Hello All,
I am trying to decide on a new mask. I currently use a F&P Oracle
and an Ultra Mirage Full Face mask. I also have tried a NasalAire II
but it did not come with the headband-like headgear and it does
not stay put. I submitted my size measurements here on Cpap.com
and they recommend the ComfortClassic for my "beak"
If you have or use a ComfortClassic, please share your opinions of
the mask. Is it a good choice or not?
Any and all input is welcome!
Thanks!
Dana
Help Choosing a Mask
Help Choosing a Mask
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I would suggest the Somnotech Soyala. It is a much higher quality mask than the ComfortClassic.
cpap.com sells the Soyala and had the best price I could find:
https://www.cpap.com/productpage/Soyala ... dgear.html
The Soyala's cushion seals much better using lighter headgear strap pressure. This makes it overall more comfortable. The Classic is noisy by comparison, the Soyala is absolutely silent, no hiss or exhaust noise @10cm pressure. Exhaust air is diffused so well it is difficult to determine where it is even coming from much less if it is going to blow on your partner. 4ea quick release headgear clips make it easy to remove headgear for cleaning. Forehead support is comfortable and very adjustable. The Soyala has the best 360 degree swivel of any mask I have used. I sleep on my side, the pillow doesn't push it out of place or continues to seal well if you do.
I have been on cpap more than 5 years, in using the Soyala a little over a month now it has become my favorite mask. I have tried more than a dozen different interfaces over the years including the UMFF, Activa, ComfortClassic, Gel, Lite, Nasalaire, Breeze, Swift, Hybrid and on an on, the Soyala is by far the best I've used. It costs a bit more than other nasal masks but well worth it.
cpap.com sells the Soyala and had the best price I could find:
https://www.cpap.com/productpage/Soyala ... dgear.html
The Soyala's cushion seals much better using lighter headgear strap pressure. This makes it overall more comfortable. The Classic is noisy by comparison, the Soyala is absolutely silent, no hiss or exhaust noise @10cm pressure. Exhaust air is diffused so well it is difficult to determine where it is even coming from much less if it is going to blow on your partner. 4ea quick release headgear clips make it easy to remove headgear for cleaning. Forehead support is comfortable and very adjustable. The Soyala has the best 360 degree swivel of any mask I have used. I sleep on my side, the pillow doesn't push it out of place or continues to seal well if you do.
I have been on cpap more than 5 years, in using the Soyala a little over a month now it has become my favorite mask. I have tried more than a dozen different interfaces over the years including the UMFF, Activa, ComfortClassic, Gel, Lite, Nasalaire, Breeze, Swift, Hybrid and on an on, the Soyala is by far the best I've used. It costs a bit more than other nasal masks but well worth it.
[quote="Snoredog"]I would suggest the Somnotech Soyala. It is a much higher quality mask than the ComfortClassic.
cpap.com sells the Soyala and had the best price I could find:
https://www.cpap.com/productpage/Soyala ... dgear.html
The Soyala's cushion seals much better using lighter headgear strap pressure. This makes it overall more comfortable. The Classic is noisy by comparison, the Soyala is absolutely silent, no hiss or exhaust noise @10cm pressure. Exhaust air is diffused so well it is difficult to determine where it is even coming from much less if it is going to blow on your partner. 4ea quick release headgear clips make it easy to remove headgear for cleaning. Forehead support is comfortable and very adjustable. The Soyala has the best 360 degree swivel of any mask I have used. I sleep on my side, the pillow doesn't push it out of place or continues to seal well if you do.
I have been on cpap more than 5 years, in using the Soyala a little over a month now it has become my favorite mask. I have tried more than a dozen different interfaces over the years including the UMFF, Activa, ComfortClassic, Gel, Lite, Nasalaire, Breeze, Swift, Hybrid and on an on, the Soyala is by far the best I've used. It costs a bit more than other nasal masks but well worth it.
Thanks for the input Snoredog! I am considering all possibilties
cpap.com sells the Soyala and had the best price I could find:
https://www.cpap.com/productpage/Soyala ... dgear.html
The Soyala's cushion seals much better using lighter headgear strap pressure. This makes it overall more comfortable. The Classic is noisy by comparison, the Soyala is absolutely silent, no hiss or exhaust noise @10cm pressure. Exhaust air is diffused so well it is difficult to determine where it is even coming from much less if it is going to blow on your partner. 4ea quick release headgear clips make it easy to remove headgear for cleaning. Forehead support is comfortable and very adjustable. The Soyala has the best 360 degree swivel of any mask I have used. I sleep on my side, the pillow doesn't push it out of place or continues to seal well if you do.
