NAII - Finally built me some new headgear

Babette At Work · Post by **Babette At Work** » Tue Mar 11, 2008 11:12 am

Well, it takes really being annoyed for me to get anything done. A year after buying the parts, I finally put together a new headgear for my NAII. I've been particularly annoyed at my Topaz lately - it's been irritating my face and sliding around.

Anyway, I took an old cotton bill cap, and cut the bill off. The back just has elastic, no metal tab thing to irritate my head.

I then took a chinstrap very kindly donated by JeffH in OK, and sewed it to the cap.

Not sure of the chinstrap brand, but it looks very much like the Sullivan:
cpap.com/productpage/resmed-sullivan-chinstrap-mouthleak.html

Attached my NAII to the sides of the chinstrap with velcro one-wrap - just like on my Topaz headgear mod - and it worked very well.

The "Sullivan" chinstrap - while not a natural fiber - is still way more comfortable on my skin than the Topaz's fabric. I forget what it is, but it doesn't breathe, and irritates my skin.

Anyway, the final product looks alot like this:
sleep-cap.com

I initially put the cap on, then pulled the chinstrap on, adjusted it, then took some safety pins and pinned the chinstrap to the cap at the temples, and at the crown. Then I took it off, and handsewed the chinstrap at the three safety pin points. Then I took the pins out. If this seems like the Idiot's Guide - it is. I'm recording this for the non-sewers out there.

Once I got that done, I put the whole rig on, and inserted the cannula in my nose. I took the velcro one-wrap, and wrapped it around the chinstrap sides and the NAII small hoses, at two points on either side. I then took a slightly longer piece of one-wrap and wrapped it around both NAII hoses, just above the point of the crown. That keeps the hoses from wanting to flop away from the headgear, increasing the stability. Achieves about the same result as cutting the side hoses short, which another forum member does.

It was very comfortable, and stayed in place well. My chin didn't sweat and break out, like it normally does.

Now, if only I could get some more energy going, I could re-create the Sullivan's chin-cup in a natural fiber.

Cheers,
Barbara

JeffH · Post by **JeffH** » Tue Mar 11, 2008 1:55 pm

You're right...it was a Sullivan.

Bet you look kinky in that get up.

BigGayBert · Post by **BigGayBert** » Tue Mar 11, 2008 2:20 pm

Babs,

I am using the Respironics Premium Chinstrap ( https://www.cpap.com/productpage/premiu ... hleak.html ) it it works really well for me. I tried the Topaz and I really like the way it is designed, but I couldn't wear it for more than a few minutes at a time because it made me sweat so bad. I don't see how anybody could stand it. It's like they spent a whole lot of time designing the chinstrap and then started selling them without ever trying on the finished product.

Good luck to you in finding a great chinstrap!

Issac · Post by **Issac** » Tue Mar 11, 2008 4:36 pm

Looks like a wonderful idea.
The sleep cap in Australia looks interesting. The wife could sew it, no problem

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Tue Mar 11, 2008 4:40 pm

I wish *I* had a wife who could sew. Carol? Can I borrow you? Ask your husband...

Hey Bert, I might have to try that one. I was worried it might just slip off my abundant hair. The BreatheWear Halo tends to do that on me, as does the Sullivan, sans the new cap.

Thanks for the Sullivan Jeff! And no, I don't look in the least bit kinky. Even when I'm trying... Unless you troll BBW websites for porn... Or worse... CPAP WEBSITES!

Just for that I now have to figure out how to take a truly ghastly picture of myself in it to post... If for no other reason than to make ya'll spew and laugh as much as you did me on that other thread just now...

LOL,
Babs

sleepycarol · Post by **sleepycarol** » Thu Mar 13, 2008 7:41 pm

Hey Babs I received your package yesterday. I was in the hospital a couple of days and so have catch up to do at work.

I should be able to do some modifying this week-end.

How is your mod doing?

6PtStar · Post by **6PtStar** » Thu Mar 13, 2008 7:45 pm

Carol sorry to hear about your hospital stay. You know you are suposed to let your internet family know about these things so we can beam get well wishes your way!!

Pictures Babs, we got to have pictures!

Jerry

Sleepdeprived · Post by **Sleepdeprived** » Fri Mar 14, 2008 5:35 am

[quote="Babette At Work"]

That keeps the hoses from wanting to flop away from the headgear, increasing the stability. Achieves about the same result as cutting the side hoses short, which another forum member does.

Cheers,
Barbara

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Mar 14, 2008 10:27 am

Hey Carol - I'M SO SORRY!!!! I thought you were getting better!!!! Well, I hope it helped, and you're getting better now!!!!

NO RUSH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! DO NOT EVEN THINK ABOUT THIS PROJECT UNTIL LIKE, TWO MONTHS FROM NOW AND YOU'RE BETTER AND BORED!

SleepDeprived - I'm with you on that!

However, I must report that my new headgear is not making me as happy as I thought it would. Last night was particularly annoying. It's slipping and sliding all over the place. I think I'm going to try another version, using the Breathwear chinstrap, and some of the NAII headgear straps. NAII headgear seems to be breeding in my "cpap gear" box in the closet...

Pictures... Jerry A) I live alone. B) I don't have a digital camera. I just have my cell phone camera. I can probably put this on a foam head and take pix, like I did with the Topaz mod, but that would involve reaching to the top shelf and getting the foam head out of the box, and that's just too much effort right this second.

Maybe some more coffee and I might feel motivated... I'm sleeping really badly lately. Not cpap related. I suspect Menopause is rearing it's ugly head. Anyway, I've been doping myself up with Benadryl every night so I can sleep through the night, and I'm feeling groggy and cranky in the AM again, sorta like me pre-therapy. Yesterday I was sorely tempted to ask for some more Provigil... But extra coffee and the occasional Pepsi over lunch is doing wonders for me in the afternoons, so...

Falling Off the Fatal Porch of Forty AIN'T FOR WIMPS!

LOL,
Babs

neverbetter · Post by **neverbetter** » Fri Mar 14, 2008 12:59 pm

Sleepdeprived, what do you mean you cut the tubing? why? why not just use the velcro for the ponytail? How did it make it improved for you?

Sleepdeprived · Post by **Sleepdeprived** » Fri Mar 14, 2008 8:18 pm

[quote="neverbetter"]Sleepdeprived, what do you mean you cut the tubing? why? why not just use the velcro for the ponytail? How did it make it improved for you?

Babette · Post by **Babette** » Fri Mar 14, 2008 10:35 pm

I can see how that would work. I might try it now that I have a spare set of hoses to do it.

I also thought up a way to further tweak my current mod - I think I'll unpick the stitches and attach some rings to the hat instead. Then just thread the sides of the chinstrap through the rings, and bring them back down and velcro them to themselves. That way I can tighten the chinstrap when it feel loose. For some reason, it was fine the first night, but has felt loose the next few nights and by sewing it down, I can't adjust it.

I've got these rectangular metal rings I bought for one of my early mods on my Breeze that I think will work well for this. I have no idea what they are really for - maybe purse hardware. I found them in the notions aisle at Michael's.

Cheers,
Barbara

Mask

Additional Comments: Equipment isn't correct, S9 ASV w/H5i

NAII - Finally built me some new headgear

NAII - Finally built me some new headgear

Respironics Premium Chinstrap

Re: NAII - Finally built me some new headgear