New PB Breeze mask... questions...

Xian · Post by **Xian** » Wed Apr 18, 2007 9:33 am

Hello, I have received my new mask yesterday (the Puritan Bennett Breeze with nasal pillows) and I have a few questions:

I was surprised that it was a bit noisy, when inhaling. (I read that this mask is supposed to be so quiet...). It makes almost like a gargling sound even just after I turn the machine on, with no humidifier, no water in the hose... Is it "normal" or is this mask defective perhaps? (no sound when exhaling). My "old mask" was the Optilife, and it was very quiet, so that's not a change in the right direction!

Also, the connection between the metal brace and the front tube/pillow holder seems very weak. One flat piece is inserted into a slot on the metal brace, but it does not seem to "lock", and instead comes out very easily. I was wary of it coming off at night, so I attached the side straps to the front tube/pillow holder. Am I missing something? Is it the way the mask is built, or is the mask defective, somehow...?

The pillows and the holder seem to put some pressure on my upper lip. Not a problem on the first night, but I am wondering if the mask can be tweaked (I tried to rotate the pillow holder in various positions, but I did not eliminate the problem entirely, yet)

All in all, I kept the mask all night and enjoyed not having the hose in front of me. I slept on my side and there was not apparent issue with leaking, so I'd like to give the mask a good chance!

Thanks for your input.

New Version Breeze SleepGear CPAP Interface System with S, M, L Pillows Included

kered · Post by **kered** » Wed Apr 18, 2007 9:49 am

Xian, I just got that mask recently myself. On mine if I'm understanding you correctly that front piece slides into the head piece and actually clicks in, then can click in at several different positions. Does yours do that? I am having the same problem with the pillows and holder putting pressure on my nose. Last night I put some extra pads on the front headrest piece to try and prop it out a bit. I think it might have helped a bit. I also went to the small pillows even though I used medium on the Swift.

Good luck, hope it works out for you,
Ed

Xian · Post by **Xian** » Wed Apr 18, 2007 9:56 am

Thanks Kered.

It actually seems like my mask is defective... The front piece has little nobby things (how descriptive is that?!) that looks like they should "click" into place, and allow for various positions. But, in my case, the front piece slides in and out without clicking, and I think gravity alone would make the front piece fall out....

Before I try to "tweak" the rest of the mask (adding padding to move the front piece away from the face seems like a good idea), I should exchange this one out!

Thanks!

DreamStalker · Post by **DreamStalker** » Wed Apr 18, 2007 10:05 pm

Can you be more specific about which part does not fit what part?

The Breeze by numbers ...

Xian · Post by **Xian** » Thu Apr 19, 2007 9:03 am

Thanks for attaching the diagram...

The part I think might not work is 7 (hose guide) sliding into 8 (outrigger). It looks as though the flattened part of 7 that slides into the middle of part 8 has indentations so it should click into place and be adjustable for size... Mine just comes in and out and does not click/stay in place. It stays in place only if I tie the strap to the hose guide (the tension keeps it in place), not if I tie it to the outrigger. Was that any clearer?

Thanks! (I have not call the DME on it yet, want to make sure there is actually a problem...)

DreamStalker · Post by **DreamStalker** » Thu Apr 19, 2007 11:03 am

I do somewhat remember that that connection was not all that secure. So I don't think it is defective but I suppose you could retrun it and see for sure?

An easy fix may be to get yourself some 1" wide strip of material (note card/thin cardboard/plastic) and insert or wedge it in there between the outrigger and hose guide pieces to tighten up the connection.

I chopped my Breeze mask up and redesigned it ... you can check the link to a discussion thread down below my signiture banner. I have since messed with it some more but have not had the time to document and post ... but there is not all that much difference than what is already documented in thread.

puffing billy · Post by **puffing billy** » Thu Apr 19, 2007 1:21 pm

It is defective mine clicks and stays in place also.
The Breeze is a very good mask but a few parts on it need a little bit of tweaking to work well.
If you do a search under my name you will find a number of modifications which can help.

Billy

I would show you the lins but I don't know how.

Xian · Post by **Xian** » Thu Apr 19, 2007 2:26 pm

Great Thank you all. I have found some pretty clever mask modifications in some old posting! I will get back to the DME and let them know that my mask is defective and start "pimping" my new mask when it arrives!

Thanks again.

Babette · Post by **Babette** » Fri May 04, 2007 10:22 am

Sorry, I can't see the link the Breeze modifications thread. Can someone re-post it for me?

Also, I have a question about the Breeze, I've read somewhere that the piece going behind the head is hard. Is that true? I can't tell from looking at it if that's hard plastic/metal or a strap.

Many thanks!
Barbara

Xian · Post by **Xian** » Fri May 04, 2007 1:17 pm

Rested Gal gathered a number of postings on the subject of PB breeze modifications... Nothing that your handy boyfriend couldn't do, or build on!!!

Thanks Rested Gal!

I eventually gave up on the PB breeze because, first it was broken when it came in (too flimsy!) and second, the metal piece in the back of the head is too large for my pin head! (Even at the smallest setting) As I lay on my back, the metal piece moves up to rest against the back of my head and moves the front mask with it, away from my face (was that clear???) Sad that the only sturdy piece of the mask is also a problem! I am sure the mask is fine for many people.

I liked the PB Breeze nose pillow much better than the CL2, however... I wished the DME had not taken it back (since it was broken, they could get the supplier to replace it), otherwise, I would have made a PB Breeze / CL2 mutant!

Good luck

LINKS to Breeze nasal pillows / nasal mask topics
viewtopic.php?t=3935

rested gal · Post by **rested gal** » Fri May 04, 2007 1:23 pm

LINKS to Breeze nasal pillows / nasal mask topics
viewtopic.php?t=3935

Xian, quite a few people have mentioned that part of the Breeze sliding too easily despite the little nubs. Some have put tape around it there once they got it adjusted the way they wanted it.

It's normal for the Breeze to make a whooosh sound each time you inhale. That seems to be rather typical of nasal pillows interfaces to make more sound when we inhale than when exhaling. My Twilight NP and ComfortLite 2 do that, too.