Hybrid Mask Reveiw - First Blush (Long)

jones · Post by **jones** » Sun Jun 25, 2006 4:40 pm

Mike,

The guys at the Teleflex booth told me that air coming in helps the oral cushion seal better. Did you find that to be the case?

Issac · Post by **Issac** » Sun Jun 25, 2006 5:16 pm

Even though it may be an excellent mask it may be out of reach for some.

Why did they price this mask so darn high? Does insurance pay more for this than the rest?

Sleepless on LI · Post by **Sleepless on LI** » Sun Jun 25, 2006 5:24 pm

Anonymous wrote:
Sleepless on LI wrote: And, believe me, I am not one to just choose a position and stay in it all night long. But I think it's worth a try.
Thanks for checking it out. Let us know if you find you get tangled up in it.

LOL - If you don't hear from me after I let you know I've received it, it means I can't get untangled to post a reply .

kteague · Post by **kteague** » Sun Jun 25, 2006 5:39 pm

Aaarrgh. Just typed a message and when in Preview mode forgot and attempted to make an edit and lost the whole thing. Not the first time. Anyone know where these messages go or if they are indeed gone?
Think I'm going to forego previews and risk typos. Just hope this doesn't show up twice. Condensed version...

Breeze pillows are soft and supple. Not so with Swift pillows, and Hybrid pillows appear to be like the Swift - is that right, Mike? For those who aren't familiar with both, I would describe it as like the difference between a leather driving glove and a leather work glove. Just played around with placing a breeze pillow over the Swift ones and took a brief nap. No discomfort. No leakage problems. Sounds like a great idea to me - the best of both worlds - but does anyone see any way this could compromise someone's therapy with pressures and such? If it does work and helps someone's discomfort, maybe this should be copied into a separate thread.

As far as the nares/nostrils question, I looked them up in several places. Often used interchangeably, sometimes more definitively (all that was in my lost post). An ENT person could weigh in on this. For pillow-talk purposes, it's six of one, a half dozen of the other.

Kathy

kteague · Post by **kteague** » Sun Jun 25, 2006 5:53 pm

Oops, forgot this part. Is this perhaps one of the times when an IV pole would be advantageous? (Remember that thread - was that Brasshopper?) Seems like a winner to me - hose can still be routed downward and not up in front of the face, provides lift to prevent entanglements, flexibility in positioning both height and location alongside, roll-a-way convenience. Just a thought.
Kathy

agent · Post by **agent** » Sun Jun 25, 2006 5:59 pm

Issac wrote:Even though it may be an excellent mask it may be out of reach for some.

Why did they price this mask so darn high? Does insurance pay more for this than the rest?

Yes, Medicare pays almost $300 for this. I'm not sure about private pay situations.

mikemoran · Post by **mikemoran** » Sun Jun 25, 2006 7:20 pm

Routing the hose down really isn't that much of a problem. i let it ride on the top of the blanket with plenty of slack. In the past the problem I had was when the hose caught on the blankets and would pull my other mask and break the seal. This mask is so stable you can tug the hose and still keep seal. Tight straps do the jobe.

I didn't notice any marks, but then the mask rides on my beard so I wouldn't expect any. No strap marks of any kind and I really had it cinched down tight last night.

I really didn't notice the air coming in helped the seal any for the mouth but it did for the nasal pillows.

The pillows are the softer kind much thinner than the Swift pillows. Closer to the Aura pillows.

birdshell · Post by **birdshell** » Sun Jun 25, 2006 7:58 pm

Thank you for your comprehensive review. I, for one, appreciate it. Now I'm wishing that I would be picking up the hybrid on Wednesday instead of my much-awaited ComfortLite 2.

I am reassured by the reports on the hybrid. As a new CPAP user, the design issues are troubling. It seems to me that there should be some better designs out there--and just now, maybe there is.

This is just for what it is worth:

As I read Mike's review, I could picture a swing-arm style plant hanger on the wall next to my bed (there is a distance of about 18" from my bed to the wall, with the CPAP on the floor) instead of the IV pole. The scrunchie solution for holding the hose there could be used without the added wheels-on-carpet maneuvering. If the swing arm could be moved next to the wall, it would not catch on anything when not in use. For me, that would avoid a number of the below-the-chin hose entanglements with the covers.

Since I won't be able to try out this concept for a while, it would be interesting to hear if someone does--good or bad.

Sleepy-in-AL · Post by **Sleepy-in-AL** » Sun Jun 25, 2006 8:25 pm

Thanks for the review! I've been anxiously awaiting a real world experience, as have lots of people here. It sounds like for the most part it is living up to the expectations.

The hose quick release, or lack therof, does bother me a bit though. Wonder why they left that out? Oh well, if it seals and doesn't dig into the bridge of my nose, I can get past that.

Thanks again!

Linda3032 · Post by **Linda3032** » Sun Jun 25, 2006 9:44 pm

When I used the Nasalaire for almost 3 years, I had the hose under the covers with me. It trailed from under the covers to the humidifier down near the floor.

