Another Hybrid problem...

Guys:

Here's a Hybrid problem that seems to not make sense that maybe you guys can address.

So far with the Hybrid I have had humongous leaks (apparently from pillows) and way too low pressure reaching the mask (but no obvious leak). So last nite I tried the dental floss trick, and I cut off the chin part, but I did it on the large because if it didn't work, I didn't want to regret it later. (Normally I am a small or maybe medium) Did dental floss from one post to the other and loosely around the pillow base. First time that I had no pillow leaks before falling asleep. Here are the perplexing results upon awakening:

Virually no leaks throughout the night, even though I normally wouldn't sleep with a large size insert. BUT DOUBLE DIGIT AHI--INCLUDING AI over 5. That is unheard of for me. Normally I have no AI and an AHI under 3. Pressure was right up there (12) as usual.

And i felt horrendous upon awakening.

So, if there were no leaks to speak of, why wasn't the Hybrid doing its job?
I recognize that I should be using a small or medium size insert, but I am reluctant to cut off the chin part on a small or medium unless it appears to be absolutely necessary, because I won't be able to get it back if I need it. So maybe just going back to a small or medium size insert will help, bit why wasn't the Hybrid reducing the AHI if there were no leaks to speak of?

I am confounded and would appreciate some help.

Thanks.

Caroline

Maybe the Hybrid doesn't like ResMed machines. Try a RemStar.

oldgearhead:

i don't have that opportunity, so that's not a practical suggestion.


caroline

I've got a similar problem with the hybrid and a Remstar. I've sent the plastic mask back to Innomed so they can take a look at it and they're sending me a replacement. We'll see what happens.

chdurie2 wrote:... So far with the Hybrid I have had humongous leaks (apparently from pillows) and way too low pressure reaching the mask (but no obvious leak). ... First time that I had no pillow leaks before falling asleep. Here are the perplexing results upon awakening:

Virually no leaks throughout the night, even though I normally wouldn't sleep with a large size insert. BUT DOUBLE DIGIT AHI--INCLUDING AI over 5. That is unheard of for me. Normally I have no AI and an AHI under 3. Pressure was right up there (12) as usual.

And i felt horrendous upon awakening.

So, if there were no leaks to speak of, why wasn't the Hybrid doing its job?
I recognize that I should be using a small or medium size insert, but I am reluctant to cut off the chin part on a small or medium unless it appears to be absolutely necessary, because I won't be able to get it back if I need it. So maybe just going back to a small or medium size insert will help, bit why wasn't the Hybrid reducing the AHI if there were no leaks to speak of?

I am confounded and would appreciate some help.

Thanks.

Caroline

Not sure I understand ... are you saying that the efficacy data menu showed virtually no leaks? ... what was the reading?

- roberto

roberto--

the leak reading was .06.

caroline

Caroline-

What mask setting were you using???

Given the prodigious exhaust of the Hybrid, I'm stupefied that you could have a leak of only 0.06L/s. Soemthing's wrong.

BTW, I believe that ResMeds and hybrids are not a good match. I sold mine after three hours.

However, Bookbear and MikeMoran have had good results with the Hybrid and a ResMed, or so I recall. But I could be wrong.

Chuck

chdurie2 wrote:roberto--

the leak reading was .06.

caroline

Yep ... something weird going on because the Hybrid is supposed to show large leaks due to the high exhaust flow rate. I usually get leak numbers of around 0.2 with the Swift and it has fairly low exhaust rate and was getting real high leak numbers with the Hybrid (can't recall exactly because because my doc has that data from follow-up visit ... need to call and see if I can get a copy of it).

I know this may sound silly but is it possible that your main hose was kinked up ... that would be the only explanation for maintaining normal pressure, unusually super low leakage, high AHI, and your feeling lousy.

- roberto

I have a couple of thoughts. First, I ended up cutting off the chin flap from the insert that fits me best. It was actually forcing my chin backwards, probably making apneas worse by making it even easier for my airway to be blocked.

Even after doing the chin flap fix, my AHI with the hybrid is really bad. I feel that a full face mask solution will not really work for me. I'm a mouth breather, and I'm convinced that as I fall asleep and relax it's my tongue that is blocking my airway. With a full face mask, like the hybrid, the air pressure going in my mouth is forcing my tongue backwards, making the apnea problem worse. I think I'm going to stick with my Swift which seems to give me the best results. I wanted to try the Hybrid to avoid the whole taping ritual. I think my experiment with the Hybrid failed.

roberto, maybe there was a kink in the hose. that's probably something i was not paying attention to.

i was mostly just stunned that the thing was not leaking at all before i went to sleep because the pillows were leaking like crazy before i went to sleep ( and during the night) last week and i was amazed that the dental floss thing was doing the trick. both the machine and my trusty hand mirror said last night that there was no leak, whereas before i didn't even have to move and i would see a new place that the pillows were leaking. somehow the dental floss made it so that i could use one large pillow and one medium pillow, which i thought was the right combination but i couldn't make both stay in. and both two mediums and one large and a small were generating big leaks.

i'm using the prototype shell with the smalller holes but didn't think it would make a difference.

i'll try it again tonite with a smaller face pillow and see what happens.

i have to use a full face mask (don't breathe well through my nose) so it would be nice to use something without the bulk of the other brands.

thanks guys.

caroline

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Was the problem with the mask with the smaller holes or the mask with the larger holes? If you're using the mask with the smaller holes, it seems to me that a lower leak rate makes sense. May be you need to use the mask with the larger holes...higher leak rate but better overall results?

Brenda