Review: Respironics TrueBlue Nasal Mask

[Isaacrn]

Well Im not the best at reviews, but I havent seen a great deal of information on the Respironics TrueBlue Nasal Mask. Just wanted to give you all a heads up that I should be receiving it next week. Hopefully I dont have any skin issues like the last Respironics mask. I do primarily side sleep, so stay tuned for a review

[LSAT]

Here are some mixed customer reviews on this mask from cpap.com.
https://www.cpap.com/productpage/TrueBl ... dgear.html

[Isaacrn]

I had seen those. I just thought I would post here among the community and give my take. If one thinks i should just stick to the purchase site, that would be good as well. In all honesty, I prefer to look at the forum for all my information.

[LSAT]

cpap.com...where those comments were, is the sponsor of this message board. I would guess that many of the comments were from this community.

[Pugsy]

I had seen those. I just thought I would post here among the community and give my take. If one thinks i should just stick to the purchase site, that would be good as well. In all honesty, I prefer to look at the forum for all my information.

Won't hurt to post here. People do it all the time. Especially if problems come up and maybe someone has a real time solution to offer.

[ozij]

Well Im not the best at reviews, but I havent seen a great deal of information on the Respironics TrueBlue Nasal Mask. Just wanted to give you all a heads up that I should be receiving it next week. Hopefully I dont have any skin issues like the last Respironics mask. I do primarily side sleep, so stay tuned for a review

I had skin issues when I started therapy 6 years ago. The rug burns on my face from the nasal masks I had tried turned out to be chemical.

Respironics reps. on a chat in another site recommend the following about all masks:

<snip> ... we recommend using mild soapy water before you use any mask for the first time. For those with sensitive skin, it is a good idea to soak ANY new mask you use for 30-60 minutes in mild soapy water..

Soaking (no just cleaning) solved the problem I had with that first trial mask.
I've been very careful to do that since, with all masks by all companies, and the problem never returned.

Some masks have parts that shouldn't be soaked, so read the instructions before soaking.

[nanwilson]

Try padacheeks mask liners. When I had my loaner mask I had one heck of a skin burn where the mask touched my face. Now I don't put a mask on without a liner...no skin problems and no oily skin either.

[jen4700]

So, what about the review? I used the TrueBlue at my titration last night. Tried two diff full face masks but TB was the most comfortable and I didn't seem to have a problem sleeping on my side. I read all the reviews on cpap.com. As with everything your mileage may vary. I was wondering if anyone had a recommendation to compare the TrueBlue against another nasal mask...?

[HoseCrusher]

I attended a presentation put on by Respironics. At the end of the presentation TrueBlue masks were handed out. I took one and decided to try it out.

I normally use a Swift FX.

Pros.

Once you get the headgear adjusted properly, it is very comfortable. I wear my Swift FX very loose and found that the TrueBlue needed to be a little tighter than I originally thought. I adjusted it to just get a seal while bending over with my face facing the floor. While tighter than what I use for the Swift FX, it was still on the loose side.

It tolerates facial hair without leaking.

Checked my face in the morning and no marks.

It is very quiet.

The exhaust vent blows in an upward angle. This allows "adequate snuggle" opportunities without blowing air on my wife.

The flexible spring system allows for generous movement without breaking the seal.

The headgear had less tendency to creep up the back of my head when compared to the Swift FX. It took some time to get the headgear adjusted properly, but once you have that figured out it seems to be very stable.

The headgear has enough elastic in it to allow you to put on and take off the mask without using the clips.

It doesn't use a small section of hose. I have had problems with the small hose on the Swift FX and this mask eliminates that problem.

Cons.

I noticed a plastic odor and washed the mask before use. Even after washing there was still a small amount of odor, but I survived the night. Soaking may be a better way to eliminate this odor if you are sensitive to this type of thing.

The forehead piece sits on a post that runs right up between the eyes. If you wear glasses, this may interfere with them, and it is a little cumbersome reading around this post. A person would probably eventually get used to it, but it is a lot different from the Swift FX.

