Have You Ever Considered a FitLife Total Face Mask ? ?

SleepyToo2 · Post by **SleepyToo2** » Fri Nov 09, 2012 7:59 pm

Many thanks for the quick response! I am going to be cutting out the sizing guides and checking which one I need. At this price, it is too good an opportunity to miss. I love my Aloha mask, but there are times when a full face mask would be better. I have a beard and have struggled with getting a seal with other FF masks - I have heard good things about this one and I am willing to test it out at this price!

Thanks again!

Newsgrouper · Post by **Newsgrouper** » Fri Nov 09, 2012 9:15 pm

Does the pressure bother your eyes?

Grand-PAP · Post by **Grand-PAP** » Sat Nov 10, 2012 4:25 am

SleppyToo2 wrote:I have heard good things about this one and I am willing to test it out at this price

Hi SleppyToo2,

Good luck with the mask. Hope it works well for you.

Let us know the results, particularly since you have a beard! I have had a couple of people with beards ask questions, but since I am clean shaven I couldn't provide any feedback. I can appreciate the potential problems that a beard might cause with many masks. Your experience might be beneficial to others.

Newsgrouper wrote:Does the pressure bother your eyes?

Hi Newsgrouper,

That's an interesting question. Honestly, if it had occurred to me, I might have hesitated to try the mask. That would really be uncomfortable with your eyes behind the faceplate and to be able to feel the pressure. I have never felt the pressure on my eyes ever. As a matter of fact, it's odd, but there is no sense of pressure at all behind the faceplate. You just sense air movement. The first couple of nights I used the FitLife, being able to "feel the air" across my eyelids did concern me, but I quickly adjusted to it and didn't even notice it after that.

I hesitate to make a comment like this, because many will probably be skeptical, but I hardly even notice the pressure at all -- MUCH less than with other nasal and full-face masks! Last night, more than once, I felt the exhaust to make sure it was working. My minimum pressure is fairly high, 12.5 cm, and I couldn't feel it. I was SO convinced that the pressure might have been low last night, that I specifically checked the graphs this morning. Sure enough -- 12.5, and pulses that went as high as 22 - 23 cm.

Good question. Thanks for asking.

jwerley · Post by **jwerley** » Sat Nov 10, 2012 2:36 pm

http://www.cpaphelpdesk.com/fitlife.html

Thought you may want to check out this video before you purchase this mask!!
Just saying...........

Have a good day......Janice

SleepyToo2 · Post by **SleepyToo2** » Thu Nov 15, 2012 7:55 pm

Thanks, Janice. A very negative review. My experience with any mask is that you need to try it for a few nights before passing judgement. This guy clearly has failed to find out how to make the mask work.

For me, I am a little disappointed that the mask that arrived from Sears does not have the swivel adapter needed to connect the mask to the hose. I think this is fault in the design that it does not come with an adapter or a short hose that can connect mask and hose. I did find an adapter that I need to adapt for a permanent solution, or I will buy an adapter from a DME who stocks them (if I can find one). CPAP.com does not appear to list a Respironics adapter, although when I searched a Puritan-Bennett adapter came up. Otherwise, when I just tried it out I found that leaks appear to be much less than with full face masks that I have tried. I am currently soaking the mask in hot soapy water, as recommended in the video. I will see how the mask does after I have soaked my beard in hot water to soften it a bit. A Japanese "shibori" would be good here!

SleepyToo2 · Post by **SleepyToo2** » Fri Nov 16, 2012 4:59 am

Based on one short night of my own making, all I can say is wow! 6:39 of wearing the mask, an AHI of 0.91, average leaks of 5.46 (yes, a little work to do there, but not that much worse than with the Aloha pillows). 4 CAs, 1 OA, 1 H, 2 REs, 3 VS2s. Eyes are a little dry, so I probably need to use the humidifier and maybe the heated tube. I need to work on softening the beard or growing it a bit - I don't think I will need to shave it off (happy dance!!!). Also need to adjust the resistance on the machine (didn't want to do that until I saw how I liked it). No marks on my face a couple of minutes after removing the mask, which was surprising because I really did pull the straps quite tight. Lower strap seemed a little uncomfortable last night, so probably not the mask for anyone with cervical spine problems/surgery.

So, bottom line? I like the FitLife mask. Wouldn't say I love it yet. Won't use it as my every-night mask, but would certainly not be reluctant to use it if my nose is sore/excessively stuffed up, or for any other reason that I can't think of at the moment. The video linked to above was definitely more negative than I would make about the mask: I do not see it as a mask of last resort at all.

Sheriff Buford · Post by **Sheriff Buford** » Fri Nov 16, 2012 7:48 am

There are masks we all "don't like", and I bet anyone can write a review about a mask we don't like, give valid reasons and be very convincing. The key to successful apnea treatment is to find a comfortable mask that doesn't leak. Only the Good Lord knows how many times I've posted that statement on this forum. The Fitlife mask advertises to be the mask of choice for men with beards. Common sense will tell you a nasal mask should be the choice for a man with a beard. I have been using the Total mask for as few years and I have found if my whiskers start to grow, my leak rate will increase. That being said, I did go undercover once and was getting a good seal with a beard. Looked like a dang hippie, but it was fun... The Fitlife is normally a "last resort-type" mask, and I doubt it will ever rid itself of that. It is big, is intrusive and your face structure must be sorta "smooth" to allow a good seal. But all the nose-sore problems on the nose bridge and inside the nose are gone because the mask completely bypasses the nose. I could probably be the worst mouth-breather on this forum and I mouth-breath like there there is no tomorrow with this mask. If you can wear this mask, and you can manage your leaks, you can make this mask work.

That being said... I would kill to be able to wear a nasal mask, but I'm fat, dumb and happy with the Fitlife Total. I'll always recogmend (in order) the nasal, hybrid, full face and total face mask to newbies, because of the least intrusive and the best chance of success in the "mask journey". I will always help folks with the Fitlife because of its uniqueness as most masks are.

Sheriff

Bon Bon · Post by **Bon Bon** » Fri Nov 16, 2012 8:23 am

Newsgrouper wrote:Does the pressure bother your eyes?

I've wondered about this also. Thank you for the great answer, Grand-PAP. I understand exactly what you're saying about not feeling the pressure or the air flow - I don't feel anything at all once I have my mask well settled.

What happens if/when you open your eyes? Do you have to be extra careful about them getting too dry from the airflow?

Have You Ever Considered a FitLife Total Face Mask ? ?

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