The Bella Loops. Your Experience??

I couldn't keep up with the Bella thread, so I thought maybe we could summarize the results here.
What kind of adjustments did you have to make?
Please post any tips.

I found them incredibly comfortable, but my leak rate was higher. It wasn't outside of "acceptable" (although higher than a lot of folks on this forum aspire to), but it was higher.

But I tend to switch between the Swift FX and Opus360 because one or the other will just suddenly leak like crazy. So switch to the other for awhile. I just switched from the Bella Swift FX to the Opus last night. I'll have to see how long before I switch back.

Still fiddling... but I wouldn't switch back to the original headgear. I notice that when I'm relaxed at bedtime, the loops seem to be more comfortable.

When I last saw the sleep specialist, she couldn't get any data off the card. Long story... but my machine was switched out for another one and I won't see the doctor until next week. I still have to reinstall Sleepyhead also. I'll post again when I have some data.

My vote=I gave up, will try again later with the Pad-a-check pillow cozy. If it were not for my nasal deviation and asymmetrical low ears, I think the Bellas would work without the leaks. As only a 5 mo user, I'm still switching between the nasal mask and pillows.

unsuspected Severe OSA wrote:My vote=I gave up, will try again later with the Pad-a-check pillow cozy. If it were not for my nasal deviation and asymmetrical low ears, I think the Bellas would work without the leaks. As only a 5 mo user, I'm still switching between the nasal mask and pillows.

Your vote didn't register. Maybe because you weren't logged in.

Some days I am very aware of it and others I find myself wondering if I forgot to put the darn thing on. I have only used the Swift FX and the Bella Loops are definitely better than the headgear that I found to move about as I tossed about.
The days that I am aware of having it on, it is as though the nose piece is not properly fitted into my nose. I absolutely hate the sound of the air blowing through the nose piece when I am not wearing it (in order to make adjustments) so when it is very bothersome, I find myself turning it off and slinging the contraption onto the headboard. Yeah, yeah, I know that is not ideal but I do put it back on after a while.
The loops have only come completely off my ears maybe twice in the month+ that I have used them. Although, sometimes they seem as though they are slipping but when I go to fix them, the ear straps are just fine.
I have the strap covers on them that came with the loops but then I also cut an inch or so off some old strap covers from the original headgear and placed it over the top cover and strap. It seems to add some comfort.
The only issue I have is sometimes the tip of nose hurts for about 15 minutes after I remove the mask. A little painful but definitely bearable.

I use the Opus 360 and I request the Bella Loops as my next mask. My RT was not enthusiastic and only said that you can't use it if you have attached ear lobes. LOL That was not too helpful but I really like the Opus 360 and my only problem is that the back strap slides around on my fine soft hair and it causes the nasal pillows to come lose so I've been weaving the back strap on the Opus through my back strap on my chin strap. I hope the Bella Loops will help.

For the people who want a perfect leak line all night....I think the Bella loops are going to be a challenge. It is going to be hard to get a perfect leak line all night if someone moves around much.
For people who are happy with ragged leak line staying under (for the most part) large leak area and happy with the comfort and freedom and if the leaks don't wake them up...the Loops are going to be a welcome change.

I went back to regular headgear recently when my mom was in the hospital as I didn't want to have to worry about waking up with leaks since I wasn't getting much sleep anyway. Every day I woke up with left eye/cheek puffy. I spend a lot of time on my left side and with using the buckwheat pillow with its firmness the fluids just pool around the left eye. So it is back to using the Bella Loops for me because I had no puffiness at all when I used it.

I am someone who doesn't really care what the leak line looks like as long as the leaks don't disturb my sleep and it stays out of large leak territory (for the most part).

No special tips that I can think of. Each person will have their own unique challenges with this headgear and that is really no different than we have with any mask out there. Too tight is definitely going to be counter productive and hurt like the devil. Satisfaction may simply be related to more of the "mind" and that ragged leak line than it is to the Loops themselves.
If someone just has to see a near perfect leak line to feel that they have optimal therapy then the mind may influence things negatively.

I did make some fleece straps to cover the 2 side straps. I used one strap (each side), very loosely made so it will easily slide over the loops, to eliminate the faint strap marks on the cheek that seems to be on the "down" cheek when I lay on my side. Probably if I didn't use the buckwheat pillow I wouldn't have those marks but I like the pillow because of the way I can mold it so suit whatever position I am in and it really does help with my cervical spine issues.

I don't use a Buckwheat pillow, and I still have strap marks from the Bella. Had to make fleece covers for the straps, which are loose and a bit of a pain, but do help with the marks. It seems that any mask that starts minimal ends up bulked up by all the covers that I have to put on it! I do find that it leaks in ways that disturb me at times. For some reason, though, my nose doesn't hurt at all with the Bella and I used to get very sore nostrils with the regular headgear, so I am sticking with it for now. I like it better than the regular headgear because it's not all over my head, and because my nostrils are less sore.

The poll is a nice idea, but I wouldn't recommend anyone attempting to draw full information and tips from here without also finding and reading the entire original thread. People are not going to take the time to re-enter and repeat everything here that they wrote originally there, at least not in my humble opinion.

Now we just have two places to check instead of one.

I did have a bit of adjusting to the Bella Loops, but I am a very active stomach sleeper due to spinal issues and cervical spine surgery. I do have great numbers, route the hose overhead, have some strap marks, keep it loose, and LOVE it. I do wish the pillows swiveled like on the swift lt for her, and I notice if I have them too tight they will leak a bit. Still it is my mask of choice for now. I'd like to try the aloha and look forward to seeing the posts from the folks that use them here.

ems wrote:Still fiddling... but I wouldn't switch back to the original headgear. I notice that when I'm relaxed at bedtime, the loops seem to be more comfortable.

When I last saw the sleep specialist, she couldn't get any data off the card. Long story... but my machine was switched out for another one and I won't see the doctor until next week. I still have to reinstall Sleepyhead also. I'll post again when I have some data.

Doing very well with the Bella Loops. AHI never more than 1 and leaks not even worth mentioning. I'm really happy b/c I thought there would be more leaks... feels like it some nights.

Also realized that I was making the loops too loose of all things. Tightened them up a bit and not doing nearly as much fiddling to keep them in place.

I think it might be useful to see at what pressure people have trouble with ear pain.

We have heard from Pugsy on her experience with the Bella Loops, but I am curious if her Deer have mentioned anything to to her about their experiences, as far as, issues with comfort, slippage, or the straps irritating those nice large ears?

Sorry, I couldn't resist...

John

About leaking with Bellas…

They were great until recently, then massive all night leaking!

I picked up a new nasal pillow from my DME yesterday and switched to it last night and voila! - leaks way way down and AHI way way down to 0.5!

While I didn't see the difference in appearance, my girlfriend looked at the old and the new one and said the new one was much springier and turned out she was right.

So if you are having trouble with leaks increasing, you might try a new nasal pillow for your Bellas.