Bleep/DreamPort nasal mask review thread

[katestyles]

Vent. I tried using a Resmed filter to diffuse the air from the vent, but it worked well only when I put it right up against the vent and taped it snugly in place, and doing this made me worry that I was interfering with adequate venting of CO2. (I’m a cautious soul.)

There's nothing to worry about, at most, having a resmed course filter installed like I suggested drops the vent rate about 1lpm, an insignificant amount.

Pale - can you link to the type you are using? There are many different filters, and CPAP.com don't list any "coarse" ones. (or "course" ones)

Some of us are really freaked out that by covering the vent we are going to suffocate to death.

[palerider]

Pale - can you link to the type you are using? There are many different filters, and CPAP.com don't list any "coarse" ones. (or "course" ones)

Some of us are really freaked out that by covering the vent we are going to suffocate to death.

No, I don't have any links, I just buy whatever filters are cheapest from amazon or ebay.
There are two proper filters for Resmeds, the 'standard' thick, fairly stiff and fibrous filter, and the thin, fine 'hypoallergenic' filter. I'd stay away from anything that says "hepa" (it's not) or "premium", etc. 'standard' and 'hypoallergenic'.

The hypo filter is too thin and flimsy to be effective.

If you're worried about suffocating to death, just put your hand near the vent, where you can feel the temp of the air, it should warm when you exhale, and cool down when you inhale, if not sooner.

[katestyles]

Pale - can you link to the type you are using? There are many different filters, and CPAP.com don't list any "coarse" ones. (or "course" ones)

Some of us are really freaked out that by covering the vent we are going to suffocate to death.

No, I don't have any links, I just buy whatever filters are cheapest from amazon or ebay.
There are two proper filters for Resmeds, the 'standard' thick, fairly stiff and fibrous filter, and the thin, fine 'hypoallergenic' filter. I'd stay away from anything that says "hepa" (it's not) or "premium", etc. 'standard' and 'hypoallergenic'.

The hypo filter is too thin and flimsy to be effective.

If you're worried about suffocating to death, just put your hand near the vent, where you can feel the temp of the air, it should warm when you exhale, and cool down when you inhale, if not sooner.

Thats a helpful and simple test. Thanks

[Pugsy]

Pale - can you link to the type you are using? There are many different filters, and CPAP.com don't list any "coarse" ones. (or "course" ones)

Some of us are really freaked out that by covering the vent we are going to suffocate to death.

I don't have a link handy but I do have a picture of what I use.
The filter on the left is a ResMed hypoallergenic filter. The other 2 are the standard generic mesh or more coarse types of filters. You can see the obvious differences...the hypoallergenic filter is much denser tightly woven material. I do NOT use this type of filter as a diffuser. I was afraid it would maybe block the venting too much.
I use one of the mesh filters...extremely porous as you can see how easily you can see through them.
The difference in colors...just difference in generic brands out there.

The reason I was concerned about the filter you were using was because I was afraid it was more on the dense tightly woven material like the ResMed hypoallergenic filter. Respironics white fine filters like you were using are just not nearly as porous. They might be fine...I don't know but they make me a bit nervous.

[Miss Emerita]

Thanks, Palerider. Sounds like I can take one issue off my list.

[Pugsy]

Thanks, Palerider. Sounds like I can take one issue off my list.

Tomorrow if I feel like it I plan to do a series of experiments using my Respironics machine that let's me see the exact vent rate sensed by the machine. I plan to check it with and without filters in place including taped solidly over the vent holes just to see if there is any significant difference. I will try to get it done tomorrow morning hopefully and report back here so check later.
I know this is a concern of some people. All our cpap lives it's been drilled into our heads "DON'T BLOCK THE VENTS" and then here we go do that very thing but if you look at the way F & P does their optional clip on diffusers...they are doing the same thing that we are doing here only they secure it with a clip.

A clip on diffuser is currently in testing stages for the Bleep. Something to clip on over the vent holes to hold the diffuser material right next to the vent holes.

That's all I know about with certainty....I don't know if there are plans for a more flexible hose. I wouldn't be surprised if there were other things also being designed and improved upon but I am not privy to that aspect of development.

