SleepWeaver -- first nights

[lvehko]

Got my SleepWeaver on Friday, and have used it for a couple of nights... I'm going to give it more time before I write the full-blown review, but here are my preliminary thoughts:

It's true that it takes a lot of fiddling to get a seal, but for me, the stumbling block hasn't been *getting* the seal, it's been *keeping* it. I move around a lot when I sleep, and when turning over, the hose seems to always pull the mask so that it loses the seal. However, there may be a work-around I haven't thought of yet.

The other surprising thing, for me, is that although the mask is made of cloth, it's not any more comfortable for me than my lab-ratted HC407. This is mostly due to the seam that is sewn on the part of the mask that fits under the nose. It's scratchy and irritating. It may soften up with washing (I hope so).

Finally, I can't understand why this mask costs $170. It's a really creative idea, but there's no way that more labor goes into making this mask than other types of nasal masks. I think Circadiance would sell a lot more of them if they dropped the price to under $100. I know that's probably not fair of me to say, because I don't know what their manufacturing costs really are, but (for instance) there's a piece of elastic that runs vertically across the forehead that's just tied on -- it's not sewn, and it's not any kind of special elastic, it's just something you could buy at a fabric store. The edge of the elastic scratches my forehead. For $170, I'd want something cushy and more substantial up there.

Anyway, as with most CPAP masks, this one didn't solve all my mask issues right out of the box. I'll keep working with it, and post a full-blown review in a few weeks.

Min

[sleepycarol]

Thank you Minerva for posting your thoughts on the sleep weaver.

For the price I am not taking a chance on it at this point. I know they are a small company but they need word of mouth to help increase sales and to me a lower price would drum up business. Of course, like you I have no idea what their cost to make it and distribute it are.

[OutaSync]

My DME says Circadiance told her that they were made in Mexico. I'm still waiting for mine.

[RosemaryB]

OK, this was my second weekend with the mask. Friday night I had zero leaks, a straight leak line and an AHI of 0.3. Last night, I decided to try it much, much looser. I did have a few minor leaks and an AHI of 2.3.

I padded my cheeks with shoulder pads under the straps and had no strap marks on my cheeks the second night and not much on the first night.

I don't put on the mask in the way they say to on their website. I don't turn on the machine first, as I couldn't get it to work this way. Instead I just put it on and get a reasonable fit, and tightness. Then I turn it onthe machine and check for leaks.

Here's the way I found to adjust it: (Pretend it's an elephant to understand these directions.) First, I pull at the "trunk part" to get it seated like I think it should be over my nose. Then I tug at the two "ears" "or wings" - if the elephant's Dumbo " until it seems to set right on my face. Then I tug at the piece over the bridge of the nose until it seems to set right. These three points, the "ears" and the "nose bridge" form a triangle that provides the tension for the seal. They seem related to getting it sitting correctly on my face.

Though it sounds convoluted to explain, I find it very easy. A few tugs at the sides of the triangle (elephant ears) and at the bridge of the nose and it's fixed right. The first night I fiddled with it for about 10 minutes (using their system), since then, using this system it just takes a minute or three.

I seem to sleep more soundly with this mask. I think it's the quietness. Though I didn't think the noise of the Headrest was a problem, I suspect it kept me from sleeping more deeply. I'm thinking of wearing ear plugs with the Headrest as a result.

I'm loving the mask so far. The one problem is the piece under the nose you mention. Last night when I made the mask looser it didn't seem to bother me as much. In any case, I suspect that once I get "toughened up" as I have had to do with every mask, it won't be a problem. Only time will tell.

I do find it more comfortable than the other masks, though not cuddle up soft like I'd like. There's still the tension of the mask sealing to the face.

I LOVE that I can scratch my nose through the fabric when it itches. My nose itches every night with any mask. It drives me nuts for a while while I'm trying to fall asleep. I think that the nerve endings are activated by the presence of a mask or something. With other masks I use a toothpick to get under the nasal pillow. Depending on where the itch is, this can work or not. With this mask, I just rub my nose thru the fabric.

The other feature I like is that I can have the hose under the covers, which I couldn't with the headrest (not easily anyway). This is because in the winter I like it cold in my bedroom when I sleep! (Summer, too, if possible). However, even with the Aussie hose I get rainout if it's not at 62 degrees Farenheit. Last night I had it at 58 degrees with this mask. Next time I use it, I'll try for 56 and see if I get rainout. (Before cpap, I had it at 52).

I don't know if it will replace the Headrest as the #1 for me yet or not. This will depend on the numbers (leaks and AHI). I still have a sinus infection so I won't know until I recover completely. I, too, will post a review once I get some mileage on the mask and am sinus-infection free. (My numbers on the Headrest aren't great right now either). Alas, I can only use it on weekends until I can be sure that I won't get strap marks.

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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): hose, nasal pillow, rainout, CPAP, AHI, seal

[snore-by-gore]

Minerva - Interesting reading your initial thoughts about the Sleepweaver. At first I also experienced some of the same problems you describe: the leakage, and the scratchy seam. My problem was not having leakage after I fell asleep, it was getting the seal to begin with. I fiddled with it some and now get it to work fine. It seems that the cloth does eventually soften. I think that the flexible nature of the cloth needs to find an 'equilibrium' with the contour of the users face.

After some frustration with getting the seal I decided to go back to the nasal pillow I had been using. That was an eye opener. By comparison the Sleepweaver is far more comfortable and accomodating to my moving and shifting while I sleep. So then, for the sake of science, I went backwards yet even further and tried the full face mask that I used before the nasal pillow; I'm still waiting for the scar on the bridge of my nose to heal from that experience. I am now back to the Sleepweaver, this time for good!

As for your thoughts about the cost...I also do not know what the cost to produce this product is, but I look at it this way: I have spent more than $170 just to get one good night of sleep in some not so great hotels. Spending $170 to get good sleep on a regular basis is a small price to pay. Although, it will be nice when the insurance company recognizes the value of this product so that I get some help in that respect.

I hope you find the solutions to your problems!

Sweet dreams...

SBG