Large breasts and masks..

TossinNTurnin · Post by **TossinNTurnin** » Sat Jan 05, 2008 11:05 pm

Ok...

I'm taking a risk here and I hope there aren't any disrespectful comments because I'd like some honest comment.

OK... I'm overweight and very large breasted. It's always been difficult for me to find a comfortable position for sleeping. I'm limited already as to where I can place my arms.

I just started on cpap a few days ago.

I'm currently using the Respironics "Optilife" nasal pillows mask. I tend to need to switch from one side to the other during the night.

Quite frankly, the tubing gets in the way. Caught under my breasts, between my arms.

I'm wondering if I should consider using a nasal pillows mask where the tubing goes over my head like the Respironics ComfortLite II or the Fisher & Paykel Opus.

I'd like to know if anyone else deals with this issue (large breasts) when dealing with cpap use.

Feel free to PM me if you don't want to post publicly. I feel a little uncomfortable posting about this in public myself ... so, I will certainly respect your privacy.

rwalther · Post by **rwalther** » Sat Jan 05, 2008 11:23 pm

I saw a post from a while back that talked about how adding a hose extension to allow a low-point in the hose coming from the machine, and then using a "hook & scrunchie" combination on the bed-post to suspend the tubing overhead ... solved this problem for that individual.

It sounded like it made good sense ... but I don't have first-hand knowledge.

I hope you figure it out.

ozij · Post by **ozij** » Sat Jan 05, 2008 11:26 pm

Many of us hang the hose from a hook in the wall above above our heads - pass it throug a scrunchy, or something like that.

The Optilife, unfortunately, is one of the few that make above the head routing difficult.

Here is a link to cpap.com's list of nasal pillows systems .

O.

TossinNTurnin · Post by **TossinNTurnin** » Sat Jan 05, 2008 11:42 pm

Yeah, I do have the hose coming from the behind me over the headboard... but what happens is, I lay on one side, fine after some adjusting, I switch to the other side, more adjusting... then when I turn back... there's all this extra hose.... and it's really disruptive having to keep re-arranging it etc.... it's not easy when having to sort of "arrange" my breasts and arms...

_________________

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

Babette · Post by **Babette** » Sat Jan 05, 2008 11:47 pm

Me too. I MUST have an overthehead mask. I have a hard enough time finding a place to put my arms - I don't like fidding with the hose too.

I recommend trying the Nasal Aire II, and running it over your head.

I side sleep, with the "under" hand crooked under my pillow, and the "over" arm thrown over a body pillow. This helps keep my shoulders from crushing together and smashing my breasts. I have to sleep with two body pillows, and I just roll back and forth between them.

I find throwing my arm over the pillow really alleviates alot of problems for me.

Hope this helps!
Barbara

kteague · Post by **kteague** » Sun Jan 06, 2008 12:18 am

TossinNTurnin,

I too need a hose routed overhead. With the Headrest I haven't felt the need to put up an overhead hanger, it just lays behind my pillow and I can turn over with no trouble. But I have mounted the hose overhead in the past with a different mask and it worked out well. I'm with you, last thing I need is one more thing to shift around when turning over.

Hope you find a solution that makes sleeping with your gear less aggravating. Every little thing that helps us be more comfortable is worth the effort.

Kathy

Roadie · Post by **Roadie** » Sun Jan 06, 2008 6:52 am

OK, I'm a guy so I don't have all of the same issues that you do. I do however use the same mask, and find the hose pointed towards my feet to be a bit of a problem. My solution was to purchase a "Hose Buddy" hose suspension system. It is not the cheapest way to solve the problem, but it certainly works.

The trick is to get the length of hose hanging down from the hook just right. When the length is correct I can lay on one side, roll to my back, and then roll to the other side without ever touching the hose. When you get the length right the hose just makes a gentle arc up from your nose to the hanger, there is still enough extra to allow for your movement, but the hose does not lay on either you or the bed.

I really like the OptiLife because it does not have any parts covering the upper part of my nose or eyes, but the hose routing is a bit of a pain in the neck.

I have tried the hook on the headboard solutions, and they work fine if you are using a mask where the hose points up over my head, but the OptiLife hose points down. The Hose Buddy system extends the hook about a foot away from the headboard, and the hook is on a swivel, so that one foot extension can move as you do.

Roadie

GumbyCT · Post by **GumbyCT** » Sun Jan 06, 2008 11:31 am

Roadie wrote:...I don't have all of the same issues that you do. I do however use the same mask, ...

