Hybrid info.

oceanpearl · Post by **oceanpearl** » Tue May 29, 2007 11:58 am

Been having a real battle with the headgear. Called the mfr and told the customer service rep "I love your mask". she interrupts me and says "but you hate our headgear. Seems as if mine came with the old headgear. She sent me the new headgear at no cost and it makes all the difference in the world in the comfort and installation ease of the Hybrid.

Babette · Post by **Babette** » Tue May 29, 2007 1:17 pm

Just thought I'd share what I did to my old Hybrid mask headgear.

The mask I got had the "old" headgear. It was used, so the velcro was not adhering well to the strap material (something they fixed in the new headgear), and you know how just LAME the top strap is/was. I looked at the pic of the new headgear and realized I could fix the whole thing. I didn't need that D ring buckle thing they have on the new headgear - I had all the stuff I needed in my craft stash.

I grabbed a wad of industrial strength adhesive backed velcro that I'd bought at the hardware store awhile back to afix my two-way radios to the center console of my car. I need them for Search & Rescue, but I like to hide them when they are not in use - as this is a high crime area, and lots of my SAR friends have had their vehicles broken into. Thieves are stupid. They don't realize no one wants to buy those radios, since they are set to only OUR frequencies, completely useless to them or anyone else... ANYWAY, I had this very strong adhesive backed velcro in my stash.

So, I cut several little strips of both sides of the velcro. I put the LOOP sides down on the four straps that lead from the clips. The hook velcro already on the straps adhered strongly to this new loop stuff and alleviated that sudden slack from velcro popping off.

On the over the head strap, I took a little metal rectangle I had from a previous project (you can get these in the notions aisle at Joanns, Hancocks, Michaels, probably any sewing/craft store) and used it as a double D ring. Any small metal or plastic ring will do - doesn't have to be a D, doesn't have to be a circle, just about anything will work.

Anyway, I stuck both loop and hook velcro on one side of each strap. I then looped each strap through the ring, bringing it back on itself, and velcro-ing it down. I can then tighten that up or loosen it to my heart's content.

Worked well last night!

Cheers,
B.

JeffH · Post by **JeffH** » Tue May 29, 2007 1:34 pm

Babette,

I think we need to appoint you official industrial strength headgear repair person. We could send all our mask that aren't sealing good to you and you could fortify them to your hearts content. We would all sleep better after having our mask "Babetteized"

JeffH...LOL

Babette · Post by **Babette** » Tue May 29, 2007 1:40 pm

Ah Jeff, (blushes) THANKS!

You know, 6 weeks ago I was the one whining about I didn't want to lab-rat my masks because I was so tired and lacked creative or physical energy. This weekend I not only jerryrigged the Hybrid headgear, I cleaned out three closets (and gave substantially to Goodwill), got all the dishes done (haven't had ALL of them done at one time in months) and learned how to use this forums' live chat. All things I was too mentally beat down to do before.

Lemme know if you need some Velcro. I've got leftovers...

Real Men use Duct Tape. Real Women use Velcro - because they like to change their minds frequently.

LOL,
B.

Vader · Post by **Vader** » Tue May 29, 2007 2:01 pm

oceanpearl wrote:Been having a real battle with the headgear. Called the mfr and told the customer service rep "I love your mask". she interrupts me and says "but you hate our headgear. Seems as if mine came with the old headgear. She sent me the new headgear at no cost and it makes all the difference in the world in the comfort and installation ease of the Hybrid.

In light of lagging sales for the Hybrid, I believe they are quite willing to accommodate anyone requesting the new headgear, at no charge.
I think it's an excellent customer service move....

neverbetter · Post by **neverbetter** » Tue May 29, 2007 3:52 pm

Looks like medicare gave um new codes for July 1 http://www.hybridmask.com
too bad, too, because the price would have started to come down without it.
This thing will outsell the swift with reimbursment in place.

pastorgilbert · Post by **pastorgilbert** » Wed May 30, 2007 8:44 am

Thanks for the info. I e-mailed the Hybrid people and they e-mailed me back that they were sending me the new headgear for both my Hybrid masks. Sounds like they're really trying hard to please. BTW, I got the headgear off my original mask, the Respironics ComfortFull, put the Hybrid clips on it and voila!, it works much better than the "old" Hybrid headgear. My leak rate went down substantially.

Pastorgilbert

gargoyle* · Post by gargoyle* » Wed May 30, 2007 11:00 am

got a liberty and am having a problem with the swivel and my headgear comes undone when I lay on my side. It came apart the first night. I'm getting a free replacement form my dme and am thinking I should have asked for the hybrid mask, instead. I also think the size I got was the wrong size but how do you know? I see the hybrid at 139.00 at http://www.youneedsleep.com, which is just 39.00 more than my co-pap, but it's too late for me to go to someone else. at least for the next 90 days. Good customer service means everything and I have been lucky so far. This stuff is so damn expensive that one could really get stung out there. I see equipment for 475.00 on line my dme says costs 1,275.00 without insurance. He must have one hell of a markup. I have no idea how long I have to keep the machine I got with my set up, but i'm guessing like a computer or something, we have to upgrade every 2 years or so.

Babette · Post by **Babette** » Wed May 30, 2007 11:47 am

I had ONE GOOD NIGHT with my Hybrid and two bad nights since. Massive leakage, constant fiddling with leaks and the hose. Neck sore. Headache.... OY VAY!!!!

Today I thought maybe I'd wash the mask, since I had just washed it when I had a good night. I'm also contemplating having it blessed by the local priest, and a Native American shaman I know....

The night I had good sleep, I tightened the straps while standing, Laid down, and immediately loosend all straps as much as possible.

I wonder if my "fix" of the headgear made it worse? Probably.

Sigh....
Barbara

cpapnewby · Post by **cpapnewby** » Wed May 30, 2007 11:51 am

Barbara,
If I were you, I would be contacting the Hybrid customer service and requesting the latest headgear.

Jim

Babette · Post by **Babette** » Wed May 30, 2007 12:08 pm

I've contemplated that... But my head's pounding and I hadn't gotten that far.

http://www.hybridmask.com?

Feel free to PM me the info...

Achey and cranky,
B.

neverbetter · Post by **neverbetter** » Wed May 30, 2007 1:05 pm

That new headgear makes the hybrid a 10 and they send it out for free beacuse it comes with all the new ones. You probably bought a hybrid that had been on the shelf a few months. Wait till you see the difference.

I went to http://www.respcare.com to contact them for mine.

grybeard77 · Post by **grybeard77** » Thu May 31, 2007 8:58 am

I have tried to phone them, got confusing menu operator, tried to e-mail them at 2 different e-mail addresses and both returned. Any one have a good phone or e-mail address I can contact them about the new head gear???

roster · Post by **roster** » Thu May 31, 2007 9:21 am

grybeard77 wrote:I have tried to phone them, got confusing menu operator, tried to e-mail them at 2 different e-mail addresses and both returned. Any one have a good phone or e-mail address I can contact them about the new head gear???

I have called them several times and received excellent service.

Babette · Post by **Babette** » Tue Jun 05, 2007 9:14 am

Just to let ya'll know - my Hybrid has been traded to the ANGEL who gave me my FAVORITE MASK - the NasalAire II.

Sorry to those that PMed me.

Cheers,
Barbara

Hybrid info.

Hybrid info.

Re: Hybrid info.

new Hybrid head gear

Re: new Hybrid head gear

Mask

Additional Comments: Equipment isn't correct, S9 ASV w/H5i