Bleep/DreamPort nasal mask review thread

[palerider]

I quickly learned that allowing the mask to rest on my pillow while side sleeping gave it enough support to not feel any tug.

That's the same thing I ended up doing, hose comes from the headboard, and curls down, then back up to my nose.

[palerider]

I'm going to try this baby out. Does the sensation of "getting air in" feel any different? With most nasal masks (except the P10 with the large pillows) I feel "starved for air" even with substantial minimum pressure. Using a FFM now, which solves the previous mentioned issue, but then I need more pressure to do the same job which sucks. The Brevida was a comfortable nasal mask, but with a higher PS it's annoying as heck with the pillow inflating and deflating all the time.

For me, it's more 'open' than the P10. I measured the opening of a large P10 filter (that I use) and the dreamport openings, The dreamport opening area is twice that of the P10, so if you're wanting a big breath, The dreamport can supply it with less restriction.

[palerider]

Heck, I could more than cover it just by making my adult children pay their own damn cell phone bills!.

cha-CHING!

[Pugsy]

Folks....insurance will pay for this mask and the nightly ports.

The trick is getting your DME equipment supplier to buy it and supply it to you just like they would any other mask.
It will probably be an up hill battle (judging by the reaction I got from my DME guy) but it's covered by insurance and has HCPCS billing codes just like any other mask and the box of replacement ports is coded like a replacement nasal pillow...2 per month normally allowed if your insurance mimics Medicare's replacement schedule.

Bug your DME about getting it for you...make them special order it...annoying squeaky wheel kind of thing.
That's my plan anyway. They can special order anything....we just sometimes have to prod them into doing it. Don't let them tell you no...tell them if they won't do it you will go find some place that will.
Heck...it's a cash cow to them with the ports...they will sell a lot more boxes of ports than that would replacement pillows.

[Pugsy]

I put a copy of Kathy's review in the last holding spot for mask reviews back on page 1 so that all the reviews would be on page one and easy to see for new people coming to this thread.

Going to leave the one from this morning in place for a while because some people are just following new posts in this thread and I want to make it easy for them to see it and not have to go back to page one.

[NorwichTerrier]

I am reading the various reports on this new mask, and I am intrigued. However, I have two main questions, as I think I would possibly like to try it.

!. Do you think I could successfully adapt it to my needs, which I will explain? My bedroom CPAP setup: My bed has a large headboard with shelves. My CPAP machine is on the lowest shelf directly behind my head. I have a metal pole designed for people like myself, which the tubing slips through an elastic piece at the top. From the top of my mattress, the pole is 30" high (although it is adjustable). This is also right behind my head. Works perfectly with my current DreamWear headgear (in which the tube connects at the top of my head). I toss and turn frequently during the night, and I am not sure whether I could tolerate tubing that is lying on or near me. That said, do you think it is possible to use the Bleep with my pole by attaching the longer tubing to my forehead and then using it as I am now, with the pole, or would that be too much of a change in direction for the Bleep to properly do its job.

2. I have always gotten my CPAP supplies through Rotech, so I wonder how I could accomplish getting the Bleep if it is not something that they carry. My next order from them will be around April 9, so I would need to know specifically what is involved in getting my mask from another source. Is it a complicated process? I am on Medicare and Blue Cross/Blue Shield, and they have been covering all costs involved with my CPAP therapy. Thank you for your answers and any suggestions.

[babydinosnoreless]

[/quote]
Heck, I could more than cover it just by making my adult children pay their own damn cell phone bills!.
[/quote]

If you figure out this trick. Please share the secret.

[Pugsy]

I am reading the various reports on this new mask, and I am intrigued. However, I have two main questions, as I think I would possibly like to try it.

!. Do you think I could successfully adapt it to my needs, which I will explain? My bedroom CPAP setup: My bed has a large headboard with shelves. My CPAP machine is on the lowest shelf directly behind my head. I have a metal pole designed for people like myself, which the tubing slips through an elastic piece at the top. From the top of my mattress, the pole is 30" high (although it is adjustable). This is also right behind my head. Works perfectly with my current DreamWear headgear (in which the tube connects at the top of my head). I toss and turn frequently during the night, and I am not sure whether I could tolerate tubing that is lying on or near me. That said, do you think it is possible to use the Bleep with my pole by attaching the longer tubing to my forehead and then using it as I am now, with the pole, or would that be too much of a change in direction for the Bleep to properly do its job.

2. I have always gotten my CPAP supplies through Rotech, so I wonder how I could accomplish getting the Bleep if it is not something that they carry. My next order from them will be around April 9, so I would need to know specifically what is involved in getting my mask from another source. Is it a complicated process? I am on Medicare and Blue Cross/Blue Shield, and they have been covering all costs involved with my CPAP therapy. Thank you for your answers and any suggestions.

For question number 1...there is a swivel at the bottom of the Bleep short hose where it attaches to the long hose. I don't think there would be a problem with your current set up and even having the short hose get routed upwards but if it seems to tug on the nose a bit too much....adding a short hose would be easy and I would recommend this one below. It already has a male and female end so no need for adapter
https://www.cpap.com/productpage/circad ... -cpap-tube
It's super flexible and light weight. Many DreamWear users elected to use this hose anyway because they didn't like the long hose attaching directly to the top of the head for whatever reason.

Question number 2 is a bit more difficult to answer. Rotech can special order anything for their patients that they don't normally inventory or keep on the shelves. Any DME can special order anything....the problem is getting them to get off their lazy butts and doing it. To change suppliers...to one that will file Medicare in lieu of cash up front...that supplier will need probably the usual documentation from the doctor about diagnosis and sleep study and such. Medicare already has it but the supplier is supposed to have some certain documentation on hand just in case Medicare does an audit. It's doable...the doctor has all that is needed to setup a new supplier/DME. People change DMEs all the time for any number of reasons. Might be a problem if the doctor is no longer available and the records are way old or something like that.

