1 week in and still loving it, at least compared to the 2 other nose hangers I`d tried before. My only suggestion to the Resperonics design dept is to thicken, or buff up the gasket that is around the mask, an occasional leak at the top of my forehead. My Dr`s office and the DME both agree if I`m not having difficulty exhaling it`s not a significant leak, and I`m not so................ Just saying it appears to be the only chink in the armor, otherwise a really comfy mask, and I`m getting used to this good sleep stuff.

I read somewhere (commercial site?) that it is recommended only for back sleepers. I tried it on briefly at the dr's office (but only upright and without pressure). I was inclined to agree that it looked like it would be uncomfortable for side sleeping because of how far off to the side the headgear attaches.

Is anyone who is actually using it doing so side-sleeping?


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CPAP: Puritan Bennett Sandman Info (@ 11 cm), Mask: ResMed Mirage Swift LT nasal, Software: Sandman Therapy 1.4, Pulse-Ox: CMS60C

<<<<<<<<<<<Backsleeper mostly, but I do lie at an angle on my side frequently, and I turn my head to the side a lot, and haven`t noted a problem at an angle. I can`t imagine any headgear that wouldn`t have some side pressure, for a complete side sleeper. Does something exist? It seems all of the masks and headgear I`ve seen would have something, hose, or mask that would need to be nestled into the pillow to make it work. I`m a noob so still learning, just saying, I haven`t seen anything that I thought, oh gee, a rig for side sleepers.

The Fit Life does have a much heavier seal around it than any of the other masks I have seen, and this seal seems to me that it would do as good a job as any to absorb the extra side stress of a person pressing the mask into a pillow in side sleep. If your Dr. has a Fit Life bring a pillow and give it a try, it might be comfy, might not.

Good luck.

GW

http://www.apneasupport.org/post-146395.html

Butch's review


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Resmed S8 Elite II with FitLife total face mask.
DISCLAIMER - I am sometimes corrected by those that actually do know what they are talking about.

I tried it and couldn't get used to it.  It seemed very hot; I could feel my warm breath on my face, even with the humidifier turned off.  Perhaps if someone had a higher pressure (mine is 7), the increased air flow would help.

I tried it on today at the DME supplier.  The lady in charge of the resp. therapists said they often use it (this type?) for people with cerebral palsy and similar conditions - people who can't stay still and who would have trouble readjusting the mask if they rolled over and caused a leak.

I would still like to have one - but I picked up the full life mask instead since insurance would cover it (no out of pocket expenses since I was exchanging another mask).  But I might get it still - maybe as a second mask, or when my six month period comes up?

My insurance would cover the fit life, apparently, but the DME will not be part of that since they get reimbursed to little for such an expensive mask.  They said.


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Resmed S8 Elite II with FitLife total face mask.
DISCLAIMER - I am sometimes corrected by those that actually do know what they are talking about.

Well, then, that local DME supplier should NOT have agreed to and contracted w/your insurance for such a low reimbursement fee for masks. There is about a $20 difference in price between the two masks at online DME suppliers. $199 vs $219.


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Some people are like Slinkies... Not really good for anything, but they still bring a smile to your face when you push them down a flight of stairs.
Resmed VPAP Auto. Humidaire 3i, Simplicity mask, ResScan 3.7, S8 ResLink, Embla oximeter.

It was a little confusing.

Apparently I can get the Fit Life for about $180 from my DMES - the insurance contracted rate that they can sell it to me at ("lists for $250" I think they said).  Then I can seek reimbursement directly from my insurance company.  Sounds like I could get it mostly reimbursed except the copay.  But I would need to give back the Full Life mask I have first.  So, that is a possible next step.  But the Full Life mask seemed to work last night - no leaks to speak of.  

Now if I can just sleep with it on.  I suppose that will take some time and effort at first with a new higher pressure.  Might need the ambien and more exercise early in the day to tire myself out till I get used to the pressure.  I suppose wearing it while watching TV with the machine pumping air through the mask would help, too.


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Resmed S8 Elite II with FitLife total face mask.
DISCLAIMER - I am sometimes corrected by those that actually do know what they are talking about.

You obviously do NOT have one of the better local DMEs. But, yes, you would have to return one to get the other unless you wait for the six months to be due for another mask paid for by insurance. And, yup, it does take time to acclimate to a new mask, and often to acclimate to a pressure change too.


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Some people are like Slinkies... Not really good for anything, but they still bring a smile to your face when you push them down a flight of stairs.
Resmed VPAP Auto. Humidaire 3i, Simplicity mask, ResScan 3.7, S8 ResLink, Embla oximeter.

