opti-life question

pharmwoman · Post by **pharmwoman** » Sun Jun 17, 2007 7:18 am

Hi all:)
Last week I went for my annual visit with my sleep guy, and I was telling him that after many masks, the comfortlite 2 has been good, but still in my opinion has flaws and frustrations--it seems like after 3 months the mask doesnt fit as well, etc.
anyway, he said a lot of people have had great success with opti-life and to give ti a try--I had the same experience 2 nites in a row--the mask is very comfortable(and I have never liked nasal pilows) but no matter what, I wake up in the middle of the nite with the mask flung off. Any ideas on how to make it stay on or if maybe its just not for me??
Im thinking since the comfortlite works so well i might invest in a few extra masks a year (my insurance pays for 1 every 6 months) to insure a good fit

wkosturko · Post by **wkosturko** » Sun Jun 17, 2007 7:35 am

The Optilife comes with a hose management clip, maybe you can use that somehow. Im a new CPAPer and this is my 1st mask. I have adjusted very well to this one and have had no problems. If you go to the Respironic website, you can find videos on how to properly adjust headgear and suggestions of hose management setups

Good Luck!!!

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bdp522 · Post by **bdp522** » Sun Jun 17, 2007 7:41 am

I haven't had a problem with it coming off. It stays in place quite well for me. I am getting very sore nares, the pillows seem to be rougher than others. Even ayr gel, chapstick, and lansinoh doesn't help.

Brenda

wkosturko · Post by **wkosturko** » Sun Jun 17, 2007 7:51 am

BDP,
maybe your headgear is to tight! I do have some soreness around my nares, but it does seem to be going away using ary...

bdp522 · Post by **bdp522** » Sun Jun 17, 2007 11:47 am

I've tried tighter, I've tried looser, I am allergic to most all of materials they use to make the masks. They all bother me some but the opti causes the most rawness. It's very comfortable all night but I wake with raw nares. Tonight I move up to the big guns, Aquaphor! I may also have to use my Rx for cortisone.

Brenda

Yoga · Post by **Yoga** » Sun Jun 17, 2007 3:52 pm

Brenda,

Soaking the mask in a mixture of baking soda and water for several days might help you. That's what I have to do as some of the masks make my skin feel like it's burning.

Good luck!

jasper · Post by **jasper** » Sun Jun 17, 2007 3:54 pm

It took me a while to fit the Optilife just right. For one thing, the pillows angle isn't anywhere near the 45 degree starting position. I find that if I have it angled very much at all it will leak. I agree with the use of the tube management clip. I couldn't get the gear to stay in place properly without it. The only other suggestion I have is to make sure the strap behind your head actual goes low enough to be supported beneath the occiput. I had it slip off once when I started out too high.

Regarding soreness, I've not had a problem beyond the first night or two... then only minor soreness. The Ayr gel helps a lot, and I have no problems at all.. Really like this mask.

wog · Post by **wog** » Sun Jun 17, 2007 5:23 pm

Ditto what Jasper said...

Make sure the straps are in the right place.

It took a good week or two of fiddling with minor adjustments until I got the OptiLife to fit right. But once I finally found the sweet spot it was great.

And I too must highly recommend Ayr Saline Gel. Truly a comfort for sore noses. The OptiLife pillows could be softer I think. It does take several days for your nose to toughen up and adjust to the pillows.

Hang in there and don't give up.

bdp522 · Post by **bdp522** » Sun Jun 17, 2007 5:26 pm

Yoga, what exactly does the baking soda soak do for the pillows?

Brenda