is not limited to a certain number of nights before it changes anything.

[Goofproof]

The nose mask problem has been delt with on the forum many times it just requires reading and does all subjects, the search feature works to some extent. As far as reviews, they are in the eye of the user, too many variables and novice users. I read reviews when I buy things but I also know there are people that post them that don't have a clue, so I don't rely on them as a final choice. Jim

In the XPAP World, what works for one may not for another, but usually with a little out of the box thinking most of it can be made to work.