Respironics ComfortLite 2

rested gal · Post by **rested gal** » Tue Mar 21, 2006 4:40 pm

Well, after all the times I've said steer away from any mask with "Comfort" in its name, I've found one that works well for me... yep, the ComfortLite 2.

Respironics has improved the old ComfortLite into an interface that is actually comfortable and doesn't leak. They got it right.

I used the nasal pillows and found there are sooo many easy adjustments to get the angle just right. A neat little dial thingy lets you raise or lower the pillows assembly. The dial makes it very easy to reach up and finetune the fit of the pillows. Very handy.

The metal adjustment band (horizontal and vertical at the pillows) works well to let you pinch the pillows exactly close together enough (or far apart enough) to make them leakfree. The band also lets you angle the pillows just the way you want them at the nares.

An easy-to-use adjustment up at the brow lets you get the right basic tilt to start with.

The foam padded headgear was comfortable and adjusted down fine to fit a woman's head.

The exhaust is diffused, very quiet -- unless it accidentally hits bedcovers, pillow, or a sidesleeper's arm. That kind of "down low" exhaust position has been a major complaint of mine in several masks, including the Swift.

Do I like ComfortLite 2 better than my favorite, the Aura? No, I still prefer the lightness of my deconstructed Aura and the cleverly designed exhaust that never hits anything. But if I were not using the Aura, the ComfortLite 2 would be my first choice now.

The main reason the ComfortLite 2 now edges out my previous #2 favorite, the Breeze nasal pillows, is because the ComfortLite 2 stayed put better when I turned onto my back. Didn't tug up on my nostrils or lose a seal downward, the way the Breeze tends to do for backsleepers. Breeze is still an excellent interface for side sleepers though.

I'm betting that the ComfortLite 2 pillows interface is going to suit a lot of people straight out of the box with just a few twirls of the dial and a bend or two. Should suit a lot of women because the headgear won't need extra homemade straps to get a stable fit. It stayed nice and steady on me through toss'n'turning.

The one thing I'm going to add to it (you all KNOW I can't leave any mask alone! )...I'm going to take the short connector tube from my Activa and use that to connect the ComfortLite 2 to my Aussie heated hose. Any regular air hose, including the heated hose, can be attached directly to the swivel on top of the ComfortLite 2, but the heated hose is a tad heavier than a regular hose.

A short, lightweight connector hose added to the ComfortLite 2 will make everything up above my head move more freely and feel lighter when I turn over. I'll use swivel connectors on each end of the short connector tube from the Activa, so that I don't have to rely on the somewhat clunky swivel of the ComfortLite 2 itself.

It really is a good interface, imho. Titrator's (Ted's) very descriptive review was right on target. Finally a good'un that lives up to having Comfort in its name.

txtornado · Post by **txtornado** » Tue Mar 21, 2006 5:32 pm

Hi RG. Thanks for your post. I've been reading these boards pretty heavily for the past week trying to flatten my learning curve a little, and your posts are all so thorough and informative - great help to a newbie like myself. I have an appointment on Thursday to go over my study results, but have already been told I have severe OSA and will need a CPAP (or possibly APAP or even BiPAP - that should get cleared up at my appt.).

Based on my sleep study experience (where I realized how claustrophobic I am), my preference to sleep on my stomach or side, and what I've read here, I've narrowed it down to 4 interface options:
ComfortLite 2
Aura
Swift
New Version Breeze

I'm hoping you can answer a question for me about the ComfortLite 2. What is the difference between the pillows and direct seal cushion? It's not clear to me from the pictures, and I obviously haven't seen it in person yet.

Thanks for your help!

john5757 · Post by **john5757** » Tue Mar 21, 2006 5:33 pm

Rested Gal,

I am also trying the ComfortLite 2 and found it just able to fit my head. I had to let out the straps as far it will go. You made the absolute great idea of using the short connector tube from a Activa mask. I am going to try that tonight! My snuggle hose setup is kind of heavy also. I also have the Direct Seal and I will compare it to the new pillows type.

Tash · Post by **Tash** » Tue Mar 21, 2006 5:43 pm

Rested Gal,
Ok, I gotta' ask... what does the headgear do to your hair? It looks lighter than the Aura (pre-deconstruction), but it still looks like it can cause some hair damage...Whaddaya think?

Thanks,
Tash

Linda3032 · Post by **Linda3032** » Tue Mar 21, 2006 6:38 pm

I knew she wouldn't be able to resist getting one!!!!!!!

Is there any mask this Gal hasn't tried?

