Good support from Hybridmask.com

[maskjkie]

Well! I never......

Okay back to the Hybrid. It will only work for a few people.

Oldgearhead,
Based on my experience, I don't agree completely with you. The Hybrid works for more than a few people. I have titrated over 15 patients in the last 4-5 weeks who were mouthbreathers and the Hybrid did not fit well on only 2 of those patients. One of these patients had a very long face (one of the longest I have seen) and the other had huge nares that only an Extra Large nasal pillow would work. I wouldn't recoomend to the manufacturer to provide additional oral cushion or nasal pillows size just to accomodate an additional 10-15% of the patients. However, if they can creatively do something to the existing design/sizes to accomodate these patients, I'm all for it.

[Issac]

After finally trying the Hybrid, I would guess that only very few need to remove the chin support. too
This mask is very lightweight. the most lightwight of the FF I have tried.
I was delightfully surprised by how simple it is to put together and wear for having so many obtions. I love the pillows. I have no soreness whatsoever from them.
I did have some leaks in the chin area once I went to bed but they are nothing. Very little and only when I put my chin way up on my pillow Better to let the mask be off the edge of the pillow. When I fell asleep I did not wake until 8:30 this morning and I have not slept that long in 2 years.

[Guest]

I can vouch for InnoMed support. I emailed them Friday, and in addition to sending some useful tips and a fitting guide they're sending me some new hardware as well. This was unexpected, and a cut above the service typical to this industry, with the exception of cpap.com.

[birdshell]

Call me cynical, but I don't know why you are being appreciative to the manufacturers of these products. The Hybrid costs $175.00 not including shipping. What favor do you think the manufacturer is providing to you to simply swap out a mask that probably costs them less that $20.00 per unit to manufacturer? You already shelled out $175 for a product, last time I checked is made of plastic mold and silicone. These manufacturers are not doing anybody any favors except to their shareholders.

You are living in a society that believes in free enterprise. Yes, the manufacturers have a major responsibility to the shareholders. After all, the shareholders risked their money to fund the company in hopes that they would some day get a good return on their money.

In order to achieve a good return for the shareholders, enlightened companies know they must offer a product in which consumers will find value. This is the system that makes so many different types of masks available to serve our diverse needs. No one is forcing you to buy from any company.

What system do you propose in place of this?

P.S. Somewhat like an investor, I decided to invest my money in a Hybrid Mask and am anxiously awaiting delivery. My estimate of the cost/benefit/risk says I am willing to take the risk that the mask just doesn’t work for me and my money is wasted. I do this in hopes that the mask will work for me and solve some of the serious problems I am having with the therapy. If it does solve my problems, it is worth much more that $200 to me personally.

Have we considered the cost of research and development to create a new product? How about a limited market keeping down the number sold.

There is some room for improvement, true. I am a fairly new CPAP user and was astounded at some of the problems I encountered, and what I consider to be design flaws. This goes for my CPAP and masks (I'm on my fourth one, too.) With all of that, the FUNCTION is very good for me and I'm improving with the therapy.

Let us recall the record profits for the quarter earned by the oil companies. Said profits will be used, in part, to buy back more of their own stock. As far as I know, there is no such excessive profit in xPAP equipment....

[roztom]

My Hybrid experience is a total flop. I tried everything, cut the flap, put in spacers, all ideas were tried.

It leaks like a sieve - unusable for me.

I'm glad it works for some.

Tom

[motherall]

I've only been able to use mine twice. The first night I wore it I woke up in the morning with a perfect outline of the mask on my face in blisters. Sp I soaked it for 2 days in Ivory and then rinsed in vinegar and left out to air dry for two more days. Wore it again and had some blisters but not as many. Anyone have any ideas why or what to do> I considered using cornstarch or maybe some kind of lotion but have no idea what to try. I love the way the mask feels but my readings are horrible with it on. Seems that anything that feels so good should be working well too. I'll have to post my Encore findings this weekend but any suggestions are welcomed.

[roztom]

What part of your readings are bad?

Tom

[birdiebaby]

motherall -- I had blisters with my first mask -- not the hybrid. I thought I was allergic, but the RT said it was highly unlikely. It seems my skin is on the senitive side. I used Micropore surgical tape as a barrier between my face and mask for a few days. It worked like a charm. My skin toughened up and have not had to use it since.

Interestingly enough, I did not have that problem with the Hybrid.

[birdshell]

I do not know if this will be of any benefit, but here goes:

The Micropore tape with which I tape my mouth closed was irritating. I remembered an RN telling me that milk of magnesia applied to the skin and allowed to dry would help. When patients had to have tape applied to the same places over and over, it seemed to help protect the skin.

It is invisible unless one applied layer after layer in an effort to look like a milk mustache!

Applied to the area that the mask touches, the m.o.m. may keep it from breaking out.

All that said, my mother has had certain types of plastics and silicones react with her skin. She develops a rash that looks like the beginning of hives, but she never allows the rash to develop into anything more serious.

Best wishes in finding something that will work.