MOST QUIET MASK??

JudyAnn · Post by **JudyAnn** » Fri Aug 12, 2005 12:54 pm

Please don't pounce on me because I know it has been discussed a million times but...........

Out of these three masks, which one is the most quiet? and....
Which one is the most comfortable?

Mirage Activa
Breeze w/dream seal
Comfort Curve

I have the Activa and I like it but I wanted to try another mask. I bought the Swift Nasal and its too noisy for me and since I am used to the mask that fits over my nose, I was trying to go along those lines.

Thanks,
Judy

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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): breeze, mirage, activa, swift, seal, Comfort Curve

rested gal · Post by **rested gal** » Fri Aug 12, 2005 1:14 pm

Of the three you listed, I've tried those specifically. Of those, I'd choose the Activa. Propensity of a mask to leak can be a BIG factor in how much noise it makes, aside from how quiet a mask might be when a person lying frozen in one position and there are no leaks. I found the Activa to be so leakproof for toss 'n turn sleeping that I'd call it pretty quiet and comfortable. The other two were very leaky when I wore them. But of course everyone's face (and hearing level) is different.

I'd go for a nasal pillows interface above all of them, actually.

JudyAnn · Post by **JudyAnn** » Fri Aug 12, 2005 1:28 pm

Thanks RG, I like the Activa a lot but I wanted to try something different but I was afraid that if I didn't like the Swift nasal prongs, I was hesitant about trying a different one.

I know you love the Breeze and the Aura. Is that right as far as nasal prongs go? Are they quiet and comfortable?

I am waiting for the ResMed S8 Auto to come out and then my doctor said he would give me a prescription so I can get the software and keep up on how I am doing. Right now I have that Auto Respond which doesn't tell me a thing. I, like you, want to be in control of my SA and my outcome everey night, and I told him that and he agreed with me completely. I am not going through the company/dme that they had me go through before because he would not give me the Spirit and back then I did not know any better and took what he gave me. Now I have Medicare and a secondary insurance so I guess I will be able to get what I want. I talked to someone here at the store who deals with Medicare.

That DME even talked me out of a "shallow size" Activa when I got my replacement...said it would not work. Well, I bought my own replacement mask here and it fits fine and is more comfortable than the standard. I remember you telling the board about the shallow size. That DME and I did not hit it off the very first time I met him. He got so defensive and hot under the collar that I was totally turned off with him.

Sorry, I am rambling on and on. Thanks RG for your help, as always.

Judy

rested gal · Post by **rested gal** » Fri Aug 12, 2005 2:19 pm

One bit of clarification about the terms describing various interfaces (and I may have some of it wrong!):

I think of these as nasal pillows interfaces:

Breeze nasal pillows (not the Dreamseal)
Swift
Aura
ComfortLite

I think of these as nasal prongs interfaces:

Nasal Aire II
Lyra
Nasal-Pap FreeStyle
Snapp

The difference (to me) in "pillows" vs "prongs" interfaces is that prongs are more like canulas that are pushed up inside the nostrils, relying in part on the inside rims of the nares (nostril openings) to snugly hold them in place.

Pillows, on the other hand, rely more on the headgear to keep them in place against the outside of the nostrils. If the pillows are large enough, very little of the tip of the pillows will be inside the nostrils, ideally not touching anything inside the snout or pressing unduly on the outside. (Easier said than "not done"...heheh.)

Pillows and prongs interfaces do seem to be noisier in general than most traditional masks. Especially the prongs interfaces which I found to be a LOT noisier than pillows interfaces.

Nasal mask -- to me that means a traditional triangular shaped mask that completely covers the outside of the nose. Most of the time, a nasal mask tends to be quieter than pillows or prongs interfaces.

Of the pillows interfaces, the sound from the Swift was more noticeable and annoying to me, especially when the exhaust hit things, as it was very apt to do. The Breeze nasal pillows and Aura nasal pillows with their intermittent "shusssh" sound only when inhaling seem quieter to me than the continual varying sounds of air whooshing through the Swift even when I tried dampening the sound with various kinds of netting placed in the Swift's cylinder.

