I don't think the Wisp is the mask for me.

[John from Brookston]

I bought a Wisp and it was delivered today (good service from "our hosts") and I spent some time with it this evening getting used to it and seeing how it works.

Intuitively, I thought this huge honker of mine would require the large cup, but the sizing guide said "small/medium". OK, I tried that one. It felt like it was covering the tip of my nose and nothing else. Didn't feel right, felt like wearing too-small shoes, but it didn't leak. Switched to the large, and it felt OK, but I think the mask is pretty restrictive on exhale. Exhalation was an effort, and while i stuck it out for a 1/2 hour, I could not get used to the sensation of restricted breathing. Noted the same sensation with the small/medium cup, too.

Any tips on how to tame this beast, or are we just a poor match?

[Hivoltfl]

You are not alone, I even ordered the larger headgear straps to get away from that very feeling, when I loosen it up enough to inflate the seals it either leaks so bad I cannot stand it or slides up and seals off my nostrils and wakes me up. I like you just don't think its gonna work for me, I am very disappointed as I had high hopes.

[John from Brookston]

You are not alone, I even ordered the larger headgear straps to get away from that very feeling, when I loosen it up enough to inflate the seals it either leaks so bad I cannot stand it or slides up and seals off my nostrils and wakes me up. I like you just don't think its gonna work for me, I am very disappointed as I had high hopes.

Same here. I was hoping it would work for me since I have so much trouble with my other masks. Got the larger headgear, too. I felt like the edge of the flap was getting in the way of my nostrils, too. Good thing I bought the "insurance", eh?

I also bought a Swift FX pillow mask. Ohmigawd, that was GREAT! I slept 7 hours straight through, no bathroom breaks, no "heebie-jeebies".

[NateS]

I bought a Wisp and it was delivered today (good service from "our hosts") and I spent some time with it this evening getting used to it and seeing how it works.

Intuitively, I thought this huge honker of mine would require the large cup, but the sizing guide said "small/medium". OK, I tried that one. It felt like it was covering the tip of my nose and nothing else. Didn't feel right, felt like wearing too-small shoes, but it didn't leak. Switched to the large, and it felt OK, but I think the mask is pretty restrictive on exhale. Exhalation was an effort, and while i stuck it out for a 1/2 hour, I could not get used to the sensation of restricted breathing. Noted the same sensation with the small/medium cup, too.

Any tips on how to tame this beast, or are we just a poor match?

If it is restricting you on exhale, that is a clear sign that you placed it too high on your nose and as a result the base of the nosepiece is partially flattening your nostrils. The bottom should be resting on, or just a tiny bit above, your upper lip, not touching your nostrils.

Regards, Nate

[John from Brookston]

If it is restricting you on exhale, that is a clear sign that you placed it too high on your nose and as a result the base of the nosepiece is partially flattening your nostrils. The bottom should be resting on, or just a tiny bit above, your upper lip, not touching your nostrils.

Regards, Nate

Thanks, Nate, I'll give it another whirl.

[RogerSC]

If it is restricting you on exhale, that is a clear sign that you placed it too high on your nose and as a result the base of the nosepiece is partially flattening your nostrils. The bottom should be resting on, or just a tiny bit above, your upper lip, not touching your nostrils.

Regards, Nate

For me, when I had it comfortably adjusted so that it felt fine and had minimal leaks, when I slept on my side it would slide up my nose and restrict my breathing. If it had stayed in place, it was just fine. So I know what Hivoltfl is saying. Maybe I'm too active when I sleep to be able to use this mask, or I'm in-between sizes (I used the chart), or something *smile*.

[pikov22]

If it is restricting you on exhale, that is a clear sign that you placed it too high on your nose and as a result the base of the nosepiece is partially flattening your nostrils. The bottom should be resting on, or just a tiny bit above, your upper lip, not touching your nostrils.

Regards, Nate

Oh, bearded one! Is the Wisp effective for us hirsute type?

[NateS]

If it is restricting you on exhale, that is a clear sign that you placed it too high on your nose and as a result the base of the nosepiece is partially flattening your nostrils. The bottom should be resting on, or just a tiny bit above, your upper lip, not touching your nostrils.

Regards, Nate

Oh, bearded one! Is the Wisp effective for us hirsute type?

