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I tried using the large nasal pillow last night to see if this would address the sore nare issue. When I had the OptiLife mask, the sleep lab said I was a large and the RT said I was a medium. I settled on medium, though my nares were sore and there was even a bit of blood. With the Opus mask...I tried both large and medium, the RT had said medium again...and I settled on medium.

During the night I gave up on the large pillows, and switched back to the medium. Though I had trouble laying there in the dark adjusting things....so there was some trouble getting back to sleep again. But, it was good.

Just now I was remembering to clean my mask, and thought I'd look at the simple cushions. Went for the large one right off....the medium seemed way too small. Unfortunately it doesn't seem to work for me. My nose is too wide for the large simple cushion...and too flat. So, I couldn't get it to not leak. I've seen pictures of adding straps, but if it were wider I suppose I might pursue this.

Guess I'll stick with pillows for now. Though I'd be interested in seeing how direct seal cushions work/compare. But, don't feel like spending any more of my money just right now. Perhaps I'll see if I can get the DME to get them for me (either now or the next scheduled replacement time).

The only other thing is the hose connection at the top....the hose with cover and cord is kind of bulky and heavy, so it pulls me and worse when I get looped. Guess that'll be the modification I pursue first....

The Dreamer.

Oh yeah, I forgot....this morning I woke up with chest pain.

I figured it was only a matter of time....I had noticed that my chest was getting less sunken....

The Dreamer.

TheDreamer wrote:During the night I gave up on the large pillows, and switched back to the medium. Though I had trouble laying there in the dark adjusting things....so there was some trouble getting back to sleep again. But, it was good.

Glad to hear that you got a reasonable night's sleep in spite of the adjustments. You sound like me... except I was going back and forth between the medium and the small.

Just now I was remembering to clean my mask, and thought I'd look at the simple cushions. Went for the large one right off....the medium seemed way too small. Unfortunately it doesn't seem to work for me. My nose is too wide for the large simple cushion...and too flat. So, I couldn't get it to not leak. I've seen pictures of adding straps, but if it were wider I suppose I might pursue this.

Yes -- you can tell, looking at our pix that our noses are... rather differently shaped. Given how close the nasal mask fit on me, I'm not at all surprised it was too narrow for you. It's a pity, because the CL2 could have different width of simple cusions if they chose... it's a very versatile mask.

Guess I'll stick with pillows for now. Though I'd be interested in seeing how direct seal cushions work/compare. But, don't feel like spending any more of my money just right now. Perhaps I'll see if I can get the DME to get them for me (either now or the next scheduled replacement time).

I went back and forth between small and medium for about three weeks, deciding to order the Direct Seals around the end of the second week. I ended up purchasing the #3 and the #4 because I really did not know what the best size would be for me. I read something somewhere -- possibly on the Respironics site -- which says that since the DS don't go IN the nares, if your choice is between slightly too small and slightly too large, to go with the larger size.

I think CPAP.COM recommends the #5 and the #6 with medium and large. I can only get a new mask every six months, and am wondering if I can scrape together the $$ for a back-up from CPAP.COM (I haven't had any luck winning one on CPAP Auction!)

The only other thing is the hose connection at the top....the hose with cover and cord is kind of bulky and heavy, so it pulls me and worse when I get looped. Guess that'll be the modification I pursue first....

OK, that one I can definitely help you with. There are lots of mods to the CL2 floating around this board. One was a mod to remove 90 degree twist at the top and replace it with:

https://www.cpap.com/productpage/Resmed ... berty.html

I cannot remember if I already had on hand, or if I purchased special for the experiment, one of the hose connectors. But at any rate, I stuck the smaller, lighter Activa hose on the CL2 mask, and then linked it to my heavier hose, and that gave me significantly more flexibility. I didn't want to go cutting up my very first mask with no back-up, so this was my adjustment to it.

Do you have a hose manager? If not, the above set-up works really well with an over-the-head hose manager. I have -- and like -- the Hozer. https://www.cpap.com/productpage/hozer- ... ution.html I look forward to trying Sleep Guy's new invention.

Just curious -- where does the front of the "Klingon forehead," as I call my CL2, come on you? My husband tried mine on, and it came just above the eyebrows, where it's supposed to. On me, it's a little too long, but dealable. I have some ideas for deconstruction, but not until I get my first replacement mask! I don't want to get the thing taken apart and then not be able to get it back together for a good night's sleep!

Good suggestions, Kira!

Kiralynx wrote:[

TheDreamer wrote:The only other thing is the hose connection at the top....the hose with cover and cord is kind of bulky and heavy, so it pulls me and worse when I get looped. Guess that'll be the modification I pursue first....

OK, that one I can definitely help you with. There are lots of mods to the CL2 floating around this board. One was a mod to remove 90 degree twist at the top and replace it with:

https://www.cpap.com/productpage/Resmed ... berty.html

TheDreamer, you can see pictures of some modifications people have made to the CL2 (including removing the clunky swivel connector on top of the headgear) on the Lab Rat Awards page:
LINKS to Lab Rat Trophy awards
viewtopic.php?t=15104

Kiralynx wrote:Do you have a hose manager? If not, the above set-up works really well with an over-the-head hose manager. I have -- and like -- the Hozer. https://www.cpap.com/productpage/hozer- ... ution.html I look forward to trying Sleep Guy's new invention.

TheDreamer, here's a link to some more ideas for hanging the main air hose up and out of the way:
LINKS to Hose hangers and methods of managing the air hose
viewtopic.php?t=10640

rested gal wrote:Good suggestions, Kira!

<blush> Thanks!