It really wasn't that big of deal to "carry" the hose along with me when I turned over in bed. I found it was easier to have the hose under the covers where my arms already were, than to have to take my arms out from under the covers to move the hose with me. If I didn't move the hose when I turned over, I found it pulled on my mask because there wasn't enough slack.

It wasn't that big a deal. It sounds alot more complicated than it was. I just never gave it a thought. That said, I'm spoiled now because I have the "freedom" of over-the-head hose and Aura. I think it might be a waste of money for me to try to top the Aura.

I'll see how Lori (another Aura fan) likes the Hybrid, before I consider getting one.

rested gal · Post by **rested gal** » Sun Jun 25, 2006 10:33 pm

Linda3032 wrote:I'm spoiled now because I have the "freedom" of over-the-head hose and Aura. I think it might be a waste of money for me to try to top the Aura.

I know what you mean, Linda. Every time I try a new mask, and then go back to that comfy deconstructed Aura, I think, "Whew, I'm glad I've got this one."

Even the masks that are pretty close to being good still can't top the feather light deconstructed Aura, and getting to put the side of my face flat against the pillow. And that neat exhaust vent!

I don't wish anyone bad luck...heaven knows that everyone ought to have the good fortune of finding a perfect mask *for them*, but if anyone tries the Hybrid and doesn't like it, I'll buy it for half price + shipping. Won't be the first time I've spent a hundred for masks that have less promise than that one.

I think that's about all I'd want to spend for a mask that sounds like it has to be tightened a lot to seal (although that might just be Mike's beard coming into play), and with an exhaust that's going to interfere with routing the hose over the head. Mike's review was great -- the pros and cons of the Hybrid so clearly described.

But heck, if we hadn't kept trying more masks, we'd never have found the Aura (Aeiomed's "Headrest" mask, for new people, if the name is confusing), would we? A hard act to follow, though.

me, datona · Post by **me, datona** » Mon Jun 26, 2006 6:45 am

My password is not working. When I posted as a guest, my user name is taken. Ya, by me. Thanks.

Mike , how heavy is this mask? Is it as heavy as the Activa? does it feel like a heavy weight at all ?

How was last night? I use NAII and sometimes tape, which I believe works better than my chin strap to keep me from mouth farting . This would have to be some mask, indeed, before I would switch. I do keep a second mask that I should replace, but 180.00 is too expensive for a second mask that will sit in on the shelf 350 days of the year, don't ya think?

I only get a new mask every 6 months and the NasalAire II is only $90.00 here. I could get this with insurance and buy my NAII here in 4 months. 4 months is a long time to wait, though, but better than running up my credit card.

mikemoran · Post by **mikemoran** » Mon Jun 26, 2006 7:40 am

Datona,

Like any mask I can't recommend one or another to anyone. Each of us are so different in what we can tolerate. I can only tell how it worked for me. Last night was good. The seals kept and I was able to sleep pretty good with it. I have my Spirit set for full face mask, but because of the flow volume for this mask I am not sure that is the right setting. So until I figure that, I can't rely on the readings. Just know I dreamt and felt alert this morning.

As far as weight goes it is lighter than the Activa when held in hand. On the face it is harder to judge because it sets on the mouth versus the nose. With the mouth being less sensitive. Since I strap it down tight it doesn't float like the Activa, but overall the sensation is that it is lighter because nothing on the forehead and nothing crossing the line of sight.

oldgearhead · Post by **oldgearhead** » Mon Jun 26, 2006 7:51 am

I just had a terrible night.

I tested my new full-face mask Sunday afternoon.
I rested for about 90 minutes with the HC431. No leaks what-so-ever, great!

Went to bed with the HC431. Dozed off, and was awakened by very loud leaking. So, I got up, taped my mouth, put on the nasal pillows, and went
back to sleep.

The alarm clock woke me at 6:45A. I was blowing a huge amout of air out my mouth and through the tape. Humidifier was empty, mouth was dry, pressure was at maximum, and I feel like a zombie.

Ordered a hybrid 2nd-day air....

Sleepless on LI · Post by **Sleepless on LI** » Mon Jun 26, 2006 8:12 am

Well, l just called my DME and I got my last mask on Feb. 10th, which means I can't get another through my insurance until the 10th of August. I guess I won't be lucky enough to test this puppy out until that time. If it wasn't as expensive as it is, I would order it myself right now. But since it is almost two bills, I will wait till my insurance buys me this one. I'm sure by August, others will have submitted their input, too, which may make me change my mind, or Mike will have had more time with the mask and have decided differently as to whether or not he likes it as much as he thinks he's going to.

I look forward to reading oldgearhead's review when he gets his, too, and/or anyone else's reviews who has a chance to use one.

Hybrid Mask Reveiw - First Blush (Long)

Hybrid hose management & Guest's sore nose questions

Hybrid hose management

The New Mask

Mask

Additional Comments: Pressure MinE 11 MaxI 17.5