The Bella Loops. Your Experience??

[quote="chunkyfrog"I learned to thread elastic through a casing using a big safety pin.[/quote]

lol - thought I was the only one who knew that trick. My mom taught it to me years ago.

NateS wrote:With the Snuggle Covers on, the straps felt snugger without feeling pinched. But I still had some adjustment and readjustment challenges with the nasal pillows to get rid of the hiss.

Nate: I notice the "hiss" with just the Bella Loops, more than with the original headgear. Did you notice a hiss before you tried the Snuggle Covers (w/Bella Loops)?


Pugsy: Do you have "hiss" problems?

ems wrote:Pugsy: Do you have "hiss" problems?

Not that I have noticed. Might be a slight hissing sound when the loop comes out of the behind the ear groove and the nasal pillows are then too loose and a wee bit of air comes out from the sides of the pillows. Not really a noticeable sound though. Certainly none when I first put the mask on.

Can you determine where the "hiss" is located?

Yeah... that's probably it - "hiss" when nose pillows fall out. I've been thinking that I've gone the other way and made it too loose - just seems more comfortable that way. However, the hissing wakes me up and I don't like that either. So, time to readjust... again.

ems wrote:

NateS wrote:With the Snuggle Covers on, the straps felt snugger without feeling pinched. But I still had some adjustment and readjustment challenges with the nasal pillows to get rid of the hiss.

Nate: I notice the "hiss" with just the Bella Loops, more than with the original headgear. Did you notice a hiss before you tried the Snuggle Covers (w/Bella Loops)?


Pugsy: Do you have "hiss" problems?

I always assume that the hiss is a slight leak from displacement of the nasal pillows and I try to fix it and usually can by lifting the pillows up a tiny bit. Or changing their tilt. And sometimes the hiss is because the pillows have lost their spring and need to be replaced.

But sometimes it's just from the exhale vent bouncing off the bedcovers or whatever.

Nate

I hear the "hiss" when the right pillow slips a tad, then readjust and they are fine. Wakes me up though and that is a bummer for me. Still loving them though!

Pugsy wrote:BTW....she also has an experimental simple side strap cover with her usual side strap cover fleece. It is wider and just slips easily on and covers both pink covers and it is perfect. There is no need to remove the pink covers to use the side strap cover. I know I will like it but I will also use it tonight to confirm.

You mean something to go over the cheek straps? How do I get to be a guinea pig? If this is going to be a good test, the guinea pig has to get significant strap marks that impede his/her use without covers. (Pick me! Pick me!)

Well I now know for sure what "hissing" is. Ear loops move out of groove...mask moves forward a bit...nasal pillows move out just enough to leak and "hiss". Bad night.. Even hubby complained.

Used Karen's prototype last night. I have some ideas to fine tune the side covers. Have already made those modifications which I think will make a huge difference and help keep the loops from coming out of the groove. I will know after tonight.

Regarding the SnuggleCovers and my own personal issue with the bulk around the ear. I made my husband try them last night. No "bulk" issue for him. For people like me with small ears and not much space between the groove and the very top of the ear (where I find that the loop will slide out and pinch the top of my ear) bulk may be an issue...a much thinner cover with zero bulk is going to be optimal.

Hey Pugsey you will have to create your own company B _ _ _ _ _ 's Bella Loop Accessories, how cute is that! My issue is also with the one nasal pillow kind of caving in and creating a hiss. While I love this mask, I do think the pillows are flimser than any I've tried before (and I've tried em all). Maybe the Breeze Pillow fix may work for this mask, but I think they would add too much weight for the ear loops themselves.

Pugsy wrote:Well I now know for sure what "hissing" is. Ear loops move out of groove...mask moves forward a bit...nasal pillows move out just enough to leak and "hiss". Bad night.. Even hubby complained.

E x a c t l y! I had a bad nite also. It isn't helping that I have a virus and feel miserable, but I pulled the loops off sometime during the night.

The part that bothers me is at the bottom of my earlobe -- seems the bed pillow pushes/pinches the loops toward my head and it's making me nuts. It's so strange how something can be just fine for a few weeks and then start being uncomfortable.

I had a feeling that the covers you recently ordered were going to be too thick. I would have the same problem. Waiting for you to get this all worked out so that I can order the same ones!

I am trying to be a good guinea pig and cover all bases.
I will try the SnuggleCovers again later since I only gave it one night but to be honest....for me there is just too much bulk there and the loops won't stay in the groove. I can see where it would probably work just fine for someone with a bit more "ear" to keep the loops in the groove better. If the SnuggleCovers had 1/2 reduction in bulk so that they fit skin tight against the loops...they would likely work just fine for me.. There is going to be a fine line to master. Enough material for slight padding comfort but not so much as to cause the loops to move out of the groove. And top it off..easy to apply.
Also remember that I am quite happy with the loops naked but I also think that there is no harm in seeing if we can add a bit more "comfort" for those that are bothered by the loops.

The side strap covers...the end that encompasses the straps going to the loops...needs to be wide enough to not put those 2 straps in a bind. So one end (near nose) needs to be not as wide as the other end. If we make the whole thing wide enough to not bind the 2 straps going to the loops...then the end next to the nose is going to be all over the face. Way bigger than is needed or in my case..wanted. So just some things to sort through and come out with a workable compromise. Shouldn't be all that difficult. I expect tonight to be much improved.

Pugsy wrote:Well I now know for sure what "hissing" is. Ear loops move out of groove...mask moves forward a bit...nasal pillows move out just enough to leak and "hiss". Bad night.. Even hubby complained. …

For me, the hiss seems to occur most often when the angle of insertion of the nasal pillows changes a little. I get them tilted just right for total silent seal and then sometime once or twice or 3X a night the tilt changes and the hiss starts and I have to readjust.

I am thinking of getting an Aloha and then see if I can try to be a Lab Rat and combine the "articulating" Aloha pillows with the Bella Loops instead of the Aloha headgear!

Nate

I think Pugsey had the right idea at the onset of the original Bella Loops thread, Resmed should have made this mask with the part of the Loop that goes around the ear rounded, not flat, and just before the loops go over the jaw toward the nose, they should be flat as they are now. If Pugsey makes a low bulk fix, I want to be the first to beg and purchase the covers from her.
NateS you and I have the very same issues with the Hiss and bad nights,,,,,so save your Aloha head gear for me!!!

portiemom wrote: If Pugsey makes a low bulk fix, I want to be the first to beg and purchase the covers from her

No......no....no...not from me...From Karen at Padacheeks. You all don't want anything I might make. I guarantee it would look like something a 4 year old would do. I have zero skills along those lines. I might have ideas but no skills to implement them. No way am I going to go into any sort of production. I don't even own an ironing board or a sewing machine.

I am testing her prototype..and with my reporting results, trying to help her come up with something that will work for you guys.

portiemom wrote:I think Pugsey had the right idea at the onset of the original Bella Loops thread, Resmed should have made this mask with the part of the Loop that goes around the ear rounded, not flat, and just before the loops go over the jaw toward the nose, they should be flat as they are now.

Sounds about right to me... with a little softness added. But remember... one that doesn't have to be ironed, b/c Pugsy doesn't own an ironing board.