Mirage Quattro - First Night

[gasp]

EDIT
Last night's numbers were worse than the first night: AHI 8.9 and 90% at 14.6. I had trouble keeping the mask sealed. As noted in the edit below, I may be wearing it too tight.

Notes after watching the provided DVD:

Headgear removal: I see there are slots that allow for removal of the headgear from the forehead piece for ease of cleaning and to keep the headgear velcro settings intact.

Fit: I also see that I may be over tightening the mask which causes what I call the floppy seal and ResMed calls the "membrane" to flatten. This may be the reason the mask frame called the "cushion clip" presses uncomfortably on my face. I'll try loosening tonight. Hope it doesn't result in the flapping in the breeze effect : )

Cleaning: The DVD instructs the user to completely disassemble the mask (11 pieces) for cleaning each morning - yeah right.

ORIGINAL POST:

Last night was my first entire night on a FF mask and it was the Mirage Quattro. After recent good nights on my nasal mask, I hated to try my new mask. But I had to know if it was going to work in case my asthma got too bad or nose got stuffy and I couldn't use a nasal mask.

The Mirage Quattro medium fits. My numbers weren't good with my AHI being 7.7 and 90% at 12.4. Given it was my first night on a FF mask that makes me feel claustrophobic and the fact it was just a new mask, perhaps the numbers aren't too bad : ) I intend on using it for a week to see if the numbers go down and if my urge to rip it off my face gets better.

I would have liked the floppy seal to have a bit more body so it doesn't lose seal so easily. How hard can it be for mask designers to get somewhere in between the Respironics hard cushion on the ComfortFull 2 and the thin floppy seal/cushion of the ResMed Mirage Quattro?

If you like the hose over your head like I do, be aware that if you position the hose attachment part of the mask up so that you can route the hose up over your head, the mask exhaust vent will blow directly into the hose, thereby reducing the exhaust. You need to fasten the hose to the headgear (with velcro) pulling a bit more out toward the mask so that the hose curves where it is attached to the mask, allowing the exhaust to be free flowing.

I copied ResMed's comments on the 'benefits' of this mask from their website and put my comments in caps after each bullet.

* Mirage™ dual-wall cushion with spring air technology accommodates movement during sleep (including jaw drop)
WHAT THE HECK IS SPRING AIR? THE SEAL THAT TOUCHES MY SKIN IS THIN AND FLOPPY - SUPPOSEDLY FOR BETTER SEALING. THE FLOPPY SEAL DOESN'T PROVIDE ENOUGH BODY TO PROTECT MY FACE FROM FEELING THE SHARP EDGES OF THE HARDER PLASTIC BELOW THE SEAL. I HAD TO LOOSEN THE MASK, AND THEN THE THIN SEAL FLAPPED UNDER AIR PRESSURE SO THAT I HAD TO MESS WITH IT REPEATEDLY THROUGH THE NIGHT, POKING IT IN HERE AND THERE. I THINK TONIGHT I WILL LAY DOWN, SEAT THE MASK, AND THEN TURN THE AIR ON. THE MASK DID ACCOMMODATE MY JAW DROP IF EVIDENCED BY NO BIG LOSS OF SEAL AND/OR NO SWALLOWING AIR DURING THE NIGHT.

* MicroFit dial allows users to easily adjust forehead support for personalized fit and comfort
THIS DIAL WORKED WELL FOR ME AND ADJUSTED THE FOREHEAD PIECE WHERE I NEEDED IT TO BE

* Improved vent design reduces noise by over 50%2
THE MASK SEEMED FARILY QUIET

* 4 sizes (XS, S, M, L) including new XS size
I HAVE A MEDIUM AND IT FITS FAIRLY WELL - LIKE MOST MASKS (EXCEPT SMALL NASAL) IT POKES UP INTO MY EYE AREA AND I WORK TO KEEP IT LOWER.

* First-time fit reduces mask refitting and callbacks
I THINK THEY ARE REFERRING TO THE PLASTIC CUPS THE RT CAN USE TO FIT TO YOUR FACE TO TELL WHICH SIZE YOU ARE. THE ONLY DRAWBACK I SEE IS THAT THE CUP ISN'T THE SHAPE OF THE MASK BUT RATHER IS MORE SQUARED OFF AT THE TOP WHERE THE MASK IS POINTED. IT DOES ALLOW FOR OVERALL SIZE CONSIDERING JAW DROP.