I have been on cpap more than 5 years, in using the Soyala a little over a month now it has become my favorite mask. I have tried more than a dozen different interfaces over the years including the UMFF, Activa, ComfortClassic, Gel, Lite, Nasalaire, Breeze, Swift, Hybrid and on an on, the Soyala is by far the best I've used. It costs a bit more than other nasal masks but well worth it.
Thanks for the input Snoredog! I am considering all possibilties
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DreamStalker
- Posts: 7509
- Joined: Mon Aug 07, 2006 9:58 am
- Location: Nowhere & Everywhere At Once
Selecting a mask is a difficult thing with so many to choose from. You should begin by asking yourself a few questions:
What mask did you use for your titration and how well did it work?
What is your prescribed pressure from that titration? (high pressures generally make it more difficult to control mask and/or mouth leaks)
What position do you normally sleep in? … side, back, stomach, several or all positions? (some masks are better than other in this regard)
Is mask exhaust noise an issue for you or your bed partner?
Do you have a preference for routing your air hose?
What type of climate do you live in? (colder climate may make it difficult to control rainout or condensation in your mask)
What type of facial structure do you have in terms of size and shape? (perhaps the most limiting parameter in choosing a mask that seals properly)
There are probably other questions you should ask but these are a good start. Once you have posted the answers, it will facilitate others to provide you more objective suggestions --- though you should keep in mind that there is always a lot of subjectivity when it comes to mask suggestions (in other words, what works for some may not work for others ... your mileage may vary).
Best of luck!
BTW - I forgot to ask ... what problems have you had with each of the masks you have already tried?
What mask did you use for your titration and how well did it work?
What is your prescribed pressure from that titration? (high pressures generally make it more difficult to control mask and/or mouth leaks)
What position do you normally sleep in? … side, back, stomach, several or all positions? (some masks are better than other in this regard)
Is mask exhaust noise an issue for you or your bed partner?
Do you have a preference for routing your air hose?
What type of climate do you live in? (colder climate may make it difficult to control rainout or condensation in your mask)
What type of facial structure do you have in terms of size and shape? (perhaps the most limiting parameter in choosing a mask that seals properly)
There are probably other questions you should ask but these are a good start. Once you have posted the answers, it will facilitate others to provide you more objective suggestions --- though you should keep in mind that there is always a lot of subjectivity when it comes to mask suggestions (in other words, what works for some may not work for others ... your mileage may vary).
Best of luck!
BTW - I forgot to ask ... what problems have you had with each of the masks you have already tried?
Last edited by DreamStalker on Tue Dec 19, 2006 9:13 am, edited 1 time in total.
President-pretender, J. Biden, said "the DNC has built the largest voter fraud organization in US history". Too bad they didn’t build the smartest voter fraud organization and got caught.
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OwlCreekObserver
- Posts: 459
- Joined: Thu Jun 01, 2006 6:45 pm
- Location: Northwest Arkansas
I found the Comfort Classic to be a good, basic mask. Frankly, it's given me the best results of any of the four masks I've owned. It doesn't operate silently but I don't find the noise level to be particularly loud, certainly no louder than my ComfortFull 2. It's very comfortable and I'm able to sleep on my back and both sides without any major leak problems.
I do use a velcro/metal clip gadget that I put around the hose and fasten to my blanket. By allowing a little slack in the hose between the mask and the humidifier, I get almost no tugging on the mask when I turn from side to side.
One downside to the mask is that there are no quick release clips, so every time I wash the mask I have to undo the velcro harness. Of course that means I have to readjust everything when I put it back together again. I've ordered some quick release clips from a supplier and I'm hoping that I can rig something up so that I can leave the velcro straps in place whenever I remove the harness.
Of course the harness is elastic enough that you can put it on and take it off without taking it apart, unless you need to wash the mask. I suppose you could just leave it on for washing but I prefer not to.
For the price, I think this is a really decent mask. I was pleasantly surprised.
OCO
I do use a velcro/metal clip gadget that I put around the hose and fasten to my blanket. By allowing a little slack in the hose between the mask and the humidifier, I get almost no tugging on the mask when I turn from side to side.
One downside to the mask is that there are no quick release clips, so every time I wash the mask I have to undo the velcro harness. Of course that means I have to readjust everything when I put it back together again. I've ordered some quick release clips from a supplier and I'm hoping that I can rig something up so that I can leave the velcro straps in place whenever I remove the harness.
Of course the harness is elastic enough that you can put it on and take it off without taking it apart, unless you need to wash the mask. I suppose you could just leave it on for washing but I prefer not to.
For the price, I think this is a really decent mask. I was pleasantly surprised.
