Activa

texan27028 · Post by **texan27028** » Wed Aug 31, 2005 8:22 pm

Well, I took the advice of so many on the board and got an Activa mask today. When I tried it on at the DME office, it felt pretty comfortable. I was debating between the nasal pillows and the Activa, but decided to give the Activa a try. The mask I have now is a bit unforgiving, so we'll see if this mask makes a difference.

Richard

snork1 · Post by **snork1** » Wed Aug 31, 2005 9:27 pm

The Activa is the cheddar cheese of the mask world. No guarantee everyone will like it, but the odds are in your favor.

I rotate the Activa with the Swift but thanks to a dermaologist that put a huge hole on my head right under where the Swift buckle sits, I am having to use the Activa more often than usual for the moment.

Biggest down side for the Activa for me is not being able to scratch my nose. That sounds trivial, but with my itchy nose, its quite an issue.

Luckily the Activa is worn dangley loose before it is pressured-up, so I am developing techniques to sort of itch at least parts of my nose by smooshing the mask around, or lifting it up enough to sneak a finger under it.

We adapt........

texan27028 · Post by **texan27028** » Thu Sep 01, 2005 6:03 am

The first night using the mask was pretty good. I'll have to get used to using a different mask, but over all it was pretty good. I like the way it sealed no matter how I moved around ... and I move around quite alot.

I'm very pleased with it. Mainly with how loose I can wear it. With the other mask, if I didn't want leaks due to my facial hair, I had to ratchet it down on my head, leaving me with two red marks on my head. With the Activa, I was able to have it very very loose.

Nice .... very very nice.

Sleepless on LI · Post by **Sleepless on LI** » Thu Sep 01, 2005 6:08 am

I, too, used the Activa for six weeks before getting my Swift. Now I use the Swift all the time. I found the Activa started to leak, but Rock & Roll gave an incredible cure. I tried using it again last night just to see.

If you find no matter what you do, it starts leaking, he said to soak it in vinegar and water (3 to 1) overnight (I only did about 15 mins). It takes off all the oils and other layers on the rubber and plastic pieces and expands it back just a bit. I only soaked the rubber seal. Worked incredibly.

I did find, however, that my AHI was horrible last night with it on. It's only one night, but I get far better therapy it seems from the Swift. I've heard just the opposite, though, from others. So I guess it's like masks, what works for one doesn't work as well for someone else.

snork1 · Post by **snork1** » Thu Sep 01, 2005 2:19 pm

I am one of the people that gets the opposite AHI effect. My AHI numbers with the Activa are much better than the Swift, but I sure do like the minimalism of the Swift, so I trade back and forth.

It is amazing how different things work for different people in the world of CPAP.

Sleepless on LI · Post by **Sleepless on LI** » Thu Sep 01, 2005 2:36 pm

It is amazing how different things work for different people in the world of CPAP.

The best thing to keep in mind when reading any one of these posts.

PS: Love your disclaimer .

rock and roll · Post by **rock and roll** » Thu Sep 01, 2005 5:31 pm

I hope all know that all opinions are IMHO

Sleepless on LI · Post by **Sleepless on LI** » Thu Sep 01, 2005 5:51 pm

Rock & Roll writes:
I hope all know that all opinions are IMHO

As are everyone else's. We just have to keep that in mind whenever we read one.