Feedback on the Soyala after 3 nights

dieselgal · Post by **dieselgal** » Wed Jan 23, 2008 10:56 am

Well I have to say that after using the Soyala nasal mask for 3 nights I am disappointed.
The fit of the mask is fine. It runs very small so a medium fit me fine. I think the seal or rubbery part could be softer and would be better if it were softer like the activa, but I could live with that issue.
The problem I seem to have is that I don't feel like I am getting enough air when I wear it. It feels like I am not getting fresh air. Anyway after the 3rd night of waking up feeling like I needed more flow I got up and put on the Activa and went back to sleep. The Activa is so long on my face it covers my lips but it does seal well and has good air flow.
If anyone can think of what I might try with the Soyala to salvage it please let me know!

jules · Post by **jules** » Wed Jan 23, 2008 12:04 pm

If I remember right you bought a different size Soyala from Somnoplus mask. Otherwise I would say use the Soyala cushion in your Somnoplus as the cushions are interchangeable.

I still prefer the Somnoplus. I have problems with leakage at the elbow connect with the Soyala when the cats want to walk across my face or I throw blankets over my head. I also prefer the exhaust down the hose and not spread out over my face.

Both are very quiet except during leaks. Could the quietness be contributing to your feeling of lack of air as it sure did with me?

dieselgal · Post by **dieselgal** » Wed Jan 23, 2008 12:21 pm

No it isn't the quiet exhaust that makes me feel stifled. It feels like I am really getting less flow. I actually feel the same lack of flow with the somnoplus but I thought the soyala in a little larger size would be different, but it's not.
I am going to check it out with my escan this weekend and see if that shows a difference.
As far as I can see the material of the seal in both the Soyala and somnoplus are the same but the swivel on the somnoplus is different. I like the swivel and the venting on the somnoplus better too.

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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): seal

lvehko · Post by **lvehko** » Wed Jan 23, 2008 1:42 pm

[quote="dieselgal"]Well I have to say that after using the Soyala nasal mask for 3 nights I am disappointed.
The fit of the mask is fine. It runs very small so a medium fit me fine. I think the seal or rubbery part could be softer and would be better if it were softer like the activa, but I could live with that issue.
The problem I seem to have is that I don't feel like I am getting enough air when I wear it. It feels like I am not getting fresh air. Anyway after the 3rd night of waking up feeling like I needed more flow I got up and put on the Activa and went back to sleep. The Activa is so long on my face it covers my lips but it does seal well and has good air flow.
If anyone can think of what I might try with the Soyala to salvage it please let me know!

dieselgal · Post by **dieselgal** » Wed Jan 23, 2008 3:36 pm

Thanks Minerva, I might end up doing that.

Snoredog · Post by **Snoredog** » Thu Jan 24, 2008 2:39 am

I don't recommend you drill any extra holes in any mask as you will ruin it.

if you feel you are starving for air it means your Minimum pressure is too low or your EPR setting is too high.

The Soyala retains more CO2 than other masks, it does so to help stabilize your breathing resulting in fewer events.

Having your humidifier up too high can also cause that congested or starving for air feeling. When you retain more CO2 the air will feel more humid.

Try increasing your Minimum pressure by 1 cm.

lvehko · Post by **lvehko** » Thu Jan 24, 2008 2:43 am

Snoredog wrote:I don't recommend you drill any extra holes in any mask as you will ruin it.

if you feel you are starving for air it means your Minimum pressure is too low or your EPR setting is too high.

The Soyala retains more CO2 than other masks, it does so to help stabilize your breathing resulting in fewer events.

Having your humidifier up too high can also cause that congested or starving for air feeling. When you retain more CO2 the air will feel more humid.

Try increasing your Minimum pressure by 1 cm.

OK, I think we can safely assume it wasn't Snoredog! I can't find the post now, and SD's point is well taken. Adding vent holes to a mask is probably a bad idea. I don't know how you would compensate for it once you did it -- you'd have to bump up pressure to make up for the extra flow, and then you might get too MUCH washout or something. Frankly, I don't understand the science of how CO2 helps stabilize breathing... Snoredog, can you elaborate? Or point me in the right direction?

Thx

M

lvehko · Post by **lvehko** » Thu Jan 24, 2008 2:45 am

Also, I forgot to add: I'm bidding on a Soyala mask on cpapauction.com, so in a couple of days maybe we can swap tips. I'll keep you posted.

M.

dieselgal · Post by **dieselgal** » Thu Jan 24, 2008 9:14 am

I am not getting rainout when I use the mask but I can see where the humidifier concentration may be higher in this mask. I will try lowering the humidifier and then if that doesn't help I will lower the EPR and then next I will try raising the pressure by 1. Hope that helps because I like the fit of the mask.
Minerva, let me know if you win and what you think!

dieselgal · Post by **dieselgal** » Fri Jan 25, 2008 12:20 pm

Ok, last night I tried the Soyala again and turned my humidifier down. That did seem to help but I am a bit drier in the nose this morning. Tonight I am going to tweak the EPR a little and check that out too.

Mask

Additional Comments: Started CPAP June 14, 2006, pressure set at 8.0

Feedback on the Soyala after 3 nights

Feedback on the Soyala after 3 nights

Re: Feedback on the Soyala after 3 nights