Hybrid Mask, Week 1

[oldgearhead]

Hybrid Mask Week 1, Night 1:

Hi – I’m a 65 year-old male with no facial hair, and no molars. I have heart trouble and money in the bank, if any of you ladies are interest…Oops! Sorry I got sidetracked.

First glance – Cheap box, awesome carrying case.

Installation – I picked the medium mouth-piece with the medium pillows. I didn’t have any problems putting it together, just like the video. Next I put on my upper partial plate. Finally, I put it on, hooked it up, and tightened the straps until I detected no leaks. Again, just like the video.

10:15P – Lights Out. I ‘fiddled’ with the pillows and mouth piece a bit. Wow! I had to keep checking to see if the pillows were still there. They are so soft and pliable, it’s like nothing is there. I went to sleep.

1:30A - Awakened by noise from air leaking between my face and the side of the mouth-piece. I tightened the straps and went back to sleep.

3:10A – Again I’m awakened by the same leak. I got up, had a drink of water, dried my face, removed my upper partial, put on the mask, and went back to sleep.

5:45A – Awakened with the same leak. I got up.

Summary:
1) I was able to keep this mask on all night. A feat I never achieved with either the UMFF or the F&P HC431.
2) It’s becoming obvious I will need to get a lower partial plate, before I will be successful with this, or any other full-face mask.
3) I’ll try the larger mouth-piece tonight.


Cheers,

[mousetater]

I posted this in another thread, but that thread is getting long, so maybe "first tries" of the Hybrid would be better posted here.

I received my Hybrid yesterday, too. I spent about an hour during the day getting to know the mask - trying out sizes of cushion, pillows, etc, as well as the tightness of the straps.

But, when I went to bed, I spent another 20 minutes trying to fix leaks. Finally, I gave up and returned to my Activa for the rest of the night.

I am sure it is simply a matter of finding the right mix of cushion size, pillow size and strap tightness, and I will eagerly experiment with this more today. Overall the mask feels good - I am hoping a little more experience with the mask will help.

[Nightowl]

I have used it now for 8 nights:

Day 1: Great Experience, had to insert medium pillows back into my nares a couple of times. Used the large oral cushion.

Day 2: Tried the large nasal pillows but after 2 hours or so, switched back to the medium pillows. Large ones were not as comfortable. Other than that, I slept like a baby.

Days 3-8: Continued to have success, no major complaints. The hose management is about the only thing I have had to deal with. No leaks or sore nares.

This one is a keeper for me.

[oldgearhead]

...Continue to day 2:

7:00P - Put the mask together using the large mouthpiece. It didn't work, because the radius was too great. It simply leaked out the top of the mouthpiece. So, I tried lowering both the top and bottom straps. This seemed to work very well. So I put it all aside for later.

9:30P - Lights out. I put on the mask and tweaked things a bit and lay down on my back. In a few minutes, the pressure of the mouthpiece on my upper denture clasp was unbearable. So, I got up and removed the partial plate.

9:50 - I lay back down and a curious thing happened: I was very comfortable and I had no air leaks.

5:00A - I was awakened by a leaking right pillow. I tried and tried to get it to stop leaking, but I failed to do so. I got up, and re-installed everything.

5:15A - Since my right nostril was a bit congested, I thought I would practice mouth breathing until time to get up. This mask is very difficult for me to breathe through my mouth. I think it's because the strap pressure required to keep the mouthpiece from leaking, presses the lower jaw back too much. When I open my mouth with the mask on, my mouth fills up with lots of air. I'll keep trying the mouth breathing. I think the trick is to only open the lips a very small amount.

Summary of night 2 - I was very encouraged, because I had no leaks around the mouthpiece, and I don't think I'll need to sleep with the partial plate. I may cut the medium pillows apart this evening. I can always get a perfect seal with the left pillow, but the right doesn't seal very well with the lower strap position. Night 2 was a milestone for me. I have never been able to keep a FF mask on, for even one night, until now.

Sweet dreams,

[islander]

After using this mask for a week, and experiencing those pillow leaks causing me to wakeup, I now keep a roll of that paper medical tape on my nite stand to make a quick "hold in place" adjustment of the offending pillow to my nose. This is quicker and less frustrating than trying to adjust, manipulate or otherwise stop the leak. I have a deviated septum which does not help matters (probably from talking when I should have been listening in a younger life....). I am making it a full eight hours with only one or two "adjustments" so still am a "believer" in this interface. Yes, there are some design flaws, headgear attachments, exhaust blast at sleep partner, upper lip pressure, etc. but, bottom line, it works. I have resolved the hose "in the way" issue by tying back (velcro from abandoned chin strap) to headboard) and also found it quieted down a lot with hose insulation in place. I also had some issues with the headgear straps coming "unvelcroed" when rolling around during sleep, these have been eliminated as well with paper tape holding straps in place, trying to get one of those connectors back on when really sleepy is not fun and sleep partner does not appreciate the light coming on at 2:30 am either.

