Resmed Mirage Quattro - Air Leaks

[PJ the DJ]

Thanks for the comparison Wulfman, maybe I should switch.

Also, when you all refer to the "cushion" what are you talking about? The forehead part?

I'm lucky because my insurance will pay for a new mask every six months. I have a feeling I will need it. I'm not looking forward to going to sleep tonight. My nose is still red.

[Wulfman]

Thanks for the comparison Wulfman, maybe I should switch.

Also, when you all refer to the "cushion" what are you talking about? The forehead part?

I'm lucky because my insurance will pay for a new mask every six months. I have a feeling I will need it. I'm not looking forward to going to sleep tonight. My nose is still red.

The terms "cushion" and "seal" are pretty much interchangeable.....the rubbery, silicone part that fits around the nose/mouth/chin area. On both of those masks it's replaceable. In fact, all of the parts on those masks are replaceable, which makes their design even better.

Quattro and parts links:

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

https://www.cpap.com/productpage-replac ... dgear.html

UMFF and parts links:

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

https://www.cpap.com/productpage-replac ... dgear.html


Den

[DoriC]

My husband is one who does better with the UMFF also. Once you set the forehead adjustment that works best you never have to change it again. I think it's more forgiving than the Quattro as far as leaks go and the cushion is sturdier and is more comfortable. We could never get the Q to seal and it gave him a sore nose and red marks on his face. Everyone is different of course so if you try the UM I'd be interested in your experience with it. Good luck.

[Billy6]

I think the problem is face oils. The solution is every morning when you shower, stick the mask under the bath faucet and rinse it vigorously. 3 times a week, I put shampoo in it before rinsing. I've done this ever since my CPAP sentence began with my Quattro and I have virtually no leaking and I havent even had to change the cushion yet

Billy...You haven't changed the cushion in 2 years????????????

Technically 23 months, but I'm also self insured. The every 3 or 6 months that Apria suggests is merely to coat their bottom line. When I start getting leaks or skin irritations, I'll buy a new cushion assembly

[DoriC]

See Den's post, he's over 5 years with the same UM cushion. We haven't been so lucky, we're only at 8months with this last one, so far so good.

[BigBad64]

I took the whole box and dice in to the sleep tech yesterday, and you guessed it, she pulled, pushed & tugged the mask every which way and it wouldn't leak. The only thing that was different was that I was sitting in a chair, not lying down, but she did try me leaning sideways on a pillow left and right.

I was spewing, just like taking your car to the mechanic and the engine won't make that knocking noise. Nothing even approaching a leak and a good demonstration of Murphy's Law.

Wore the mask last night and was mostly successful, but if I moved my head around the wrong way I could create a leak near the nose or lower cheek. Again couldn't understand why it wouldn't do it with the tech earlier in the day.

Due to this I don't think I was able to totally relax and get as restful a sleep as I could have.

There's no way the cushion had had it, it's only 2 months old. The tech suggested daily washing in cold water with soap to firm it up a bit so I'll see how that goes.

I have a fairly long face and the Large size mask fits over the mouth and nose. I'm thinking that the Medium would be a bit small. The sleep tech has fitted hundreds of people and I trust her expertise.

Thanks for all the suggestions people are making. It seems everyone has/is working out what suits their particular circumstances.

For me, having to wear a mask at night, wash it each day and refill the humidifier is enough to deal with.

I really don't want to have to add even more tasks such as liners etc and make the nightly CPAP setup some sort of military operation.

[cotech50]

I adjusted my Q as follows the forehead dial was full down and I tightened that strap first then I pulled the lower strap in. Remember your pressure range is wide and you are adjusting at a lower start up the you may get to later. Also sleeping on the back I notice as I drifted off my chin would relax and I got leaks there. I am a side sleeper at heart and had to adjust my pillow but could still get some leaks but they were minor.

