Optilife Users....Are you happy with this setup?

needingu · Post by **needingu** » Fri Sep 14, 2007 11:05 am

Should we? Could we? Would we? Ask the company to place a swivel elbow about 4 inches down from the Optilife nasal pillows. The hose down drags the covers which displaces the pillows irritating the nares. IMO the hose is too stiff to pull up toward the headboard without displacing the pillows.

I find this to be the most liberating mask setup I have tried. I feel so much more "approachable" I can see, I can talk. Almost feel that I do not have an "umbilical cord" . Am thankful for all the masks available as someone likes one better than the other, as it should be. With SUCH improvements in our health, its a miracle.

Would like some feed back on this. Thanks

papdaddy · Post by **papdaddy** » Fri Sep 14, 2007 11:45 am

I totaly agree with you. A swivel would make this mask a whole lot better than it already is. I found that i have to clip hose to my t-shirt then loop back up. The only problem is when you roll over you have to readjust, as it usually pulls out of seal. Just a minor problem and could be fixed with an addition of a swivel. Best side sleeping mask so far IMHO.

Rich

Ody · Post by **Ody** » Fri Sep 14, 2007 12:31 pm

needingu wrote:Should we? Could we? Would we? Ask the company to place a swivel elbow about 4 inches down from the Optilife nasal pillows. The hose down drags the covers which displaces the pillows irritating the nares. IMO the hose is too stiff to pull up toward the headboard without displacing the pillows.

I agree. I like the mask except for the hose down design. Because of this I switched to the Swift II. BIG improvement for me.

Georgia Hosehead · Post by **Georgia Hosehead** » Fri Sep 14, 2007 1:13 pm

I too, like the Optilife. I clip my 6 foot hose to the headgear, so that the mask hose passes up the left side of my face. I tend to sleep mostly on my right side and my back. For left side sleep, I carefully position to tube in front of my ear. Of course, I have to unclip the hose to make a potty trip.

sleepngo · Post by **sleepngo** » Fri Sep 14, 2007 1:51 pm

When I first got the OptiLife mask I too was concerned about the mask not having a hose swivel elbow and I was concerned about the hose clip, I don't wear PJ's or a t-shirt to bed, just my good old JS's. Now after three nights use I am no longer concerned about a swivel elbow. First thing I did was to take the clip lose from the short hose and attach it to my tubing, so that it would slide freely, then I clipped it to my JS's at the front waist band and routed the tubing under the covers, problem solved. I no longer need a swivel elbow and the nasal pillows stay in place all night long, despite the fact that I change positions a lot. I spend 50% of the time on my back and 50% of the time on my left or right side. I keep the mask tube straight down the middle with a small bow in the tubing that connects to the mask tube. After three days use I think I like it better without a elbow. One other adjustment I made the first day was to turn on the machine at 16 CM and lay on my back and turn side to side to adjust the mask until the nasal pillows stayed in place. During the three days I have used this mask I haven't had any nasal pillows leaks while changing positions. For me is has been better without the elbow and my AHI's are the lowest yet, first day was 1.2 second .7 and third .5. So for me the mask has worked out fine without the elbow, in fact I prefer it without an elbow. One other benefit of routing the tubing under the covers, it keep the air warm.

Dan

AdmiralCougar · Post by **AdmiralCougar** » Fri Sep 14, 2007 2:21 pm

I've only had 4 hours with my loaner OptiLife. I've got Bronchitis and was only able to finally use it last night because after getting an inhaler, taking 1200mg of Ibuprofen, a cough suppressant, and an Antibiotic I was finally able to get a few hours sleep until the drugs wore off and I woke up coughing and in more pain. Haven't been able to sleep since I woke up with the cough 2 am Tuesday morning, so the sleep was welcomed even though I woke with more pain.

Anyway an optional Swivel would be good. But I got a question anyone know how to adjust it so that it pulls the hose out more away from your body. Because I'm having a hard time keeping the pillows in place I can't turn them any further towards me and the weight of the hose keeps trying to pull them out. Had to sleep way awkward and woke with a bad back ache on top of my sore lungs.

