New mask....what to get?

Well, I am now eligible for another mask under my insurance's timing. The question is, what to get? Here's my status:

Currently using a Swift LT. I like this mask a lot, it does not leak at ALL unless I really turn on my face, at which point it pushes off. Very comfortable. However, I have experienced mouth leaks with this mask, a lot more recently. I have taped and tried polident, neither work. Well, taping does, but sorry, it's not for me. Nasal pillows masks and I get along well. I have no issues with chafing or wearing something in my nose.

I do not like full face masks. I have one, and it's just not for me.

I have a Liberty. There are two things I don't like about this mask. One is that my mouth seems to get very dried out. I suspect that this is going to be a problem for me with any FFM. The second problem is that it leaks like a sonofabitch. Even trying all combinations of pillow and mask size, I cannot get a fit. Tight, loose, it does not matter. I have used macks, and this works, but is VERY tedious to use on both the mask and pillow, to clean, re-roll, etc.

So here are my thoughts and questions.

1) Hybrid. Does this thing seal better than the liberty?

2) Optilife. It has a built in chin strap. Does this help keep your mouth closed?

Any other suggestions?

Thanks all!

EDIT:

I should also say that I have or have tried a Swift II, Opus 360, and Ultra Mirage II.

I have not worn my Hybrid very often but have not had a real leak problem with it. That's me of course and, as you know, masks are very individual. I have not tried a Liberty.

As for the Swift LT - I just got mine recently and really like it, as you do. So far, I have not had any leak problems with it either. I do tape though.

I also have the OptiLife. I like it, especially with the Cradle Cushions ( not so fond of the nasal pillows with this one). The strap under the chin is not a chin strap and does not function as such. It is there to stabilize the mask. It does a very good job of that, for me. I still have to tape with the OptiLife though.

From what I hear on the forum, most Full Face masks do cause some dry mouth. Maybe upping the humidity helps some with that. I haven't used my Hybrid enough to experiment with that. I only got it as a mask to use in the case of severe nasal congestion and have not experienced that.

I have used the Comfort Curve and like it as well. It is tricky to fit though and does not suit all facial types.

I don't care for any masks that have forehead supports or that go on the bridge of my nose (causes a sore there) but I do have the Simplicity and the Mirage Micro. Sometimes they are useful ( with Karen's - Padacheeks - nose bridge protector) when the nasal pillows irritate me because of a cold or something and it's not bad enough to need the Hybrid.

Hope my experiences are helpful to you!

Edit - Completey forgot to mention the Snapp. It is my all time favourite mask. It is a nasal prongs mask, similar to the Nasal Aire 11. It's very comfortable (for me) to wear, very minimal and has a great seal when you have the right size prongs for you.

Needsdecaf wrote:1) Hybrid. Does this thing seal better than the liberty?
2) Optilife. It has a built in chin strap. Does this help keep your mouth closed?
Any other suggestions?

I have the Hybrid as a backup for nasal congestion times and found it took a bit of work, but once I got everything adjusted right, the seal holds well. I never used the Liberty, but when I was trying to decide on a ffm backup mask, everything I read seemed to favor the Hybrid over the Liberty, and the main reason seemed to be that the Hybrid sealed better than the Liberty. Rooster, our resident Hybrid expert, has excellent adjustment suggestions here: viewtopic.php?t=14422&highlight=

My sleep lab gave me an Optilife (which I've since given away). I found the fit to be very comfortable, including the chin strap, but I THINK the chin strap is only intended to be a stabilizer, not to help keep the mouth closed (I could easily be wrong on that, though). However, I didn't like it because the hose doesn't swivel at all. It's fine for some, I guess, because the hose itself is quite flexible, but with the way I sleep on my side, it just got in my way. Personal preference, I'm sure. The pillows fit well and comfortably, and if they ever redesign it with a swivel hose, I'd probably get one.

My recommendation is the Opus 360. I tried both it and the Swift LT at my DME and found the seal on the Opus to be much better. It might be necessary to add a lower stabilizing strap, but doing that is quite easy. DreamStalker came up with an excellent way of doing it, complete with pictures, and if you don't have any strap material to use, the Breeze straps he talks about can be purchased for about only $10, I think. Here's the link: viewtopic/t34386/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=33 ... n+#p287656

Good luck!!
Marsha

Before giving up on the LT, I'd sugget giving the pap-cap chin strap a try. I too had issues with mouth leaks when my lower jaw would drop while asleep. Since getting the pap-cap, I've not had any problems and my quattro mask is in the closet to only be pulled out if ever absolutely necessary due to a cold or congestion.

