Using New mask on patient tonight

[montana user]

I finally got my new Respironics EASYlife nasal masks today and am doing a titration with it tonight. Some people have been interested in this mask so I hope to have some data for you by morning.

Let me tell you what I know so far. My pt. had a sleep study done about 10 years ago. The mask they gave her was of hard plastic (cushion) and the headgear she states is huge and uncomfortable. about 2 years ago she tired it again with a newer mask. Better but still uncomfortable. So she is here with some reservation and was sure she would not like any masks. The second I handed her this mask she gave me the following: It is very soft, its light, and the head gear is stretchy and also soft. She has been wearing it for 10 min. now and just told me she loves this mask.

I will try to update this as we go, if not hopefully I will have results in morning. If anyone else has used this mask so far, what do you think of it????

[DoriC]

Thank you Montana for bringing us into your world, I'm learning a lot from you. Keep us updated.

[montana user]

Thanks Dori,

If there is one thing I have learned from this website, is the education between sleep lab and patient is non-existent. I have learned so much from everyone on here, I only hope to give a little back!

[fadedgirl]

I recently received my EasyLife mask, and I do not even want to admit how many masks I've tried, but I think the EasyLIfe just might be "the one". Heretofore, the only mask I've been able to use with any lack of facial scarring and success leak-wise has been the ComfortGel Nasal. Well, I did like the Oracle but I learned (thanks guys!) that nasal breathing is preferable if possible, so the Oracle got the boot.

The EasyLife is about a thousand times more comfortable than the ComfortGel, and its comfortable right from the start. Dare I say, it is in itself a comfort. Its a relief I didn't know I needed: to be able to put on a mask without some level of subconscious dread regarding the weight, the imperfect fit, the messing around with it for too long, the having to get my pillow just right for it, etc. The EasyLife is actually *nice* to wear.

Its not so darned heavy hanging off of my nose; so it has a lot less counter-pressure against the face. It is much lighter than the ComfortGel & the Resmed versions (Activa LT & their gel). And its super soft. And pliable.

AND its about a half an inch thinner, profile wise, than those masks. That is just an *incredible* feature, as it isn't fighting my pillow whatsoever. I used to have to manipulate my main pillow to support the ComfortGel because it was so heavy. Not this beauty! The forehead pad is comfy, and since its not as wide as the others, it doesn't get displaced by my pillow when I'm sinking into it, or when I move around. And I don't have to make bowls in my pillow for it. Both of those qualities (shallow profile & smaller forehead pad) are beyond superb for side sleepers like myself.

Its even comfortable when I roll over onto my back, which I usually do eventually, and the weight of the other masks -- while not unbearable -- just wasn't ideal & the cold weight would wake me up. In comparison, if I couldn't see it, I wouldn't know I had this baby on.

The EasyLife just may be the most awesome nasal mask on the planet (for me). I am in love!!

[montana user]

That is good to hear! I love the forehead piece, as it is part of the seal. Leaks around the eyes( i hope) are gone. the leak well go into the forehead piece, and then back into the nasal part! Thank you for your input!

[montana user]

Final Report: Patient loved the mask! We tried a couple different ones just to compare and she what she liked better and she went back to this one! I have very few leaks, even when she slept on her side. The only thing I don't like about it-there are no quick clips on the straps. you have to thread the straps through the hole every time you take it off, or leave it loose. Not a huge deal for most people I am sure. But EASYlife scored A+ for this patient!

[montana]

M U ... Hi,
Have you tried the Full Life On anyone yet? I can't seem to use a Nose mask ( mouth breather) . It too is very light and easy yo use. You just loosen lower straps and pull off over head. I am getting great therapy with it.

[GumbyCT]

The only thing I don't like about it-there are no quick clips on the straps. you have to thread the straps through the hole every time you take it off, or leave it loose.

fwiw - I have been known to take the clips off a mask that has them to use on another mask. Just to make "life-easy"

[BleepingBeauty]

Final Report: Patient loved the mask! We tried a couple different ones just to compare and she what she liked better and she went back to this one! I have very few leaks, even when she slept on her side. The only thing I don't like about it-there are no quick clips on the straps. you have to thread the straps through the hole every time you take it off, or leave it loose. Not a huge deal for most people I am sure. But EASYlife scored A+ for this patient!

Thanks for the info on the EasyLife.

I had the same problem with the FullLife and made my own "easy-release" clip on the lower headgear strap. (See viewtopic.php?p=395422#p395422 if you're curious.)

It would seem that Respironics is releasing this entire new line of "Life" masks with no quick-release clips, which is a real head-scratcher. They made the most innovative and easy-to-use quick disconnect for the hose, but nothing for the headgear. What the ...?

Does the EasyLife have the same great quick disconnect feature for the hose that the FullLife sports?

[fadedgirl]

I don't have a Full Life so I'm not sure what you are referring to, but I do not see any thing that resembles a quick disconnect for the hose on the EasyLife.

I have to say that I loathe the head gear on the Easy Life. I don't really mind that it doesn't have the quick release, I didn't care for Respironics quick release mechanism (I like ResMeds, but can't stand the forehead pad on the ResMeds!) so I'm happy without it. Seems to be a more solid fit this way. But the headgear on this thing is pretty shabby and has far too much give in it. I don't have a small head, but its at least 3 times bigger than it needs to be. And its just not very good quality. A definite disappointment.

Also, I wear a small in the ComfortGel. But the inner cushion on the medium in the EasyLife is a good 1/4" shorter (from tip of nose to bridge) than the small on the ComfortGel. I was extremely annoyed that I couldn't find a sizing template gauge for this mask online, but at the very least one would expect that the sizing would be somewhat similar on masks made by the same company. Not! So now I have to order it in a Medium Wide/Large size, and I'm hoping that won't be too big. If it is, its back to the weighty ComfortGel.

[fadedgirl]

edited to say:

The EasyLife does not have the quick-release like the Full Life.

[mdintx]

I wonder if you could substitute the headgear for the ComfortGel. Have you tried that?

[robmax]

Montana, I used to have the "quick clip" (see below) on my old Gold Seal masks a hundred years ago and it was very handy. Do you think it would work on the new mask?
https://www.cpap.com/productpage/Respir ... serReviews

Rob

[fadedgirl]

I wonder if you could substitute the headgear for the ComfortGel. Have you tried that?

Excellent idea, I will try that, thank you!!

[BleepingBeauty]

Actually, I do have a Full Life! But I never noticed any quick-release feature for the hose. Now I'm going to have to check that out!

Check it out here:



The gray cylinder is what the hose fits over. When you want to release the hose from the mask, squeeze the two clear clips on either side of the hose connector on the mask, and the gray piece (with the hose attached) drops out, easy as pie. Clipping it back in is a one-handed gesture. Great feature, IMO.