I'm a bit ticked at the woman who fitted me with my original mask. She so didn't give me an option to try this mask, even though she knew I was claustrophobic. She so told me what I was limited to, and if it wasn't for the good R.R.T. that I've been working with I wouldn't even know that Kaiser carried it. This mask makes me feel so much better, and I didn't have to go through my nightly calming ritual that I've had to do in order to stand the nasal mask enough to put it on. Plus now I can use the humidifier. Turns out I was having so much problems with turning the humidifier on because my face can't stand being warm, not because I can't breath the warmer humidified air. I was even able to set it up to 5 this morning for about 15 min, while I laid in bed because the Dr. said to use a humidifier to help with my lungs 15 min was all I could stand before my lungs were hurting to bad again and I starting having a coughing fit. I've never been able to set it above 1 with a nasal mask, and even then I'd have to wait to turn it up to that right when I'm finally starting to dose off, and when I would wake up in the middle of the night I had to promptly shut it back off in order to fall back asleep.

So far love the idea of the mask, still need to tweak so hopefully this may be the mask for me...

Christy

sleepngo · Post by **sleepngo** » Fri Sep 14, 2007 3:19 pm

[quote="AdmiralCougar"]I've only had 4 hours with my loaner OptiLife. I've got Bronchitis and was only able to finally use it last night because after getting an inhaler, taking 1200mg of Ibuprofen, a cough suppressant, and an Antibiotic I was finally able to get a few hours sleep until the drugs wore off and I woke up coughing and in more pain. Haven't been able to sleep since I woke up with the cough 2 am Tuesday morning, so the sleep was welcomed even though I woke with more pain.

Anyway an optional Swivel would be good. But I got a question anyone know how to adjust it so that it pulls the hose out more away from your body. Because I'm having a hard time keeping the pillows in place I can't turn them any further towards me and the weight of the hose keeps trying to pull them out. Had to sleep way awkward and woke with a bad back ache on top of my sore lungs.

I'm a bit ticked at the woman who fitted me with my original mask. She so didn't give me an option to try this mask, even though she knew I was claustrophobic. She so told me what I was limited to, and if it wasn't for the good R.R.T. that I've been working with I wouldn't even know that Kaiser carried it. This mask makes me feel so much better, and I didn't have to go through my nightly calming ritual that I've had to do in order to stand the nasal mask enough to put it on. Plus now I can use the humidifier. Turns out I was having so much problems with turning the humidifier on because my face can't stand being warm, not because I can't breath the warmer humidified air. I was even able to set it up to 5 this morning for about 15 min, while I laid in bed because the Dr. said to use a humidifier to help with my lungs 15 min was all I could stand before my lungs were hurting to bad again and I starting having a coughing fit. I've never been able to set it above 1 with a nasal mask, and even then I'd have to wait to turn it up to that right when I'm finally starting to dose off, and when I would wake up in the middle of the night I had to promptly shut it back off in order to fall back asleep.

So far love the idea of the mask, still need to tweak so hopefully this may be the mask for me...

Christy

AdmiralCougar · Post by **AdmiralCougar** » Fri Sep 14, 2007 3:56 pm

No I hadn't changed that yet. My awesome R.R.T. (He really is awesome it's no snide remark, it's just he spent most of our time taking care of the Oximeter and trying to get a message to my Pulmonologist and Primary Care Doctor about my Bronchitis he was really worried about it) who loaned it to me didn't have the time to really show me what all the changes would do and didn't have any paper information to give to me to take home with it. He pretty much shoved it on my head said it fits sort of like that, and handed me the petite pillows since he could already tell the small looked to big. He pretty much has allot of confidence in me that I'd be able to figure things out. I just wasn't sure what moving them would do yet. That's why I asked. I'll give that a try.

I'm thinking about trying and taking a nap, since I'm feeling so awful. Just took another round of meds so maybe in about 20 min I'll fell like I can lay down with the machine for a bit. Besides if my husband gets home and find me asleep he can't complain my Dr. said to get more sleep... It's even written down on my release papers as an instruction... He always complained about how much I slept in the past so any time I take a nap he gets snappy.

I sure hope it's that easy of a fix. I really like most every thing about the mask so far, even with it's straight down hose cause I can eventually get used to that.