I can't help with the current hose and your feelings about it at this time...but if you should happen to decide if you want to try to figure out the noise issue at sometime...I would be happy to try to sort it our or I bet Stuart would also be willing to try. Something caused the noise...I have no doubt about it and it's just a matter of figuring out what. Something wasn't totally perfectly connected somewhere for it to be noisy. Just get in touch with me if you want to do that.

[Dog Slobber]

Pale - can you link to the type you are using? There are many different filters, and CPAP.com don't list any "coarse" ones. (or "course" ones)

Some of us are really freaked out that by covering the vent we are going to suffocate to death.

Hi Katestyles,

For you and anyone else concerned about putting the filter right up to the vent. It can't be a problem.

How do we know? All air entering the device goes through the identical filter. If the filter is sufficiently porous so air can flow through it into the system, then it must also be porous enough for air to flow through it to leave the system.

[Pugsy]

Hi Katestyles,

For you and anyone else concerned about putting the filter right up to the vent. It can't be a problem.

How do we know? All air entering the device goes through the identical filter. If the filter is sufficiently porous so air can flow through it into the system, then it must also be porous enough for air to flow through it to leave the system.

Kate wasn't using an identical filter as a diffuser. One thing she uses the hypoallergenic filter instead of the standard mesh filter in her ResMed machine...second thing she was using a Respironics white fine filter (generic) which is a denser filter and more like the hypoallergenic filter in construction.

But I do tend to agree with you about it shouldn't matter...later on this morning I plan to do some experiments to prove it.

The amount of dead space to affect CO2 rebreathing is actually very small with the Bleep. It doesn't take much venting to clear out that CO2. Stuart told me that actually from an engineering standpoint that just 2 or 3 holes will get that job done. The Bleep has more holes mainly for comfort in terms of inhale and exhale difficulty. When Stuart tried the sample with smaller number of holes even though from a technical standpoint the CO2 was gone he just had more difficulty exhaling so the choice was made to use more vent holes than actually needed for CO2 clearing more from a comfort aspect.

Everyone please remember....Stuart is a cpap user himself and has been for over 22 years....it's not like he doesn't have personal experience with any of this stuff. He has tons of personal experience and anything that gets offered or thought about being offered... he is the first to try it out.

[Miss Emerita]

Pugsy, thank you for your kind offer! I’ll be in touch if and when.

[Pugsy]

Hey Stuart, Please take a look at this thread.
viewtopic.php?p=1297430#p1297430
Do you have any online retailers signed up to sell the Bleep DreamPort who will file insurance in lieu of payment?
So that people can use their insurance????

[katestyles]

Soooo.....
I was discussing the whole issue of diffusing the vent from the bleep, and my friend was standing the other side of the table, and she saw the dreamway the other way up and she instantly realized what we needed was Barbie underwear.





So I made some!

[palerider]

Soooo.....
I was discussing the whole issue of diffusing the vent from the bleep, and my friend was standing the other side of the table, and she saw the dreamway the other way up and she instantly realized what we needed was Barbie underwear.

So I made some!

Awesome! simply frigging awesome. also, love the lace

[Pugsy]

DMEs aren't even calling to get wholesale pricing for the Bleep...they are just assuming they won't make any money if they supply the Bleep using whatever insurance a person has. They don't know because they aren't even checking on it...instead the lazy asses are whining that "we won't make any money so we can't do it". They want to force you to use whatever they decide you should have which is usually the brand that gives them the best wholesale price break. Circadence with their cloth masks and the TapPap from AIrway Management have run into the same problem.....but some DMEs will do it if they want your business badly enough...just have to light a fire under their butts.
Don't let them take the lazy way out.

Stuart has said would be happy to get a conference call going between you and your DME and make sure that the DME knows the wholesale cost.
So if anyone wants to force their DME's hand....get with me and I will get you in touch with Stuart and you can light a fire under your DME's butt.

They can still turn a profit and while maybe not as big with one sale....they are too shortsighted to see that it's a monthly cash cow.
Repeat business each month instead of 1 nasal pillow or nasal cushion every 12 months or however often you actually replace your pillow/cushion. In the long term they would make more money with the repeated orders. Dumbasses.