Needsdecaf wrote:

1) Hybrid. Does this thing seal better than the liberty?Any other suggestions?

Thanks all!

EDIT:

I should also say that I have or have tried a Swift II, Opus 360, and Ultra Mirage II.

I am using the Resmed Liberty and have found it to be great. I can't get on with full face masks as they refuse to seal on the bridge of my nose without causing sores.
I have the large size which is just about right as using the measuring guide I am about 2mm into the large range. I tried the medium nose pillows but they wouldn't seal so I reverted to the small ones. the wider parts that rests on the openinhg of the nostril only just covers the hole but this allows the pointed part to go in better and this reduces the likelyhod of it shifting and leaking.
I adjusted the top straps so that it fits like a skull cap and the top of the mask hangs loosely with the rim touching the tip of my nose and the nostril pillows above that. Then I pull the mask down and insert the pillows and hold the rim of the mask so that it sits just above the bottom of my top lip. I them put the lower part of the cushion into my chin cleft with my mouth open slightly and clip in the lower straps which are adjusted so that the bottom of the mask is reasonably tight but I can pull the mask away from my face.
I then put the pipe on and let it inflate and adjust the bottom strap only.
This adjustment lasts well for about 2 weeks which I think is caused by the straps stretching.
I also find that being a mouth breather my lips are slightly apart and this prevent "blowfishing" of my cheeks.
I then sleep on my side and can move my head slightly to adjust for any leaks.
I hope that makes sense
It works well for me.

Hi
I'm guessing that any full face mask will leak but if you are looking for comfort without leaks I suggest you consider a Circadiance Sleep Weaver cloth mask. I failed with 8 masks over 5 years and only could sleep for 2 hours straight until I tried this mask mostly by accident. It is so comfortable you don't know you have it on. Perhaps you can stand the discomfort of a chin strap with the comfort factor of this mask. I love the 7 to 8 hours I get every night . And the beauty is that you can try it for 30 days and get a full refund if you don't like it.
I am a Happy Sleeper

Hi,
(I'm a newbie but will throw in my two cents worth):
Just got the first print out of using a CPAP with the Mirage Swift Hybrid mask and great news! It did not leak virtually at all over a 9 night trial run. The technician said that .4% was rated as good as far as leakage was concerned and my results were .14% hence, I will suggest to everybody who uses a full face mask to try it.
Best of luck!

Happy Sleeper wrote:Hi
I'm guessing that any full face mask will leak but if you are looking for comfort without leaks I suggest you consider a Circadiance Sleep Weaver cloth mask. I failed with 8 masks over 5 years and only could sleep for 2 hours straight until I tried this mask mostly by accident. It is so comfortable you don't know you have it on. Perhaps you can stand the discomfort of a chin strap with the comfort factor of this mask. I love the 7 to 8 hours I get every night . And the beauty is that you can try it for 30 days and get a full refund if you don't like it.
I am a Happy Sleeper

You are posting as a guest and you sound like a spammer associated with Circadience.

Needsdecaf wrote:...........
1) Hybrid. Does this thing seal better than the liberty?

............

I have never tried the Liberty so I can't say. But I get no leaks on my Hybrid all night, night after night. As I was getting up this morning, I thought, "It seems like it has been three months since I even had to adjust the headgear and still no leaks." I just downloaded last night's data and the average leak is right on the button according to the manufacturer's specs. And I am a side sleeper who ocassionally sleeps for spells of 60 to 90 minutes on my stomach (Falcon position) without the Hybrid leaking.

I have an opinion on dry mouth after having tried to prevent it for a long time. If you breathe through your mouth, you are going to have dry mouth. I do breathe through my mouth for a good part of the night, so I have dry mouth a good part of the night.

A CPAP humidifier is designed to keep the nasal passages from being dry while CPAP is being used. A CPAP humidifier will not keep an open mouth dry because the mouth needs a larger volume of water to stay moist. When I awaken with a dry mouth, I just run the tip of my tongue all around the gums and roof of mouth. It only takes a minute to moisten the mouth this way. I always practice keeping the mouth closed while falling asleep.

On this subject, my motto is "It's better to be breathing with a dry mouth, than not breathing with a moist mouth."