Even though it wasn't my personal favorite, the Swift is one I suggest to most people who are trying to get away from a traditional "nasal mask", as the Swift seems to suit so many people straight out of the box and all three sizes of nasal pillows attachment come with it.

Everything about masks is a trade-off and can be very individually perceived.... sound vs comfort on the individual face vs leakproofness vs feel of the headgear vs outright stability of the headgear vs how each interface works when you consider different sleeping positions, whether sound or feel of the exhaust vent disturbs a sleeping partner, etc.

It can be very difficult (and expensive!) to try to find a mask that suits in every respect, much less find two or more for mask rotation purposes!

The Aura "as is" worked fine for me with only the addition of a pantyhose "tights" leg around the forehead to keep the overly large headgear in place. I hasten to say the "large" I'm talking about is long straps, not heavy weight..the Aura's headgear is surprisingly light despite how bulky it looks in the advertising pictures. I deconstructed mine even further to make it suit me perfectly. It's what I use night after night after night, rarely ever rotating to my other two favorites - Breeze with nasal pillows or the Activa.

TiffkneeNY · Post by **TiffkneeNY** » Fri Aug 12, 2005 2:27 pm

I liked the Activa. It has a seal that moves out to fit your face, I think Resmed calls it active cell. I use it every night with no need to switch off. (for sore spots) I got mine from http://www.talkaboutsleep.com It was shipped same day I ordered and arrived in 2 days. I'd give it a try.

Tiffany

JudyAnn · Post by **JudyAnn** » Fri Aug 12, 2005 2:38 pm

RG,

You explained it fully and I agree with you about the "prongs" vs. the "pillows". This whole SA thing is already uncomfortable enough without having to have something stuck up inside your nose.

I do like the Activa and I should not "try to fix it, if it isn't broken". If I do decide to try a pillow, I will try the Aura.

I did order the Aussie heated hose the other day so I am looking forward to having constant warm air all through the night without the rainout. Do you know off hand what the model number of the adapter I have to get or do I just ask the guy at Radio Shack?

Thanks again for your responses RG and Tiffknee. I appreicate your opinions.

Judy

wading thru the muck! · Post by **wading thru the muck!** » Fri Aug 12, 2005 3:08 pm

Judy Ann,

The most quiet mask is the one that you don't ever use... doesn't matter what brand.

rested gal · Post by **rested gal** » Fri Aug 12, 2005 3:32 pm

"The most quiet mask is the one that you don't ever use... doesn't matter what brand."

LOL! Rascal!!

JudyAnn, what I got at Radio Shack for mine was a 12 volt 1 amp DC converter (Radio Shack part# 273-1776) and an "M" adapter plug. The converter was around $18 a year ago, I think. The tiny "M" adapter plug was free.

JudyAnn · Post by **JudyAnn** » Fri Aug 12, 2005 3:36 pm

You got that right!

Thanks for the information on the plug.

Have a great weekend. I leave work at 6:00 (20 minutes) so I will be happy to get home to start the weekend. I have to get a computer at home soon.

Judy

OldSeaRock · Post by **OldSeaRock** » Fri Aug 12, 2005 9:08 pm

I'm new to this so I'll defer to the experts above.. but having tried 4 masks in 10 days, I've found that IF I had to recommend a mask for comfort then it would be the Activa.

If I had to recommend a mask for quietness then it would be the Breeze/pillows setup.

Now if I could just get those two to reproduce... the hybrid would have to be a hum-dinger!

wading thru the muck! · Post by **wading thru the muck!** » Fri Aug 12, 2005 9:59 pm

OSR,

Your first perceptions are very accurate... I would concur.

As far as two masks mating and reproducing??? you may need a little more experience before you understand that one. LOL