Sleepweaver masks

[countyDownMum]

Hello Chrissie, Just take your time when fitting the mask and if you do not get it right have a rest and then try again. You will eventually get used to wearing a mask and headgear, it all seems very strange at first to everyone.

I found it useful to practice fitting the mask on before bedtime and just perhaps watch television, listen to ipod or read a book.

Do not worry it will all be easy in time and welcome to forum.

Sheila xxx

[Berneta]

Welcome

Hi Chrissie, It takes awhile for most of us to get used to the whole affair. A few take to it like ducks to water--but still have a problem now and then. Just hang in there and give yourself some time to get used to it. Try not to force it--if you are having a terrible night. A couple hours of just resting beats a constant frustrating night of fighting the mask--then try again when you have calmed down. Try wearing it in the evening or in the daytime just to get used to the feel of it. Learning to adjust the tension on the straps is a lot of getting used to it. Hope you have good luck, and it won't take you too long to feel normal again. x Berneta

[symmit]

Chrissie - welcome!

If you can get on with a Swift LT the sleepweaver should be easy! Don't be too hung up about a little leakage if it doesn't disturb you - they're that comfortable it makes everything else I've tried feel cumbersome and unweildy!

[ChrissieH]

Hello

I'm new to all this, but couldn't resist ordering one after the first two nights with a nasal mask which caused sores under my nose, and a full face mask that my husband said I was still snoring with. I'm using Swift LT for Her now and have had two good nights sleep, but I thought the SleepWeaver would be a good alternative back up to have for those nights when I can't get a good seal, like last night which took ages to get a comfortable seal.

It's all a learning curve!

[Barely Awake]

If you extend the forehead strap, you can tilt the entire headgear setup back and down, so the straps under the ears change their angle and give you more leaway. For those who want more in-built flexibility, I think it's one of the improvements they seek with introducing different headgear sizes this year. Until then, this tilting is one method, or literally extending the elasticated parts that run vertically from crown to neck.

Thank you James. It is a tad difficult to do this as the straps are all a little short and I found that I couldn't actually keep the mask leak free without tightening the forehead strap a tad and that then worked the headgear up under the ears again when I'm asleep. I tried it over the ears instead and it sealed perfectly or at least I think so. I have been so tired all day, I think I failed to get any juice out of my night's sleep and this also happened with the second night using this mask last week. Might wait until my oximeter arrives to try it again.

[James @ Intus]

If you extend the forehead strap, you can tilt the entire headgear setup back and down, so the straps under the ears change their angle and give you more leaway. For those who want more in-built flexibility, I think it's one of the improvements they seek with introducing different headgear sizes this year. Until then, this tilting is one method, or literally extending the elasticated parts that run vertically from crown to neck.

[Barely Awake]

I have a problem with the headgear of the Sleepweaver I haven't yet solved. It is riding up under my ear lobes and cutting the skin on one side and making the other under-ear and both my cheeks raw. I have tried taping my ears down with the micropore tape but that seems to set the mask at the wrong angle and the headgear still produces a sore across my cheeks. I have tried putting those cozy wraps on the cheek straps but I guess with the problem pre-existing they were up against it and didn't seem to do any good.

Anyone got any ideas?

[symmit]

Used to use a lot of transpore (my son was fed with an NG tube for the first year of his life, bacame a bit of a dab hand at inserting them...) - never found it particularly sticky and its stiffness makes it a bit awkward.

Micropore is (I believe) Rayon based, it's described as "paper" due to its feel and properties but it's a manufactured fibre and reasonably water resistant.

It's working fine on my sleepweaver!

[James @ Intus]

The specs look good on that Transpore, I'd say, give it a try and let us know how it compares.

Seems like there are some specifically waterproof surgical tape brands out there, which could indeed be a good idea. Mind though whether it's latext free etc. if that's a concern for you.

http://www.google.co.uk/products?q=waterproof+surgical+tape

[JayBee]

The various tapes mentioned here, are they waterproof? I put my Sleepweaver through the washing machine and think I need waterproof one and I am not certain the paper based tapes will stand up to that.

Would this be better? Granted there is enough there to tape down Gulliver but it is more about whether Transpore is better than Micropore as it is plastic based.

[James @ Intus]

Is this offer open to people outside of the forum? I told a cpap friend about the sleepweaver (she has a Zest) and she wasn't sure about it but liked the idea, but the £100 would be good investment but too much risk for her.

It is indeed. Of course, we'd expect people to consider this *seriously*. If you know you can't breathe through your nose, it's not worth a try. If people are at their wits end with traditional masks and can breathe through their nose, then this is a good option to try.

[Barely Awake]

On the subject of the microporous surgical tape, I bought mine from Morrisons supermarket, it is a 5m x2.5 cm roll at a little over a £. But I also bought a roll of the same on a dispenser from my local pharmacy, it is made by 'safe+sound' and cost £1.49. The beauty of the dispenser is that you can apply the tape evenly one handed, the other hand holding the connector and the mask cloth in proximity. There is also no need for scissors of course as the dispenser cuts the tape where required.
It appears the cheaper roll will fit the dispenser when it runs out.

[Fredxx]

...
Surely if one puts a hand over the tube, however long, the situation involves only static pressure and the same would go for a well fitting mask with no leaks assuming one exists...

Ah, but masks are designed to "leak", otherwise you would just get a co2 build up. Under normal operations, masks are designed to leak a predictable amount (actually exhausts, rather than leaks to be technical), this being typically between 15 - 30 litres of air a minute depending on the pressure, so dynamic fluid mechanics it is. Delivery may be in the form of a 16cm H2O static head, but it is delivered down the tube to the mask as a dynamic flow, meaning the static head delivered at the mask end will be slightly lower than the static head at the machine, or the air just wouldn't flow.

[symmit]

To anybody thinking of trying this mask, we're actually, as an exception, offer a money-back guarantee for the first few months of this year. If you really can't get it to fit, return it for a product refund (not the postage). During Feb '11, this will definitely remain the case. After that, best ask us first to confirm. This allows you to have a go without significant monetary risk.

Is this offer open to people outside of the forum? I told a cpap friend about the sleepweaver (she has a Zest) and she wasn't sure about it but liked the idea, but the £100 would be good investment but too much risk for her.

[James @ Intus]

Nor would I charge £1500 for those 20 £50 notes.

I suppose you don't buy iPods etc. either, or use solicitors, or drink coke. Anyway, that's a whole different topic. Let's keep this about the mask.

The SleepWeaver is enjoying phenomenal success and it's great that the CPAP Forum pioneers here share their detailed findings, tips and tricks as well as criticism. It's also been great to have people here contact their clinics, we've shipped over 100 samples across the UK to clinics for their own verification.

In the vast majority of cases, it has been a stunning success for people, a real shift in CPAP experience. Inevitably, for some it didn't quite work out but luckily that has been a tiny minority.

To anybody thinking of trying this mask, we're actually, as an exception, offer a money-back guarantee for the first few months of this year. If you really can't get it to fit, return it for a product refund (not the postage). During Feb '11, this will definitely remain the case. After that, best ask us first to confirm. This allows you to have a go without significant monetary risk.