Headstrap slips up with Quattro

[frapilu]

Hi,

I've tried to see if this topic has been discussed but either I'm not very good at searching (this is true) or no one has mentioned this problem. I find that the top band on the headstrap constantly slides up up head so that my Quattro loosens and starts leaking in my eyes. Has anyone else had this problem and what did you do to resolve it?

Thanks
France in Ottawa

[Paul56]

The top band on the headgear is "tied" to the lower band... so if your upper band is moving then your lower band must also be moving upwards somewhat as well.

That would tend to caused the mask to tilt... such that the lower end fits tighter while the upper end fits loose.

I'd suggest adjusting the upper band such that it basically just wraps around your head with very little tension then use the forehead knob adjustment to adjust how tight the upper end of the mask fits to your face... nose bridge.

EDIT: I'd also suggest not tightening the upper strap too much as you could end up with a headache.

[Uncle_Bob]

Hi,

I've tried to see if this topic has been discussed but either I'm not very good at searching (this is true) or no one has mentioned this problem. I find that the top band on the headstrap constantly slides up up head so that my Quattro loosens and starts leaking in my eyes. Has anyone else had this problem and what did you do to resolve it?

Thanks
France in Ottawa

I have had straps slip on a different mask. What you can try is to start off the night with your top band in the position its in when it slides up during the night, then tighten the strap in that position.

[Ms.Snuffleupagus]

Also check the position of the lower strap. If it is set too low on your neck, then the position of your neck (ie: chin up or down) will affect the tension on the straps and consequently cause leaks.

[cpapper]

Check the size of your head gear. The last time I replaced my Quattro, Apria sent me the small mask, which I wear, with a medium size headgear. I didn't notice at first, it was a size medium, but it was slipping up, and I checked the size of the headgear...sure enough, it was a medium. My previous head gear was a size small, along with the small mask. They did replace it for the size small, at first telling me that they were now putting the medium size head gear with the small mask. After a few calls, they finally did respond and replaced it for the correct size. The difference did make a difference in how it fit, and not slipping up.

[Strapparatus]

Hi,

I've tried to see if this topic has been discussed but either I'm not very good at searching (this is true) or no one has mentioned this problem. I find that the top band on the headstrap constantly slides up up head so that my Quattro loosens and starts leaking in my eyes. Has anyone else had this problem and what did you do to resolve it?

Thanks
France in Ottawa

The headgear material is breathopene (a trademarked), neoprene material that essentially stamped out in mass production. Over time, the material is made to wear out. Perhaps the headgear is in need of replacement.
Maybe try a different version of headgear, one that offers more versatility? Since this website cpaptalk.com is affiliated with cpap.com my stating the site to even browse too is open to criticism.

Oh, yeah, I mentioned "breathopene" a trademark, this site has a trademarked product called "PapStrap", that may be a good way to lead you to the site...
After all, Sun Tzu says in the Art of War, "Seek higher ground and hide from the enemy".

[frapilu]

Paul56, Yes they're "tied" together but although the mask and headgear are the small size, there's plenty of room for the top strap to slide up without affecting the bottom strap at all. I'm not sure I understand what you mean about using the forehead knob adjustment. I know what that is but I remember that when I was first adjusting the mask, I had a lot of problems with that knob because anything other than the place where I have it now (can't remember if it's all the way out or in) caused my nose bridge LOTS of problems. I use Karen's wonderful pads and they help my poor nose. I guess I'll have to play with it a bit and see. But my hair just seems too slippery for the strap. Thanks.

Uncle_Bob, I've tried that and it still slips up but then it was so tight that my poor nose bridge really had a time of it. Thanks

Ms. Snuffelupagus, The lower strap goes just below my earlobes. I think that's what the guide said to do but I can't remember. I can see that if it were lower, it would pull down on the mask and cause leaks but I think that part of it is ok. Thanks

cpapper, After reading your post, I grabbed my mask and checked my headgear. Small. Sigh. I had hoped. I've never really considered myself that small (mostly because I'm quite overweight) but I have trouble with a lot of masks. The Quattro was the least offensive size-wise of the FF masks. The Ultra Mirage was good too but the fit of the Quattro was better for me. But I really wish they made an extra-small. Thanks

Strappagus, You know, that's a good point! This mask and gear are probably almost 2 years old! A whole other discussion is that RedMed doesn't allow cpap.com to ship their products to us in Canada so we have to pay the outrageous prices gouging us here but I think I might have to bite the bullet and give in to buying a new one here. Thanks.

France

[SleepingUgly]

I have the Medium and the Large Quattro, and both have headgear that is too big for my head (I am guessing I need a small, but it doesn't come with those). Once the headgear is on, I lift out from under the strap the top section of my hair. To clarify: say the top strap of the headgear hits me at what we'll call point A on my scalp. All hair that grows ABOVE point A on my scalp comes out and over the top strap. It doesn't help much, but it helps a little. Wouldn't help you at all if you had very short hair. (BTW, I also pull the middle section of my hair through the middle of the upper and lower strap).

[Wulfman]

I wear the UMFF and Quattro with the top straps VERY loose.......any tension to keep the mask on is with the bottom straps.
With my first set of headgear on my UMFF, the top straps were actually ABOVE the top of my head. The headgear I've got on it now seems to fit differently, but I still have the top straps loose.


Den

[Gerryk]

Frapilu, I wonder if your headgear is on upside down or if it was made upside down. Check on the back of the headgear is a patch that has the name on it. That should be rightside up. If it is then look at the headset and if that part where the top and bottom are joined looks as if it rides up high on your head it is upside down and the tag was put on upside down.

simple things like a tag going on upside down can happen when things are manufactured.

Gerry

[frapilu]

SleepingUgly, I'll give that a try tonight. I have short hair but not super short so perhaps it'll help a bit. Thanks

Wulfman, I've found that I have to have tension on those straps or I get leaking in my eyes. But definitely they can't be too tight. I have to have a happy medium which is why it's so annoying when the top one slips up because it was perfect when I put it on then it becomes too loose. Thanks

Gerryk, hmmm, I'll check it tonight but I doubt it since I have 2 Quattros that I alternate; one that I bought in Canada and one from cpcp.com. Both fit the same way and both slide up (one is perhaps 6 months older than the other). But I'll check. Thanks

France

[robrdavis]

What I've ended up doing is thumbing my nose at the "right way" to position my straps and I just do what works.

My top strap always slid up off the top of my head too, so what I now do is wear the upper strap at the same place that the band of my baseball cap goes. The strap runs right over top of my ears then "catches" at the base of my skull on the back of my head. This has stopped both my straps and my mask from sliding up.

I may be wearing it "wrong" but then the people that write the informational materials probably don't use CPAP anyhow!

[frapilu]

robrdavis, I'm with you that the people who makes these things and write the materials obviously don't use them. Thanks.

France

[robrdavis]

right over top of my ears

I just reread what I wrote and want to clarify... My ears are not mashed to my head under my strap. The strap merely touches where my ears meet my noggin.

[Trinity101]

That has always been my biggest problem with the masks- either that I have tried- the headgear is simply too "long" from top to bottom. I love the Quattro, but I have had many fights with the headgear- and I do not see any major difference between the medium and small. I have heard other people complain about this- we can't ALL have weird heads- I think they need to offer more sizes of headgear.
~joan