Sleepweaver masks

[meldrew]

OK... last night was my first go with the SleepWeaver.

At first, I couldn't stop a little leak by my eyes, but it stopped of its own accord after a couple of minutes.

I LOVE - the light weight, the gentle fit, the fact that my mouth is no longer dry, the comfort.

I had an issue with the hose, which runs over my headboard, pulling the mask away, but that was solved by pulling more hose toward me and making a kind of "U" shape by my chest.

It's really tiny and doesn't look as though it justifies the price by what you get for your money in terms of materials. However, what you are really paying for is the research and development that led to a unique mask being available.

Hell, it's worth the money for the comfort... it's no dearer than most other masks, why should it be cheaper just because it's smaller!

(Of course, with volume sales the price might come down a bit anyway)

It seems to work fine with my Respironics machine on the same settings as the machine had for the original Respironics face mask.

All in all, I'd give it 12 out of 10.

[Fredxx]

The hose was a problem I had too...I prefer the hose coming down to the mask from the headboard end of teh bed, not having to come up my chest, tangled under the armpit...

Solved it pretty easily in the end...I would definitely recommend a hose lift to go with the sleepweaver.

[sleepynana]

I totally agree!... the sleepweaver has totally changed mine and my partner's lives! I love it!

[James @ Intus]

The stories keep getting better

Most conventional masks have two 360 degree swivels, which makes the hose-over-headboard route a little bit more easy. But indeed with the affordable addition of a Hose Lift, that issue often disappears.

A few clinics start to stock this great mask now so keep hammering your clinic. They may already have them, or thinking of ordering some. Your persistence will help everybody.

Scotland may be problematic though as they have very strange hospital buying cycles which span years. Nothing we can do about that but do keep asking them. They can't ignore all the great feedback.

Can you all please post your review on EU-PAP.co.uk too? That way other fence-sitters will be able to easily find your thoughts there too.

[symmit]

Boring Beige

Arrived today, will admit to opening the packet and thinking...

"ONE HUNDRED QUID"

but quickly popped upstairs to try and get a fit while I'm awake...

Seems to need quite tight straps to stop leaking but your really don't know it's there after 15 mins. And thats lay down awake.

And you can put your glasses on and watch telly!

Instruction leaflet made me smile a few times - "Please refrain from smoking while using this product" - is it possible to smoke while your CPAP is blowing into your nose????

Quick compare of it running at 10hPa into my hand compared to my silicone mask and there's no more or less noise but it's a deeper rushing rather than a hissing sound.

Looking forward to tonight! (although I look forward to every night these days!)

First night update

Slept fine, not downloaded data yet but fell asleep quicker than normal once I'd finished fiddling to stop the leak at the top of the nose into the eyes (seems to be a common thing). Seemed to fall asleep very quickly, no awakenings during the night and woke up lying on my side, mask leaking a little but pressure still felt right. My other mask has to be very tight also if sleeping on side, which has been giving me a headache from the forehead strap, no headache this morning.

Not sure about the headgear, it's adequate and effective but the straps are only just long enough for my head, and it's hard to get the lower straps low enough for comfort. If Circadiance ever make a better headgear for it I'll be first in line to give it a shot.

The hose was touching my lips and chin this morning which felt cold and odd, so I've moved my hose huggie right up to the swivel for tonight to see if that's better.

[James @ Intus]

Thanks for the detailed feedback.

Different size headgear apparently is on the menu for 2011, which should help out some of you who accommodate a lot of brain tissue!

Regarding the instructions, remember the US origins of this mask And yes, we've heard stories from clinics or our own warehouse where there were cigarette burn marks on rental equipment etc. We once got a finger pulse oximeter kit back from a sleep study and the protective box had been used to prepare cannabis in. You didn't need a microscope or sniffer dog to tell. So yes, you'd be surprised how uncareful some people are so those instructions unfortunately always have to bear in mind the lowest common denominator.

If you get leaks initially, play with the forehead strap, lowering the mask a bit or hoisting it up a little. That often sorts it out.

And if you have a high prescription pressure but a low starting ramp time, you may want to consider upping where the ramp pressure starts. This mask happens to improve its seal when the pressure goes up, courtesy of that grey bit which pushes towards the skin. With traditional masks, the higher the pressure the more leaks. Not so with the SleepWeaver. Whilst the vast majority also get a great seal at 4, it may be worth playing with a higher starting pressure if you can tolerate that.

[symmit]

Thanks for the detailed feedback.

Different size headgear apparently is on the menu for 2011, which should help out some of you who accommodate a lot of brain tissue!

Let me know when this becomes available! In the mean time the sleep-net IQ mask has a 3 point headgear - would that headgear fit? While I'm in the discovery phase I may buy one next payday to try a gel mask (unless you have a spare headgear lying around!)

Regarding the instructions, remember the US origins of this mask And yes, we've heard stories from clinics or our own warehouse where there were cigarette burn marks on rental equipment etc. We once got a finger pulse oximeter kit back from a sleep study and the protective box had been used to prepare cannabis in. You didn't need a microscope or sniffer dog to tell. So yes, you'd be surprised how uncareful some people are so those instructions unfortunately always have to bear in mind the lowest common denominator.

Heh - my oximiter came in a little tin that part of me thought would be handy for storing substances that needed to be airtight and discreet.

And if you have a high prescription pressure but a low starting ramp time, you may want to consider upping where the ramp pressure starts. This mask happens to improve its seal when the pressure goes up, courtesy of that grey bit which pushes towards the skin. With traditional masks, the higher the pressure the more leaks. Not so with the SleepWeaver. Whilst the vast majority also get a great seal at 4, it may be worth playing with a higher starting pressure if you can tolerate that.

