Tried the comfortcurve

I tried the comfort curve mask last night. This mask is really loud compared to the hybrid. It leaked terribly most of the night. I played with it for a couple of hours and tried every 'fix' I could find here. I found it to be comfortable enough but every time I moved-it leaked. It even woke my husband several times! I've run out of ideas to try with the CC, any and all suggestions are welcome!
I have had great success with the Hybrid and I think that makes it harder to use another mask. I did remove the upper clips for the Hybrids headgear. I tied the headgear to the shield. This made the mask much more comfortable. No more 'clip marks'.

Brenda

Brenda,

If it's leaking every time you move, that sounds like maybe the headgear needs to be a little tighter. At least that's what does it for me.

Of course, you could also try all the adjustments and all the cushion sizes also. With all my other masks I use size Large, but with the Comfort Curve, amazingly, the Medium size works.

Regards,
Bill

bdp522 wrote:I tried the comfort curve mask last night. This mask is really loud compared to the hybrid. It leaked terribly most of the night. I played with it for a couple of hours and tried every 'fix' I could find here. I found it to be comfortable enough but every time I moved-it leaked. It even woke my husband several times! I've run out of ideas to try with the CC, any and all suggestions are welcome!
I have had great success with the Hybrid and I think that makes it harder to use another mask. I did remove the upper clips for the Hybrids headgear. I tied the headgear to the shield. This made the mask much more comfortable. No more 'clip marks'.
Brenda

Brenda, I've been using the ComfortCurve for a few months now and I'd like to offer some possible solutions for you to explore.

First of all, the ComfortCurve should be VERY quiet if everything is working properly. I have a ComfortFull mask that sounds like a freight train compared to the CC. I suspect that the noise you're hearing is solely due to leaks. Unfortunately, on the ComfortCurve, there are several possible sources:

• * Your nose isn't seated properly on the cushion. This one is easy to diagnose because you'll feel the air rushing out of it. Just pull your nose away and reseat or possibly try a different pillow size. I've also found that if the harness is just a little off center, it can be quite difficult to get a good seal. Also, I sometimes find it helpful to just hold the mask in a position where there are no leaks and when I let go, it usually stays that way. I have no idea why, but it works for me.
  
  * The nose cushion isn't properly seated into the cross tube. It's a little tricky getting everything to seat properly. I finally settled on the following approach: I line up the nose cushion with the opening in the cross piece while looking through the cushion. If you don't get that ridge INSIDE the opening on the cross piece, the thing will leak like a sieve and make a horrible racket. Once you have it in place, then apply pressure to the bottom and then the top until you're sure that all three pegs have caught. Also, as a double check, on the bottom of the nose piece you'll see five dots that are supposed to line up with the corresponding dots on the bridge (that curvy thing that the cross piece fits into). Also, both the top and bottom of the cushion will be nearly flush with the cross piece.
  
  * The bridge isn't properly clipped over the tabs on the cross piece. When you insert the cross piece into the bridge, first of all be sure that the triangle on the cross piece fits INTO the corresponding triangle on the bridge. Then pull one side of the bridge out and over the tab until you hear a click. Do the same thing on the other side. The bridge sometimes slides back over the tab and that also creates quite a racket.
  
  * I assume you've tried adjusting the velcro straps on the harness, but if not, give that a shot.
  
  * I have never found a better position for the adjustable pad supports than the center mark. Apparently Respironics felt that giving lots of choices would be a good thing, but nothing but the center setting has ever worked for me.

I'd also suggest that you take a look at the videos, FAQs and other materials that are available at the Respironics website].

A lot of folks here really dislike the ComfortCurve but I loved it the first time I used it. It is a little fussy and you do have to make sure everything is in place, but I now have no problem sleeping on my back and, after a little experimentation, on both sides. I rarely have anything approaching a major leak anymore.

Like a high-maintenance spouse, the ComfortCurve can be a bit of a challenge sometimes, but the results can be very much worth the effort. Please don't give up on it just yet.

Regards,

OCO

Nice description of how you get the CC to work for you, OwlCreekObserver.

For new people reading, here's a link to more topics about the ComfortCurve, some of which contain "fixes" others have tried:

LINKS to Comfort Curve nasal mask topics

Bill, I may have to do some alterations on the headgear. It's as tight as it will go and still moves around a bit.

OCO, I will try all of the things you mentioned. I don't give up easily, I just have to wait until I don't need to think clearly in the A.M..

RG, I have repeatedly read all of your links before I tried the mask. I tried everything I read (I don't think I missed any).

Thanks to each of you for your help,

Brenda

Brenda,

We are all different. Look at you and the good fit you are getting with the Hybrid.

I wish I can say that the Comfort Curve is a succes for me but it is not. It leaks mostly from the side of my nose, where the curve of the nose does not touch the face.

The least amount of leakage (but still finicky) comes from when I wear the headgear upside down (the adjustable side wore on the bottom) AND the silicone cheek pads take off and moleskin with cushion pad cut out to fit where the silicone pads would be (cut out a bit larger).

Also for some reason, the tip of my nose is painful and squished in the mornings.

Good Luck, and tell us if it went any better on your next attempt

bdp522 wrote:Bill, I may have to do some alterations on the headgear. It's as tight as it will go and still moves around a bit.

My headgear usually doesn't move around at all most of the time. When it does move around though is when I get the annoying little leaks. If you can't adjust the headgear anymore, maybe some of RG's tips will help out.

As for the noise, I'll add that my Comfort Curve is very quiet now, but early on it really was noisy at times. The noise wasn't from leaks but instead seemed to be from the way the plastic fit at the nares. I think it was a matter of there being too much of the silicone plastic extending past the inside of the nares. Once it was adjusted a little better, then the mask became very quiet. I can still hear it, but I can also hear my machine and it's really quiet, too.