Dream Wear Mask - My opinion

Despite my noise complaints, I've been sticking to using this exclusively, and I must say that I'm thoroughly confused. At times, the noise seems to disappear, for hours. Sometimes I hear myself breathing, otherwise, there's total silence. Sometimes the software shows moderate leakage, other times zero, yet I never sense any leaks on my face.

When this mask is quiet, it's peerless. After 15 years of wearing nasal pillow masks, I hadn't realized how irritated my nares were and how much uncomfortable discharge that caused. The problem is that I can't figure out where the noise problem lies. It doesn't appear to be affected by the tightness of the straps nor by sleeping position, which makes little sense to me. Someone, somewhere suggested that this mask is very sensitive to facial oil and that one should thoroughly wash the contact areas of the face before sleeping. I'll try that tonight to see if it makes any difference.

Anyone have any suggestions? Perhaps those of you who aren't disturbed by noise have encountered some things which induce it.

sronsen wrote:Despite my noise complaints, I've been sticking to using this exclusively, and I must say that I'm thoroughly confused. At times, the noise seems to disappear, for hours. Sometimes I hear myself breathing, otherwise, there's total silence. Sometimes the software shows moderate leakage, other times zero, yet I never sense any leaks on my face.

When this mask is quiet, it's peerless. After 15 years of wearing nasal pillow masks, I hadn't realized how irritated my nares were and how much uncomfortable discharge that caused. The problem is that I can't figure out where the noise problem lies. It doesn't appear to be affected by the tightness of the straps nor by sleeping position, which makes little sense to me. Someone, somewhere suggested that this mask is very sensitive to facial oil and that one should thoroughly wash the contact areas of the face before sleeping. I'll try that tonight to see if it makes any difference.

Anyone have any suggestions? Perhaps those of you who aren't disturbed by noise have encountered some things which induce it.

Can you tell where the sound is coming from?

Sometimes I will hear what sounds like a leak...so I check the following:
- Check to see if bedding is in range of the front vent. Sometimes if the pillow or sheets are bunched up in front of my face, the air discharge will hit that and make noise. I will also sometimes cover the front vent with my finger (without pushing on the mask) to see if the noise changes.

- Check position of top elbow, make sure nothing is against the diffuser vent.

- Once in a great while, the mask will make noise at the nasal cushion, even though it is not leaking. It is very hard to describe, and I'm not sure what causes it...perhaps there is some air movement between the cushion and nose that does not escape. Whatever it is...it seems to go away by pulling the mask away from my face and re-seating it.

The sealing ability of any mask can be greatly affected by skin oils, so yes it would be a good idea to make sure it is clean. I clean mine daily.

the noise I heard on my Dreamwear, is my inhale and exhale breaths. I don't know if this has anything to do with my pressure setting of 5, but my inhale breath is much louder than my exhale. Although I am getting used to the noise.

Cardsfan wrote:the noise I heard on my Dreamwear, is my inhale and exhale breaths. I don't know if this has anything to do with my pressure setting of 5, but my inhale breath is much louder than my exhale. Although I am getting used to the noise.

The noise I experienced with this mask was intolerable, and would have prevented good sleep. Just like the noise from the AirSense 10 in inspiration, seemingly related to flow rate of inspiration, try this: When you experience the noise purposely try breathing slower and not as deep. Let us know.

Can you tell where the sound is coming from?

The loudest noise is, as I stated earlier in the thread, apparently generated in the straps/tubes by air turbulence. Squeezing off both tubes seems to be the only thing that affects that noise. When the mask exhibits breathing noise, it's hard to tell the source, but it's probably what's being recorded as a leak, except I sense no leaks. Reseating the mask sometimes, but not always corrects the problem. With other masks, it's usually easy to learn that something has to be tightened here or this thing has to be tilted so, or no matter what, it never seals. This potentially wonderful device's fix has so far only eluded me!

Murphy's Law hit again last night. After many nights of no noise I heard some inhale noise briefly last night just when first starting things up. It was minor noise but still there.
I think that at least for me I hear what I am listening for and if I don't listen for it I am not nearly as likely to hear it.
It was the same way with the S9 and the bird call noise. Everyone remember that one? I never heard it until someone complained about it and then crap, I heard it all the time.

I am going to keep the DreamWear mask and won't be returning it. It's been 3 weeks tonight and while I don't think it is going to replace the P10 as number one choice...I think it has moved to number 2 choice which bumps the Tap Pap down to number 3.
Nothing is ever perfect for me unless it would be something like that Airing thing which won't ever happen in my lifetime...no headgear, no hose, nothing stuck to my teeth...just something blowing air into my airway and not connected to anything..that would be perfection for me.