I have my ramp start at 5 at the moment, APAP set for 10-20, which stats wise aren't looking much better than 9-20 but a lot better than 8-20. I'll up to 6 on the ramp tonight but although I can breathe fine at 10 when I wake up it's oddly disturbing to go to sleep to!

[James @ Intus]

With a little DIY to connect the between-the-eye elastic band, pretty much every alternative headgear fits.

[symmit]

Three nights with the sleepweaver now, on the second night I noticed from my data two things. AHI 0.1 (!) and max pressure only hit 11 twice. I'd found the required pressure (10) for my machine had been effective but less than comfortable, and we'd determined that 8-10 was about right for the lower setting on the APAP so before going to bed last night I pulled it back to 9 and changed my ramp from 45 to 30 mins.

I slept.Perfectly. AHI 0.7, max pressure 11.

Soooo... here's my theory.

The comfort of the sleepweaver helps you relax more (I'm dropping off in 10-20 minutes last night and night before, instead of fidgeting for 30 mins and taking an hour to get to sleep). Also being able to sleep on my side (which I'm told helps ease OSA anyway) is another bonus. The extra leaking is minimal (in fact the mask vents less than my old one, flow is reduced on the machine) and I can cope with the gentle leak onto my face (it hasn't woken me up yet but it's there in the morning) which I'll fix with some experimentation with the headgear.

As of the stats: last night I achieved the highest SpO2 average and lowest ODI yet, and that's with a reduced pressure of 9! I'm still not happy that they're high enough but the trend is upwards and my therapist is happy with them (and happy that I'm compliant and treated!) so on we go!

Other positives? It's really quiet for my wife, and there's no jet of air just a gentle flow. In fact with a hose cover as well the whole setup makes less noise than the heating in the house. And my main gripe with the silicone mask was the headpiece, if I wedged myself in so I slept on my back it could be nice and loose, but for side sleeping I had to tighten the top strap to keep it on all night and every night I did that I'd wake in the morning feeling fine from the therapy but with a odd headache.

Negatives? I'm going to want to get a longer hose (James - can you get hoses for the Hoffrichter - it has a pressure measurement tube) as the new found mobility means it could be a stretch if I roll right too much (my machine isn't quite next to the bed). And there's the leakage, I have a "flat" nose and quite a flat face (think Malay / Chinese) and it doesn't have to move much to begin what feels like (but isn't) a big leak.

Summary - first night with sleepweaver felt odd, didn't like the leaks or tight lower strap but liked not waking up until morning. Second night - brilliant. Third night - best ever since starting therapy.

If you use a nasal mask I seriously think you owe it to yourself to try one of these - after all if you don't like it you can throw it in your drawer / cpap bag as a spare, but for me I think my silicone mask is going to go there!

[James @ Intus]

Hi Symmit,

Now that's a review, stats and all, thank you very very much for confirming the SleepWeaver's great benefits once more. It's especially great you back it up with both the machine's AHI and the pulse oximeter's SpO2 data. That really sums it up nicely, with proof and all.

And you are right, sleep apnoea generally is much less severe when on your side. Avoiding back-sleeping is crucial for some people to keep the disorder at bay.

We do 10ft hoses but not with the pressure tube. Some sacrifice the assurances that pressure tube gives but that's up to you. You can also try and extend your tube with a coupler and an extra one or three foot hose. That way you don't lose the pressure tube but it'll be less accurate (that's if the pressure tube doesn't connect straight to the mask like some used to do).

The leakage is more difficult, it'll be trial and error with the straps etc. More slack on the hose will help of course as there will be less mask pull. You will have to think of a hose length and hose routing path that will works best for you. I'm interested to hear what the machine reports in terms of leakage volume. Perhaps it's a perceived increase or a bit of both. But let's work on that, indeed starting with the hose setup.

Thanks for the recommendation and please post your story on EU-PAP as well as a review.

[Sparticus]

Great post Symmit and it didnt go over my head so I guess Im starting to learn a thing or two. One thing I would have like to have seen is a picture of this mask and the differences between these and the Mirage Quattro. Since day 1 I have never had a problem with leaks even when I wake up with the hose wrapped round my neck, my mask always seems to stay put. I was told when trying my mask to lay on the bed and move around and the medium mask I was wearing seemed a bit small although I had be measured and a medium was my size. I ask for the large size to try and was told it may leak alot. I tried this and it fitted like a glove yet after being measured it was classed as too big? Im not sure if the measurements need adjusting but my advise is try all sizes not just what you have been told. Im glad to say I have remained leak free since day 1

[Sparticus]

Could we have some pictures please James, I have never seen any of these or even heard of them, thanks

[James @ Intus]

I see you Pictures and I raise you video:

http://www.eu-pap.co.uk/sleepweaver-advance-cpap-mask.html

[Sparticus]

I see you Pictures and I raise you video:

http://www.eu-pap.co.uk/sleepweaver-...cpap-mask.html

Wow, finally we have a technological breakthrough in masks any news if the same idea is going to be put forward for a full face mask.

[James @ Intus]

Yes, Full Face Cloth Mask on the menu for 2011, though probably towards the end of it. Don't hold your breath (bad pun intended). A mask revolution it is indeed. "Why didn't they/I think of that years ago" often springs to mind.

Note that some full face mask users have been able to successfully switch to the SleepWeaver nasal mask. Both with and without a chin strap. If nasal breathing is an issue for you, consider the SinuPulse which is discussed in detail elsewhere on this forum. SinuPulse + SleepWeaver could mean no more Full Face mask for some of you.