[Sova]

EDIT: Posting an update on my review on the next page. pugsy gave me some great tips via PM and I was able to make things better so that my AHI went down to 3. All in all, this mask wasn't a miracle for me, but is still a great mask that has a lot of potential as I get used to it. There are some things I don't like, but it's worth giving a chance if you're willing to spend a few days adjusting (which really, is needed for any mask!)

Here is my review of the Bleep/Dreamport "mask"! I was super excited to receive after reading all of the reviews on this thread. After using for 2 nights, my overall impression is mixed. I'm a bit disappointed since the reviews listed here are so glowing, but I should have expected that not every mask works for every person I guess.

First night- didn't have any issues getting it set up. Trimmed a bit off of the table and stuck on the ports. I think I got one of the nose ports in just a tiny tiny bit crooked, but it was barely noticeable. I clicked in the hose and started up my machine. My first impression was that it seemed very loud, which was odd because the other reviews raved about how it was silent. If I smashed the hose into my nose or moved a certain way though, everything became silent. At this point, I figured that I must have hooked things up wrong, so fiddled with it for about an hour trying different things, looking at the instructions again, trying to lie a certain way on my pillow, clicking in again carefully, etc. Didn't fix anything so I went to sleep. Next morning checked Sleepyhead and my leak rate was less than normal, but nowhere close to zero (~13-20 all night). After reading more of this thread I double checked the prongs to make sure they were lined up between the little dots correctly and they were. My AHI shot up to 5.13 (although it's never been particularly low, typical night is between 2 and 4) and I didn't feel super great that day.

Gave it another try the next night. Trimmed more off of the tape, was very careful to line up the ports so they weren't crooked. Made sure the prongs were aligned in the dots and that I heard two clicks for each nostril when connecting the hose. This time it was a bit quieter, but still not as quiet as my backup Brevida mask. Loud noises when breathing out. Again, if I moved it a certain way everything became silent, but it was impossible to keep the mask like this for more than a second. Messed with the mask again to make sure I had everything hooked up right and couldn't figure out anything wrong. I'd practiced hooking up the ports using the ones from the previous night before setting up. Couldn't find anything wrong or any way to make it better. The noise was definitely not from the vents, because it made the noise even when sitting/standing and with nothing for the vents to bounce off against. Fell asleep again, but again the leak rate was constant between 14 and 20 with a few hours of 20-30. AHI that night was 4.72, again above my typical normal rate. Decided to switch back to my old mask (dreamwear) last night so I could get a good sleep and AHI dropped back down to 3.3, which is on the mid to high end of a typical night for me.

I guess overall, in my experience, this mask was great because it didn't wake me up in the middle of the night at all- usually I have to wake up and adjust due to leaks (when my mask smooshes into my pillow and becomes dislodged slightly). Great flow into my nose, but that didn't seem to affect my AHI (if anything, made it worse). The mask was not great because it seemed loud to me, wasn't as maneuverable (stiff hose and every movement pulled on my nose which was hard to get used to- I'm an active sleeper), made my AHI worse, and seemed to have a steady leak despite all of my efforts to make it not leak.

Totally admit that this might be user error, but if I couldn't figure out how to fix after reading the directions in-depth, reading through this whole thread of troubleshooting, and checking the website (haven't watched the videos yet but I will do that before trying again), seems that there is a steep learning curve.

Someone else mentioned having similar troubles (loud sound unless smashing up towards the nose not explained by anything else- ports unaligned, leaks from the tape, etc.) and was told to make another thread. Did that happen? I couldn't find it. Would be interested to see if that person solved the issue. I'd love to make this mask work, my husband is a VERY light sleeper and constantly complains about my mask making noise. We're currently sleeping in different rooms because of it. My AHI has never been great aside from a small period of time ~2 months after I started therapy. Plus it was ~$100 (although I have return insurance from CPAP.com I can utilize).

[Pugsy]

Sova check you PM box please. Something is not attached properly for you to be having noise issues that aren’t related to vent bounce back.