Newsgrouper · Post by **Newsgrouper** » Tue Mar 21, 2006 9:55 pm

I'm also interested if it is less likely to cause hair damage than the Breeze or the Aura.

Sleepless on LI · Post by **Sleepless on LI** » Tue Mar 21, 2006 10:39 pm

Tash wrote:Rested Gal,
Ok, I gotta' ask... what does the headgear do to your hair? It looks lighter than the Aura (pre-deconstruction), but it still looks like it can cause some hair damage...Whaddaya think?

Thanks,
Tash

Tash, exactly the one thing RG didn't mention and I really wanted to know. Does it flatten out or pull the front of the hairline like the Aura does non-deconstructed? Also, does it leave any marks on the forehead or cause any discomfort there?

Am I correct that RG stated she used the nasal pillows and not the direct seal?

Ritap1965 · Post by **Ritap1965** » Tue Mar 21, 2006 11:53 pm

I would like to use the option that does not actually enter the nostrils. Am I correct in assuming that the Direct Seal does not enter the nostrils. I like the ComfortCurve which lies under the nose but is not invasive, and was hoping the direct seal would work the same.

Rita

Titrator · Post by **Titrator** » Wed Mar 22, 2006 12:46 am

Rested Gal,
Ok, I gotta' ask... what does the headgear do to your hair? It looks lighter than the Aura (pre-deconstruction), but it still looks like it can cause some hair damage...Whaddaya think?
Smile
Thanks,
Tash

I covered this in my review.

Titrator...

viewArticle/ComfortLite2-Nasal-Interfac ... onics.html

The center of the crown piece has been cut out, making the footprint on your hairline smaller than its competitors. The sideways part across the front of my hairline has disappeared since using the ComfortLite 2. For all the people who have suffered from hair dents, this could be the mask for you.

_________________

CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): Aura

th · Post by th » Wed Mar 22, 2006 5:39 am

To Ted and RG both great reviews. I am looking forward to trying mine(comfortlite2)? Ted I have question: Why when I click on the picture of the comfortlite 2 in your review.........why does it take me to a picture of the comfort curve?

Thanks again to the both of you
th

Sleepless on LI · Post by **Sleepless on LI** » Wed Mar 22, 2006 6:20 am

Ted,

First of all, let me say your review was great. Thanks.

Second, I have been waiting for your review since the day you posted that you loved the CL2 so far, and I even went so far as to check for it yesterday after seeing RG had posted hers. I was surprised to see you had written one. If anyone else is like me, perhaps they weren't looking at the top of the page, under "Cpap Interviews and Reviews." I was waiting for a regular thread posting. My bad.

Last comment. When you say that this headgear is better for the hair problem, were you using an Aura/Headrest prior to the CL2 or something else?

Thanks again for taking the time to write such a thorough review. Hope you are feeling well.

Titrator · Post by **Titrator** » Wed Mar 22, 2006 6:47 am

TH, Thanks for the heads-up on the picture link. I will work on it.

Lori,

I use both the Breeze and the Aura Headrest. My hair issue is more from the Breeze, than the Headrest, but it didnt start to get better until I started using the CL2.

As you can probably tell, I really like this mask, and that doesn't happen too often.

Ted

Sleepless on LI · Post by **Sleepless on LI** » Wed Mar 22, 2006 7:20 am

Ted,

Isn't it a great feeling when you finally find a mask that works so well for you? That's how I feel about the Aura, especially since I incorporated the XL pillows. But I have a few negatives lately coming from it, such as a red nose at the bottom of the nares daily, and the hair flattening is a pain. I'm surprised you didn't have that problem with the Aura as much as the Breeze, but it's good that the CL2 doesn't cause as bad a problem.

Thanks again for your great review. Stay well.

ozij · Post by **ozij** » Wed Mar 22, 2006 7:37 am

Thanks for the report, RG, and aditional thanks for linking to Ted's rep. I too managed to miss that one.

Sounds like an interface worth trying - but are you both sure (...) the headgear on your forehead won't cause sweating?

O.

Sleepless on LI · Post by **Sleepless on LI** » Wed Mar 22, 2006 7:54 am

ozij wrote:Thanks for the report, RG, and aditional thanks for linking to Ted's rep. I too managed to miss that one.

I had no idea RG even linked to Ted's review. I found the link in Ted's post. Then when I went back to RG's post, I realized that when she put her words in "bold" lettering, it was actually a link. Missed that one completely. I usually expect to see it as a URL link, so she fooled me with that one. Good call, O.

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