First week of using AirFit F20 foam cushion - thumbs up!

General Discussion on any topic relating to CPAP and/or Sleep Apnea.
User avatar
rogerconnelly
Posts: 109
Joined: Tue Jul 05, 2011 4:21 pm

First week of using AirFit F20 foam cushion - thumbs up!

Post by rogerconnelly » Sun Oct 29, 2017 10:32 am

Just wanted to share my success and enjoyment so far here and see if others are having the same experience - I'm talking about this cushion on the AirFit F20:

https://www.cpap.com/productpage/resmed ... shion.html

I've been using it this week without any padacheek liner (even though I bought a couple as soon as I got my F20) - which is a first ever experience for me - I've always used padacheek liners and needed them - but the seal the "memory foam" makes and the comfort it provides has allowed me to go without - and it's been awesome!

My AHI numbers are as low this week as they ever are with my old tried and true Quattro (so we talking sub 1.0 numbers here) and zero large leeks are still the norm each night - I really couldn't be happier

I suppose the test will now just be time - as in, will this good behavior hold, or will it (like most things in life) go through some up and down cycles - we'll see and I'll report back.

In the meantime I hope others can share their success (or not) stories about this cushion for others to read - thanks!

- Roger

P.S. I'm a side sleeper - well, a little on my back - but most of the night on my side - and the headgear for the F20 has also been great for that respect too.

User avatar
Pugsy
Posts: 63942
Joined: Thu May 14, 2009 9:31 am
Location: Missouri, USA

Re: First week of using AirFit F20 foam cushion - thumbs up!

Post by Pugsy » Sun Oct 29, 2017 10:39 am

Curious...what pressure do you use or if using a range of pressure what do you spend most of the time at?

With time can you also add your experience with the life of the cushion? As to what actually happens when the foam starts getting tired.

My DME uses this mask...he says he can get about 3 months out of the foam cushion despite what ResMed says as to replace in 30 days.

_________________
Machine: AirCurve™ 10 VAuto BiLevel Machine with HumidAir™ Heated Humidifier
Additional Comments: Mask Bleep Eclipse https://bleepsleep.com/the-eclipse/
I may have to RISE but I refuse to SHINE.

If you want to try the Eclipse mask and want a special promo code to get a little off the price...send me a private message.

User avatar
AMESS
Posts: 379
Joined: Fri Sep 22, 2017 6:58 am
Location: North Carolina
Contact:

Re: First week of using AirFit F20 foam cushion - thumbs up!

Post by AMESS » Sun Oct 29, 2017 11:36 am

Nice Huh? Me too--first couple days. Numbers have never been better. Have tried other masks. Now though, waking up in middle of night with leaks. They are so small they dont count on res med--but they r keeping me awake. Husband says not getting the mask back on right. Maybe. #Extra pressure too. Maybe get out of bed, look in mirror, put mask back on instead of fumbling around in the dark. .

3458

Re: First week of using AirFit F20 foam cushion - thumbs up!

Post by 3458 » Sun Oct 29, 2017 12:48 pm

[quote="AMESS"]Nice Huh? Me too--first couple days. Numbers have never been better. Have tried other masks. Now though, waking up in middle of night with leaks. They are so small they dont count on res med--but they r keeping me awake. Husband says not getting the mask back on right. Maybe. #Extra pressure too. Maybe get out of bed, look in mirror, put mask back on instead of fumbling around in the dark(quote)

AMESS don't take your mask of to get up in the middle of the night, less hassle that way. I put mine on when I go to bed and don't take it off until morning. I even answered the door at 2AM one night to find a police officer at my door telling me to get ready to evacuate in case the fire got too close. Since I am immune compromised and also have asthma... I got the hell out of there.

User avatar
AMESS
Posts: 379
Joined: Fri Sep 22, 2017 6:58 am
Location: North Carolina
Contact:

Re: First week of using AirFit F20 foam cushion - thumbs up!

Post by AMESS » Sun Oct 29, 2017 5:26 pm

3458---I have failed trying to adjust the mask in bed in the middle of the night in the dark. . Husband says get up look in mirror and do it

User avatar
RiverDave
Posts: 470
Joined: Mon Jun 25, 2007 6:46 pm
Location: Central Texas, USA

Re: First week of using AirFit F20 foam cushion - thumbs up!

Post by RiverDave » Sun Oct 29, 2017 6:07 pm

AMESS wrote:3458---I have failed trying to adjust the mask in bed in the middle of the night in the dark. . Husband says get up look in mirror and do it
Standing up in front of a mirror is not the same as laying down in the bed. Everyone's face contorts from standing to laying down. Make fittings near your 90-95% pressure. Once the straps are set, you don't have to mess with them until you need new headgear or mask.

User avatar
crestifer
Posts: 122
Joined: Wed Feb 15, 2017 7:19 pm
Location: southern illinois

Re: First week of using AirFit F20 foam cushion - thumbs up!