It is larger and has more bulk than the Swift FX.

Bottom line.

I got a good nights sleep with it and it is comfortable enough to try out for a week or so and see what happens. I was expecting problems from the forehead brace, but none surfaced. The extra bulk (over the Swift FX) is well managed by the substantial headgear. The parts that need to be kept stable are kept stable, and the spring set up allow for flexibility where it is needed.

[avi123]

I like the Blue b/c it's an offshoot of my nasal mask, but with a chinstrap! Since I changed to my present mask about three months ago I have reduced leaks to zero and hardly any events are left.

[jen4700]

I love it!

PROS
- Very soft and squishy. The cushion is made of two pieces. One piece is a gel cushion and one piece is a silicone seal.
- Very easy to create a seal because of the two cushion pieces.
- Does not leave any marks on my face.
- The clips are way easy to snap on and off, just twist your wrist like turning a key.
- Headgear is light. I don't get sweaty on my head.
- The gel pads on the forehead pad are very smooth and soft.
- I can barely feel it after I put it on.
- Almost never leaks. Leaks tend to be quiet, meaning you don't get loud face farts.
- I'm a side sleeper and it works great.
- I keep the straps really loose, especially compared to a full face mask.

CONS:
- It's too easy to take off. I've done it a couple times in my sleep and never woke up.
- The headgear is very stretchy. I'm afraid it will stretch out pretty easy, but haven't had it long enough yet.
- It would be nice if the vent holes were angled up a little bit more.

I highly recommend it.

[Chuck Connors]

I was going to look into the Resmed Mirage SoftGel nasal mask with a chinstrap today, but my DME provider in Seattle didn't have it in stock. Instead, they tried to sell me the Respironics TrueBlue Nasal Mask. I truly want to get a good mask with good results and dread the thought of having to go through months of trial & error. I look forward to hearing more comments about this mask and others. Thanks for posting on this subject. -Chuck-

[HoseCrusher]

Here is an update after several nights using this mask.

Overall it seems very good.

However, my leak rate seems to have gone up a little. I still am good, but it is higher than I have when using the Swift FX. In an effort to minimize leaks, I ended up tightening the straps a little, and ended up with a tender spot under my nose. No redness, just tender. I loosened things up and decided just to live with the higher leaks.

My 95% leak rate has risen from about 12 to about 24. 24 is where the red line is. The funny thing is that with the Swift FX I am very aware of leaks, but with the TrueBlue I don't hear them at all.

In spite of the higher leaks, I am still doing good based upon how I feel, my oxygen saturation levels, and the air flow AHI data.

In a few more nights I will go back to the Swift FX and see what happens. So far I like both of these masks and plan on alternating back and forth just to change things up a little.

[Sparky223]

I have one of these in size small. New unopened package. I cannot afford shipping because I am unemployed, but if your in the Denver area PM me and you can have it.

[jen4700]

Here is an update after several nights using this mask.

Overall it seems very good.

However, my leak rate seems to have gone up a little. I still am good, but it is higher than I have when using the Swift FX. In an effort to minimize leaks, I ended up tightening the straps a little, and ended up with a tender spot under my nose. No redness, just tender. I loosened things up and decided just to live with the higher leaks.

My 95% leak rate has risen from about 12 to about 24. 24 is where the red line is. The funny thing is that with the Swift FX I am very aware of leaks, but with the TrueBlue I don't hear them at all.

In spite of the higher leaks, I am still doing good based upon how I feel, my oxygen saturation levels, and the air flow AHI data.

In a few more nights I will go back to the Swift FX and see what happens. So far I like both of these masks and plan on alternating back and forth just to change things up a little.

I've learned with my mask that it has to be clean AND I have to wash my face. If I don't do this then I can have leaks all night.

The part that bugs me the most is after I wash my headgear getting all the straps back where I want them. But I suppose that is the same with any headgear!