I seen my Sleep Doc  yesterday and asked him to write a script for the Fit Life mask, by the time I got to my DME they had the script!  When I told them I wanted to try the mask they were not willing to let me try it they wanted to know why because I have been using the Liberty mask for well over a year. I explained I had seen some good reviews of it and my mask was hurting my nose and I wanted to try it, and my Doc wrote a script for it. They checked and it was just faxed over to them. They told me that the one person that had tried it didn't like it and it leaked around the his forehead. Well I have the mask for a 10 day trial run! All I can say is it is FANTASTIC! The mask it self is comfortable and I have found no leaks even with my full beard! my average pressure has went up from 12.2 to 12.6 with this mask. I do have one problem with it and it is the same problem I have with the Liberty mask. The head gear for both are very similar and the way the straps fit on the back of my head and heck cause me extreme discomfort! I have very bad arthritis and herniated disc in my neck and the pressure from the straps causes me problems! I have made a special pad that fits on the straps of the liberty mask, and it looks like I will have to rig something up for this Fit Life mask as well!  But I will say, I am impressed with this mask, the comfort on the face is the best of any mask I have ever tried! I use the large size  and once I get the strap thing resolved  I  do think this will be the mask I will use for now on!


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White Beard with a White Beard
Resmed VPAP Adapt SV Enhanced, HumidAire 2i, ResLink with Model 8000 Flex sensor Pulse Oximeter, and ResScan 3.5 software. Respironic EverFlo OPI Oxygen Concentrator 3 lpm
EEP 9.0, min PS 6.0, max PS 16.0, FitLife Mask

yeah - nothing touching most of your face at all!  Just on the sides.  At least that is what it felt like.

Did you feel like you could roll on your side and stomach and keep the mask from leaking?


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Resmed S8 Elite II with FitLife total face mask.
DISCLAIMER - I am sometimes corrected by those that actually do know what they are talking about.

dkdc I can't sleep on my side or my stomach becaus of my back! I sleep in a adjustable bed, in a "Fowlers position" kind of a sitting reclining position. So this mask works great for me.  But I can't see why you could not sleep on your side if you had the right kind of pillow! Anyway if I can get the strap thing fixed I think this is the mask for me!  I like not having anything touching the front of my face, I think this mask is a big improvement  of allot of the others!


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White Beard with a White Beard
Resmed VPAP Adapt SV Enhanced, HumidAire 2i, ResLink with Model 8000 Flex sensor Pulse Oximeter, and ResScan 3.5 software. Respironic EverFlo OPI Oxygen Concentrator 3 lpm
EEP 9.0, min PS 6.0, max PS 16.0, FitLife Mask

White Beard

Thanks for the review - very helpful I think.

You don't find it too warm or stuffy?  I guess there are ways to deal with that.


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Resmed S8 Elite II with FitLife total face mask.
DISCLAIMER - I am sometimes corrected by those that actually do know what they are talking about.

dkdc

I don't notice any problem with that! I keep my bedroom rather cool in summer I like the house no warmer than 70 degrees, I try and keep it between 68 and 70. don't like high humidity, but I do keep the setting on my VPAP  Hunidifier set on high as it keeps my nose and mouth from drying out! I don't know maybe it is because of my pressure ( it averages 12.6 with this mask)  that I don't notice it being hot and stuffy. I know my machine will go up as high as 25cm to prevent an apnea from occurring.  My DME tried to tell me that this mask would not handle that high of pressure, well they were wrong it has no problem with it! I know for me, I have SSD medicare and Tricare (I am retired military) so I have no co-pay or anything and I can get a new mask every 4 months or so.  I have some ideas on how to fix the head gear if it works out I willl post it. Anyway I will give another report on it after I wear it a while longer!


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White Beard with a White Beard
Resmed VPAP Adapt SV Enhanced, HumidAire 2i, ResLink with Model 8000 Flex sensor Pulse Oximeter, and ResScan 3.5 software. Respironic EverFlo OPI Oxygen Concentrator 3 lpm
EEP 9.0, min PS 6.0, max PS 16.0, FitLife Mask

Thanks again

I have no reason to think it would be stuffy or warm - other than one other person's review.  It seems like the closest to the ideal mask that I have ever seen.


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Resmed S8 Elite II with FitLife total face mask.
DISCLAIMER - I am sometimes corrected by those that actually do know what they are talking about.