Chinstraps, the path from RUBY to HALO + "pads"

I'm a newbie, but am hopeful this will help someone else since CPAPTALK has been a life saver for me!

Have been using a Respironic's DreamStation less than 30 days. Am on a second chinstrap, but I'm going to buy and try a Halo Chinstrap by Breathewear. My initial RUBY was so tight and, I now realize, the cause of many leaks those first difficult nights. One purchased from Amazon works better, but my skin isn't all that happy with it, plus it has "ironman" velcro closures. Because of the difference in strap location, I want to try the Halo. Still on a quest for the perfect night's sleep (well, while looking like Hannibal Lecter of course), but doing so much better and optimistic that the perfect chinstrap is waiting for me.

Encouragement to other new CPAP users: My problems are minimal in comparison to many (my OSA breath-stops were only 31). It IS possible to become comfortable with the equipment quickly. Reposition straps and even the mas as needed. Ask questions here. You WILL get answers. The cleaning routine that I first found time-consuming, can be done thoroughly without its feeling like such a chore. Most important: You will sleep longer and better. This probably makes me sound like Pollyanna, but when first realizing how complex the process seemed, I cried on the side of the bed for half an hour, and didn't even attempt to set up and use the equipment for more than a week. Then a call came from my "compliance team." I had no idea I was being monitored (yes, I was that clueless). And, now, less than a month later...well, it's do-able. The new normal. The fact that I'm now sleeping 6-7 hours with one trip to the bathroom, instead of 4-5 hours if lucky with 3-5 trips to the B-R? (One night I was actually up 7 times in less than that many hours!) Here and now? A miracle.

old susan :-} (Oh, I almost forgot the pads! If you sew and have scraps of fabric around, you can just fold one into a square the size that you need...doesn't have to be many layers or fancy...and slide it under the strap that needs a little something between it and your bare skin. It could even be cut from some shirt you no longer wear.)

When I started with CPAP, I used two different chinstraps, one form ResMed and one from Respironics, and both had decent but mixed results. I also tried a cervical collar with poor results and much discomfort. Over time I either must have adjusted or my c-collar has broken in because now my results with it are way better than with either of the two chinstraps and also the comfort factor is heavily tilted in favor of the c-collar.

I am a chronic mouth breather, likely because I have had lifelong problem with rhinitis. Of the various chinstraps and mouth tapings that I have tried, the "Pap-Cap" has been the only form that has helped me. It is a minor nuisance th have to wrestle on both a chinstrap and then the nasal cushion mask, but I have resigned myself to wearing both.

TheDuke

SBarrett wrote:
old susan :-} (Oh, I almost forgot the pads! If you sew and have scraps of fabric around, you can just fold one into a square the size that you need...doesn't have to be many layers or fancy...and slide it under the strap that needs a little something between it and your bare skin. It could even be cut from some shirt you no longer wear.)

Question: Which straps? Chin strap or straps on mask? For those who do not sew or don't want to: https://www.cpap.com/productSearch.php# ... 0A%20Cheek::

SBarrett - if you live somewhere serviced by the US Postal Service and have not gotten the Halo strap thus far, just pay the postage and I'll send you one (brand new in package) free.