I am probably going to have a couple of DreamWear cradles to swap with someone...while I haven't tried the medium yet (been lazy) I fully expect that the 2 larger sizes that came in the fit pack need to go to new homes as I won't be needing them. I don't think I even opened them.
More on that later once this mask has been out there long enough to get enough users wanting a certain size.

I believe I hear the inhale-exhale breaths because of the mask design. With the air hose built into the mask, the hose lays against my face the length of my head, close to my ears. Other masks don't do that.
If I breath slower, and lighter, it is definitely more quiet. But, when you are drifting off to sleep, you can't control your breathing. I found I have gotten used to the noise fairly quickly.
What I can't solve is the cloth headpiece riding up--causing a leak, waking me up.

Another obstacle, the hose. With this mask, there is no "short hose". I miss that extra length.

Cardsfan wrote:Another obstacle, the hose. With this mask, there is no "short hose". I miss that extra length.

I am lucky in that the back strap riding up doesn't happen very often for me so that part is really a non issue for me but I am still a bit on the fence about the lack of the short hose. I do miss it. Remember I have been using nasal pillow masks of some sort for over 6 years now and they all had short hoses with them.
While I don't technically need the extra length for the way I have things routed...I still miss it.

When I was looking for the Quattro for Chantilly the other day I took the time to go through an old box because a while back someone donated a FeatherWeight hose and I was hoping that I hadn't given it away with the Circadiance Anew that I passed along to someone but it wasn't there...darn it.

I just don't know if I want to buy the Featherweight or not. So still on the fence about it. I don't need it really but I do wonder if having it will make any difference in my overall perception of things with the DreamWear. So I guess I will sit on the fence a bit longer and maybe wait until the few people who have bought the FeatherWeight chime in with their thoughts.
There's no rush now to decide since I am keeping the DreamWear regardless.

Pugsy wrote:I am going to keep the DreamWear mask and won't be returning it. It's been 3 weeks tonight and while I don't think it is going to replace the P10 as number one choice...I think it has moved to number 2 choice which bumps the Tap Pap down to number 3.

Wow! I was waiting to hear your "final" thoughts on this mask and I'm glad you're keeping it as #2. I know a lot folks rely on your detailed evaluations which your present as objectively as possible.

I've been a problem child with finding masks that work for me and you convinced me to try the P10 in spite of my thinking I couldn't use pillows based on past experience. Still, the DreamWear has become my #1 mask of choice with the P10 and the FX Nano being my second choices. (The pillows still drive me crazy sometimes!)

I confess I don't understand the need for a short hose with this mask but that is simply my personal preference. Perhaps the biggest surprise for me was that the biggest reason I don't want to go to back to other masks is the hose on top of the head - the one thing that I thought could really be a deal breaker for me!

As you and so many others have said repeatedly, there is no single perfect mask, there is only the best possible one we can each find to meet our own needs.

Hey Pugsy, I have been reading about your experience with this mask. Doubt that I will give it a try because the P10 works great for me even with the wide pressure fluctuations on ASV. But I am curious:

Pugsy wrote:Will be 3 weeks tomorrow night that I have been using the DreamWear.

Are you concerned about having to go through the break-in period of the P10 again when you eventually switch back? I used a lot of Lansinoh when I made the switch to nasal pillows and would rather not go through that again...

- Flappy

Uncle Flapp wrote:Are you concerned about having to go through the break-in period of the P10 again when you eventually switch back? I used a lot of Lansinoh when I made the switch to nasal pillows and would rather not go through that again...

Not concerned really. I quit using the Lansinoh about a month into therapy back in 2009 and the only real time I haven't used a nasal pillow mask was when I was playing with the Swift FX Nano cushion and I used it in various configurations for probably over a month. I wear the nasal pillows so loose anyway now...not nearly as tight as when I first started therapy with them. I think a big part of people's problems with nasal pillows is they get them too tight or try to use a smaller size.

curems wrote:

Pugsy wrote:I am going to keep the DreamWear mask and won't be returning it. It's been 3 weeks tonight and while I don't think it is going to replace the P10 as number one choice...I think it has moved to number 2 choice which bumps the Tap Pap down to number 3.

Wow! I was waiting to hear your "final" thoughts on this mask and I'm glad you're keeping it as #2. I know a lot folks rely on your detailed evaluations which your present as objectively as possible.

I've been a problem child with finding masks that work for me and you convinced me to try the P10 in spite of my thinking I couldn't use pillows based on past experience. Still, the DreamWear has become my #1 mask of choice with the P10 and the FX Nano being my second choices. (The pillows still drive me crazy sometimes!)

