Sleepweaver masks

[deplume]

<puts fluid dynamics engineering head on> actually it is a dynamic not a static system as the fluid (air) is moving, therefore the static (measured) head declines the further you get away from the pressure source, so the pressure at the mask end of an 8' tube will be less than 6' one.

Hi Fredx,
I'm no engineer but used to fly helicopters which use both dynamic and static sources to work out speed.
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.
Surely the idea of the CPAP machine is to raise the static pressure to keep the airways open, not to push a jet of dynamic air into a pair of lungs.
Would that not mean that the machines providing a choice between a six feet and a ten feet tube deliver the same static pressure at the end of either?
Or would it perhaps have to work harder to raise the static pressure in the increased amount of air in the longer tube?
This, I must point out, is a question, not carping or criticising.
Regards
Derek

[deplume]

We'll happily charge you 1 pound for delivery and put a stamp on it. If it doesn't get there, it's your loss. The £9 pounds allows us to insure it sufficiently and put it on a service that will a) get there and b) if it doesn't, it allows us to put in a claim, get our money back and then we can send you a new one without you or us being out of pocket.

Weight is one thing with posting, as you probably do know, value is another.

Would you send 20 £50 notes in an envelope 2nd Class? It's light! You get my point. It's simply not a con.

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

Price is one thing with purchasing,as you probably do know, value is another.

Cpap.com charge $99 for the mask and $70 for shipping = $169
eu-pap.co.uk $151 for the mask and $16 for shipping= $167
Price from the wholesaler nobody knows...
Hey nice profit margin but if you are paying £9 to insure an item with a value of $99 you are frittering your "hard earned" money away.

[James @ Intus]

Please could someone direct me to a good source to by the waterproof "white medical tape"? Whilst I haven't yet had to replace it, I would be frustrated to have the tape degrade whilst washing the mask and not have spare to put it right, ready for use.

I have tried all of my local pharmacies and none of them stock anything other than the paper based surgical tape.

I'd also recommend Micropore, like here on Amazon:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=micropore&x=0&y=0

Five meters will last a long time.

Some people use it to tape their mouth shut during the night.

[symmit]

Please could someone direct me to a good source to by the waterproof "white medical tape"? Whilst I haven't yet had to replace it, I would be frustrated to have the tape degrade whilst washing the mask and not have spare to put it right, ready for use.

I have tried all of my local pharmacies and none of them stock anything other than the paper based surgical tape.

3M Micropore, or [[insert brand here]] microporous tape works for me, only stripped mine down once though.

£2.09 for the boots brand, but I got mine from my local Asda

[JayBee]

Please could someone direct me to a good source to by the waterproof "white medical tape"? Whilst I haven't yet had to replace it, I would be frustrated to have the tape degrade whilst washing the mask and not have spare to put it right, ready for use.

I have tried all of my local pharmacies and none of them stock anything other than the paper based surgical tape.

[DumfriesDik]

i ordered the sleep weaver yesterday and it arrived just now. i had to sign for it and the postage i thought was reasonable.

i also post stuff out from internet sales and as james says, not everything gets through. sales by internet are covered by legislation and the seller would want to make sure items that do go missing are covered by insurance.

postage is not just about the cost of the stamp. wake up and smell the coffee

[James @ Intus]

And yet cpap.com will charge 71 dollars to send it to France from the US and eu-pap.co.uk charge 10 pounds, (about 9 pounds too much) and charge well above the 99 dollars US which cpap.com charge. There's the con! The mask, reputedly, works well for most people.

We'll happily charge you 1 pound for delivery and put a stamp on it. If it doesn't get there, it's your loss. The £9 pounds allows us to insure it sufficiently and put it on a service that will a) get there and b) if it doesn't, it allows us to put in a claim, get our money back and then we can send you a new one without you or us being out of pocket.

Weight is one thing with posting, as you probably do know, value is another.

Would you send 20 £50 notes in an envelope 2nd Class? It's light! You get my point. It's simply not a con.

[symmit]

It may then be worth trying the Sleepweaver with a liner to see if it reduces the noise to the same level and the mask requires less adjustment during the night.

Or try tightening the lower straps more - that stops it moving around and for me feels snug yet not uncomfortable. Unlike hard masks I find it better the more snug it is fitting.