Absolutely! Watch this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z1dOfJIZsuM

Regards, Nate

[NateS]

If it is restricting you on exhale, that is a clear sign that you placed it too high on your nose and as a result the base of the nosepiece is partially flattening your nostrils. The bottom should be resting on, or just a tiny bit above, your upper lip, not touching your nostrils.

Regards, Nate

For me, when I had it comfortably adjusted so that it felt fine and had minimal leaks, when I slept on my side it would slide up my nose and restrict my breathing. If it had stayed in place, it was just fine. So I know what Hivoltfl is saying. Maybe I'm too active when I sleep to be able to use this mask, or I'm in-between sizes (I used the chart), or something *smile*.

I'm sorry to hear you had that trouble, Roger.

I sleep mostly on my back, but from time to time during the night I shift to sleeping on my left and right sides. The Wisp has not moved out of place, thanks to the fact that I use a notched-out pillow with non-tapered edges - I think mine is called the cpapMax. When on my side, my cheek rests on the pillow, but my nose is in midair, not touching the pillow.

Regards, Nate

[Sir NoddinOff]

I was getting more leak volume with the Swift FX nasal pillows but the air kind of shot out into space and didn't bother me very much. I'm now getting half of that amount of leaks with the Wisp, however the leaks tend to shoot into my eyes or just below them. Sometimes it does tend to arouse me from deep sleep. As a side note: With the Wisp I always hook the 15mm hose over my head so I've been inserting a light washcloth over my eyes (and under the hose)... that seems to help somewhat but sometimes it dislodges and then I'm back to the same disturbance problem. I'm going to give the Wisp another month of testing. Also: I think PR should size the mask S, M, L and XL, spanning a greater size range.

[NateS]

I was getting more leak volume with the Swift FX nasal pillows but the air kind of shot out into space and didn't bother me very much. I'm now getting half of that amount of leaks with the Wisp, however the leaks tend to shoot into my eyes or just below them. Sometimes it does tend to arouse me from deep sleep. As a side note: With the Wisp I always hook the 15mm hose over my head so I've been inserting a light washcloth over my eyes (and under the hose)... that seems to help somewhat but sometimes it dislodges and then I'm back to the same disturbance problem. I'm going to give the Wisp another month of testing. Also: I think PR should size the mask S, M, L and XL, spanning a greater size range.

There is room for improvement on the placement of the exhaust. I for one would like to see them make the exhaust cover 360 degree rotatable to suit each individual's situation, similar to what I have seen advertised for another newly introduced mask.

In the meantime, what I have done is to move my hose hanger to the side of my pillow, so that the last section of hose nearest to the Wisp hangs horizontally. This seems to direct the exhaust in a direction away from my face and eyes without blowing on my girlfriend.

Regards, Nate

[pikov22]

If it is restricting you on exhale, that is a clear sign that you placed it too high on your nose and as a result the base of the nosepiece is partially flattening your nostrils. The bottom should be resting on, or just a tiny bit above, your upper lip, not touching your nostrils.

Regards, Nate

Oh, bearded one! Is the Wisp effective for us hirsute type?

Absolutely! Watch this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z1dOfJIZsuM

Regards, Nate

That looked like an ad to me.

[NateS]

If it is restricting you on exhale, that is a clear sign that you placed it too high on your nose and as a result the base of the nosepiece is partially flattening your nostrils. The bottom should be resting on, or just a tiny bit above, your upper lip, not touching your nostrils.

Regards, Nate

Oh, bearded one! Is the Wisp effective for us hirsute type?

Absolutely! Watch this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z1dOfJIZsuM

Regards, Nate

That looked like an ad to me.

pikov, of course it's an ad - who else would go to the trouble to hire a production crew, video equipment and all those models to pose with the mask on? Not me.

But it's the video I saw which convinced me to try the Wisp. Otherwise, I never would have guessed that it would work with my mustache and beard.
But of course my avatar is a significant exaggeration - I don't look like Tolstoy!

Regards, Nate

[pikov22]

Otherwise, I never would have guessed that it would work with my mustache and beard.
But of course my avatar is a significant exaggeration - I don't look like Tolstoy!

Regards, Nate

Rasputin, maybe.

[John from Brookston]

Well, I spent an hour working with the mask today, and the best I could get was fairly free flow in and out, but a leak blowing in my left eye. If I got the leak to seal, the cup rode up and interfered with my nostrils.

It's going back on Monday, thanks for the hints, everyone, I guess my nose just isn't the right size/shape.