OCO
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Guest
I just bought a Comfort Classic as a backup for my Ultra Mirage II. It works well and is extremely light, but the quality is not as good as UMII. If your insurance pays for it, I would go with the UMII. You have the UMFF so you know what I mean (better headgear, feels solid). Be careful with the size of the CC! I ordered the medium after using the sizing template and I was wrong! 42 bucks later, I got the small, which is the only other size. The mask is VERY long from top to bottom, and the medium had to sit on my upper lip to keep the seal, and I've got a long, narrow face. FYI the CC small is about same size as UMII Standard.
[quote="DreamStalker"]Selecting a mask is a difficult thing with so many to choose from. You should begin by asking yourself a few questions:
What mask did you use for your titration and how well did it work?
What is your prescribed pressure from that titration? (high pressures generally make it more difficult to control mask and/or mouth leaks)
What position do you normally sleep in? … side, back, stomach, several or all positions? (some masks are better than other in this regard)
Is mask exhaust noise an issue for you or your bed partner?
Do you have a preference for routing your air hose?
What type of climate do you live in? (colder climate may make it difficult to control rainout or condensation in your mask)
What type of facial structure do you have in terms of size and shape? (perhaps the most limiting parameter in choosing a mask that seals properly)
There are probably other questions you should ask but these are a good start. Once you have posted the answers, it will facilitate others to provide you more objective suggestions --- though you should keep in mind that there is always a lot of subjectivity when it comes to mask suggestions (in other words, what works for some may not work for others ... your mileage may vary).
Best of luck!
BTW - I forgot to ask ... what problems have you had with each of the masks you have already tried?
Wow Dreamstalker, that's a lot of questions but here goes!
I only slept 37 minutes during my sleep study and I don't know what kind of mask
that I wore. I did not get a titration pressure but, I have had help from the wonderful
people on this board and with my reader and software I arrived at 10 Epap and 14 Ipap using
my Oracle mask and with my Respironics Bipap Auto.
I sleep on my sides and back and noise is not an issue, or has not been thus far. I don't
mind the routing of the hose so far, but I think mask comfort is more important and I will
route it accordingly.
I like my room cold but rainout has been cured by my handy fleece covers that I made
My face structure is like Frankenstein without the bolts I guess that is the most
difficult question that you have asked! Probably similar to yours but with a goatee
instead of a beard. (the Frankenstein comment was about me!
Problems: The Oracle dries out my throat even with the humidifier on max. The NasalAire II
does not stay put and when I push it back in, it irritates my nares/nostrils. The Ultra Mirage
Full Face mask leaks when I lay on my sides.
Thanks for the help and taking the time to help!
Dana
What mask did you use for your titration and how well did it work?
What is your prescribed pressure from that titration? (high pressures generally make it more difficult to control mask and/or mouth leaks)
What position do you normally sleep in? … side, back, stomach, several or all positions? (some masks are better than other in this regard)
Is mask exhaust noise an issue for you or your bed partner?
Do you have a preference for routing your air hose?
What type of climate do you live in? (colder climate may make it difficult to control rainout or condensation in your mask)
What type of facial structure do you have in terms of size and shape? (perhaps the most limiting parameter in choosing a mask that seals properly)
There are probably other questions you should ask but these are a good start. Once you have posted the answers, it will facilitate others to provide you more objective suggestions --- though you should keep in mind that there is always a lot of subjectivity when it comes to mask suggestions (in other words, what works for some may not work for others ... your mileage may vary).
Best of luck!
BTW - I forgot to ask ... what problems have you had with each of the masks you have already tried?
Wow Dreamstalker, that's a lot of questions but here goes!
I only slept 37 minutes during my sleep study and I don't know what kind of mask
that I wore. I did not get a titration pressure but, I have had help from the wonderful
people on this board and with my reader and software I arrived at 10 Epap and 14 Ipap using
my Oracle mask and with my Respironics Bipap Auto.
I sleep on my sides and back and noise is not an issue, or has not been thus far. I don't
mind the routing of the hose so far, but I think mask comfort is more important and I will
route it accordingly.
I like my room cold but rainout has been cured by my handy fleece covers that I made
My face structure is like Frankenstein without the bolts I guess that is the most
difficult question that you have asked! Probably similar to yours but with a goatee
instead of a beard. (the Frankenstein comment was about me!
Problems: The Oracle dries out my throat even with the humidifier on max. The NasalAire II
does not stay put and when I push it back in, it irritates my nares/nostrils. The Ultra Mirage
Full Face mask leaks when I lay on my sides.
Thanks for the help and taking the time to help!
