After the Liberty Fiasco going to try a FF and a ????

General Discussion on any topic relating to CPAP and/or Sleep Apnea.
elazarus
Posts: 83
Joined: Mon Jun 04, 2007 9:18 pm

After the Liberty Fiasco going to try a FF and a ????

Post by elazarus » Wed Jul 11, 2007 11:53 pm

After trying the Liberty Hybrid for 2 nights last weekend and having the worst nights rest in 2 months on CPAP...going to the DME today (Thursday)

I found a DME that is not the one providing the machine and handling insurance, but one who is big and has many choices and I can pay for the masks.

Decided on picking up the Quattro FF which fit well last week but I wanted to try a Hybrid first.

Now as long as I am going all the way up to this DME which is about 1 hour away. I would like to ask for a couple of suggestions from you good folks about a second mask to pick up while I am there.

They suggested the Mirage Activa Nasal as a great fitting mask. I do have a bit of a problem with my big mouth opening and I have been using the Respironics chin strap...but I guess I am in search of the perfect wave...since I have not had a decent night's sleep in the 2 months on the program.

Any thoughts on a second mask?

Thank you

Elliot


linda b
Posts: 258
Joined: Wed Mar 22, 2006 1:09 am
Location: Knoxville, TN, USA

Post by linda b » Thu Jul 12, 2007 12:03 am

If you can solve the mouth breathing problem, the choices for a new mask would be much greater. I've been using Poligrip Strips since I started on my APAP over a year ago. I really like them because they provide enough "reminder" to keep my mouth closed, but if I really need to I can 'pop' open my mouth.

Are you a side sleeper? I think I would find the Activa a little large for side sleeping. I chose the ComfortLite 2 and still like it very much. Most people who have it use the nasal pillows, but I prefer the simple cushion.

If your DME will let you, try on a bunch of masks and if at all possible, hook up to a machine at your pressure and lay down in order to get a better idea just how each mask will do for you.

Linda B.

User avatar
jennmary
Posts: 578
Joined: Tue Jun 05, 2007 9:19 pm
Location: California
Contact:

Post by jennmary » Thu Jul 12, 2007 12:14 am

I would be happy to dispose of that liberty for you. You can pay me a small fee for my services. haha.

User avatar
Titrator
Posts: 580
Joined: Tue Aug 24, 2004 1:58 pm
Location: Oak Ridge, TN

Post by Titrator » Thu Jul 12, 2007 5:53 am

I used the Liberty last night for the first time. I slept well without leaks. I am primarily a side sleeper and I route my hose over my head and through a scrunchy that hangs from a nail on the wall.

I think it takes time to learn how to put on the mask and get it adjusted. I did this by standing in front of the mirror and making the minor adjustments and then the final adjustments while lying down.

It all has to do with the size and shape of your face. Before I had weightlloss surgery I loved the Breeze Sleepgear, now It doesn't seem to fit my head the same way. Go figure...

I like to try new masks almost as much as you folks here on cpaptalk. lol My favorite right now is still the Respironics Comfortlite 2. It seems to be an underdog as far as popularity, but it works so well for me.

Cheers,

Ted

Image

KAZ
Posts: 177
Joined: Fri Jun 22, 2007 10:19 am
Location: TEXAS

FFM

Post by KAZ » Thu Jul 12, 2007 7:05 am

One thing I've learned from this board it that what works for one may be terrible for another. That said, I have the Ultra Mirage Full Face mask and it works well for me. I have an oily skin so I wash the mask every day and my face right before I retire to prevent leaks. I like that I don't have to crank it down to hard to get a seal. I turn from side to side and by letting my mask hang off of a small pillow the seal is maintained. I wish you well in your search. Regards


User avatar
DreamStalker
Posts: 7509
Joined: Mon Aug 07, 2006 9:58 am
Location: Nowhere & Everywhere At Once

Post by DreamStalker » Thu Jul 12, 2007 7:18 am

I'm pretty much a nasal pillow interface kind'a guy (specifically the Breeze).

