Another ComfortCurve Story

I know, you are probably tired of hearing about it.

First the basics of me.

I am a side sleeper. I turn over a lot. I use a 10 foot hose and run out of it every night. It winds around my neck and I look like the Michelin Man. My main mask is the Nasal Aire II, and use it 80% of the time. I also have a Respironics Profile Lite Gel Mask that I use when my nose is irritated. My third mask is a Breeze and I have not been able to get used to it. I think that the pillows are too big, and new ones should arrive today. I have tried using it three nights and go to the Gel Mask after a couple of hours because my nose is irritated.

I use a Passover Humidifier and never have I had a problem. I used to have drainage and stuffiness but no more.


My new Respironics Comfort Curve arrived yesterday and I was excited enough to go to bed early.

I fooled with adjustment, every time I woke up. It was the most comfortable that I have tried. I can foresee this as my main mask, if not my only mask.

I believe comfort is the most important thing in compliance of treatment.

This has it.

BUT……….

Things I don’t like.

The button hooks that attach the strap to the mask. During the night when I would attempt to adjust the cheek pads, I would accidentally touch the button and “release” the mask. Too easy to release. I am sure when I get it adjusted, it will be fine.

I don’t like the exhale holes. I noticed, once when awakening, to see my wife roll over close to me and then pull the covers up over her face because of the air blowing on her. I noticed it blowing on me also. I am sure I’ll figure out something.

It was cold. Not once since I have be doing the hose head thing have I desired to have a heated humidifier, and I can see that is probably my next purchase.

The thing I like best is the comfort. I like the nasal seal as it is so comfortable. I think I made a mistake using the medium instead of the large. I have changed that and will let you know after tonight. I have a large head, a large nose (runs in the family), but have small nares. The Breeze has been a problem because I got it with large pillows. My Nasal Aire II, I use a small nose piece.

The hose has been a question by many and I just attached it to my 10 footer with a connector available from CPAP.COM for $4.50.

So far, I LOVE IT. I know everyone is different but when you decide to get a new one, it should be on your list to try.

Thanks to all who suggested the memory foam pillows from WalMart. I stopped and got one last week and now I am using it and it certainly makes it easier to side sleep and keep the mask on.

Hi Tee Martuni,

Thanks for the great writup on the ComforCurve!

Titrator

Glad to hear the mask is so comfortable for you, Martini!

I'm always interested to hear about which way the exhaust exits on any mask. What you're describing about the Comfort Curve's exhaust blowing on you sometimes sounds very much like the main objection I have when I tried to use the Swift....exhaust hitting my arm when I sleep on my side. I guess everyone has a pet peeve that will disrupt their sleep even if others find it insignificant. That's mine.

You mentioned:

The hose has been a question by many and I just attached it to my 10 footer with a connector available from CPAP.COM for $4.50.

Does this mean the air hose(s) combo you're using now makes the main air hose be 16 feet in length? I can't remember what machine you're using, but if it's an autopap (rather than straight cpap or bipap) will there be any problem with an autopap "reading" airflow correctly through a main air hose that long?

Seems I've read that 10 feet is the max length recommended for a main air hose, but I don't know if that affects straight cpaps the way it might affect an autopap's ability to discern what's happening. But I really have no idea.

I am on a BiPap, and have never heard anything about length being a problem. I would assume it is like a water pipe, once the pressure is there, it stays there. Actually the new hose, on the Comfort Curve, is about 5 ft. long. Yes that makes it about 15 feet long, and I'll probably cut that back as soon as I can find that old 6 foot hose. Too much like a giant snake on the floor when not in use, or around my neck.

There are a couple of things that might be of concern with a long/small-diameter hose:
1) Whenever a fluid or gas flows through a pipe there is a pressure drop due to friction on the walls, turbulence etc. The effect is more serious for small diameter pipes.
2) for an apap, which is attempting to sense what is happening at the end of the hose, compressibility of the air, and the volume of air in the hose, as well as the frictional effects might affect the sensor performance.

I have no idea just how significant these are

derek