SleepWeaver Elan

[Tigers Fan]

As first tests go, I guess that was successful! A bit annoying, but successful - I fell asleep and woke up grumpy - and I mean grumpy - as I always do after an afternoon kip.

Easy to put on, barely any adjustment required - a very light touch - sealed at 20cm no problem at all. I could feel the cold draft that is the vent - as opposed to the jet stream of the Q FX - but couldn't put my finger on the place on the mask. Watched the DVD later and could see why that was.. Silent as silent - only noise was the machine labouring away. Hose worked well. Was busy pondering all this and ....zzzzzzz!

Had a couple of false starts at falling asleep - seems my jaw goes slack the moment of dropping off so air escaped and everything wobbled and rattled in my throat. Memo - dig out a chin strap in case it is needed tonight.

All this is a complete revolution to me! Increased ramp start 10 to 12 as I felt I was sucking for air at 10. Put Flex back to zero. Have read what you guys say about needing less pressure - but don't tell Jane Wilkinson, who I believe is on the very brink of referring me to the polysomnography dept.

Early days but this thing looks all good! I have high hopes of a good sleep tonight. Can wear spectacles while wearing it; no tight straps; light as a feather. I think this just might be my new Rave! Rave! Rave! mask.

[Tigers Fan]

Instant Lesson 4; They don't seal if you put them on upside-down. Don't ask because I don't know, but I did!

[Barely Awake]

First full night, opted for regular size cushion, very littl;e adjustmet needed for a first night, 6.5 hours in one go as usual with Sleepweaver Advance, AHI 0.8 as usual if not slightly lower, no 'large leaks' at all, average leak 15.3 (which is less than half the usual?).

Solved the side strap issue with a couple of strap covers, the little tang that hangs down was a handy adjuster but not sure it will stay readily available to the hand after a few washes.

Only obvious problem - how does one hang the mask up to dry after washing? Used a tray (ice cream box) and am drying it on that.

Overall verdict =

[symmit]

First full night report here too.

Works. Very comfortable, no mask marks but some strap marks this morning. Oximitry looks ok for a disturbed night but traces are quite erratic for me the trends are pretty normal.

Had big rainout problems with the humidifier at its usual six, so dropped it to four and it's been ok.

Concerned by the leak rate with this mask - not sure if I need to be but it's making about 15lpm at 8hPa, which is very low compared to 27lpm for the Swift FX , 28lpm for the sleepweaver advance.

Tom - can you advise if that's allowing enough flow?? It certainly feels different, more resistance than usual.

[Tigers Fan]

Woe is me! Absolutely brilliant mask - goes on easily, no leaks, easy adjustment, no strap marks, light as light, fabulous, instant success falling asleep immediately. And there is my problem! Seems I keep the compressed air in my nose and throat by closing a doo-hicky bit of flesh across the back of my mouth - probably the same bit used to enable drinking. Anyway, it is a semi-conscious effort when I think about it and it takes a little effort - keeps the air from venting via my mouth. All well and good, stop thinking about it, relax and whoosh. Fall asleep and whoosh. If I am not conscious, the muscle relaxes and whoosh. Presumably this is the whole cause of my snoring and apnoeas.

Donned a Q FX - equal pressures in mouth, nose and throat and I was asleep instantly.

Before I give it up - how do you nasal breathers keep the air from venting via your mouths?

In case I really can't use this brilliant mask, bring on the full face version. I am totally hooked on the SleepWeaver concept. Fantastic kit.

[Barely Awake]

Concerned by the leak rate with this mask - not sure if I need to be but it's making about 15lpm at 8hPa, which is very low compared to 27lpm for the Swift FX , 28lpm for the sleepweaver advance.

Tom - can you advise if that's allowing enough flow?? It certainly feels different, more resistance than usual.

Concern echoed here, I was pretty surprised by the reading downloaded from my machine.

[komadori]

Good start but mixed feelings

Seemed like a good nights sleep, and woke very refreshed, not noticing any mask leaks, but the numbers seem to tell a different story.