I have heard through the grapevine that if a person has Medicare and the DME won't supply what the person wants that we might have some recourse by getting Medicare involved and complaining about so and so DME not wanting to furnish me with what I want.
I don't know how much that might actually work to get them off their lazy butts when a special order is needed.
DMEs like cash cows...something they can sell regularly...and those ports are the ideal cash cow. They would be fools to elect not to offer them. I can get up to 10 months or so out of 1 nasal pillow....Medicare will pay for 2 per month...I don't buy 2 per month...I buy maybe 1 a year... With the Bleep people will have to use the full 2 boxes per month allowance...DMEs can either sell 2 boxes a month to a person or maybe 1 or 2 pillows a year to someone....which one makes them the most profit?
At least that is my plan when I go to my DME and tell them I am changing to this mask and do they want to make more money through more sales per month or make a little bit off one pillow a year.
From a cash cow perspective....they are stupid to not offer something that there is simply no way to prolong the life of something (as of yet until someone screws with it and comes up with something that works for them).
But unfortunately...DME's aren't always known to be smart or think about the patient....but they do normally understand more potential sales which means more profit.

[Dog Slobber]

Will the initial push be US only?

Any word on distributing DreamPorts outside of the US? Specifically to Canadian DME's, or Online shops.

[Pugsy]

Will the initial push be US only?

Any word on distributing DreamPorts outside of the US? Specifically to Canadian DME's, or Online shops.

I have zero knowledge about outside the US distribution.....but there's going to be a lot of online stores that will sell and ship to Canada.
It won't have the restrictions that ResMed and Respironics put on the US online suppliers shipping outside the US.

It's a small start up company and first priority will obviously be US based retailers.
There are several well known online retailers right now taking pre orders and more will be added.

There's always a way to get you something you want if you can't find it with your suppliers....

[NorwichTerrier]

Thanks, Pugsy, for the great information. I just ordered the featherweight tubing on Amazon (had reward points) to try out for use with DreamWear/DreamStation, as I am currently using a 4-foot tube, until my new heated tubing arrives, and it could stand to be a bit longer. I will definitely check with Rotech to see if they will special order the Bleep mask for me. I had one other question I thought of after posting my earlier reply/questions. Does it lie over and touching your mouth, and if so, did that take some getting used to? I know my nasal mask does lie against my upper lip somewhat, and I frequently during the night have to fiddle with it, as it seems to rise, and I am afraid it is causing me not to get all the air I need. The Bleep looks heavier than what I am now using, but I suppose it isn't a great weight even if it is resting on your mouth and lips, and having no leaks or changes in the fit during the night sounds like a worthwhile exchange.

I didn't see it mentioned in the online info I pulled up, but am I correct to assume that the mask comes in different sizes? If so, would they provide information on how to measure for it?

I really appreciate all your knowledge on CPAP and the great info you provide.

[Pugsy]

Thanks, Pugsy, for the great information. I just ordered the featherweight tubing on Amazon (had reward points) to try out for use with DreamWear/DreamStation, as I am currently using a 4-foot tube, until my new heated tubing arrives, and it could stand to be a bit longer. I will definitely check with Rotech to see if they will special order the Bleep mask for me. I had one other question I thought of after posting my earlier reply/questions. Does it lie against your upper lip, and if so, did that take some getting used to? I know my nasal mask does lie against my lip somewhat, and I frequently during the night have to fiddle with it, as it seems to rise, and I am afraid it is causing me not to get all the air I need. The Bleep looks heavier than what I am now using, but I suppose it isn't a great weight even if it is lying on the upper lip, and having no leaks or changes in the fit during the night sounds like a worthwhile exchange.

I didn't see it mentioned in the online info I pulled up, but am I correct to assume that the mask comes in different sizes? If so, would they provide information on how to measure for it?

I really appreciate all your knowledge on CPAP and the great info you provide.

No sizing involved at all. Simply not needed. The only sizing that happens is how much of the adhesive tape you cut off to make it stick to your nose. Small noses can cut off a good size chunk...larger noses will need to maybe not even trim it. All depends on how far up the side of the nose you need or want the adhesive to go.
This mask really will fit all sizes and shapes of nostrils...from tiny peanut nostril opening to gorilla nostril openings. It's the tape that gets adjusted.

The Bleep actually seems lighter to me than any other mask that fits around the nose area. I don't even notice it ever touching the area between my upper lip and nostrils. The only thing I feel touching me is the adhesive...feels like a bandaid on my nose and the only real time I even notice that is when I am on the edge of the bed and the long hose is falling off the edge of the bed and the weight of the long hose sort of tugs on the adhesive a little. I don't use any type of hose management system routing the hose up off the bed...never have...just haven't really had a need. The hose falling off the bed thing for me is rare...it's when I am on my right side and I rarely get on my right side that close to the edge of the bed.

[palerider]

Heck, I could more than cover it just by making my adult children pay their own damn cell phone bills!.

If you figure out this trick. Please share the secret.

I think turning off their phones is the first step.

[djams]

f you figure out this trick. Please share the secret.

Haha! You know it's mainly just a matter of making it a priority.

I'll always be "dad", always want to help them out. And can easily remember what a hundred bucks a month meant for us back in the day. I'm a softie, or a sucker. Depends if you ask me or my wife.

[djams]

Heck, I could more than cover it just by making my adult children pay their own damn cell phone bills!.

cha-CHING!

Exactly!