Activa or Profile Lite

[jrgood27]

I saw my respiratory therapist today with every intention of walking out of there with a resmed activa.

She proceeded to show me all the different ways it could fall apart and be impossible to get back together. She recommended a Respironics Profile Lite instead and I took it.

Now I'm having 2nd thoughts. It wasn't a cost or company bias by the DME b/c the first two masks they gave me were a Resmed Swift and an Ultra Mirage FF. I think she honestly just hated the Activa.

Any opinions on which is the better mask? I'm using an S8 Vantage with HH and pressure range of 5 to 18. I'm a very light sleeper and am easily awoken and kept awake by the Swift and UMFF.

Jenny

[Vader]

Any opinions on which is the better mask?
Jenny

I hate to keep saying this, but the Activa RULES!

I can't believe they tried to tell you it would fall apart.
It is an exceptionally well made mask, and it's very easy to take apart and clean.

sheesh....they don't call them "Devil DME's" for nothing!

[Pirate]

My very first mask ever was the profile lite that I brought home from the sleep lab. I got an Activa from the DME (Apria) when I got my machine. I used the original profile lite mask for over 2 years until it disentegrated. The skin over the silicone had literally disentegrated and the silicone was all over my face. I then started using the Activa and have use it for the last 2.5 years with great results. I tried the CL2 for a short stint, but I was obvious that it needed modifications to the headgear to make it not leak. The Activa needs no modifications of any kind and works great once you get it adjusted properly (very loose).

[KansasRT]

Was your Respiratory Therapist affiliated with a sleep lab? In my area the RT's that work in sleep labs hate the activa because supposedly it is hard to clean and comes apart. They do not like that the seal comes off. We go back and forth about the difference between CPAP masks for a study and CPAP masks for long term.

[quilterB]

I have monitored my results for 3 nights now. My total AHI has been:3.8, 3.4, and last night 4.1. My Average Leak has gone from 65.0 to 62.0 to 43.0 last night. My APAP is set for a range of 7 to 20, but my 90% pressure has not been over 12.6. Should I lower the top pressure and what is the reasoning behind that. Just trying to understand and tweak this whole experience.
Thanks,
Linda

[quilterB]

Oops. Sorry about posting the above reply. I goofed.

[JCraig]

They're full of shit, lol. The Activa is not going to "fall apart". Insane!

[nosbig-nosbig]

For sure the Active MUST be assembled properly with particular attention payed to the seating of the cushion and it's clip. If you hold the frame and flick your wrist just right you can unlatch the clip and the cushion will fall out.

I suppose that if a person has no manual dexterity it might well be impossible for them to assemble any mask, or possibly brush their teeth. Personally, I find the Active extremely easy to reassemble.

You might want to rethink the cost bias idea, since the Active costs half again as much as the Profile Lite.

The Active certainly is NOT the perfect interface. But, if I had to choose only one mask to use, it would be the ACTIVA.

Jenny, if you finally try the Activa, I'd recommend either going to CPAP mode or narrowing your pressure range to around 4cm. That is, two or three cm on either side of your proscribed pressure. If your pressure is 7cm or less you might experience the mask moving up and down as you breathe. And don't cinch the Activa down, it needs to be loose as compared to others.

[Snoredog]

RT's are terrible at recommending masks, they only suggest what garbage they have in stock. My experience is the Profile Lite is a cheap and horrible mask. It doesn't have any forehead pivot adjustment to stop leaks into the eyes should that occur. Then its cushion design leaves a nice gouge on your nose bridge to wear around the next day.

The ComfortGel would have been a much better choice over the Profile Lite at least it has the forehead pivot to stop leaks so you don't have to overtighten the straps.

But the Activa would have been much better than both of those combined. If the Activa appears too heavy for you, then the UltraMirageII would be my next suggestion.

Your pressure range of 5-18cm seems strange. What was the pressure found in the lab on your last study?

When you wake up, what is the machine appear to be doing? Does it appear to be at full pressure? Does it seem the pressure is awakening you or does it appear you are starved for air?

Of your individual indices, what does it show for:

AI:=?
HI:=?
95% Pressure:=?