Oximetry report shows a couple of (brief) periods where O2 levels dropped to below 80%, and Devilbiss reporting showed 2% of time on plateau pressure, also AHI higher: all worse than records with Advanced mask. I wonder if the problem is that length of lightweight tubing, smaller bore than standard showing as a pressure limiter to the APAP machine's sensors, also maybe reducing actual pressure at the mask. I have now set tubing length to next setting, 10 foot (calculated as 6 foot standard plus 2 foot of small bore flexi, assuming double pressure drop in this small stuff), plus I have raised maxi pressure from 12 to 13.5, to see what tomorrow night brings. Some other night I may remove the lightweight tube completely to see what effect that has.

I guess Tom may have some comments / advice when the working week starts.

[Tom @ Intus]

This has all the hallmarks of fun!

When peace returns after lunch I shall retire to my bedroom and conduct some horizontal experiments. I can see already that the extra hose is going to mess with my current arrangement.

I'm sure you've noticed already but that hose extension is removable, so if it does cause an issue you can take it off.

[Tom @ Intus]

Instant Lesson 4; They don't seal if you put them on upside-down. Don't ask because I don't know, but I did!

As did a member of the office when our first samples came in - easily done!!

[Tom @ Intus]

First full night report here too.

Concerned by the leak rate with this mask - not sure if I need to be but it's making about 15lpm at 8hPa, which is very low compared to 27lpm for the Swift FX , 28lpm for the sleepweaver advance.

Tom - can you advise if that's allowing enough flow?? It certainly feels different, more resistance than usual.

Good question. I will contact Circadiance and let you know what they say about this.

[Tom @ Intus]

Seemed like a good nights sleep, and woke very refreshed, not noticing any mask leaks, but the numbers seem to tell a different story.

Oximetry report shows a couple of (brief) periods where O2 levels dropped to below 80%, and Devilbiss reporting showed 2% of time on plateau pressure, also AHI higher: all worse than records with Advanced mask. I wonder if the problem is that length of lightweight tubing, smaller bore than standard showing as a pressure limiter to the APAP machine's sensors, also maybe reducing actual pressure at the mask. I have now set tubing length to next setting, 10 foot (calculated as 6 foot standard plus 2 foot of small bore flexi, assuming double pressure drop in this small stuff), plus I have raised maxi pressure from 12 to 13.5, to see what tomorrow night brings. Some other night I may remove the lightweight tube completely to see what effect that has.

I guess Tom may have some comments / advice when the working week starts.

Interesting - did those alterations have the desired effect?

[komadori]

Second night

With machine now set for 10 foot hose, readings this morning are similar to I was getting with Advance mask, so I suspect extra friction in narrow "lightweight" extension does cause some "friction" loss of pressure at the mask. Telling the APAP machine that hose is longer may have caused it to compensate. 90% and 95% are back at previous 9/10 level, and it appears my raised maxi" setting of 13.5 was not utilised.

I also tried hose pointing down, with immediate leaks from bridge of nose. Even with featherweight hose there isn't enough strength in the "balloon" to counteract the downwards pull. It seems that recommended featherweight hose going up with tie strap is really essential for this mask, and this kills one of the claimed advantages of clear sight line etc.

Early conclusion (2 nights), I prefer the Advance mask. For me only plus for Elan is the ability to exchange the cushion rather more economically than the cost of total mask exchange needed for the Advance. Maybe next edition of the Advance will feature an exchangeable cushion. Meanwhile I will continue on a more extended trial of the Elan.

[symmit]

Second night seems fine, was up at 0600 and it's 2200 and no bad effects!

Seems the increased resistance is quickly acclimatised too, will be interested to see what the info from Circadiance is about the flow/leak rate

[Barely Awake]

I too would issue a reminder that we want to know about the flow/leak rate - it is evidently an issue with my machine, as I have not been able to find a compatible mask figure to enter the alteration for the Advance.

[Barely Awake]

Before I give it up - how do you nasal breathers keep the air from venting via your mouths?

Not sure in my case I do it all the time - each month's stats show odd periods of leak in the middle of the night and my clinic put this down to mouth venting. Had a period of it building up so used the old physio trick of teaching your body to remember to do something - 3 nights with a chin strap then dispensed with the chin strap and heh-presto - no venting.