Getting pretty dismayed and irritated....Time for nitro?

Nitro Dan · Post by **Nitro Dan** » Mon May 07, 2007 2:59 pm

So I just got my new Hybrid mask, thought wow!, looks pretty good. I thought I would try one out for my occasional mouth breathing. Here goes...

I installed the nasal interfaces and left the installed mouth piece. Played around with it for a bit to get everything adjusted right and to suit my comfort level. I got it all strapped to my face and hit the blower switch. In about two shakes to a lamb's tail I new I was in big trouble. First, this thing had bigger leaks then a pair of fish net stockings trying to hold a gallon of water. Then I opened my mouth and it felt like one of those hot air balloon inflating fans trying to pump me up, when I exhaled, it completely lifted the mask off my mouth.

I didn't give up, I thought Hmm, let's try some more tweaking with the mask before I get out the nitro and let it burn. I recruited my wife to help me with the finer adjustments. First, we changed the mouth piece to the smallest one, and did more tweaking with the nasals. Thought we had a good fit, hit the blower switch. Arrrggg, still leaks like crazy. Had wife start pulling the straps tighter, leaks all but went away. Had the mask extremely tight, to the point where it felt like it was going to summersault off the front of my face. Did more tweaking with the adjustments, finally reached a somewhat happy medium but the mask was still way too tight to suit my comfort.

I thought well, it is a new mask that I'm not used to wearing at all, so maybe I should just give it a go and see what happens. So I layed down and tried to relax, then it happened....I opened my mouth....For a minute I thought I put my mouth over the output end of a 100cfm 180 psi air compressor. Talk about instant lung inflation! I have never sensed that kind of pressure before, nor could I exhale against it with my mouth open. With my Swift, I've never had any sense of air pressure, either inhaling or exhaling. As long as my mouth is open, it's very hard to exhale, and it blows up my cheeks like a squirrel that's mouth is stuffed full of peanuts.

Any of you interface gurus out there have any kind of advice before the mask goes into the melt down mode? Did I miss something? I have never used a mask over my mouth before. Should I lower the pressure? I have never had issues like this before.

Yes, I did watch the video...

roster · Post by **roster** » Mon May 07, 2007 4:17 pm

Nitro,

Note that I am at 10 cm and you are at 18 cm, so my comments may not be relevant to your situation. I switched from nasal pillows/taping to the Hybrid. The first time I opened my mouth, I did get a minor pressure rush in the mouth similar to the major rush you describe. After I relaxed for a minute I was able to breathe normally through the mouth and nose. If your cheeks are puffing, my guess is that your airway is clamped down because you are not relaxed.

Let me suggest that you try the mask with your mouth closed. I fall asleep each night with my mouth closed and my tongue against the roof of my mouth. Sometime after I fall asleep my mouth opens and I don't realize it until I wake up.

Better luck next time you try,

rooster

WearyOne · Post by **WearyOne** » Mon May 07, 2007 4:19 pm

If you haven't seen rooster's post on the Hybrid, check it out:

viewtopic.php?t=14422

I had some trouble getting the Hybrid to work right, but now that it does, it's wonderful most nights. Had to do surgery, though, by cutting off the chin flat and cutting the connection between the nasal pillows. I also wear one of the nasal pillows in the low position and the other one in the higher position!

Keep trying---!

Pam

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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): Nasal Pillows

Babette · Post by **Babette** » Mon May 07, 2007 4:22 pm

Never torch that which you can sell to unsuspecting victims, er, people.
B.

blarg · Post by **blarg** » Mon May 07, 2007 4:59 pm

rooster wrote:If your cheeks are puffing, my guess is that your airway is clamped down because you are not relaxed.

When I use my hybrid my cheeks puff out like mad.

roster · Post by **roster** » Mon May 07, 2007 5:02 pm

blarg wrote: When I use my hybrid my cheeks puff out like mad.

Can you sleep like that?

blarg · Post by **blarg** » Mon May 07, 2007 5:13 pm

rooster wrote:
blarg wrote:When I use my hybrid my cheeks puff out like mad.
Can you sleep like that?

Not really. It's better than the UMFF for me though. It's only really there for nights that I'm congested, but I doubt I'll have many.

My biggest problem with the Hybrid is the pillows actually, but still the best FF mask for me yet.

stages3n4 · Post by **stages3n4** » Tue May 08, 2007 7:36 am

First couple of nights with the Hybrid I did not like the way the air seemed to blow directly at my mouth, now I am used to it and it doesn't bother me. My setting in not as high as your's nitro, so it must seem even worse to you.

It's taken me about three weeks to really figure out the Hybrid. Most of that was getting a good seal on the nasal part. Based on the video and rooster's posting, it is very true that you have to fit the nasal part first. My biggest mistake is that I wasn't sitting the upper "lip" of the oral part high enough.

I think the very top adjusting straps are probably over looked in their importance. I used those to try adjust things so that the lower straps run horizontal, not angled down. That way, instead of pulling down on the mask (and pulling the nasal part down with it, thus destroying the seal for the nares), the bottom adjustment straps need to be as horizontal as possible, so they are pulling the chin section back, but not down.

DeltaSeeker · Post by **DeltaSeeker** » Tue May 08, 2007 8:44 am

Babette wrote:Never torch that which you can sell to unsuspecting victims, er, people.
B.

Dan, I'm sorry to hear about your problems but I had to laugh about your post. It was one of the most descriptive and hilarious ones I've read since reading the responses to how to describe aerophagia problems to your coworkers.

Let me know if you ever get ironed out. I was truly thinking of trying out the hybrid myself, but then my pressure is 9, not 18. Maybe I won't feel like "it blows up my cheeks like a squirrel that's mouth is stuffed full of peanuts"

Like Babette said, don't torch it, someone else might want to try it...

Linda

Nitro Dan · Post by **Nitro Dan** » Tue May 08, 2007 8:56 am

Thanks for all the good advice and pointers you guys! I will stick with it until I get it right. After all your comments, I feel prety sure it can be a success. I'm going to wait for my Pada-Cheeks until my next try.

DeltaSeeker, you know us pappers have to have a sense of humor, this affliction would be way too boring without one!

I will keep you all posted!