Chin strap woes. PapCap questions.

[lorraineg57]

I found a mask, the Optilife Nasal Pillow and Cradle Cushion, which incorporates either nasal pillows or nasal mask. I've ordered this and waiting for it to arrive, along with a chinstrap to try with existing masks. Not sure if this works, but maybe someone else here has tried this mask?

https://www.cpap.com/productpage/respir ... dgear.html

Jen

I bought an Optilife this weekend from another CPAP patient, but I haven't tried it overnight yet. The chinstrap seems designed for holding the mask in place; it doesn't do much for holding my mouth closed. The mask stayed securely in place without any leak problems when I tested it during the day.

Have you been able to use a chinstrap with your Sleepweaver elan? I bought one recently to use as a travel mask, but I was unable to control the leaks if I wear it with a Puresom Ruby chinstrap. The mask has otherwise been working very well for me.

Haven't got my chinstrap yet, ordered as soon as my data showed mouth breathing, should get this week. I will try with Elan, as well as Piliaro which is my favorite mask. I was hoping the Optilife would work, but doesn't sound good. If Optilife doesn't work, I can send it back to DME. I will concentrate on the chinstrap & probably have to try taping, but someone here said taping & seizures don't work well together. Let me know how the Optilife works for you.
Jen

Jen, have you by chance tried the Swift FX pillows? I'm wondering what the difference is between the Pillairo and the Swift FX? I really like the Swift FX but the part that the hose attaches to could stand to be a little smaller for me.

[jencat824]

Yes, I've tried the FX pillows and have ordered the Bella Loops to try them again with a different headgear. The Piliaro has a small 'balloon' that inflates around the nasal pillows and makes it easier for them to stay put. Although I love the Piliaro, I'm not sure if I can keep using it with the mouth breathing, so I am attacking the mouth breathing with several options I've ordered. The part of the Piliaro that attaches to the hose is quite small, so you might like it better. Its like not wearing a headgear, but it stays put wonderfully. I love the mask, but I don't think it will help me stop mouth breathing, since I think a stouter headgear will be needed. Who knows, maybe just the chinstrap with the Piliaro will work (my fingers are crossed). If I were you, I'd try the Piliaro, since the attachment size to the hose is quite small and that seems to be your problem. If you get the Piliaro, you may need to super glue the pillow cushion to the small "holding" part of the headgear. I have to do that with the FX as well. It may not be necessary for you, just works for me. Most of my masks have required superglue in some places. (no I don't sniff glue - my family just thinks I do based on my mask adjustments)
Jen

[big_dave]

Haven't got my chinstrap yet, ordered as soon as my data showed mouth breathing, should get this week. I will try with Elan, as well as Piliaro which is my favorite mask. I was hoping the Optilife would work, but doesn't sound good. If Optilife doesn't work, I can send it back to DME. I will concentrate on the chinstrap & probably have to try taping, but someone here said taping & seizures don't work well together. Let me know how the Optilife works for you.
Jen

I've had a week to try out the Optilife, and it's working remarkably well. My sleep quality is good, my AHI is low, my leaks are low even with high pressure (range of 11-16), and I'm not having trouble with mouth breathing. The built-in chinstrap works better than I expected. I also haven't had any trouble with sore nostrils. When I tried the Mirage Swift I was only able to wear it for two nights at a time because my nostrils became sore. The Optilife's left and right pillows are a little further apart. I use medium pillows for both the Optilife and the Mirage Swift. I'll probably end up switching back and forth between the Optilife and the Mirage Activa.

[jencat824]

Well I got my Optilife & chin strap. Seems my Piliaro & chinstrap may be most workable solution for me. The Optilife nasal pillows bother me, they won't stay in, I'm constantly waking up to fix them, & they whistle. Now the Optilife Cradle Cushion is more comfortable, but leaks more than nasal pillows - go figure. I'm trying to make the Swift FX work with the Bella Loops, no luck yet, but am going to try the O rings. For me it will probably be the Piliaro with the Chinstrap. May have to get another type of chinstrap, if I move, it wants to slip on my hair (hair is silky), so I made need something like the Ruby, or another one that has more to it, hope not since I like the freedom of as little on my head & face as possible.
Jen

[lilly747]

This is my favorite chin strap....(link below). I have tried a lot of them including the one you spoke about....I have a new Ruby chin strap that I won't wear because even though it is simlar to my favorite.... because it is itchy...thats how picky I am.
Best of luck in finding one that will work for you!
Janice

http://www.thecpapshop.com/topaz-adjustable-chinstrap

By the way I also use TAPE!!

I just ordered this chin strap. I am having the same problems. going to try wider tape too.

[DHosehead]

I used the PapCap for the past 2 months. It is comfortable, but so "comfortable" I wondered about how it seems to loosen during the night. Well, I just had a visit to the sleep doctor's office to review how I'm doing on CPAP and they found evidence of leaking and snoring. I know my review was much better when I used Ruby Red with my Phillips TrueBlue Nasal mask. My wife also says she's noticed the issues since I switched to PapCap. It seems all my concerns about PapCap were confirmed in the worse way. And over time the chin strap on the PapCap only gets weaker. And I only used the thing 2 months. No matter how tight it is at first, it gets weaker. Probably because it's cotton.

It's the most expensive chin strap money can buy from what I've found. I expected better for my money. But now my sleep doctor wants me to come back sooner than planned for a follow up visit, to see if my numbers change for the better. I'm a step away from them tossing me back into SLEEP STUDY .

So PapCap is done with me. I'll use Ruby Red again for the moment and look around for some others. I see some options mentioned in this thread and since I plan to go to nasal pillows soon the Optilife looks very nice.

[idamtnboy]

Mostly, I use tape, yes, TAPE
(Yes, I shouted; all the better to freak out Archangle--love to yank his leash)

[Jay Aitchsee]

PapCap w/o the Cap?
viewtopic.php?f=1&t=85334&p=776126#p776113

[tomma]

I just started using the PapCap about a week ago, and along with that I'm using an ace bandage in place of tape to help keep my mouth closed. There's some pix and instructions here:

viewtopic/t53666/Controlling-mouth-leak ... -glue.html

It's only been a week, but so far it's been working great.

Good luck!

[fred V.]

I am very to the discomfort of headgear and the slipping and sliding straps. I purchased on-line a surgeon skull cap and/or Doo-Rag with velcro straps instead of ties. The Velcro straps make lying on my back comfortable without the knot, This takes all the strap-skin sensitivity away and prevents the mask from slipping. I also have a FX nasal pillow and headgear system at the moment and the hose is very heavy (heated hose) so I made a stretch belt at my waistband with velcro sewed to it to take the weight off the pillow-headgear assembly, this prevents pulling on the system and allows it to stay sealed.