Dana
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[quote="OwlCreekObserver"]I found the Comfort Classic to be a good, basic mask. Frankly, it's given me the best results of any of the four masks I've owned. It doesn't operate silently but I don't find the noise level to be particularly loud, certainly no louder than my ComfortFull 2. It's very comfortable and I'm able to sleep on my back and both sides without any major leak problems.
I do use a velcro/metal clip gadget that I put around the hose and fasten to my blanket. By allowing a little slack in the hose between the mask and the humidifier, I get almost no tugging on the mask when I turn from side to side.
One downside to the mask is that there are no quick release clips, so every time I wash the mask I have to undo the velcro harness. Of course that means I have to readjust everything when I put it back together again. I've ordered some quick release clips from a supplier and I'm hoping that I can rig something up so that I can leave the velcro straps in place whenever I remove the harness.
Of course the harness is elastic enough that you can put it on and take it off without taking it apart, unless you need to wash the mask. I suppose you could just leave it on for washing but I prefer not to.
For the price, I think this is a really decent mask. I was pleasantly surprised.
OCO
Thanks for the info. OCO!
I use two hoses put together so that I don't
strangle myself when I roll over. I suspend the hoses by the connector from my vertical blind bracket.
Let me know how the quick release clips work out for you and maybe
I will follow in your footsteps
Dana
I do use a velcro/metal clip gadget that I put around the hose and fasten to my blanket. By allowing a little slack in the hose between the mask and the humidifier, I get almost no tugging on the mask when I turn from side to side.
One downside to the mask is that there are no quick release clips, so every time I wash the mask I have to undo the velcro harness. Of course that means I have to readjust everything when I put it back together again. I've ordered some quick release clips from a supplier and I'm hoping that I can rig something up so that I can leave the velcro straps in place whenever I remove the harness.
Of course the harness is elastic enough that you can put it on and take it off without taking it apart, unless you need to wash the mask. I suppose you could just leave it on for washing but I prefer not to.
For the price, I think this is a really decent mask. I was pleasantly surprised.
OCO
Thanks for the info. OCO!
I use two hoses put together so that I don't
strangle myself when I roll over. I suspend the hoses by the connector from my vertical blind bracket.
Let me know how the quick release clips work out for you and maybe
I will follow in your footsteps
Dana
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[quote="Anonymous"]I just bought a Comfort Classic as a backup for my Ultra Mirage II. It works well and is extremely light, but the quality is not as good as UMII. If your insurance pays for it, I would go with the UMII. You have the UMFF so you know what I mean (better headgear, feels solid). Be careful with the size of the CC! I ordered the medium after using the sizing template and I was wrong! 42 bucks later, I got the small, which is the only other size. The mask is VERY long from top to bottom, and the medium had to sit on my upper lip to keep the seal, and I've got a long, narrow face. FYI the CC small is about same size as UMII Standard.
Thanks AF!
I will be buying this one for myself to see if a nasal mask will work for me.
As for the quality, I can buy THREE of the ComfortClassic masks for the price of one UMII
"just say NO to resmed" (just stirring the pot"
Thanks for the advice and your input!
Dana
Thanks AF!
I will be buying this one for myself to see if a nasal mask will work for me.
As for the quality, I can buy THREE of the ComfortClassic masks for the price of one UMII
"just say NO to resmed" (just stirring the pot"
Thanks for the advice and your input!
Dana
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OwlCreekObserver
- Posts: 459
- Joined: Thu Jun 01, 2006 6:45 pm
- Location: Northwest Arkansas
One other "downside" item that I meant to include in my earlier response:
The swivel just below the elbow joint (the part that attaches to the hose) has developed an annoying squeak whenever it turns. I don't know if this is common to all of the Comfort Classics or if I'm just especially lucky. It's not a huge deal for me, but I thought I should mention it. I think it could be easily lubricated but I haven't decided yet what to use, since I'll possibly be inhaling fumes from whatever I use. I'd be interested in knowing if others have faced and/or fixed this problem.
By the way, if you decide to order one of these, be sure that your present hose is the type that has the rubber grommets on both ends. I happened to have one, but the hoses that fit two of my other masks would not have worked on the Comfort Classic.
OCO
The swivel just below the elbow joint (the part that attaches to the hose) has developed an annoying squeak whenever it turns. I don't know if this is common to all of the Comfort Classics or if I'm just especially lucky. It's not a huge deal for me, but I thought I should mention it. I think it could be easily lubricated but I haven't decided yet what to use, since I'll possibly be inhaling fumes from whatever I use. I'd be interested in knowing if others have faced and/or fixed this problem.
By the way, if you decide to order one of these, be sure that your present hose is the type that has the rubber grommets on both ends. I happened to have one, but the hoses that fit two of my other masks would not have worked on the Comfort Classic.
