Silicone vs Gel Seals

garys · Post by **garys** » Sun Oct 02, 2005 8:55 am

The night of my titration study, we had to try three different masks, to get one that didn't leak from the get-go. The one I finally slept with had a silicone seal that I found clammily uncomfortable. It also leaked down the cheeks every time I readjusted my head position or turned over (this, despite the straps' being cranked down really tight to prevent leaks around the eyes).

The mask I'm presently using (see below) has a gel seal, which I find much more comfortable. And, if I toss and turn and cause a small leak, it's eask to get rid of by just pushing or pinching a bit on the edges of the mask. (And since I added the Quick Clips, it's mostly leak-free with a minimum of strap pressure.)

I think gel seals win hands down.

Anyone else want to weigh in? :

john5757 · Post by **john5757** » Sun Oct 02, 2005 9:30 am

Gary,

I have not tired a gel seal on a mask and I have not hear a whole lot of comments on a gel mask. I am having good luck with a silicone amsk that works and does not leak. I would tend to think that a gel mask is heavier but that may not be a issue.

snork1 · Post by **snork1** » Sun Oct 02, 2005 11:09 am

I think I have heard more complaints about the gel masks than the silicone masks for comfort and leaks.

BUT, I think it has more to do with the mask design than the material.
Also different faces will fit different masks better than others.

You didn't mention WHICH masks you tried.

Was the "silicone seal" an Activa? If not, then you haven't given silicone masks a true chance yet. There are some really cruddy silicone masks out there. The Activa can be worn VERY loose and seals quite nicely for many people and is very comfortable for many people.

What was the "gel seal" mask? I have heard of a few people liking one or two of the gel masks, if they can get past the forehead stabilizer pad boring a hole in their forehead.

Sleepless on LI · Post by **Sleepless on LI** » Sun Oct 02, 2005 11:38 am

Snork,

It said the Sleepnet Phantom at the bottom of the post, just FYI. I looked it up and it's quite the looker (LOL). Seems like it would be heavy and hard to side sleep in, but if it works for Gary, God bless him!!! I am happy when someone finds a mask that does it for them.

snork1 · Post by **snork1** » Sun Oct 02, 2005 5:34 pm

Sleepless on LI wrote:Snork,

It said the Sleepnet Phantom at the bottom of the post, just FYI. I looked it up and it's quite the looker (LOL). Seems like it would be heavy and hard to side sleep in, but if it works for Gary, God bless him!!! I am happy when someone finds a mask that does it for them.

OOPs, my oversight. The Phantom is a mask we certainly don't hear much about and I have been curious about it from the one or two times I stumbled across photos. They certainly take a different approach with its design.

One thing I wonder about, is the air tube comes directly in one side. It doesn't look like you can move it from side to side or even choose which side, and it looks like a very rigid connection. It would seem to restrict sleeping on the air tube side even more than the Swift does. Any comment from a user?

I do think its ALWAYS a good thing when someone finds a mask that works for them!

FairSpirit · Post by **FairSpirit** » Sun Oct 02, 2005 5:40 pm

I have always used a gel mask, the one below, except for a few nights I tried a silicone mask, and though I loved the mask, it irritates the skin on my face. After trying many fixes (cleaning, making mask looser, etc.), the mask company said that I must have a silicone allergy. Now I have a new F&P flexifit 405 with headgear that I cannot use. I wish I could find it a new home. If anyone is interested in it, I will sell it quite cheap. I got it from CPAP.com. Just let me know at FairSpirit122701@aol.com.

garys · Post by **garys** » Sun Oct 02, 2005 6:31 pm

One thing I wonder about, is the air tube comes directly in one side. It doesn't look like you can move it from side to side or even choose which side, and it looks like a very rigid connection. It would seem to restrict sleeping on the air tube side even more than the Swift does.

Snork,

Yes you can move the foot-long adapter tubing from side to side, quite easily. A removable plug stopples the side not in use. The tubing is flexible and not at all rigid. Sleeping on either side is relatively easy--so long as you remember to get out near the end of the pillow. (I am considering a PAPillow, hoping it will make things all that much easier.) Although I favor sleeping on my left side, various neurpathies keep me switching and adjusting all night long, without problems.

I don't know what masks we used in my titration, but I'll try to find out and report back.

LoRi,

The Phantom isn't particularly heavy and I got used to sleeping with it right away. Because of the gel seal, it sits "lightly" on the face.

I can't comment on the Phantom's differences from the other masks mentioned in the various posts.

Incidentally, the Phantom has a bendable piece of metal over the nasal bridge, so a little pinch conforms it to one's nose rather quickly--an important feature for me, as I have a very thin nasal bridge.

SleepNet's other gel masks have a bendable "wire" (I'm not sure it's metal) molded inside the mask, so the user can sort of customize it to form fit. If my Phantom wears out, I may next try their IQ. But I'm also fascinated by the PAP PRO.

Sleepless on LI · Post by **Sleepless on LI** » Sun Oct 02, 2005 8:13 pm

Gary,

If it works for you, that's all that matters. Some people try mask after mask and still don't find one they're happy with. Consider yourself one of the lucky ones. I'm happy for you.

jdschooler · Post by **jdschooler** » Sun Oct 02, 2005 9:14 pm

Gary,

I use both a Comfor Gel that seals well but puts a little more pressure on my face and an Activa with Silicone Seal aided by air pressure for seal. On the silicone seal I find that leaks increase the tighter the straps are. The mask is actually very loose on my face and head gear has about a finger width of looseness until the mask pressures up and creates a very comfortable seal without pressure spots.

garys · Post by **garys** » Mon Oct 03, 2005 5:16 am

Jeff (jdschooler),

The Activa sounds neat. At titration, my sleep tech was obviously of the-tighter-the-better school.

One of the things I like best about the Phantom mask is the absence of a forehead support. I can wear glasses with it when I want to read a little or be sure I don't crash into things if I get up to pee in the night, especially when I am away from home and haven't memorized the route and the hazards along the way to the bathroom.

jdschooler · Post by **jdschooler** » Mon Oct 03, 2005 10:39 am

The tech that did my split study did the same and I couldn't tolerate the mask at all that night. But later when I went in to buy a new mask we tried it and the tech that sold it told me to adjust it real loose and let the air pressure do the sealing....works great...especially at the high pressures I usually run at 16 or so....

rested gal · Post by **rested gal** » Mon Oct 03, 2005 12:20 pm

Hi Garys,

I was going to ask you what pressure your cpap machine is set at, but then decided to not be lazy...went to your Profile to read some of your old posts -- very good ones, as befits the retired magazine editor that you are!

In my prowling around to find the pressure, I came across this:

The settings went from 1 cm below my titrated pressure to 10 cm above (4 to 15).

So, I'm guessing your titrated pressure is 5 cm H2O? If so, I can understand why the gel mask you're using works well for you. Most all masks hold a seal ok down in the lower pressures. It's when masks have to withstand 9 or 10 and above that leaks usually start springing out here and there. That's when good sealing masks like the Activa come to the fore; and gel masks often become problematic.

I'm glad you're finding masks that work well for you. You're lucky if 5 is the pressure that does the job...gives you a world of masks to choose from!

Hope things keep going well for you. Great avatar pic, btw.

Machine	Mask