Comfort Curce

[judysunlakes1]

I would like some input on anyone using the Respironics comfort curve. I am a side sleeper, after over a year yet to find a comfortable mask. I've gone from full face to nasal to the breeze. Gets discouraging after all this time.
Appreciate any suggestions, etc.
Still looking for relief.
Thanks so much
Judy

[THier]

I was considering it untill I read the reviews here,,, more bad than good, and speaking with my RT,, he has only issed it twice,, both came back.
He just dropped the ComfortLite off for me,,, it feels pretty good,,, I will sleep with it tonight.

Tom

[MartiniLover]

I have six masks, and would rank the CC as number 3 on the list. I just got a Full Face 2 weeks ago and have used it every night since. Love it.

My original Nasal Aire II is number two on the list, and CC is 3rd.

I do have to say it took several attempts to get to really like it.

I too, am a side sleeper and even roll over onto my stomach at times.

[Roger...]

Hello Judy,
I posted last night's experience with the Comfort Curve and it can be found by clicking on "Getting Hosed", Day-4, "Taming A Curve".

When I wrote that I message earlier I was tired and didn't know what I would do for tonight. Since taking a nap, I'm going to go back into the arena with it again tonight and see if I do a better job of "Taming the Curve".

I guess if I understood it was going to be this difficult for me to sleep on my side, I wouldn't have ordered it. Like you, I'm a side sleeper almost exclusively. For people who sleep on their back, this is probably one of the better mask because it slips on so easily, it is light-weight, very comfortable when in place and the exhaust air is quieter than my Mirage Activa.

Here is a link in the FAQ section of this forum:"Comfort Curve"

In the above link, you'll find a change was made to the headgear of the Comfort Curve in July of this year. Keep that in mind when you read the comments so you'll be able to evaluate the comments with that in mind.

There are postings placed here earlier this week about my Mirage Activa experience that can be found my searching for "Getting Hosed", or my name, or just asking.

If anything isn't clear in my post, just ask away.

[rubbins]

At first I did not like the comfort curve...it just did not seem to fit correctly. I initially tried using make-up sponge wedges on the outside of the cheek pads to make it stand out from my face more to get a seal. While this achieved a seal, they always fell out during the night. My problem was that the pads were not designed to fit the contours of my particular face. I finally found moleskin (made by Dr. Scholl) and used this to replace the cheek pads (I removed the supplied pads altogether). I am a side sleeper and this is now a wonderful mask for me. Best of luck to you.

[Hawthorne]

I am presently using a Comfort Curve Interface and I really like it. At first, I didn't think it was the one for me - have used several masks-but I am currently using it exclusively.

[Roger...]

[snip]
My problem was that the pads were not designed to fit the contours of my particular face. I finally found moleskin (made by Dr. Scholl) and used this to replace the cheek pads (I removed the supplied pads altogether). I am a side sleeper and this is now a wonderful mask for me. Best of luck to you.

Hello Rubbins,
I'll go see if I can find that kind of skin at the drug store and give them a go.

I liked the comfort of the Curve, but the busy work of keeping it in place or getting the pads back on consumed way too many hours of sleep time to think that this product out of the box is good for active side sleepers. In fact, the worst leaks I've experienced with my titration were the times when I was using the Curve sleeping on my side.

Thanks for the reminder about the Moleskins.

[dkeat]

I would like some input on anyone using the Respironics comfort curve.

I wonder what Dr. Freud would say about the title of your original posting?

[Roger...]

Moleskins replaced the Curve's pads and that has had a significant impact on reducing the impact that the pillow has on the Curve's seal. I still had a lot of leaks last night as can be seen in the table below:
Today I'm hoping to create an additional leg on the head harness that keeps a little more pressure on the pillow to nose seal and allows some downward pressure on the headgear. I need the downward pressure on the headgear because I’m finding it riding up during the night leaving the noise seal loose.

If this can be accomplished, some of the fiddling that is Curve needs from me during the night should go away or at least be reduced so that the large leaks can be avoided.

