New Member, Question about Hybrid Mask

[Stanley56]

I managed to use the Hybrid the entire night last night. Black Spinner's tip about the flap was one key and the other was tightening the top of head strap to bring the pillows closer to my nose. I now see that Rooster says that the top head strap should be fairly loose so I will try to find some type of elastic to hold the pillows in place. I don't really understand the part about cutting the leg out of a pair of tights and tying it in a circle though. Are there any other materials that people use for this purpose?

Although I used the mask the entire night, I did not sleep well. The noise was not a factor and I really don't know if my lack of sleep had anything to do with the mask or if it was just one of those nights. I generally sleep pretty well, but occasionally have nights where I feel like I never really get to sleep. I will try again tonight keeping in my mind the suggestions in Rooster's blog and the others I have read here. I like the idea of twisting the pillows to fit my nostrils and the suggestion of doing this when they are wet.

Thanks again for the helpful replies.

[LinkC]

Stanley, your AA valve shouldn't open thru the night after pressure comes on. If pressure drops radically it will open (that's it's whole purpose in life! lol). Or if you block the intake it will open then "slam" to some degree (that's what your finger does...).

Unless it is deformed or not seating well it shouldn't just open on its' own as you sleep. Maybe you are pushing it into the pillow? Or otherwise blocking the intake?

I did the "tights" thing early on, but found it unnecessary once I got the adjustment right. A length of 1/4in elastic works well and has the added advantage of being easily adjusted if you choose that route. Good luck.

[lullaby]

I'm a big fan of he hybrid as it's the only mask that has worked for me. A few things to consider:
Yes, i find the noise coming from the air holes sounds very similar to a leak. Some nights have found me going nuts trying to find the source of the leak noise to only find it's the normal air holes.
As mentioned previously, sticking your finger over the anti-asphyxiation hole for a second or two seems to eliminate noise when starting pressure (glad other people do this - i thought it was only me!)
After a year of playing with the correct pillow placement, stupid me suddenly realised that i need 'small' pillows instead of 'medium'. Even though i was getting an ok seal with the medium pillows, the small pillows have effectively given me a zero leak reading now for the last few nights. Yes, i'm a bit slow...
Does everyone else find that this mask still needs to fairly 'snug' on your face to really work well?

[Stanley56]

Update: Thanks to many helpful hints in this thread I seem to have solved the noise and leak issues. I am able to wear the mask comfortably and breathe well with it on. However, so far I just can't seem to fall asleep with it on. I mentioned the first night in this thread where I wore it all night but barely slept. Last night I tried it again and after laying awake for a couple of hours I switched over the my Mirage Quattro and went to sleep rather quickly. So right now it's either sleep and end up with nose bridge irritation or don't sleep with the Hybrid.

Has anyone else experienced this when using nose pillows? Suggestions?

My solution may be to find a full face that doesn't irritate my nose bridge or to try some kind of liner with my Mirage Quattro to help with that problem. I tried a Boomerang gel pad over the nose bridge, but could not get the mask to seal with that device.

[teachcsg]

You may want to try the Fitlife by Respironics. They sent out an email a few days ago stating they have improved tthe mask by strenghtening the forehead area of the mask which IMO seemded to leak for a lot of patients. So this may turn this mask into a very good mask for people that have the problem you are having...i.e. need a FFM but the bridge of the nose is being irritated.

Here is a link for the mask:

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

Good luck!

[Stanley56]

Another Update:

I have SLEPT with the Hybrid for the last three nights and it seems to be working pretty well for me. Getting the AA valve to snap shut is key for controlling the noise level. Sometimes it takes three of four tries to get it to shut correctly but it is no longer opening on its own during the night. This really should be addressed in their instructional video.

I am using a loaner PR 550P so the only data I am getting are the 7 and 30 day averages that the machine provides on screen. I don't even know where the SD card is on this machine. I don't plan on downloading software and checking detailed data until I get my own permanent machine. So far I have had no large leaks and since I've started using the Hybrid my AHI numbers have steadily decreased. Before last night my 7 day average was 2.9 and after last night it was 2.6. If I'm doing my math correctly, a .3 decrease in a 7 day average in one night means my AHI number for last night must have been around .8. Never mind that's not right. It just means last night's number must have been 2.1 lower than the one it replaced. Either way I've seen steady decreases in both numbers since I've started using the Hybrid.

Comments appreciated.

[BlackSpinner]

Another Update:

I have SLEPT with the Hybrid for the last three nights and it seems to be working pretty well for me. Getting the AA valve to snap shut is key for controlling the noise level. Sometimes it takes three of four tries to get it to shut correctly but it is no longer opening on its own during the night. This really should be addressed in their instructional video.

Congratulations.
It took me a week or two to get into nasal pillows too and I still can't stand them if I have a cold. This Flap issue seems to be a new issue. My old Hybrid didn't have that problem at all.

[Not Fade]

Getting the AA valve to snap shut is key for controlling the noise level. Sometimes it takes three of four tries to get it to shut correctly but it is no longer opening on its own during the night.

I have been using the Innomed Hybrid mask for over a year now and have never had a problem with the valve.

Pressure from the CPAP system closes the valve and keeps it closed until the pressure is off. Likewise, once the pressure is off it opens automatically.

I am guessing that you have a damaged valve if you are having to do something to "get it to close".

The valve looks a little fragile and maybe could be damaged easily. I am careful not to bump it when I am washing it in soap and water.

But again, I have been using this one shell and carried it on many trips for over a year and it is 100% trouble-free.

If the valve does not close immediately every time the pressure comes on, maybe you have a local DME who can inspect it for damage?

[Stanley56]

I've eye balled the valve and it looks ok to me, but since it's my first Hybrid I don't really know what it's supposed to look like. Somebody else mentioned that it seems to be a problem with the newer masks. I'll check with my DME the next time I see her. Right now it's working it just takes a little manual intervention.

Edit:

My DME is probably not going to be much help with the Hybrid. They special ordered mine because it wasn't a mask they normally stocked. Mine was the first one she had seen. They did order five others to keep in stock so maybe we can compare it to one of the others.

[BlackSpinner]

Getting the AA valve to snap shut is key for controlling the noise level. Sometimes it takes three of four tries to get it to shut correctly but it is no longer opening on its own during the night.

I have been using the Innomed Hybrid mask for over a year now and have never had a problem with the valve.

Pressure from the CPAP system closes the valve and keeps it closed until the pressure is off. Likewise, once the pressure is off it opens automatically.

I am guessing that you have a damaged valve if you are having to do something to "get it to close".

I had one for 3 years, I got a new one a 2 months ago. The new one has the issue from the time I first put it on.

[Not Fade]

BlackSpinner, If you eyeball the old and new valve side by side, does it look like a different design or different materials?

[LinkC]

I just got a new one. Valve works fine, But who knows how long it sat on the DMEs shelf...

PM me and I'll mail you a good (but used) shelll to compare, if you want.

[BlackSpinner]

BlackSpinner, If you eyeball the old and new valve side by side, does it look like a different design or different materials?

The old one sits right inside the elbow - its "handle " is straight.
The new one hangs, with its "handle" bent, below the elbow by at least 3 mm.

I bought it from Cpap dot com in January I received it at the end of January/ begin February.

[Not Fade]

The old one sits right inside the elbow - its "handle " is straight.
The new one hangs, with its "handle" bent, below the elbow by at least 3 mm.

Sounds like, in the final stage of assembly, they forgot the required dose of sildenafil citrate.

[LinkC]

Both my brand new and most recent shells are the "new" design. Both valves work flawlessly. Can you hit up your DME for one that works better?