What a great opening line. Hats off to ya Roadie, you squeezed right in there <smile>

Gumby is asking self ::she has a mask?::

sleepycarol · Post by **sleepycarol** » Sun Jan 06, 2008 11:35 am

Roadie this is just MY opinion -- but your wife has one heck of a hubby!!!

Most men would have steered clear of this topic and I am impressed that you jumped right in!!! You have a great idea about the hose buddy that may help Tossin!!

Hats off to you for joining us "women folk" on such delicate topics!!!

KenC · Post by **KenC** » Sun Jan 06, 2008 12:29 pm

Must... hold... back... no juvinile comments....

Whew! that was tough! But OK, I'm past it. I'll throw my two cents in as a side sleeper and say that, IMHO, nasal pillows will just never work out very well. My experience with the Bravo and the Swift is that the slightest lateral force from your head pillow contacting the interface will cause the nasal pillows to shift, and the seal to break. Admittedly, I've not tried them all - maybe some of the other nasal pillow systems work for side sleepers.

I have seen other posts where side sleepers recommend very firm head pillows so that your head doesn't sink down in far enough for the head pillow to make contact with the interface. Maybe that would work too.

One other thing to consider: Many people like to route the hose over their head and over the headboard. While this does solve the turning over problem for side sleepers, it introduces another problem: rainout. With the hose routed over your headboard, you now have a few feet of hose running down-hill to your face. All of the water that condenses in the hose will run down into your interface, and eventually into your nose. This problem isn't insurmountable - there are hose covers and even heated hoses, but it is an issue to deal with.

JZ · Post by JZ » Sun Jan 06, 2008 1:09 pm

KenC wrote:I'll throw my two cents in as a side sleeper and say that, IMHO, nasal pillows will just never work out very well. My experience with the Bravo and the Swift is that the slightest lateral force from your head pillow contacting the interface will cause the nasal pillows to shift, and the seal to break. Admittedly, I've not tried them all - maybe some of the other nasal pillow systems work for side sleepers.

Ken -- I gave up using the Swift for the reason you mention. However, many side sleepers find that the ComfortLite 2 is less subject to lateral forces as it does not extend laterally as far as the Swift. And many of us side sleepers have found that the Headrest is perfect for side and stomach sleeping. As great as those interfaces are, however, some people still have to modify them to get a good or comfortable fit of the headgear.

Janna

TossinNTurnin · Post by **TossinNTurnin** » Sun Jan 06, 2008 1:41 pm

[quote="Babette"]Me too. I MUST have an overthehead mask. I have a hard enough time finding a place to put my arms - I don't like fidding with the hose too.

I recommend trying the Nasal Aire II, and running it over your head.

I side sleep, with the "under" hand crooked under my pillow, and the "over" arm thrown over a body pillow. This helps keep my shoulders from crushing together and smashing my breasts. I have to sleep with two body pillows, and I just roll back and forth between them.

I find throwing my arm over the pillow really alleviates alot of problems for me.

Hope this helps!
Barbara

TossinNTurnin · Post by **TossinNTurnin** » Sun Jan 06, 2008 1:44 pm

[quote="Roadie"]OK, I'm a guy so I don't have all of the same issues that you do. I do however use the same mask, and find the hose pointed towards my feet to be a bit of a problem. My solution was to purchase a "Hose Buddy" hose suspension system. It is not the cheapest way to solve the problem, but it certainly works.

The trick is to get the length of hose hanging down from the hook just right. When the length is correct I can lay on one side, roll to my back, and then roll to the other side without ever touching the hose. When you get the length right the hose just makes a gentle arc up from your nose to the hanger, there is still enough extra to allow for your movement, but the hose does not lay on either you or the bed.

I really like the OptiLife because it does not have any parts covering the upper part of my nose or eyes, but the hose routing is a bit of a pain in the neck.

I have tried the hook on the headboard solutions, and they work fine if you are using a mask where the hose points up over my head, but the OptiLife hose points down. The Hose Buddy system extends the hook about a foot away from the headboard, and the hook is on a swivel, so that one foot extension can move as you do.

Roadie

TossinNTurnin · Post by **TossinNTurnin** » Sun Jan 06, 2008 1:46 pm

sleepycarol wrote:
Hats off to you for joining us "women folk" on such delicate topics!!!

I concur!!!

sleepycarol · Post by **sleepycarol** » Sun Jan 06, 2008 2:30 pm

I think if you do a search on hose buddy and under the red question mark under hose modifications you should be able to make your own without too much difficulty if you don't want the full expense of purchasing one.

Just a thought.

Large breasts and masks..

Large breasts and masks..

Getting "everything" arranged