Sleeping with élan

millich wrote:Securing the tubing to the top of the headgear completely solved the leaking into my eyes issue with the Elan!

The only thing I haven't figured out with the Elan is where is the non-rebreathing valve? How does that work?

Reply,

Most nasal masks don't have non rebreathing = anti asphyxia valves because the makers say that you could always open your mouth if the machine stops. In your new thread about ELAN I asked what about wearing a chinstrap with this mask. You replied that there is no problem. But now you know that there is a problem. Those little holes that Chunky mentioned are for exhalation. Too small for inhalation. If I add a chinstrap to go with the Elan and the machine stops then I could become asphyxiated.

chunkyfrog wrote:@userfromSingapore: Uncanny!
--but why the fins? I would have worn a pair of cute boy shorts instead.

Sorry I was too lazy to do some editing of that photo... Should have made a longer hose and of course no fins

Fourth night; I have finally figured out the headgear adjustments to get it perfect.
LEAK: 0.0 Yes! I am so thrilled! Best mask ever!
I may even try the other Sleepweaver style in the future.
Now all I need to do is order spare cushions and labrat the tether
(one size fits all; MY FOOT!)---Edit: (flipper).

Okay -- back with my input after trying it this weekend. Decided to try it after hearing the great success the Frog's having with it. But, as we all know YMMV and mine certainly did.

For me, ain't no way, simply appears it isn't going to work.

After trying it out and working with it to start out three nights I never could get a comfortable seal on it. Never did make it into a night with it.
Started with the smaller of the two and after a bit of messing was able to get it to seal but it seemed as if I was suffocating in the mask -- a feeling I've never had with any other mask. I've never been claustrophobic at all with any of the dozen masks I've tried and don't think that was the case here -- I just couldn't breathe through my nose. It seems to close off my nose a bit (um, okay, a lot) more than I was comfortable with.

Switched to the large and I could almost get there. But once I got the eye leaks closed off I'd have leaks along the cheeks, if I closed off the cheek leaks we were back to leaks at the eyes. Albeit they were relatively small leaks, might have gotten away with them but they were very annoying for me, either place.

Tried adjusting every which away -- learned early on from the other SW that loose is best so started snug and worked up to where it blew out from being too loose and then started snugging back up again till I got to where it would almost seal and then it started getting worse and worse the tighter I got.

I have a suspicion if they made one right in between the two sizes it would probably be perfect for me. But alas, they don't, so this mask probably will not work for me.

No big deal though since I'm one of those folks who've had really good luck with the original SW (and the new design of the SW has made it even better) -- So, I'll stick with it and the Aloha. I'm happy with both of those -- with the new design of the SW I'm pulling leak's (95%) down in the 1.0-2.0 range (down from the 8.0-10.0 range of the original SW) so am real happy with the re-design.

AHI has stayed the same throughout everything -- usually running sub 1.0 with an occasional foray up to 1.6 or 1.7 if I have a bad night -- easily tolerable. (NOTE: with the Aloha I've actually pulled off about 3 or 4 AHI=0.0 nights -- something I'd not gotten to before.)

For those of you still struggling with masks I'd still strongly urge you to give either the SW or the Elan a try. IMHO, cloth masks are far and away the best approach to this therapy if you can get one of them to work for you -- the comfort level cannot be beat.

Very good points, tip10.
The élan may not be the mask I would use when stressed or in a hurry; that can be frustrating.
It kind of needs an almost 'zen' approach, but facial anatomy , nocturnal activity,
low or uneven pressure, or even aliens, will always rule out some users.
When it works, it is so right; otherwise--!

That's pretty much the way it is with the original as well -- when it works its nirvana when it doesn't its just nerve-wracking.

And I've had those nights where last night it was perfect yet tonight it just isn't going to work no matter what -- those nights its really good to have another mask you are comfortable in to fall back on -- tomorrow night will likely return to normal.

I'd like to see a pix of the tube routed overhead attached to the headgear if anyone who does this could post one.
Thanks

Tip10:" . . . Nirvana, vs nerve-wracking"
So very accurate--You are the wordsmith.

fast forward to 4:15 in the video, and you can see what it looks like tethered.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PyqOU5e ... e=youtu.be

Sorry. But I meant to have my recent post here.

So far I see lots of words about Elan. How about posting some leak graphs.

Like this for example:

I have never posted my graphs; nor do I plan to.
I have been evaluating a mask, not the machine or the software.
Average (90% or whatever) leak rates have been revealing enough for my use;
the play-by-play seems a bit excessive in this case.
Thank you for your kind suggestion.

Got mine in the mail today - can't wait to try it tonight. Will report back.

Have you thought of using a stocking over the bridge of your nose to reduce the leaks? It would still be "all cloth"".

Thank you for the suggestion, but this mask is fabric, completely supported by air.
Anything tied. stretched or pressing on it will make it collapse.
It is a great way to improve the seal on any silicone mask, however:
http://www.padacheek.com/images/P4241078.JPG

I met Elan yesterday. He seemed a bit cold at first. But we warmed up to each other after a bit. I couldn't resist. Elan and I spent the night together last night. It was OUT OF THIS WORLD!

• - Average leaks = 0
  - The air felt colder with Elan so I cranked up my heat to 80 (usually set at 72).
  - The headgear is very comfortable, fit my head well. It hits under my ears a little funny. I'm used to the very soft and stretchy TrueBlue headgear.
  - I could cuddle with my pillow and no leaks.
  - When I woke up I didn't have the urge to rip off the mask right away like I usually do.
  - A nasal mask with NO forehead bar!!!
  - I did not use the mini hose that came with the mask. I use a climateline and wanted to keep the "heavy" connection of the climateline right on the connection of the mask instead of further down. I felt putting it on the end of the mini hose would pull too much when I turned over at night.
  - I wish there was a way to take off the headgear w/o moving the straps.
  - Elan is also going to be cheaper as I don't have to replace the silicone cushion every few weeks.
  - I could not use the original SW mask. I could never get the leaks under control. I didn't fight with Elan at all when I put it on.

I thought I loved my TrueBlue (and will keep it as my backup mask) but there is no comparison. An all-cloth mask cannot be compared to anything else.