[Oh 2 breathe]

I'm in the minority opinion here but compared to all the other masks I've tried I love my Comfort Curve! I get a better seal by using make-up sponges under the cheek pads. But every face is different. Would your supplier allow you to use it on a trial basis? Some suppliers have a good return policy. Mine allowed me to try two masks at a time and to return them for a refund within 30 days.

~ OTB

_________________

[Roger...]

Hello OTB,
It is good to hear that you’ve been successful. Knowing it is working on some faces keeps me trying. I’m also trying because I find the mask comfortable since morphing the pads into Moleskin. With the pads gone the pressure on the edge of the cheekbones is gone. This mask is easy to clean, easy to put on and not as noisy as my frisky Activa. If I can find a way to keep it on my head and not break the seal when I rollover, I’ll be home with a mask.

As for sending them back, that won’t happen, but I knew that when I bought the mask from Cpap.Com. My plan is to keep trying various things until I strike a good balance between adjustments and seal stability. In between ideas I have the Activa and can consider another mask as well so I’ll have an alternate.

[rachris2]

Hey Judy... I've been using the Comfort Curve for about six weeks and I'm not satisfied at all, but I absolutely LOVE this mask! Let me explain...

Respironics thought of everything. You get all three "pillow" sizes so you can pick and choose which is best for you. These are not actually "nasal pillows". They wrap around your nasal vestibule and your nose rests on top. Nothing else. This makes the mask absolutely comfortable, once you get the adjustments right. And every mask requires adjustment, so that's fine.

What I'm unable to resolve is what were they thinking when they made the component parts for this mask?!

There are two connections into the mask. These snap into place and swivel for comfort. Neither will seal, so air exhausts out one or both connections depending on how you're laying. This is solved by wrapping each with some teflon plumbing tape. Two wraps and the problem's solved.

But not so fast...

Now you have to disconnect these fittings to clean the mask. When I disassembled the mask this weekend, one of the fittings cracked while unsnapping. Now I can't use the mask and it's too late for the 30 day return policy.

So I'm going to super-glue my $125 mask, put some more teflon tape on the connections so it doesn't leak and use it as a backup mask.

In the meantime, I'm back to my Activa until I can afford a real replacement for it.

Hope this is helpful!

Rich

[Roger...]

I must like this mask with all its problems, or I wouldn’t be so persistent in trying to make it work.

Over the weekend the bride reached into her bra draw and pulled out a short black strap that stretches so I could attach a neck strap under my chin to the headgear’s overhead strap using safety pins. That strap and a little more adjustment on the mask headgear has done a tremendous job in stabilizing the mask as I toss and turn from side to side. The chinstrap is keeping the mask from riding up and the Moleskins on the side pad plates have stopped my pillow from pushing the nasal seal open.

It feels good to be at the stage where I now need to deal with leaky elbow connection that Rich explains above. I’ll be putting some plumber’s Teflon tape on the left elbow tonight with the hope it will stop the annoying breeze on my lower lip. From reading his note it looks like I should be ordering some extra parts sooner rather than later.

My sleep stats are accumulating and the time in largest leak dropped to zero on Sunday night and to only 4-minutes last night (see updated table above). I don’t remember fixing the mask last night so I don’t have a clue as to how I got a large leak, or what I did to repair it. Maybe I can sleep-fix this thing now and not wake up. Boy that would be wonderful, but it sounds way too dreamy for reality.

An interesting outcome of this experience is how well I’m getting to understand the design of this mask and what a new user should know when they are trying to fit it and keep it stable. It is the kind of information that Respironics should have provided if they really cared about how their products worked in the field.

[Severeena]

Judy there is always the Hans Rudolph to try.

This mask comes in full face and nasal.

http://www.rudolphkc.com

Only mask for me.

Silicone rubber and the hard piece is the swivel for the hose connection.

The head gear is rather different , but I find it comfortable. The Hans Rudolph company is coming up with a strap head gear in three sizes, small, medium and large.

[joey]

RACHRIS,
Try using a different size. I had the same problem and found out that although I am a large person I only need meduim.