[Barely Awake]

i find the gel one makes a bit less noise, sort of a wind whoosh in the sleepweaver so i prefer my gel one. Not alot of difference but enough. The sleepweaver also has to be adjusted more often during the night. I would take the straps off when washing either mask. They dont seem to need cleaning as often, though being follicly challenged might be helping there. Been using a radio for white noise or world service recently to help ignore the wind (my machine aint christened gail/gale for nuttin'!!) I've been using liners for the gel one recently , seems to make a difference on the nose squishing. Not sure if its totally correct but have found if i put 'em in a sock they go in the washing machine and get more use from them.

It may then be worth trying the Sleepweaver with a liner to see if it reduces the noise to the same level and the mask requires less adjustment during the night.

[deplume]

Postage Con

Yes, we just got them in and online.

I've put it on and believe you me, it's light. On our postal scales, it's just 30 grams. It weighs 'nothing'. .

And yet cpap.com will charge 71 dollars to send it to France from the US and eu-pap.co.uk charge 10 pounds, (about 9 pounds too much) and charge well above the 99 dollars US which cpap.com charge. There's the con! The mask, reputedly, works well for most people.

[symmit]

As long as it doesn't deflate to the point where the airflow may be obstructed, no. This, by the way, we have not ever yet heard happening. If it 'deflates' from say 100% to 85%, or in other words, just loses a bit of tension, then it's nothing to worry about. But again, you can try different exhalation relief settings and judge for yourself. Back that up with a close look at your stats to see you remain excessive-leak-free and AHI around 4, then you're golden.

If I have my machine at minimum (which is 4hPa, I believe some go down to 3) then although it feels soft it's still fully inflated.

I've turned off the flex (epr) mode as the movement of the mask with the lower pressure disturbed me.

[martin]

I don't understand why you are not using it all the time if it is easier on your bridge of your nose Martin, is there some other reason you have not switched full time to this mask?
For my part I have noticed that even when stored all day in the airing cupboard I can't get the headgear of the Sleepweaver dry if it is washed with the mask each day. Either I need two to rotate or I have to wash the mask and not the headgear.

i find the gel one makes a bit less noise, sort of a wind whoosh in the sleepweaver so i prefer my gel one. Not alot of difference but enough. The sleepweaver also has to be adjusted more often during the night. I would take the straps off when washing either mask. They dont seem to need cleaning as often, though being follicly challenged might be helping there. Been using a radio for white noise or world service recently to help ignore the wind (my machine aint christened gail/gale for nuttin'!!) I've been using liners for the gel one recently , seems to make a difference on the nose squishing. Not sure if its totally correct but have found if i put 'em in a sock they go in the washing machine and get more use from them.

[Barely Awake]

Thanks for that James. The liners I used were S8-NM (Medium Nasal) that also fits the Respironics :Comfortgel, Comfort Classic etc. As it wasn't a problem getting the mask to seal without a liner I don't think I need to use liners with the Sleepweaver, but it was an instant seal and possibly more comfy, not least at the short straps saw the mask ride up and slightly irritate if not rub under my nose. This did not happen with the liner in place.

As regards the defllation it was probably no more than 100% down to 65% and this was at the lowest of the three flex settings on my machine. I might turn the flex off and report back.

Thanks again James.

[James @ Intus]

It is a bit radical perhaps using a Remzzz liner with a Sleepweaver but the experiment demonstrated that the liner by coincidence or not sees the mask sit & seal immediately without further adjustment. I tried it half-a-dozen times consecutively yesterday afternoon (removing mask and liner each time) and for whatever reason the Sleepweaver immediately inflates and seals without further adjustment that whilst not irritating or onerous could be a tad fiddly when tired.

Thanks, again, for sharing your findings. So far, the vast majority get a good seal without aids, but these tips and tricks are always welcome! Which liners did you end up ordering exactly?

The use of a liner might also prolong the life of a Sleepweaver perhaps - any comment on this James?

Probably, yes. Though at this point it would be hard to say whether that strategy would pay itself off. But by all means, try it out and compare with others.

My remaining question is whether the CPAP output pressure needs to be adjusted up or the flex turned off or reduced whilst using a Sleepweaver? I say this because awaking one is aware of the mask itself inflating and deflating with the breathing cycle.

As long as it doesn't deflate to the point where the airflow may be obstructed, no. This, by the way, we have not ever yet heard happening. If it 'deflates' from say 100% to 85%, or in other words, just loses a bit of tension, then it's nothing to worry about. But again, you can try different exhalation relief settings and judge for yourself. Back that up with a close look at your stats to see you remain excessive-leak-free and AHI around 4, then you're golden.

[DumfriesDik]

Going to try one of these - see if it kills the cat!