First night with Hybrid

Ok, I'll keep at it. I don't think I have a problem with hose torque. I just braid it into my chest hair (kidding.... but that's a fun visual, is it not? ... heheheh) When this thing is right, it's wonderful. If it takes 2 weeks to get it right reliably then.... I'll keep after it. It really is comfortable when it's working right.

I have been reading the post that both of you have been posting. I am been using a CPAP maching for about two years now, off and on. I am needing a new mask because my wife say that I am now sleeping with my mouth open. I have recently gone back on the maching because of some health issues. I am lookng at the Hybrid mask as an alternative to not using a chin strap, but since reading what has been written on this post, I beging to have second thoughts. I am wondering if there is another mask that is simular to the hybrid that I might want to look at.

Any information would be helpful. you can e-mail back at my e-mailaddress.

Thank you.

Tommy

Tommy,

There is one mask similar to the Hybrid and it is the Liberty. IMO, it is an inferior copy of the Hybrid so I don't recommend it.

It would help our recommendations if we knew what brand and model of mask you are using now and how well you like it.

What you are looking for is called a Full Face mask and it encloses both the nose and mouth. A Full Face mask is for people who sleep with their mouth open at times.

The Hybrid is a Full Face mask that has nasal pillows for the nose. Here is a link where you can see a big selection of the most popular full face masks: https://www.cpap.com/simple-find-cpap-p ... opbybrand= Just click on the "More Information" button beside any mask to get details and photographs.

Why don't you look at some of those masks and give us some more information about what you are using now before we start making recommendations.

Best regards,

The mask that I am using now is the "Mirage Swift II Nasal Pillows". I like because It doesn't go up on the bridge of my nose like the first mask that I had. The first mask made me feel like I was a jet pilot and it was very uncomfortable. This mask is comfortable, but now I have been waking up two to three times a night with a dry mouth. I keep thinking that maybe the humidifier wasn't keeping the water warm enough. But after several discussions with my wife she told me that I been sleeping with my mouth open, which I assumed that is contributing to the dry mouth.

I started looking at mask that covers the nose and mouth. This the one that I found that looked comfortable and maybe worth the try. However, like I said after reading these post I not sure if I am making the right choice. However, it maybe all depends if my insurance will cover the mask also.

But I will keep looking and reading the post on here to see if there are any success between you two.

Thanks for answer my post.

Tommy

Tommy,

I will make two recommendations for you:

1. Ultra Mirage full face mask - This may be the most popular FF mask and from what I read it is one of the easiest to learn to adjust and use. https://www.cpap.com/productpage/resmed ... dgear.html

2. Hybrid mask - There are two reasons I would recommend this mask for you. First, you say the nasal pillows are comfortable for you and the Hybrid uses nasal pillows. Second, you don't like anything on the bridge of your nose and the Hybrid fits that requirement. I do recommend against this mask for you if you are not committed to spending time to read the instructions carefully and adjust the mask properly and use the ladies' tights fix. This may take a few days. The risk of failure with this mask is greater than with the Ultra Mirage FF in my estimate. But if you do get the Hybrid right, you may love it like I do.

Here is some info from ResMed about the need for a full face mask. The comments apply to any full face mask.

About 40 percent of people who use a CPAP machine and just about all BiLevel machine users lose pressure directly from the mouth. This happens usually through leaks from the mouth or via mouth breathing while wearing a nasal mask. The resulting loss in pressure may bring about flu-like characteristics, inadequate sleep therapy, and disrupted sleep. Since the Ultra Mirage full face mask covers both the nose and mouth it prevents pressure loss from mouth breathing thereby improving both your comfort and your sleep therapy.

The Ultra Mirage full face mask is a great solution if you have frequent nasal congestion or it can be useful to have on hand in case you catch a cold or have bothersome allergies.

Best of luck whatever you decide,

One more question, what is Ladies Tight fix ? I have never heard of this.

tommythompson wrote:One more question, what is Ladies Tight fix ? I have never heard of this.

Whoops. Sorry. That was the wrong link.

Go read my first post in this thread. Follow the link and read that post. The link to Rested Gal's ladies' tights fix is at the end of that post.