Post by crestifer » Sun Oct 29, 2017 9:31 pm

Pugsy wrote:Curious...what pressure do you use or if using a range of pressure what do you spend most of the time at?

With time can you also add your experience with the life of the cushion? As to what actually happens when the foam starts getting tired.

My DME uses this mask...he says he can get about 3 months out of the foam cushion despite what ResMed says as to replace in 30 days.

i have been using the f20 memory foam cushions for my f20 mask for almost 6 months now. they have been great.

as long as i am clean shaven, i get a good seal and it stays sealed. the mask is far more comfortable than any other full face mask i've used, and the foam doesn't seem to
cause me any redness or irritation unlike all silicone masks.

if i have a few days growth of beard, i have a lot more trouble with a seal but that was also an issue with silicone masks. i was just hoping the memory foam would be a bit
more forgiving of stubble...and it has not. but, that's ok.

it feels great, no red marks or irritation the next morning. doesn't ever feel sticky or hot like silicone cushions did for me.

the cushions are definitely much more fragile and must be treated more gently than silicon cushions. i tore my first one when i was taking it off my mask frame one morning as i was in a hurry.

each morning i just carefully remove the cushion, wipe it down with a CPAP mask wipe and keep it in a clean container.

i was told the cushion was only good for 4 weeks max so of course i had to challenge that.

my first mask cushion i was able to get almost 6 weeks out of it until i tore it. the 2nd cushion lasted 7 weeks and was kinda gross, i was not as good about cleaning it off each morning. the current cushion i have on there now is starting week 8 and is still sealing well and holding up.

i love this thing, but i am fighting leaks recently in the middle of the night. i sleep on my side with my face in the pillow, i think i'm knocking it loose. i need to either make a cut out in one of my pillows or try a cpap pillow. the leaks are usually short and large, but my overall leaks are well below 24 L/m other than that, it's been just great.

for the record, i'm on an airsense 10 autoset. i run it in CPAP mode at 11cwp. sometimes i will use the autoramp feature starting out at 8cwp. i check my fit and seal lying down using the resmed "mask check" feature blasting me with full on air pressure.

_________________
MachineMask
Resmed Airsense 10 Autoset_____Resmed AIRTOUCH F20 w/memory foam________11CWP prescribed CPAP.

User avatar
Pugsy
Posts: 63942
Joined: Thu May 14, 2009 9:31 am
Location: Missouri, USA

Re: First week of using AirFit F20 foam cushion - thumbs up!

Post by Pugsy » Sun Oct 29, 2017 9:37 pm

Thanks for the additional information.
I have been reading where people are having issues sealing at pressures over 15 but then I know a guy using ASV for centrals and he sees pressures well over 20 all the time and he just loves the mask and not having issues with leaks. So I suppose it is likely another one of those YMMV things.

_________________
Machine: AirCurve™ 10 VAuto BiLevel Machine with HumidAir™ Heated Humidifier
Additional Comments: Mask Bleep Eclipse https://bleepsleep.com/the-eclipse/
I may have to RISE but I refuse to SHINE.

If you want to try the Eclipse mask and want a special promo code to get a little off the price...send me a private message.

User avatar
crestifer
Posts: 122
Joined: Wed Feb 15, 2017 7:19 pm
Location: southern illinois

Re: First week of using AirFit F20 foam cushion - thumbs up!

Post by crestifer » Sun Oct 29, 2017 9:40 pm

Pugsy wrote:Thanks for the additional information.
I have been reading where people are having issues sealing at pressures over 15 but then I know a guy using ASV for centrals and he sees pressures well over 20 all the time and he just loves the mask and not having issues with leaks. So I suppose it is likely another one of those YMMV things.

if i can get these large leaks under control, it will be a damn near perfect mask.

i've thought about maybe trying a mask liner with it and see if that could possibly help retain a seal when i move or push my face into the pillow.

_________________
MachineMask
Resmed Airsense 10 Autoset_____Resmed AIRTOUCH F20 w/memory foam________11CWP prescribed CPAP.

User avatar
Pugsy
Posts: 63942
Joined: Thu May 14, 2009 9:31 am
Location: Missouri, USA

Re: First week of using AirFit F20 foam cushion - thumbs up!

Post by Pugsy » Sun Oct 29, 2017 9:50 pm

crestifer wrote: i've thought about maybe trying a mask liner with it and see if that could possibly help retain a seal when i move or push my face into the pillow.
Let me know if you do and how it works out.
I have seen and felt the AirTouch F20 but you know me and full face masks don't get along so great so I didn't try it myself and I am curious about the foam (but not curious enough to use it ).

I got one to send to someone else and I had to get a medium and it swallowed my face anyway. I did put it up to my face briefly just to feel what the foam felt like though. Kinda nice I thought.

