Trying to adjust to the Liberty....

neverbetter · Post by **neverbetter** » Tue Jul 15, 2008 3:01 pm

My Hybrid is a dream come true.
Sorry your haveing problems with Liberty. That's why it's good to read these forums before a purchase. the Hybrid pillows are just softer and the mask doesnt need to push up on your nose to give a good seal. Good luck, anyway. Hope you figure it out before your 30 days expire.

roster · Post by **roster** » Tue Jul 15, 2008 3:24 pm

In August I will have my two-year anniversary with the Hybrid mask. It is a real keeper for me.

Oh poor WhiteBeard, that looks horrible. Please look into Rested Gal's tights leg fix. I adopted it for my Hybrid. You just cut one leg out of a pair of ladies tights. Tie the leg in a circle. Put on the mask and slip the leg over your head. The knot goes in the back and the leg is placed over the pillows in the front.

The leg is made out of a very soft cool fabric. It is so simple and I don't even feel it on my face.

Make sure the leg doesn't cover the mask vents.

WhiteBeard · Post by **WhiteBeard** » Tue Jul 15, 2008 8:57 pm

rooster I will look into it, might be worth trying! But you know I have been using the Hybrid with my mod since last September and it has worked great and isn't at all uncomfortable! The Hybrid is a much more comfortable mask than the Liberty, I am only using the Liberty as a trial,( it is a 14 day loaner from my DME) to see what the difference is with my machine. as the Hybrid isn't really recommended for use with my machine, there does seem to be some difference in the numbers as far as the data is concerned. I am going to give the Liberty a few more days, before, I go back to the Hybrid! The side bands fit a little differently with the Hybrid, not as close to the eyes! I also use the the head gear from the Fisher & Paykel 431 mask with the Hybrid mask seems to work better for me.

rested gal · Post by **rested gal** » Tue Jul 15, 2008 10:46 pm

WhiteBeard, way to go!! Your work not only got your mask under control for you, but also earned you this...

You've been added to the list here:

LINKS to Lab Rat Trophy awards
viewtopic.php?t=15104

chipbutty · Post by **chipbutty** » Wed Jul 16, 2008 4:29 am

I also do that with the gear from the F&P 432. At least that mask was useful for something

[quote="WhiteBeard"]I also use the the head gear from the Fisher & Paykel 431 mask with the Hybrid mask seems to work better for me.

WhiteBeard · Post by **WhiteBeard** » Wed Jul 16, 2008 4:50 pm

rested gal THANK-YOU I am honnored to be added to the Lab Rats Trophy list Actually I am pretty new to this forum, I am mostly on the other "ones, but I might add this one seems to be a little more light hearted, which is a very pleasant change. It can sometimes make the exchange of ideas much easier!

chipbutty so you have done that too with the head gear? I had an F&P mask from when I first started CPAP I don't like that mask at all, but their head gear works great with the Hybrid, and I think the head gear for the Hybrid is terribly uncomfortable. As they say necessity is the mother of invention!

ww · Post by ww » Wed Jul 16, 2008 9:13 pm

iguru42 wrote: So the Liberty is going back, no biggie, what I have works, I'm just fairly confident that there is a mouth mask out there that would be better than the nose mask.

I'll be looking into the Hybrid, thanks for the suggestions guys!

I also have a Hybrid and while it is a very good mask (and comes with all sizes), the ResMed Ultra Mirage Full Face mask is better for me as a full face mask. It comes in 6 sizes, so the DME needs to use the ResMed 3D fitting templates to get you the smallest mask that will work for you. It will work when a nasal pillow mask will not due to congestion, a little moisture, etc. I do like having the Hybrid to switch out with it and just bought the NAII (all size kit) from cpap.com. I get the best numbers with the UMFF and NAII (as long as I can get by with my Slumbergear chin strap/headgear to keep my mouth shut!). But the minute I run into problems in the middle of the night, back to the UMFF is now standard procedure.

chipbutty · Post by **chipbutty** » Thu Jul 17, 2008 1:51 am

Indeed. I think I even read somewhere that the Hybrid distributors recommended the F&P headear. I may be wrong on that but the F&P headgear certainly feels better quality to me.

Maybe the original Hybrid headgear would transform my F&P mask

[quote="WhiteBeard"]chipbutty so you have done that too with the head gear? I had an F&P mask from when I first started CPAP I don't like that mask at all, but their head gear works great with the Hybrid, and I think the head gear for the Hybrid is terribly uncomfortable. As they say necessity is the mother of invention!

roster · Post by **roster** » Thu Jul 17, 2008 7:08 am

The original Hybrid headgear was somewhat flimsy and needed frequent readjustments. I find the current headgear to be very good. It was at least six months ago when I adjusted my headgear and I have not had to readjust since then. Using ladies' tights leg over the nasal pillows has made the headgear adjustment less critical.

radioactive1 · Post by **radioactive1** » Thu Jul 17, 2008 3:20 pm

Now I'm depressed. Doesn't anyone else feel like they're being water boarded with those nasal pillows?

