Sleepweaver Elan question

ems wrote:Lazer... why not try a different mask? Red marks on your face and/or air blowing in your eyes doesn't make for a restful nite. Either one of those things would keep me up all night.

I do have the Swift FX & even the pretty bella loops to go with it. I had just heard so much hype on the Sleepweaver and had to break-down and purchase my first retail mask out-right. All and all I like it amazingly as that might sound. It works, and doesn't actually hurt despite the strap marks (usually) except for the damn blister now on my nose currently.

I still hold out some hope that if I can tweak the straps just right, I can make this my favorite mask so I am being persistent in giving it a chance.

That's the best explanation I can give at the moment.

I did speak with Kathy from Sleepweaver by phone and she pointed out the air holes to me and I do feel a bit of air coming out but as Chunky said, that's nothing in comparison to the amount coming out by my eyes. While I don't worry that I'm rebreathing air, I do wonder if more exhaust would help with leakage. I intended to try the mask for a little less than 30 days and then return it if it didn't work. But, I forgot to get it sent back in time, so now I'm trying even harder to make it work. I'm thinking of poking a few more holes in the mask using a fine sewing needle to see if that helps at all.

Last night I got it pretty much leak free in one position in bed, but when I rolled over a couple hours later I just couldn't get it adjusted so that it wouldn't leak. Like Lazer I need to have the straps really tight to get it to seal (actually just the bottom straps). I think I'll keep trying at the beginning of the night and see if one night I'm able to keep it on all night. Luckily I can put my Swift FX on easily without turning on a light so I can switch masks during the night.

I wonder if the clean face thing is making the difference? When I go to bed my face is freshly washed. I know I won't be getting up in the middle of the night to wash my face again!!!!

I found that I can reduce over-the-nose leakage on my regular élan if I provide a little more support for it.
I used dental floss to tie a small (8mm) plastic ring to the edge of the washer,
and attached elastic between the top of the headgear and the little ring.
This way the elbow is a bit more stable and my seal over my nose is better.
I can even let the hose hang from the overhead hook and swivel freely instead of tying it to the headgear.

Thanks for the picture and explanation. Now I just have to make sense of it. My brain isn't working too good this morning yet. Woke up with a damn back ache and didn't want to get out of bed. Otherwise, I think I slept ok. The band-aid helped soothe my sore nose bridge from more pain last night.

Thanks Chunky for the picture, I would never have figured out what you were talking about any other way! I'll give this a try. When I have the hose strap that they provide attached to the headgear it tends to pull the whole mask up when I move around in bed. With your set-up the hose could be free like I have it with my Swift FT.

Thanks for the idea

Good Morning!
I just read your post regarding the issues you are experiencing with the SleepWeaver Elan and I would like to help you adjust the straps so they are more comfortable.
Could you contact me today? And we can set up a time to talk. Or I can even invite you to come into our office where I would be happy to help you. We are not that far from you.

I look forward to hearing back from you.
SleepWeaverMarketing

Good Morning Mundy,
I would like to talk with you regarding any issues you are having with the SleepWeaver Elan.
I invite you to PM me or contact me at the office when you have about ten free minutes. I am in the EST zone and would be happy to try and help you.
I will send you my contact information this morning.
SleepWeaverMarketing

Everybody's nose is different, but let me share what has worked for me. The bridge of my nose is VERY narrow. So, I find the mask leaks less if I pull the mask down towards the tip of my nose.

Washing the mask and my face are key.
I use lubricating eye ointment (otc) so that my eyes don't dry out.
I turned up my heat so that the leaks aren't so cold.

I know that's a lot to do but I'll never use another mask so I'm determined to make this one work.

SleepWeaverMarketing wrote:Good Morning!
I just read your post regarding the issues you are experiencing with the SleepWeaver Elan and I would like to help you adjust the straps so they are more comfortable.
Could you contact me today? And we can set up a time to talk. Or I can even invite you to come into our office where I would be happy to help you. We are not that far from you.

I look forward to hearing back from you.
SleepWeaverMarketing

Thanks! PM Received and responded.

This mask lasted for less than 2 months before the plastic connector would no longer stay attached to the cloth, coming off several times during a night. It's a good idea with a very-very poor design. Especially considering the premium price they are charging. I’m extremely disappointed, especially as I read the reviews @ the time of purchase & now feel they were misleading as to the suitability of this product. .

I never had that problem.
You did wash it every morning?
--And handled it carefully?
No idea why it would do that.

buscholi wrote:This mask lasted for less than 2 months before the plastic connector would no longer stay attached to the cloth, coming off several times during a night. It's a good idea with a very-very poor design. Especially considering the premium price they are charging. I’m extremely disappointed, especially as I read the reviews @ the time of purchase & now feel they were misleading as to the suitability of this product. .

If you are talking about where it attaches to the hose I only had one come apart once and I am sure it was my fault that I never got it put together correctly in the first place. I followed the instructions and never had another problem.

Mundy wrote:I'm in the central time zone and am available MWF after 1:30, anytime Tues and Thurs. I tried sending you a PM but for some reason it didn't go. I'll check this topic to find a way to contact you. Thank You

Just a peripheral note...PM's on the forum don't really "go" out of your outbox when you press send. They stay in your outbox until the recipient has read them...kind of odd, but that's the way that it works. Throws people off, since they're expecting an empty outbox after sending a PM.

If you already knew that, I apologize for mentioning it *smile*.

I have really enjoyed the comfort of the mask. I have had two. But after having my Elan mask for almost 4 months I have a problem with cloth separating from the connector where the washer and threaded connector are. No matter how carefully I tried to reassemble it (you have to have a steady hand to keep the cloth centered on threaded part), or how tight I tried to connect it, it will
come apart if try to take mask of incorrectly. I always try to avoid pulling on the hose. i wish that the manufacturer would create a reinforcement bonded ring around the "hole" in the cloth where
the connection is. I have also tried one trick that works for a week or so. I improved the grip of the washer and threaded part on the cloth by taking my pocket knife and scoring some grooves in the
surface of the plastic flange and washer. The crosshatch I created gets a better grip on the cloth. Maybe the manufacturer could mold a diamond gripping pattern into the plastic to improve grip.