I have dreaded the day when I come down with a sinus infection (so far its been almost a year of luck). Therefore, having a full face mask that works as a back-up is something to consider.

Most full face (as well as nasal cushion) masks exert a pressure with their seal against MY face and onto my sinus tissues and cause them to become congested ... but I suppose if the reason for using a full face mask in the first place is only to cope with a sinus infection, then any full face mask that maintains a seal and does not cause undue discomfort (ie. bridge of nose) would be a good back-up mask to have.

Because my skin tends to become oily over the course of the night (despite how well I clean it before bed), it appears that the only FF mask that has a potential to become a back-up for ME is one such as the Hybrid (which I have) and the Liberty (which I hope to try).

As Ted has noted, one should be patient when trialing a mask and make sure to take the time to adjust the mask in every possible way. My first interface was the Breeze and I took it back to the DME after two nights only to discover a few months later that I did not properly adjust it ... and now it is my favorite mask and I have been using it for over 8 months with fantastic results (I did however have to modify the headgear to work for me).

Best wishes!

President-pretender, J. Biden, said "the DNC has built the largest voter fraud organization in US history". Too bad they didn’t build the smartest voter fraud organization and got caught.

new2
Posts: 109
Joined: Wed Jul 12, 2006 6:51 am

Post by new2 » Thu Jul 12, 2007 7:26 am

Try the Hybrid, by all means!
The Hybrid and the Liberty are night and day. Don't think that they are anything alike. That would be the same as thinking all full face masks are the same.
I have both the Hybrid and the Liberty. I give the Hybrid 5 stars and the Liberty 1 star. There's that much difference.
I cannot believe Resmed rushed out such a mask.
I cannot list all the differences in one post. I tried like hell to make the Liberty work for me like the Hybrid because I spent 150 on it, used.
I 'll get my new Hybrid next week because my insurance is paying for it again ! I'm so Happy because I got drunk one night and cut the chin flap off my last one just before I bought the Liberty.


Issac
Posts: 284
Joined: Mon Jun 05, 2006 5:53 pm

Post by Issac » Thu Jul 12, 2007 7:39 am

Bought the wife a Liberty to see how she would like it because she likes her Hybrid. We both do, but she favors her Nasal-aire II over all the others.I tried the Liberty first night and it blew right off my face once the pressure kicked in. Bad straps. They come loose.
She hates the darn thing. It came loose on her trying to sleep on her side and the sharp edge ended up putting a big bruse under her eye.
One inch up and she would have lost her eye. Sharp edges on a face mask are NOT a good idea. The straps come loose too easily on that mask and that is a big danger with that mask.

_________________
Machine: PR System One REMStar 60 Series Auto CPAP Machine
Additional Comments: Puresom Ruby Adjustable Chinstrap, upgrading all in July

new2
Posts: 109
Joined: Wed Jul 12, 2006 6:51 am

Post by new2 » Thu Jul 12, 2007 8:11 am

Wow, Isaac, nothing so drastic for me, but I will say this,
Feel the mouth cushion on the Hybrid.
Now, feel the mouth cushion on the Liberty.
The Hybrid is soft and if you have a bony face like mine, very comfortable.
The liberty is hard as a rock and if you have a long thin face like mine, forget it. It feels like your trying to strap a coffee cup to your face.
Hey, I tried.

new2
Posts: 109
Joined: Wed Jul 12, 2006 6:51 am

Post by new2 » Thu Jul 12, 2007 8:13 am

speaking of coffee, haven't had mine yet. Excuse the drastic typos..he he

User avatar
jennmary
Posts: 578
Joined: Tue Jun 05, 2007 9:19 pm
Location: California
Contact:

Post by jennmary » Thu Jul 12, 2007 7:41 pm

I extend my offer to all of you....I would be happy to dispose of your unwanted liberty. I would even waive the fee this time.