_________________
Machine: AirCurve™ 10 VAuto BiLevel Machine with HumidAir™ Heated Humidifier
Additional Comments: Mask Bleep Eclipse https://bleepsleep.com/the-eclipse/
I may have to RISE but I refuse to SHINE.

If you want to try the Eclipse mask and want a special promo code to get a little off the price...send me a private message.

Hexfly
Posts: 26
Joined: Thu Mar 31, 2016 7:56 am
Location: Michigan

Re: First week of using AirFit F20 foam cushion - thumbs up!

Post by Hexfly » Mon Oct 30, 2017 7:30 am

I also have had great success with the airtouch F20. It is my mask from now on. I used the quattro and regualr old F20 before and they work with no leaks.....but the airtouch is so much more comfortable with the memory foam. I like the feel better than silicone.

Also, I have a full beard and have grown it out from the stubble I had before......no leaks with the foam.

I used to use a couple masks before but I have found my lifetime mask in the F20 memory foam....0.5 AHI last night, feeling awesome today.

_________________
MachineMask
Mask: Resmed Quattro FX
Machine: Resmed Autoset 10

3458

Re: First week of using AirFit F20 foam cushion - thumbs up!

Post by 3458 » Mon Oct 30, 2017 8:06 am

AMESS wrote:3458---I have failed trying to adjust the mask in bed in the middle of the night in the dark. . Husband says get up look in mirror and do it

AMESS I was trying to tell your to NOT take the mask of during the night to go to the bathroom or whatever. Keep it on and you won't have to re-adjust it in the dark or in bed.
We suggest when you put it on lie down and make sure everything is sealed, standing up in front of a mirror will not work since the shape of your face changes when you lie down.
Also do not put moisturizers on at night, it will make the mask slip and slide. Just wash your face well and moisturize in the morning. I am willing to bet that the moisturizers are the reason that your mask keeps leaking.

User avatar
AMESS
Posts: 379
Joined: Fri Sep 22, 2017 6:58 am
Location: North Carolina
Contact:

Re: First week of using AirFit F20 foam cushion - thumbs up!

Post by AMESS » Mon Oct 30, 2017 8:23 am

Think moistureizers could be the culprit here. Will try without tonight and see what happens. Start out okay, but waking up in the middle of the night present problems with the mask. Oye--never ending.

User avatar
crestifer
Posts: 122
Joined: Wed Feb 15, 2017 7:19 pm
Location: southern illinois

Re: First week of using AirFit F20 foam cushion - thumbs up!

Post by crestifer » Mon Oct 30, 2017 10:01 am

Hexfly wrote:I also have had great success with the airtouch F20. It is my mask from now on. I used the quattro and regualr old F20 before and they work with no leaks.....but the airtouch is so much more comfortable with the memory foam. I like the feel better than silicone.

Also, I have a full beard and have grown it out from the stubble I had before......no leaks with the foam.

I used to use a couple masks before but I have found my lifetime mask in the F20 memory foam....0.5 AHI last night, feeling awesome today.

this is awesome. so glad you like it.

i think my issue may be with the mask being pushed loose by my pillow as i sleep with my face buried in it. it seems to stay sealed for awhile, but then suddenly i'll get a large leak and i wake up.

if i can get that sorted out....i'll be smooth sailing. the mask is amazing. feels great. doesn't irritate my skin.

_________________
MachineMask
Resmed Airsense 10 Autoset_____Resmed AIRTOUCH F20 w/memory foam________11CWP prescribed CPAP.

User avatar
rogerconnelly
Posts: 109
Joined: Tue Jul 05, 2011 4:21 pm

Re: First week of using AirFit F20 foam cushion - thumbs up!

Post by rogerconnelly » Mon Oct 30, 2017 5:47 pm

Thanks for all the feedback here - good to see others enjoying this relatively new mask cushion as much as I am.

I thought I'd respond to Pugsy's question about my pressure - I was originally an 11/15 pressure guy for the first five or six years of therapy, then last year (with the approval of my doctor) I started playing more with the settings to reduce that number - because who wouldn't want a little less pressure in their life In all seriousness - I wanted to see how low (reasonably) I could go and still get good therapy. I pushed that boundary and found out what was too low (for me) - and in the past few months have settled around an 8/11 pressure setting. If I look at my Sleepyhead data I generally hold at around 8.5 pressure all night - and like I said, my AHI is still in the sub 1.0 numbers most nights - so I'm a happy camper.

I'll post again after some time goes by - I am also curious to see how this "memory foam" lining holds up to time. I'm taking everyone's advise on cleaning each morning with alcohol (and scent) free baby wipes - but I will be interested to see how "spongy" it still is after a few more weeks. Fortunately I'm lucky enough to currently have insurance that pays 90% cost for one cushion a month, so I really only need them to last that long at this point in my therapy (but I know not everyone is that lucky, so I'll share my data to hopefully help all make the most informed decisions they can).

- Roger