I confess I don't understand the need for a short hose with this mask but that is simply my personal preference. Perhaps the biggest surprise for me was that the biggest reason I don't want to go to back to other masks is the hose on top of the head - the one thing that I thought could really be a deal breaker for me!

As you and so many others have said repeatedly, there is no single perfect mask, there is only the best possible one we can each find to meet our own needs.

"Bump"

My personal criteria for trying a mask...needs to be "interesting" to me and not have some specific parts that I have already learned won't work well for me for various reasons.
I like trying new things even if I am totally happy with what I am using and while I go into the experiment not trying to replace anything...I still like to learn what something new is like.

I still haven't got the Amara View that my DME promised to send so I guess I will try to get over there (another town) and pick one up.
They let me try something for 60 days....and I know that the View will be returned and they know it too.
They want my input because I shoot pretty straight and not afraid to state the good and the bad.

I don't know how much trouble that lower strap on the Amara View is going to work with my neck..it could be a deal breaker from night one. It all depends on if I can get that strap up high enough to not mess with my cervical spine. Mainly I wanted to try the cradle cushion part...I have already tried the Innomed Hybrid and I could use it if something drastic happened and I simply couldn't use a nasal ask.
There's a lot of masks I "could" use but that doesn't mean they will be used....the list is long and I don't like changing masks every other day. I like no surprises and minimal changes.

The DreamWear is pretty much a totally new concept with the air in the side things. Those side things are little bit larger (wider) than I personally prefer but it's not a deal breaker.
That's why I wanted to try it...I just wanted something new and not boring to try. Spices things up a little.

But I am a cpap hoarder....my personal stash of what I keep to use "just in case" has half a dozen masks available and I tell myself "I might use it again someday"

I like the hose connection being over the head myself with the DreamWear. I fits in perfectly with the way I have always routed my hose anyway.

Tomorrow when I have time I have an interesting leak graph I want to share. Had about an hour (in 2 sections of time) where leaks were pretty much off the charts horrible. Mouth wasn't dry so I don't think mouth breathing so likely mask movement but I slept right through it all.
I am going to share it because the 95 % number were scary ugly but the graph itself was really quite decent except for that 1 hour (out of almost 8 hours) and it's a perfect example of why 95% number don't pain a clear picture of what really happened. Maybe tomorrow I will have some time to get screen shots and compose something.

Pugsy, I remember reading somewhere in your posts you said it seemed like at first the nasal cushion was leaking around your nose but it really wasn't. Do you still experience this? Or was it just something you got used to? Last night while using the mask I kept feeling like the air was leaking around my nose. But, I kept reaching up and didn't feel anything - I haven't checked sleepyhead yet to see if there really were any leaks. I'm not sure if it's because I'm just so used to the AirFit p10 nasal pillows going in each nostril and air not touching any outside part of my nose? Whereas the air from the Dreamwear nasal pillow does touch the whole underside of my nose? For what it's worth I am using the medium frame and small pillow. It seems to be a good fit.

Ladyflower wrote:Pugsy, I remember reading somewhere in your posts you said it seemed like at first the nasal cushion was leaking around your nose but it really wasn't. Do you still experience this? Or was it just something you got used to? Last night while using the mask I kept feeling like the air was leaking around my nose. But, I kept reaching up and didn't feel anything - I haven't checked sleepyhead yet to see if there really were any leaks. I'm not sure if it's because I'm just so used to the AirFit p10 nasal pillows going in each nostril and air not touching any outside part of my nose?

I just got used to it and it no longer "bugs" me to have that little bit of air blowing on my skin around my nose.
I don't notice it nearly as much now...it was pretty distracting initially.
It's because I have used nasal pillows and not used to air on the skin. I suspect if I had been a nasal cushion user in the past that this "feeling" wouldn't be a feeling at all.
I had a similar sensation when I tried the Swift FX Nano cushion mask but it wasn't quite as noticeable with the Nano. I suspect because the air touching the skin was more diffused over the nose vs just at the nostril area with the DreamWear cradle.

It took me well over a week to quit reaching up multiple times to reseat the cradle because of that "leak" that wasn't a leak. Old habits die hard. Last night (3 week anniversary) I only did it once. I have an interesting leak graph to share once I get around to getting the screen shots and composing.
It's going to show no leak at all at the beginning of the night when I am "feeling that fake leak" and some massive leak at the end of the night which probably was mask movement...and gives some rather unique 95% numbers that is a perfect example of why I don't trust 95/90% numbers.