Comfort Curve

Mikesus · Post by **Mikesus** » Fri Apr 29, 2005 7:50 pm

Ok folks. I can give a couple of immediate thoughts on it. First off the leaking issue doesn't appear to be a seal issue, rather a problem with the "elbows" leaking. I have contacted Respironics and will keep you posted on the results. In the meantime, I have found a temporary solution. If you wrap the elbow with saran wrap and click it back into place, the leaks stop. After using the Aura, it is different to have something on the face again, but, because of the fact that it uses the cheekbones for support, it simply stays in place, no matter what. If the leak issue gets permanently resolved, I think this is a good candidate for favorite mask. And the most amazing part was NO RAINOUT! Dunno why, and will keep everyone posted as it was only one night so far, but it is looking promising...

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Apr 29, 2005 9:14 pm

Can you tell where the CO2 exhaust vent(s) are located on this mask?

wading thru the muck! · Post by **wading thru the muck!** » Fri Apr 29, 2005 9:42 pm

Miklesus,

How high do you have your HH set? ... 4?... 5?

rested gal · Post by **rested gal** » Fri Apr 29, 2005 11:46 pm

Mikesus, how easy is it to route the hose(s) to hang above head?

Which way does the exhaust blow and is it a wide diffused exhaust like the Swift?

Mikesus · Post by **Mikesus** » Sat Apr 30, 2005 4:36 am

exhaust is in the front where the respironics logo is, lots of holes on both sides and angled downward. You really wouldn't want the hose above you as the hoses hang downward. It comes with a clip (with a velcro loop) that attaches to your mattress. Wader, had it on both 3 and 4, no rainout which is very confusing with the narrow tubing. With my Aura and 4 with the heated hose I can get rainout. There is pressure on the cheekbones but you don't get any red marks. And as the wife says it is VERY quiet!! I will be typing up a review for it for CPAPTALK, maybe Johhny will put it up...

wading thru the muck! · Post by **wading thru the muck!** » Sat Apr 30, 2005 5:40 am

Mikesus,

Very interesting regarding the lack of rain out at 3 or 4.

I'm sure Johnny will post your review...we are all waiting for a comprehensive user review of this interface... (and the rested gal tweaks )

2listless · Post by **2listless** » Sat Apr 30, 2005 10:41 am

You are correct - there is no rainout. I had actually forgotten about rainout, but of course, I do not have a clue why............ With my activa, I would often get a faceful of water. I have not had any problems with leaks at the elbows - actually no leakage problems at all. Rested Gal, the y tubing rotates all the way around. Last night, while sleeping on my stomach, I had it routed on either side of my face, with the y connection over my head. Did not bother me because the tubing is so soft and light. If I was a stomach sleeper and had to have the tubing going up either side of my face, it would make me crazy. I have also routed it over my head when sleeping on my side - no problems because you can adjust it to another angle - each side rotates independently. I have had one up and one down. I have been experimenting with all kinds of crazy things - sort of putting it to the test. If you are asking if you could route it over your head like your personal favorite - the answer in mho - is no. It is a completely different type of interface. So far, I am very pleased. But again, to each his own!!!!!

rested gal · Post by **rested gal** » Sat Apr 30, 2005 11:30 am

Thanks, Mike and 2listless. You all answered my questions in good detail.

Mike, if I understand correctly -- when you said you have the hoses routed downward, the Y tubes are are "in bed" with you, so to speak? Next to, or close to, your body? If so, perhaps body warmth is keeping the narrow connector hoses warm enough to help prevent rainout?

I guess everyone has a pet peeve. Mine is any exhaust design that is apt to blow air against covers pulled up or the pillow I hug while sleeping on my side. I suppose that's why I like the upward direction of the Breeze and Aura exhausts.

2listless, I was especially intrigued with your thorough descriptions of routing the tubes several different directions independently of each other. When you mentioned at one point that you had even routed the Y connector over your head, I thought, "Oh, good!" But my hopes were dashed when you said:

If you are asking if you could route it over your head like your personal favorite - the answer in mho - is no.

Doggone!

So, another question for both of you... if a person is a restless sleeper or is simply a side-sleeper who likes to turn several times during the night from side to side, do the hoses stay out of the way? Or would the person have to be rearranging them each time they turned over?

I guess I wonder if a person would have enough slack in the hose to be able to turn over easily with it clipped to the sheet, unless it could be clipped to the sheet at the center of the top of the bed? That's the only way I can picture having enough slack to turn over easily to the other side. But maybe I'm imagining it wrong.

Sounds like there'd be a good bit of rearranging the Y hoses to be done, each time a side-sleeper turned over completely to the other side? But maybe not. I had no problem with the Swift's connector hose being against and under the side of my head, since it kind of sank into the tempur-pedic pillow and I hardly felt it.

Glad to hear it's working so well for you all. Especially for you, 2listless, as I know how hard it's been for you to find a really comfortable "burrowing" mask for your preferred sleeping position -- on the tummy. I guess you don't even have to do true "burrowing" anymore, to keep this one in place.