When you change masks, be prepared to fiddle around with them. The hybrid seems to like a little extra stroking, but I'm willing to put the time in. I can see the potential. My Ultra Mirage full face mask (UMFF) sits in a drawer most of the time. I *still* haven't got that one down. It is very entertaining at 4:30am when it suddenly starts blowing fart noises against my cheeks as air escapes.

We're all different. Don't let my story with the Hybrid scare you. Just learn from it. We all learn from each other. That's the great thing about this message board. A mask may work perfectly right out of the box for you, while I may have to fiddle with it for several nights before I have everything adjusted correctly.

Instead of reading this and thinking, "Oh... the Hybrid is a tough mask to work with.", I'd rather see you learn that even someone who has been doing this 10 years or more can still look for help from other users for hints on getting a new mask to work right.

If you're on these boards as long as many of us, you'll find the same mask that someone raves about is a mask that another user just simply can't make work and they're "sending it back" and giving up. The mask is a the key part of the therapy and VERY individualized. I think I have like 5 or 6 different masks now, 4 or 5 of which work well for me.

you have got to be kidding me with that picture. My wife woul kick me out of the bedroom if I came to bed lookng like that.

Thanks for the information, I still planning to see if I can get the hybrid and give it a try. I will let you know how it works out.

take care
tommy

tommythompson wrote:you have got to be kidding me with that picture. .......

Yes.

See viewtopic.php?f=1&t=36928&p=322402#p322402

Ok, rooster. I just received the new frame and headgear. Both are really QUITE different from the ones I had. The exhaust holes in the new frame area about HALF the size of the ones in the original frame. And the headgear seems a lot better made and the top buckle is a huge improvement. I've already been in front of the mirror.... going over everything again... and I'm going to give it another go tonight. I am reluctant to cut off the chin flap just yet, but I can see where it might be necessary just to get the entire mask up high enough on the face... and I really don't think I have a long chin.... but you never know

yardbird wrote: ........ I am reluctant to cut off the chin flap just yet, ..........

Someone here reported they taped the chin flap up to the mask. This gave them a chance to use the mask with the chin flap disengaged temporarily. You could try it that way and if you like it better with the flap, you haven't cut it off and can just remove the tape to reengage the chin flap.

Well the new headgear and frame made an obvious difference, but I'm still chasing leaks. I only seem to get leaks below the corners of my mouth. Think of a fu manchu mustache leaking from the bottom of the mustache (there's a visual). It does this when my jaw gets slack. If I consciously push my jaw forward when I notice the leak, it stops. I kept cinching the straps up a little tighter and ended up where it was pretty tight. Not quite uncomfortable, but almost. I might try loosening the top and letting the whole mask sit just a bit lower on my face and see if those corner-of-the-mouth leaks go away. I'm already using the large face piece so I can't just go up a size there.

Using their measurements, I should be using the medium face piece, but that's apparently too small and these corner leaks are much more obvious with that size. So up to the large I went. I'm close, but not quite there.

As far as the numbers.... every time I see the leak line go up I have hypopneas. Almost like the pressure is right on the edge and as soon as there are leaks it's not quite enough to keep my airway open. I slept pretty good but I had some pretty good strap marks this morning. I can see paddacheeks in my future with this mask. Only one apnea recorded and that happened when I had a really big leak period in the middle of the night.

The straps to the top connectors on the frame pass right by the corners of my eyes. That's a little weird. But they weren't bothersome. I might just be used to the Swift LT "straps" positioning. I found I can sleep on my stomach or on my side pretty easily. Just a matter of getting the hose positioned right so I'm not torquing the mask. Side much easier than stomach, but stomach definitely doable.

Seems pretty apparent from looking at the graphs that taming the leaks has to come first (as usual) .

yardbird wrote:Well the new headgear and frame made an obvious difference, but I'm still chasing leaks. I only seem to get leaks below the corners of my mouth. Think of a fu manchu mustache leaking from the bottom of the mustache (there's a visual). It does this when my jaw gets slack. .........

YB,

Do you think the chin flap could tend to cause leaks in those areas especially when the jaw slacks?

I only used the chin flap a couple of nights, so my experience with it is nearly none.