[jrgood27]

Thanks for your replies everyone. I think I should have stuck to my guns and asked for the Activa. There are times when I think I know more about these masks than the RTs thanks to this awesome forum.

I tried the profile lite last night and could not get it to seal unless I pulled the straps so tight I could barely get it off my head. Very uncomfortable.

I guess it could be cost bias, but since the first masks they gave me were very expensive I assumed not.

Well, my insurance doesn't have a limit on how many masks they will pay for in a certain time period as long as it's medically necessary. This will be a good test if I order a new one the very next day.

Regarding my pressure: I'm technically using my S8 Vantage to titrate. I didn't have a titration study and so I'm using the wide range for 3 months and then I check back with my pulmonlogist and will set the new range.

My 95% pressure varies widely depending on which mask I use and whether I spend any time on my back. So it's tough to say. AHI is usually between 0 and 3. And leaks are usually between .1 and .4 - again depending on what kind of night I'm having.

I've only logged 100 hours in 3 months. But I have to keep trying b/c I really don't have a choice. There's no obvious reason for my apnea according to the ENT I saw. My tongue is a bit large, but that's it.

Jenny

[Snoredog]

Thanks for your replies everyone. I think I should have stuck to my guns and asked for the Activa. There are times when I think I know more about these masks than the RTs thanks to this awesome forum.

I tried the profile lite last night and could not get it to seal unless I pulled the straps so tight I could barely get it off my head. Very uncomfortable.

I guess it could be cost bias, but since the first masks they gave me were very expensive I assumed not.

Well, my insurance doesn't have a limit on how many masks they will pay for in a certain time period as long as it's medically necessary. This will be a good test if I order a new one the very next day.

Regarding my pressure: I'm technically using my S8 Vantage to titrate. I didn't have a titration study and so I'm using the wide range for 3 months and then I check back with my pulmonlogist and will set the new range.

My 95% pressure varies widely depending on which mask I use and whether I spend any time on my back. So it's tough to say. AHI is usually between 0 and 3. And leaks are usually between .1 and .4 - again depending on what kind of night I'm having.

I've only logged 100 hours in 3 months. But I have to keep trying b/c I really don't have a choice. There's no obvious reason for my apnea according to the ENT I saw. My tongue is a bit large, but that's it.

Jenny

Thats a common complaint with the Profile Lite. The Activa leads in comfort it seals the best while requiring the least strap pressure. In fact, you leave the straps kinda loose on the Activa and it inflates with cpap pressure which makes the seal. If you turn off the machine while wearing it, it may drop.

So far, what pressure has the Vantage been displaying? You can press and hold down the two outside buttons and access the SmartData menu. This should give you individual AI and HI and 95% pressure data on the LCD display. What are those numbers?

[Vader]

Well, my insurance doesn't have a limit on how many masks they will pay for in a certain time period as long as it's medically necessary. This will be a good test if I order a new one the very next day.
Jenny

Have you had the mask very long?
I would think they would allow a money back return within 7 days (or more)
I know my DME will allow me to return for any reason within 7 days.

[jrgood27]

[quote="Snoredog"][quote="jrgood27"]Thanks for your replies everyone. I So far, what pressure has the Vantage been displaying? You can press and hold down the two outside buttons and access the SmartData menu. This should give you individual AI and HI and 95% pressure data on the LCD display. What are those numbers?

My one month data for the Vantage:

0.0 AI and AHI
9.0 95% pressure
.11 Leak

Too bad they don't have a 3 month option.

I don't think my DME will take returns, but I'm certainly going to ask. The Profile Lite is even louder than the Swift. I learned my lesson. No more trusting the RT to know what's best for me.

Jenny

[wabmorgan]

Active is AWESOME!!!!

FAll apart??? Are they nuts???? I think it may well be the best made mask I have.... and I have a total of 7!!!!!!!!!

As I stated in another posy elsewhere....

I started out with the Active

Tried 6 other mask

I went back to the active!!!

I think it is the most confortable and you don't have to strap it down tight to get it to not leak. It won't leak even when lose!!!!!!!

[jrgood27]

Well, I spoke with a different RT and told her what her colleague said about the Activa coming apart and she had know idea what she was talking about. So I'll be getting my Activa soon. Jenny