[Guest]

I ordered mine last week, still says processing. I have been reading will much interest in how people like this mask. I do very well with my Swift but am looking at this for cold, stuffy nose and hayfever season.

Pretty sad when the most anticipation I've had in awhile is waiting for a
mask..........

[Bonnie]

Again I forgot to log in.............

[RedThunder94]

i got mine today, can't wait to try it, just got off of work and found the box on my doorstep, hopefully it works out.

[IZATIRED2]

Bonnie

I ordered one last monday and I also ordered a Remstar apap today. I ask Paul about when the hybrid would ship and he thinks monday the 10th.

[Bonnie]

Thanks for the info, waiting is soooo hard.........

[chdurie2]

oldgearhead--

isn't it a lot more comfy sleeping without the partial?

caroline

[oldgearhead]

Week 1, Night 3

I’m feeling pretty optimistic about tonight. I think this thing will work for me, eventually.

7:00P – I set the mask up with the medium mouthpiece and the large pillows. Why? I’m trying this because the large pillows are the tallest.
Put it on, adjusted the straps a bit, lay back and just breathed. Wow? This has real possibilities. The mask is very comfortable, and again it’s hard to tell if the pillows are really there, because they are so soft. Furthermore, inhaling through the large pillows is effortless. I rolled to my left side and everything was just fine. I rolled to my right side, and almost went sleep. I got up. It’s not bedtime yet.

10:15P – Put the mask back on, and lay down expecting a nice night. I just could not drift to sleep as quickly as I would have liked. So, I just lay there and breathed comfortably.

12:30A – What is that noise? Is it a leak? Yes it is just a very little one near the top right-hand corner of the mouthpiece. I tightened the straps a bit and tried to go to sleep. Do I hear another leak? Yes, the right pillow is leaking badly. I try everything, but the leak is still there. Furthermore, the first leak has started up again. I endured this torment for a several minutes and got up.

1:20A – Removed mask, taped mouth and got hooked to the CL2. Lay back down and started to relax. Then I thought: “All of that warm, moist air feels good going up my nose, instead of on my cheeks”. “When nothing else will do, try the Comfort two”.

“Wait A minute! Did I just say ‘wet cheeks”? Could that be my problem, too much moisture? Note to self, try it tomorrow night without the heated humidifier.

5:45A – Awakened, changed back to the Hybrid, and just lay there for 45 minutes, without turning on the heat. Guess what? No leaks with a dry face.

6:30A – I’m up for the day. Soccer games to see. Tonight I may make some progress.

[oldgearhead]

Hybrid, Week 1, Night 4

My plan for tonight (Saturday) is to not change anything, except the humidifier. I’ll sleep tonight in pass-over mode.

10:30P – Put on Hybrid mask, did not turn on humidifier heat, and went to sleep.

3:00A – I woke up. I’m not sure why, because the mask was NOT leaking. So, I got a drink of water, and went back to sleep.

5:24A – I was awakened by small mask leak in the area of the left cheek. I attempted to fix it, without success. Instead I started another leak at the right-side pillow. I got up switched to the CL2, turned on the heat for the humidifier, and slept till 9:00A.

Summary – There seems to be a correlation between the mask leaks and moisture. In retrospect, when I was awakened at 5:24A, I should have removed the mask, dried my face, and re-installed the mask pillows first like the directions state.

All in all it was a pretty good night, and I really like the effortless inhale quality of the Hybrid. However, I was surprised by the amount of moisture my humidifier puts out with a heat setting of only 1 vs. no heat. However, with either setting, when wearing the Hybrid, I do accumulate moisture on my cheeks. Before I try the Tincture of Benzoin, I will try it with no water.

Tonight (Sunday) – I think I will leave everything just like last night, and if I’m awakened, I’ll just dry my face and retry.

Sweet Dreams,
JRS

[roztom]

JRS: Thanks for the blow by blow description.

When you elimate the pass-over humidity did you get dry mouth or dry nose?

Have you had that with other masks so you always use humidity?

Have you had the moist face witrh other masks?

I am waiting for my Hybrid to arrive but I am using an Activa with my humidifier set to 1 and my face sweats so I've been getting leaks later in the night.

The difference between summer and winter is signifigent.

During winter I use a heated hose and my humidifer set to 3 or 4.

I appreciate everyone's contribution on the Hybrid.

Tom

[oldgearhead]

Tom,
I haven't tried it yet with no water, and yes I have the 'wet cheeks' with the HC431. However, this is the firat time I have considered that too much moisture in a FF mask can cause leaks.

Tonight I'm going to run in 'pass-over' mode with water in the tank again.