If you're a mouth-breather, I would think nasal or sinus problems would be an issue, making the sensation of 16 lb of air up your nose more claustrophobic than regular full face masks.

It sounds like there's a chance that the Hybrid would be less confining than the Liberty. Otherwise, I'll try one of the newer FFM when the budget permits. The F-P HC431 would have been fine if they made the forehead rest pivot instead of fixing it in place. So far the ComfortFull 2 worked best (using it with the F-P headgear) after going through the usual list of nasal masks, then nasal masks with a chin straps, the discovering Full Face Masks.

Plus after all 10 years of trying, you guys are way ahead with reader software and adjustable PSI and making Commando type modifications.

I'd settle for 3-4 hours sleep at a time.

birdshell · Post by **birdshell** » Thu Jul 17, 2008 3:36 pm

Water boarded with nasal pillows? Do you mean pain from them, or actual moisture in them?

I sometimes have moisture condensed in the nasal pillows, but washing the seal and pillows then rinsing in warm water takes care of that. I also find that shaking them as dry as I can and then allowing to air dry helps to speed the drying process.

No pain occurs if the headgear is properly tightened and I tie my pantyhose leg around the bottom of the pillows. I have had that piggy nose

from over-tightening the headgear with other masks.

Best,

Karen
Who wonders if she should purchase an F & P mask just for the headgear?

roster · Post by **roster** » Thu Jul 17, 2008 3:38 pm

radioactive1 wrote:Now I'm depressed. Doesn't anyone else feel like they're being water boarded with those nasal pillows?

If you're a mouth-breather, I would think nasal or sinus problems would be an issue, making the sensation of 16 lb of air up your nose more claustrophobic than regular full face masks.

Hi Radio,

No problems like that in my experience with the Hybrid.

The claustrophobic feeling is greatly reduced with a Hybrid compared to a traditional FF mask. With the Hybrid there is nothing above the level of your nostril openings.

Everything is relative and to state the obvious, if I did not have sleep apnea I would not wear any mask.

Rooster

skjansen · Post by **skjansen** » Thu Jul 17, 2008 3:46 pm

Well doggone it. . .My Liberty mask broke. I finally figured out that the leaks were occurring because I was not getting the mask on my head straight. So, now I get up and look into a mirror to get it adjusted correctly. It appears that it has to be evenly adjusted on both sides in order to avoid leaks.

So, cpap.com had me send this mask back (it is only 5 weeks old) and hopefully they will replace the defective part for me.

In the meantimel, I ordered the Oracle mask and I like it except the nose plugs leak. Seems when the pressure peaks it blows air out of my nose and leaks around the plugs. I am going to see if I can find some swimmers nose plugs this weekend and see if that works better for me.

I will either have to use the Oracle or my old Quattro until I get my Liberty back. Bummer!!

By the way, the reason I am hell bent on the Liberty working as it has made a world of difference in the dark circles under my eyes. The QUattro was putting so much pressure on my under eye circle that they almost looked bruised when I would wake up in the morning. I do not have this problem with the Liberty!!! Hooray!!!

chipbutty · Post by **chipbutty** » Thu Jul 17, 2008 4:28 pm

Will be interested to see how you get on with the Oracle. That's the next one the NHS said they'd try if I wasn't satisfied with my current setup.

That style of mask looks very difficult to adjust to. As far as I know I don't really mouth breathe, I mouth leak.

[quote="skjansen"]Well doggone it. . .My Liberty mask broke. I finally figured out that the leaks were occurring because I was not getting the mask on my head straight. So, now I get up and look into a mirror to get it adjusted correctly. It appears that it has to be evenly adjusted on both sides in order to avoid leaks.

So, cpap.com had me send this mask back (it is only 5 weeks old) and hopefully they will replace the defective part for me.

In the meantimel, I ordered the Oracle mask and I like it except the nose plugs leak. Seems when the pressure peaks it blows air out of my nose and leaks around the plugs. I am going to see if I can find some swimmers nose plugs this weekend and see if that works better for me.

I will either have to use the Oracle or my old Quattro until I get my Liberty back. Bummer!!

By the way, the reason I am hell bent on the Liberty working as it has made a world of difference in the dark circles under my eyes. The QUattro was putting so much pressure on my under eye circle that they almost looked bruised when I would wake up in the morning. I do not have this problem with the Liberty!!! Hooray!!!

birdshell · Post by **birdshell** » Thu Jul 17, 2008 6:18 pm

skjansen wrote:Well doggone it. . .My Liberty mask broke. I finally figured out that the leaks were occurring because I was not getting the mask on my head straight. So, now I get up and look into a mirror to get it adjusted correctly. It appears that it has to be evenly adjusted on both sides in order to avoid leaks.

So, cpap.com had me send this mask back (it is only 5 weeks old) and hopefully they will replace the defective part for me.

How did it break? The Liberty has broken several times for me: 3 times on the elbow and 1 time, the upper strap hook broke off.

I have been told that ResMed re-designed these flaws out of current models; it would be interesting to know how that is working for them...and US!

Thanks,
Karen

Trying to adjust to the Liberty....

Liberty Claustrophobia

Re: Liberty Claustrophobia