Just thought I'd post a quick review of the Dreamwear mask, as well as a tip on how to have a better experience with it.
I'm a new CPAP user of just over a month. My CPAP machine is the ResMed S9, which is a real keeper. It was an easy purchase since it was so highly recommended. Unfortunately, I've gone through 3 masks in my quest to get a good fit. The Dreamwear is my fourth! It's been a rather pricey experience going through different masks but I suppose it's inevitable given how personal mask fit is, and how many factors are involved. I've had the Respironics Wisp, ResMed Swift FX and Aloha nasal pillow. The latter two worked OK, but weren't great for side sleeping (even the Aloha, which was said to be an improvement in that department over the Swift FX).
The Dreamwear is designed for "active sleepers" and it certainly has been an improvement over the other masks I've tried. It's comfortable and does feel secure. The mask feels more secure when I sleep on my side. With my previous masks, there was always a strong sense that the mask might be dislodged. Perceived or real, it made me really conscious of side sleeping. It's also well constructed and easy to clean. I also find the mask quite quiet, though some have felt otherwise.
That being said, the Dreamwear is not perfect. It's sort of been hyped up to be THE CPAP mask, but expectations have to be managed. There are several things I don't quite like about the mask and the hype around it.
First, although it feels more secure side-sleeping with it, it still doesn't feel completely natural. There's still a tiny little concern that the mask has been dislodged and leaking air. Perhaps this is inherent to side sleeping with any mask. My cheek, after all, is sleeping on a strap (or tube in the Dreamwear's case). Furthermore, the "rebreather" vent on the nasal pillow can give you the illusion that the mask is leaking. Again, this might be inherent to any mask. Maybe it's just a matter of getting used to the mask and being able to read the situation better. As I'm new to using a CPAP, and this mask, it's still early days. I guess the point here is one has to be realistic about what to expect from the hype.
Second, I seem to have problems with air leakage. I wonder if it's because the nasal pillow I'm using is too small, or if it's because I can't tighten the straps . vertically as the frame is fixed to the size purchased (this is a design limitation). Others here don't seem to have a problem though. I guess my point here is manage your expectations. The mask isn't plug and play - there's probably a little fiddling over a few days, if not weeks, to get things right.
Third, the Dreamwear has two "rebreather" vents and the top on at the hose connector can get a little noisy if something covers it. Could be a headboard, pillow, arm when you move in your sleep. It's not a big deal but it can be a bit of a surprise especially when things have been quiet. You can't not immediately thing "OMG major air leak!".
Fourth--and to be this was the biggie until I solved it--the hose connector doesn't come with its own short flexi-hose. All the comments about feeling like a puppet on a string and your head being tugged in your sleep are because the Dreamwear, as it is presently packaged, is designed to connect straight to your CPAP machine's hose. Chances are, that hose will be heavier and less flexible than a typical mask hose. This results in the hose tugging at the mask is you move in your sleep as it can't flex that smoothly. My solution was to simply use the ResMed Swift FX hose connector with its short hose, and connect that to the CPAP machine hose. The difference was like night and day. My head is no longer tugged when I move in my sleep.
Here are some pics of my set up, and the mask, to give you an idea of what I've been talking about.
If you have any specific questions about the Dreamwear, just ask!