An aside: 2listless came up with a novel approach to hold other masks on for stomach sleeping. Not using the straps at all -- just burrowed her face into a soft pillow making the pillow hold the mask in place.

Albert · Post by **Albert** » Sat Apr 30, 2005 2:14 pm

I am not sure if I am doing something wrong. I cannot seem to get my comfortcurve to seal. I can't get it to stay in place. Sometimes I can get it to sit, but as soon as I turn to the side, I can hear the leak. I used their sizing gage as well. I have tried all 3 sizes. Any other suggestions.

Albert

clarenceh9 · Post by **clarenceh9** » Sat Apr 30, 2005 3:13 pm

Take a look at cpap.com for new pictures and videos

Mikesus · Post by **Mikesus** » Sat Apr 30, 2005 9:52 pm

Albert wrote:I am not sure if I am doing something wrong. I cannot seem to get my comfortcurve to seal. I can't get it to stay in place. Sometimes I can get it to sit, but as soon as I turn to the side, I can hear the leak. I used their sizing gage as well. I have tried all 3 sizes. Any other suggestions.

Albert

Push on the elbows and see if the leak stops. Let me know as I think there is a problem with the manufacturing of the elbows...

IWannaSleep · Post by **IWannaSleep** » Sun May 01, 2005 4:34 am

With the way the comfort curve wraps around the cheeks and uses the cheek bones for support, it looks impossible to sleep on your side without causing it to press painfully into your face, or pushing it out of alignment.

Any further comments on side sleeping to share?

2listless · Post by **2listless** » Sun May 01, 2005 8:37 am

First, Rested Gal, the y connector will go all the way over the top of your head but then the two hoses are right next to your face. I did not mean to indicate it was not possible, just that it would make me crazy. I am so claustrophobic, if I am awake and see those things on the sides of my face - makes me rip it off!! I clip the hose at the upper right corner of the sheet and I sleep all over the bed. I am totally restless and constantly turn pillows to find the "cool" spot. The exhaust vents downward with a lot of little holes, so yes, if you pull your sheets up to your nose - you will hear a noise. I just pull the sheet closer behind the vent holes and that ends that problem. Of course, it only annoys me if I am awake!
IWannaSleep The pads are very soft and cause no discomfort at all. Remember, the pads actually should be sitting below the cheek bones so they are really below any pressure points when you are sleeping - of course, if you roll up your pillow and sleep on the bottom of one cheek it could be a problem. I just had oral surgery and have 14 stitches following the line of my cheek and I was able to sleep with this interface without any discomfort.
Albert, Regarding the fit, you really need to take your time. I did not look at the sizing gauge - just threw on the medium and said this should work. Remember, the nose piece goes UNDER the tip of your nose - if you have it ON the tip of your nose, it is sitting incorrectly. The tip of your nose is actually resting on the top of the nasal piece. Make sure you have the nasal piece turned the right direction - the tubing rotates 360 degrees so it is very easy to put it on upside down. The resperonics logo on the front should be in the correct reading position - be careful not to flip it over when you put it on. The widest part of the nasal piece should be under your nose. Really not a great difference between top and bottom. Start with the cheek pads in the middle position, arrange the headgear - one over the top of your head, the other one should be located almost straight back, just above your ears. Tighten the 2 velcro tabs very slightly until you get a slight snug feeling - do not make it TIGHT! Turn your machine on and then pull the nose piece forward and then let it snap back into place - it should seal. If not move it around just a little and find your spot. If the cheek pads are pointing toward your eyes, they are way too high. You need to adjust the side guides on each side down a notch and try again. Several people have gone to the lowest setting - I use the second to the bottom. It depends on your individual needs - heck, maybe you need to raise the settings! Just work with it during the day before you are too tired too fool with it. I thought I had it good on day 1, got better on day 2 and last night on day 3 really had the velcro straps exactly where they needed to be!! Good Luck!

There · Post by **There** » Sun May 01, 2005 9:03 am

Well, I slept all night with the Comfort Curve and it wasn't bad. I tried what Mikesus suggested about helping seal up the elbows better, and it really did get much quieter - though still not as quiet as my Comfort Select. Husband remarked that it was noisier but that it was still much better than the snoring.

Couldn't find a position on my side that kept the Curve from leaking, so I just flopped on my back - thankfully I'm versatile and can vary how I sleep. But I do want to sort out the best way to side sleep with it, because sometimes I really need to sleep on my side depending on how my back is feeling. Seemed like I lost seal easily, too. There's no way I can get the headgear into the position 2listless suggested - I must have a very long crown on my head or something. But I'll try again tonight.

It was nice waking up this morning without red marks around my nose, that's for sure! This may work out yet - hope so, it wasn't cheap

Mikesus · Post by **Mikesus** » Mon May 02, 2005 12:26 pm

With Cflex at 9, does your machine alternate between suction ans pressure?

Mike who wished his went to 11... (This is a SpinalTap reference.... Not the procedure the movie....)

Comfort Curve

Comfort Curve

rainout

My ComfortCurve

Re: My ComfortCurve

Comfort Curve