* Increased fit range with reduced inventory (fewer mask parts, 33% fewer product codes)
I BELIEVE THIS FIT RANGE MAY SERVE THE RT AND CODING ON THEIR PART, BUT DOESN'T SERVE THE CUSTOMER WHO NEEDS A SHORTER MASK ETC.

* Set-and-forget headgear clips and slots save optimal fitting settings and allow for quick headgear removal
STANDARD MODERN HEADGEAR WITH CLIPS FOR EASY ON/OFF AT THE MASK AND VELCRO ADJUSTABLE STRAPS. IT WOULD HAVE BEEN NICE TO MAKE THE STRAPS QUICK ON/OFF AT THE FOREHEAD PIECE FOR EASE IN WASHING THE FOREHEAD PIECE. SNAPPING THE SOFT PLASTIC INTERFACE IN AND OUT ISN'T EASY AND I DON'T BELIEVE WOULD HOLD UP TO THIS OVER TIME. SO, IT'S SOAP THE SMALL FOREHEAD PIECE AND HOLD IT UNDER WATER BEING CAREFUL NOT TO GET THE HEADGEAR WET.

* Comprehensive user support package included
NICE POUCH WITH MESH FOR DRYING WHEN TRAVELING, CD, AND BOOKLET.

So far, a lot better than the ComfortFull2, which for me leaked like a sieve on the bottom out either side of my chin and felt hard on my face.

_________________

CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): respironics, resmed, mirage, hose, AHI, seal

[goose]

Good info Gasp -- The Quatro is my compromise FF if the DME somehow weasels out of getting me the Hans Rudolf that I want. I figure the more masks I have to choose from, the better it will be over the long term.
I'm presently using the ComfortGel size Medium and I know what you mean about a nasal up in the eyes.....I should have made them fit a small on me to try it out and see if it was any better.

As you have more experience with the Quatro, let us know.....

cheers
goose

[RiverDave]

Gasp,

You can remove the forehead portion of the Quattro headgear fairly easily. The slots where the headgear threads through forehead support are split. Just compress the strap vertically and feed it through the opening.

Good Luck,

[canyongirl]

I like the soft part around the face. i did have to tighten it slilghtly more then the mirage full. It does seal better (for me) when moving. try tightening the bottom a bit more. I really love the mask...

[Wulfman...]

I like the soft part around the face. i did have to tighten it slilghtly more then the mirage full. It does seal better (for me) when moving. try tightening the bottom a bit more. I really love the mask...

Actually, I can wear mine looser than my UMFF......on the other hand, maybe since that UMFF is almost 2 1/2 years old, that might have something to do with it, too.
Even with a few days of "growth" on my face, my Quattro seals very well.

If any of you don't have any plumber's Teflon tape, you might want to get a roll at your local hardware store.....just in case the elbow starts leaking. Once they start, it becomes an obnoxious, intermittent noise....depending on its position. (it was to me, anyway) The tape makes it super quiet.

Den

[goose]

Thanks Den -- that's good info for me. I wear facial hair (goatee and mustache) so knowing that it may seal over that is positive for me.
As I say, it's my compromise choice, so we'll see what the DME comes up with.
Muchas gracias!!!!
cheers
goose

[canyongirl]

gt the teflon tape... its worth it...

[Jefe]

I also agree the Teflon tape is a necessity with the quattro.

I found the seal on the quattro to be quite persnickety. It works much better if it's clean. I had to wash it almost every night, or my face oils would make the seal cloud up, and not seal correctly. I also found myself having to pull it up and down my face a lot to try to reseat, and reseal it.

Overall though, I just could not get it to stop blowing in my eyes, which is why I moved onto the liberty, which is working much better for me.

[gasp]

Gasp,

You can remove the forehead portion of the Quattro headgear fairly easily. The slots where the headgear threads through forehead support are split. Just compress the strap vertically and feed it through the opening.

Good Luck,

For being a self-touted techie, I'm certainly daft! I need to read the materials - sheesh. This happened on my Mirage Vista too. I complained about not being able to rotate the mask and someone posted there are two small plastic indents that release the mask for tilt.

Now here I did it again with the headgear and the Mirage Quattro forehead piece - as you noted. Thanks!