OCO
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Guest
u4ea wrote:Wow Dreamstalker, that's a lot of questions but here goes!
I only slept 37 minutes during my sleep study and I don't know what kind of mask
that I wore. I did not get a titration pressure but, I have had help from the wonderful
people on this board and with my reader and software I arrived at 10 Epap and 14 Ipap using
my Oracle mask and with my Respironics Bipap Auto.
I sleep on my sides and back and noise is not an issue, or has not been thus far. I don't
mind the routing of the hose so far, but I think mask comfort is more important and I will
route it accordingly.
I like my room cold but rainout has been cured by my handy fleece covers that I made
My face structure is like Frankenstein without the bolts I guess that is the most
difficult question that you have asked! Probably similar to yours but with a goatee
instead of a beard. (the Frankenstein comment was about me!
Problems: The Oracle dries out my throat even with the humidifier on max. The NasalAire II
does not stay put and when I push it back in, it irritates my nares/nostrils. The Ultra Mirage
Full Face mask leaks when I lay on my sides.
Thanks for the help and taking the time to help!
Dana
IF you do not have problems with air leaking from your mouth ... nasal type masks are generally lighter in weight and will not dry your mouth out.
The basic nasal types consist of:
1) Cushion types that cover your nose ... I have only tried one (Acclaim 2) and for me -- it had a stuffy feeling like not getting enough air. The Activa has good reviews around here but many will also steer you away from it because it is a ResMed product and is now pricy if your insurance does not cover the cost. Snoredog swears by the Smonotec Solya mostly because it is quiet but also feels it is has good build quality and for him it seals well. There are others of this type but FOR ME, I have a believe that nasal cushion masks are not good because I think that the pressure of the seal around the nose affects my sinuses in a restrictive way and may also not provide sufficient CO2 venting (hence the stuffy feeling).
2) Nasal pillow interfaces (I’ve tried Breeze, Swift, Adams Circuit, and ComfortLite 2) seem to work quite well for me. They are very light weight and provide lots of air although some feel it is too much. I’m able to control mouth leaks without resorting to chinstraps, tape, or Polygrip glue and that may bias my opinion. I also like these types because they facilitate side sleeping very easily since distortion of my chubby face does not affect the seal the way it affects the seal with the nasal cushion and full face masks. Of these pillow interfaces, the ComfortLite 2 is the quietest … but like you, noise is not an issue and comfort is more important to me. Right now I like the Breeze the best which I have modified foe enhanced comfort. There is a new promising pillow interface by F&P called the Opus but I don’t know when it will be available in the states.
Full face masks such as the Ultra Mirage and HC432 (both of which I have recently tried) also affect my sinuses unless I wear them high up on the bridge of my nose. The CO2 venting is adequate but because my face seems to be extremely oily -- I am having difficulties maintaining a good seal throughout the whole night (will keep trying though). Also, the lower headgear strap tension seems to be crucial for proper seal and the upper strap tension should be loose enough not bruise the bridge of the nose. Then there is the Hybrid -- which is a hybrid between full face mask designs and nasal pillow interfaces. It has many fitting options between pillow size and position and mouth cushion size and chin support. Some people swear by it while others curse it and/or kick it to the curb. Although this is just my opinion, it appears to me that it does not fit well on people with long and/or angular facial structure and seems to fit round faces with mild curvature of the jaw at the mouth (again just my opinion). In addition, I have noticed that many (not all) folks with low Rx pressure do not do as well as those with higher Rx pressure. Finally, it also appears that those using the ResMed machines have less success than those using Remstar machines. I have been trying to get the Hybrid to work for me for quite a while although not on a frequent basis (just on every other weekend) since I have obviously been experimenting with several masks in the short 4.5 months I have been on PAP treatment. My success with the Hybrid is hit and miss and I still have not finished trying out all of the possible fitting options. Nevertheless, all of the full face masks require above average humidity to mitigate dry mouth.
There are other types such as the Oracle and Nasal Air II but I will not comment on those since you have more experience on those than I do.
Something to keep in mind is that nasal congestion can be problematic with nasal cushion and pillow type interfaces so you may eventually want to concentrate on finding a full face mask as a backup if not for your main interfaces.
Thanks Roberto! I appreciate all the detailed info that you have put intoAnonymous wrote:I guess I timed out on that lengthy post ... that was me.
- roberto
an answer. I guess I will give it some thought but since I have a UMFF
I might try a nasal only mask. You know what they say...
"The man who dies with the most masks wins"
Thanks for your help and opinions, they are very much appreciated!
Dana
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