Archive for 'Reviews'
Review - Respironics ComfortGel Mask
I was at first turned off by this mask because it seemed heavier than other similary sized masked. The mask is heavier because the gel is dense (compared to a light weight form or other comfortable material). I quickly got over this - it was very comfortable to wear throughout the night. It was definately a nice mask to wear after my previous mask pinched me in areas around my nose and upper lip.
This mask is also more customizeable than some other masks. There are two places that you can adjust the mask so that it better forms to your face. The gel also coforms to the your face, so it is easy to become attached to this mask.
If you are looking for a mask that is simple, comfortable, and will last you a long time, I definately reccomend the ComfortGel CPAP mask.
Review - Respironics ComfortClassic Nasal Mask
The Respironics ComfortClassic was my first CPAP mask I used after I had been diagnosed with Sleep Apnea. I had picked this mask because:
- It was a very light mask. Since I was not used to wearing a CPAP mask, most of the other masks felt heavy on my face. The ComfortClassic felt significantly lighter than other masks. I had thought that if I had something heavy on my face, I would be discouraged from using my CPAP, and would have bad habits from the start. I was glad I could easily transition to using my new equipment with this new mask.
- The mask was very, very simple. There are not a lot of adjustments you can make on this mask. I did not want something that I would need to fiddle with to get it right - I just wanted to put my mask on and sleep.
- The mask did not leave marks on my face. I was self conscious about this when I first was told that I had sleep apnea.
Other good reasons to get this mask are:
- It has been around for a while. There are a lot of neat, new masks being sold, but this one has been popular for several years.
- Since the mask is so simple, it relatively cheaper than other masks.
- It is a quite mask. It does not whistle while you breathe out, like some other masks.
I eventually changed to a different mask, since the recommendation is to change them every 6 months. (Your insurance might cover this).
Some reasons I stopped using this masked on a daily basis:
- After testing several other masks, and having experience with wearing the mask nightly, I had found that I wanted something more customizeable.
- The forehead gel pads on the top of the mask had ripped. Luckily, these can be replaced.
However, I was very glad to use the ComfortClassic. I still wear this mask when I travel, because I am not worried about losing any small parts for it (since it is constructed so simpily). I would definately reccomend this mask
Book Review: Good Night
I was very excited when I learned that Michael Breus, Ph D. had published a book. Breus is the sleep expert on the popular site WebMD, an has other sleep sites Soundsleep Solutions and The Insomnia Blog.
The Sleep Doctor really deserves credit for giving us practical suggestions for better sleep in Good Night. Often when I read books about health improvement, I feel like the author is a doctor writing for the audience of another doctor. Those types of books have a lot of wonderful information - it is too bad you have to go to med school to understand it, and even then it may not have an application in your life. The Sleep Doctor’s book is not like that - it is gives doable advice, and quick hints on getting better sleep.
This is an excellent book if you are not familiar with sleep health because Breus discusses the most common sleep disorders, as well as the common things that disrupt your sleep. Even if you are well read in sleep health, Breus includes latest healthcare discoveries and makes hard concepts easy to understand.
The book starts off with discussing the most common causes of sleep problems, and gives us a solution to those problems. For example, the sleep problems caused by having young children, by smoking, using caffeine, stress, and business needs. What I really like about Breus is that he does not try to make us sacrifce the rest our lives in order to have perfect sleep. He is not going to tell you not to have your Starbucks fix, or convince you to quit smoking. He realizes that people do not have perfect conditions, and he encourages to break down a big problem (never feeling well rested) into smaller problems, and make small adjustments in order to get maximum results.
After these quick fixes, the Sleep Doctor goes into depth about why sleep is so important, and the pontential results of not getting enough sleep. This leads us into the best part of the book - your own 28 day program to getting better sleep (the full title of the book is Good Night: The Sleep Doctor’s 4-Week Program to Better Sleep and Better Health
The last part of the book recognizes there are times when good habits may not be enough, or are not right at a point in time. He briefly presents medications, and other sleep aids that may help us as a last resort.
Overall, and excellent book. I definately reccomend that you buy this book, or check it out at your local library. Breus also has information on his website Soundsleep Solutions.
GoodKnight 420G CPAP Machine
Steven K. Roberts has written a review of the the Puritan Bennett GoodKnight 420G CPAP machine. Steven does not have a lot of experience with other units, but he is happy with his CPAP machine. Steven says that he had picked the machine because:
- The small size works with his nomadic lifestyle. The size (2.9″ X 5.6″ X 7.7″) of this CPAP unit is great if frequent travel is needed.
- It was simple to operate. Steven gives some instructions on his review.
- The 420S and 420E have more complex functionality, but for price concerns, the 420G will do the job.