To The Dreamer:

Judging from your picture you are Asian which means you probably have a low nose bridge and wider nostrils. You nose and facial structure are similar to mine. I am a Chinese/Filipino female with a low nasal bridge/wide nostrils and have had a hell of a time finding a mask that fit my facial characteristics. I have tried the following masks: Comfort Gel, Comfort Classic, Opus 360, Swift LT, Flexifit 407, Mirage Liberty, Mirage Quattro FFM, Ultra Mirage FFM, Flexifit HC 431, Mirage Activa and Ultra Mirage II nasal masks. I will save you some time and tell you which masks worked best for me. Most of these CPAP masks are made for non-ethnic people like us. I had the most success with the Swift LT size med– fit my nostrils perfectly - they are large/round shaped and flared. Mirage Activa (size shallow – for low nasal bridges) and Mirage Ultra Mirage II nasal mask in size shallow/wide (low nasal bridge and wide nostrils). My father who also has sleep apnea (I got it from him) also uses the same masks as me so I know these may work with other Asians. Don't waste your time trying to modify masks made for caucasians - buy masks specifically geared towards your facial characteristics.

Observation: I had difficulty getting the pillows narrow enough for my Caucasian nose on the CL2. With the Direct Seal, I've done a modification using velcro (because that's what I had handy!) which pulls them in narrower than I was able to achieve with the adjustment bands. So I wouldn't say that the CL2 is designed for Caucasians, although I admit that the nasal mask seems to be. The pillows and Direct Seals are significantly wider.

Well, apparently I'm confused again....large leak last night. Though only for 5 minutes. But, I slept right through the night....7 hours.

But, seems the pillow doesn't fit on the end quite tight enough anymore....seems there's a big of wiggle left and right, and it is affecting seal.

Perhaps I need to be using the large pillows....

The Dreamer.

Hey, great that you slept right through the night!

When was your large leak? I often have one or two minutes right at the beginning as I'm settling into position.

When you say it wobbles, do you mean on your nose, or the nose piece is is wobbling on the mask?

Rested Gal will almost certainly suggest a stabilizer! LOL! I ended up doing something akin to the fishing line modification, only I used small strips of velcro, which I had on hand. One around the tube (so it wouldn't block the exhaust), and a narrow strip under the vertical metal bar to pull up and stabilize.

<sigh> I can hardly wait to get my new computer so I'll be able to upload photos of what I'm doing!

BTW -- I'm headed out of town tomorrow. IF I can check in here from Ohio, I will, but just wanted to let you know I'm not ignoring you and the CL2 issues. Even if I am only a few months ahead of you in experience!

The nose piece is wobbling...where it twists onto the down tube.

The large leak is around the middle of my night....it doesn't wake me up. Last night's was only 5 minutes.

The Dreamer

How did you fail? There was a problem, you identified the problem. Now you are doing something to correct the problem. If that is a problem then I have many.

It's simple admit there is a problem.
Identify what is causing the problem
Rectify problem.

Now if we could just apply that to the problem we have will all the politicians in Illinois or with unemployment in our country we would be doing great.

Speaking of politicians, our ex governor is looking for a job are any of you hiring?


Dreamer I too was waking up to go to the washroom several times a night. I have the software and card reader so I checked my data to see if I was having any events or if I was just waking up that much from drinking that much water. Turns out the machine I had was defective and was shutting down on it's own and starting right back up. The manufacturer said that can't happen but they saw it happen and I got a new unit. So anything is possible with these things remember they are a mechanical device and anything can go wrong.

TheDreamer wrote:The nose piece is wobbling...where it twists onto the down tube.

Hmm, I haven't, that I know of, had that problem. Yet. <grin> Finally got my new seal so all bets are off for tonight! Maybe someone else familiar with CL2 can suggest something.

The large leak is around the middle of my night....it doesn't wake me up. Last night's was only 5 minutes.

Sounds like you may be changing position in your sleep and momentarily losing the seal... then you may become aware of it and put it back where it belongs. I've had that happen a time or two.

Obviously, it would be better if there were no large leaks, but you're doing better than I did... I had a couple of large leaks at the start where I got up to go the bathroom, unplugged my mask, did the necessary,,. came back, plugged in mask (I thought) turned the machine back on and conked out... only to be awakened about twenty minutes later because the connection to the mask had come complete off... I hadn't gotten it back on correctly!

So you're doing well -- how is your AHI doing?

Hi to The Dreamer:

I can't advise you on your mask - haven't had that type, but I found it took time to adjust to the nasal pillows. The third night, I thought they were worse than they ever had been, but I found encouragement here, and kept trying, I'm doing fine now.

I don't can't recall Birdshell's post exactly, but she said "The most important factor in adapting to Cpap is the determination to succeed and the willingness to keep trying." We just have to do it one night at a time. If you had the opportunity, read a few posts before going to bed. Encouragement and support does help us along the way.

Jan

That's kind of the hardest part of things....my AHI has been good (there was a while it was bad, but that was with my first mask and before I had software to and started chasing leaks so much).

Last night was kind of rough....all the wheels feel off at work....so I was up late working to get things up right again....it was well after 4am before we decided things were good enough.... I didn't have a meeting until 11:30, so I figured I'd let myself sleep in...and try to get at least 4 hours of therapy in....my normal alarm is 6am.

I kind of dozed off in the shower this morning...so I ended up missing my 11:30 meeting anyways.

I sure feel horrible today....doesn't help that it's like 85F in the office. (but its only 43F outside right now).

Not sure what I'm planning to do tonight... Tomorrow is the IT Awards ceremony, but I might blow it off....nobody notices the people that keep things running.

The Dreamer.