Thanks so much,

Christy

Roadie · Post by **Roadie** » Fri Sep 14, 2007 5:15 pm

I have an M-Series machine with the hose out the back, I added an optional swivel there. The hose runs between the bedframe and the wall, below my pillow, and then runs down the middle of the bed. By the way I use a 10 foot hose with a snuggle hose cover. Usually the hose is outside the covers, but sometimes inside, it runs down to around my waist and then makes a U-Turn and back up to my nose. Do I think a swivel at the business end of the thing would be a good idea, frankly YES. I also think some sort of 2 inch or so telescoping device would also be good. Allow me to tilt my head and turn my head while I sleep without minor leaks.

For me the 10 foot hose with the cover makes this mask the most comfortable I have used in my more than 5 years with CPAP. I tried it with a 6 foot hose and found the entire arrangement to be at the limit of the hose since the thing points down. I tried clipping it to various things to point the hose up, but all of them were more uncomfortable than the 10 foot hose down the middle of the bed. I tried the 6 footer and the 10 footer down the outside but when they fell off the bed they pulled on the mask too much for my comfort.

In conclusion, an optional user added swivel and telescoping attachment right below the hard plastic piece would be a great addition to the OptiLife.

Roadie

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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): hose, CPAP

zzzzzz!! · Post by **zzzzzz!!** » Fri Sep 14, 2007 5:19 pm

I'd like a swivel, too.

For those who aren't already using it, I highly recommend getting the lightweight Performance hose to use with this mask.

I currently have the hose (inside a Snugglehose cover) clipped to the corner of the fitted sheet and from there I have a sufficient length to turn from side to side. To avoid pulling upward on the mask, I head that part of the hose downward and then either through my armpit or over my shoulder, or else just kind of in a U in front of me, depending on which direction I'm facing relative to my machine. The Performance hose, even with the cover, is lightweight enough that I really don't notice it.

I still would like a swivel, though--maybe a swivel joint with the option to lock it into place; that way everyone could be happy no matter what their preference.

SleepingBeauty · Post by **SleepingBeauty** » Fri Sep 14, 2007 10:20 pm

I still would like a swivel, though--maybe a swivel joint with the option to lock it into place; that way everyone could be happy no matter what their preference.

I totally agree! I'd bring that mask back into the rotation again with a swivel.

AdmiralCougar · Post by **AdmiralCougar** » Fri Sep 14, 2007 11:36 pm

I just got to say Dan THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!! I got an almost 3 hour nap before I woke up coughing and couldn't stand the pain anymore. And your tip worked so well It's not perfect yet, but then again I'll probably have to adjust it again after my bronchitis is all cleared up anyway I'm sleeping with a foam wedge at about a 45 degree angle now so I have a feeling that I'll need to do even more adjustments when I'm laying flat again. Still got to work on hose control with this thing. I don't have any clips or anything so it's hard to keep in a comfy position. But I think this mask will make me a happy camper.

'gles everyone.

Christy

sleepngo · Post by **sleepngo** » Sat Sep 15, 2007 1:03 am

Christy, hope you are feeling better soon. If you need information on the fitting of the OptiLife mask try http://optilife.respironics.com/fitting.asp there you will find a video on how to fit the mask.

Dan

Hoover · Post by **Hoover** » Sat Sep 15, 2007 9:48 am

I love mine - I can't imagine life with a FF mask. I have adjusted it but I think a swivel would be fantastic.

One night my hosed grazed my lovely wife's back and she dreamed it was a cockroach (she's from Brooklyn originally) and reached back with her hand to bat it away and swatted the hose almost ripping out my nares - woooouchhhhh - but amusing now.

pippincat · Post by **pippincat** » Sat Sep 15, 2007 11:58 am

Sleepngo,

Thanks so much for the link for fitting the mask. Turns out I have been wearing this mask all wrong. I am a newbie and the instruction book was not that clear to me. The visuals really made the difference. I think I will take a nap later just to try it out with a proper fit. You guys are the greatest!!!!

pippincat

Optilife Users....Are you happy with this setup?

Optilife Users....Are you happy with this setup?

Re: Optilife Users....Are you happy with this setup?

Thanks for the Link

Machine	Mask	Humidifier