Hybrid Masks

[GaryG]

I notice a lot of folks are using a Hybrid Full Face CPAP Mask with Nasal Pillows and Headgear. I've been using the Mirage Liberty. Has anyone tried both?

I mean, I'm ok with my liberty as far as leakage goes. (Ordered SW from Australia for my machine, but taking a while, and daily AHI's are high). I've reduced my leakage down under 24L /min.

But just curious how the two Hybrids stacked up. I feel like I'm on a trek to identify the "perfect mask.".

[mdintx]

I've tried both. For me, the Liberty oral cushion works a lot better than the Hybrid. The nasal pillows of the Liberty were pretty worthless. The surface seems to get moist, slide around, and leak. All the pillows did this. The headgear connections of the Liberty were also pretty delicate. The Hybrid pillows seal better but seem to push up harder for me. The headgear is more secure but kinda has a clunky feel to it.

[LinkC]

I tried the Liberty first and found it leaked at the corners of my mouth.

I then switched to the Hybrid. It took a great deal of adjustment, but now I love it.

I think both are good masks. It's a matter of facial contour.

[roster]

I usually recommend the Hybrid over the Liberty for two reasons.

-It comes with three sizes of mouth cushions (in addition to the three sizes of nasal pillows) and you only get the one size you select with the Liberty.

-It has a chin flap. Some people find the chin flap useful. Others, like me, remove the chin flap. The Liberty does not have a chin flap.

LinkC may be correct about the two masks fitting different facial contours.

In the end many people seem to find the right mask only by experimenting with several. Costly, but worth it.

[GaryG]

Thanks for your updates. Appreciate it.

[Uncle_Bob]

I purchased both these masks. Both are now in my mask graveyard. The pillows would not seal and if you like to side sleep then the mouth pieces are both bulky and get knocked off easily when the contact the pillow.

[WhoKnew]

Sorry you had to abandon both those masks Bob. I sleep on my side and don't have any problems with my Liberty. I have not had the opportunity to try a Hybrid. Don't think they're quite as readily available in Canada, but then I haven't looked either. I usually get my puffy pillow positioned so that the mouth portion of the mask is over the side of the pillow so it doesn't push things around. My leak rate varies from 0.00-0.04, so not bad at all.

One thing I do find essential with my mask is to clean it daily and apply it to a squeaky clean face. Then it doesn't move much at all, once it inflates. I really do think this mask issue is a combined matter of facial contour and personal preference. I'm happy with my Liberty mask, so I'm not going to look too much further I don't think.......unless something really terrific comes along:)

Lynda

[roster]

I purchased both these masks. Both are now in my mask graveyard. The pillows would not seal and if you like to side sleep then the mouth pieces are both bulky and get knocked off easily when the contact the pillow.

I use the Hybrid with minimal leaks and sleep about half of the night on my tummy and half on my sides. As far as "bulky", the Hybrid (with chin flap removed) and the Liberty have the smallest footprints of any FFM I have seen.

The OP was comparing one FFM to another, not an FFM to nasal pillows.

[Muse-Inc]

I wore the OptiLife and now the Hybrid; love both 'cause they fit my face so well. Took a bit of tweaking to get the Hybrid pillows to seal without leaks...I had to create a new strap that runs in fron of my face from the strap by the top clip in front of the pillows to the other strap at the top clip (made of 2 looped together small hair scrunchies). I really need a slightly longer (not wider) large pillow...I told RespCare they needed to consider adding one as an accessory, that and a petite oral cushion which I think I'll need as I lose more wt...customer service was amused, they're great folks to talk to.

[Crickette]

I never thought I would be excited about getting a new mask, but I finally got my hybrid today. My DME left it up to me to figure out how to use it. It was quite easy to get set up though. All I had to do was watch the DVD that came with it. I tried it out when I took an afternoon nap and I had some leaking around my chin area. No leaking around the nasal pillows though
I also got my data back and they said it looked good..my average AHI was 3.3
I get to where an oximater one night over the weekend. I'm thinking maybe Sunday night. That should be fun with the way that I flip flop when I sleep....

[GaryG]

Crikette, it ain't nirvana. You're still wearing this mask with a tube connected to a machine. But it does have a smaller footprint than Full face masks, which to me means less "real estate" available for leakage. Pillows may take some adjustment - in the Liberty, you can cut them and adjust if one or other nostril is larger.

Right now I'm using small in both, but one of my nostrils is larger, so may change one to medium at some point.

Anyway, good luck, and let us know how you do tonight. (with the mask of course.... LOL.)

[sleepyprm]

I picked up my new Liberty today. Thanks to you all, I was informed enough to ask about both the Hybrid and Liberty, and I brought my own CPAP, laid on the bed and tried out the LIberty. The DME thought that because of the chin strap and the shape of my face and chin, the Hybrid might not work. So I took her advice. The Liberty was wonderful, and I'm hoping it gives me an even better night's sleep than I have been having (which is already much improved). If it doesn't work, my insurance pays for masks as needed, unless they become "excessive" like I would be going crazy with my masks.......

Will let you all know how it goes tonight, my first night. I, too, never thought I would be excited about a mask, but I AM!

[briank]

I've also now tried both. My problem with both seems to be that my jaw recedes both from muscle relaxation and mask chin pressure and tends to result in multiple, massive, all-around leaks most nights on these masks. The chin flap on the Hybrid helped stabilize some, but not enough.

The Hybrid seemed really promising at first and I thought it was going to be "the one", but apparently I was just sleeping through some nights of lesser leaks.

The bottom of the Liberty mask felt like it was cutting into my chin quite a bit (like a long, thin point of contact), a problem I did not have with the Hybrid.

The Swift LT with a chin strap (to minimize mouth leaks) has been my most successful interface by far, but I'm still hoping to find a FFM option that works for me as I head into the cold season and also to deal with seasonal allergies.

I'm thinking of retrying the Quattro to see if I can get it not to leak, as it is less of a lever against my chin, but I'm starting to wonder if any FFM will ever work effectively given my apparently "generous" amount of jaw motion.

FWIW, my pressure is 11.

[Crickette]

Gary, I did quite well with the mask last night. I will say the only bad thing is that I woke up around 6 this morning and the skin between my nostrils was very sore. I read somewhere on one of the threads here that someone cut that little piece in between the pillows to prevent that. I wasn't sure if that was a good idea or if it would ruin the pillows. I do really like the mask though. I had to fiddle with it last night to get the pillows to set just right. Also, I did have to put of wearing the oxometer last night because on the paper I got with the instructions it says you are suppose to do that test breathing room air. I don't want to go without my mask so I'm going to wait until Monday when I talk to my DME to do that.

[Hawthorne]

As I recall (and I haven't read the instructions for my Hybrid for a while since it is my backup mask for congested times) the tab between the pillows is designed to be cut, if needed, so that people with different size nares can use a different size for each nare.

I have to say that I have not cut mine since I don't have a problem.