I always thought of myself as a mouth breather and thought a nasal mask was out of the question but I asked my RT and she gave me a loaner Mirage Activa LT and I was surprised that it worked so I ordered one and use it as my primary mask but in the event I get a head cold will switch back to the Q. The nasal mask is smaller and I do not have the same pillow issues I had with the Q. Hang in there keep trying there are many masks out there the problem is most of the DME companies get semi locked into certain companies and their products. Everyone is different and when you finally find a combination that works for you and can experience consistent 6,7,8 hour nights of good sleep it is truly a miracle how good you can feel during the day without the nagging fatigue.

[DoriC]

SleepPapPillowhttps://www.cpap.com/productpage/SleePAP-cpap-pillow.html

I don't think bed pillows have been mentioned in this thread. This is the one my husband uses but there are others you can check on cpap.com. I know it's pricey but most need a special bed pillow to help with leaks.

[BigBad64]

After tightening the mask so much that I was making a red mark on my nose, I went to the sleep tech and she advised I give it a rest for a few nights so the nose could recover.

She also said not to have the top strap too tight, but to pull the lower strap tight to stop leaks. She also gave me a medium to try instead of the large, but it was too small.

Anyway, I used the large mask again last night and the leaks were minimal, only a slight one top right near my nose blowing slightly on my eye. (I don't think the mask can seal around my big hooter)

I had a better nights sleep but this morning the red nose mark was back and very noticeable.

What should I put under the mask to prevent this?

If I use a band-aid it seems to create a worse leak near the nose/eye area than the slight one I have now.

[freestyle]

I have been on Apap now for 3 months, so I'm no expert. I have an S9 and a pressure of 17. I start the ramp at 11 for 45 minutes so I can fall asleep. I first tried the Fulllife mask but soon found it to require too many adjustments, every night, and it seemed noisy. I then bought a RS 431. It was quite but I could not stop the leaks. Then came a RS 432, Same results. I also tried a couple other FFM but with no luck. I finally settled down with the Quatro. But major leaks if I moved my head, I bought the anti leak strap from padacheek, but it did not seem to do anything when I use it as designed. Now instead of putting the intake elbow through the hole in the strap, I put the strap around my head, I temp cover the air vents when conecting the ends together, I then slide the connected strap down the mask toward the elbow, uncovering the vent. The mask is narrower at the vents so this tightens the strap. I now can move my head around and side sleep with no leaks. I keep it pretty tight. I do get some puffs in the morning but I think thats from face oil. Then I was bothered by very watery eyes. I tried a swim mask to cover my eyes, but that hurt. I found at Walgreens a "Soft Comfort Sleep Mask" It covers the eyes and does not interfere with the mask. After a few days my eyes felt alot better.

[jakihill@msn.com]

My husband has been using Rezzzes, cotton liners that fit between the skin and mask. Holds in place all night without leaks. A great invention.

[islandboy5150]

I've had the same cushion for four years, could use replacing but it still seals. Until it blows out or splits I can't see replacing it. Might order a new one and try it just for kicks. It's kind of a PITA since my doc is my DME though. Anytime I want to try something new or get replacement parts I have to go in for an office visit and explain myself and pay him the co-pay for the privilege of that. UGGGHHHH. I hate that.

Anyway, I wash the mask every night with zest bar soap and clean the oil off my face with an alcohol pad and shave to get a good seal. I use a Regenesis pillow that I can form to keep the pillow from pushing against the mask because I'm a side sleeper too. I also use the PAP-CAP as my headgear, it keeps the mask in position so well it may as well be welded to my face and its the most comfortable set up that I think can ever be done. I can't think of one thing that I could do that would make my CPAP sentence/experience better. And it's all thanks to everyone in this forum!

[WestCoastCdnGrl]

Hello
Have any of you "leakers" tried remzzzs yet? I made mine out of an old well washed white t-shirt, only I added a bit to go all the way up to the plastic head piece and covered that. If you go to the remzzz web site you will see them, then go back to this forum and type in remzzz or homemade remzzz, there is a pattern there you can copy. Actually you can just draw the outline of your mask on the fabric, but leave 1/2 to 3/4 of an inch extra all the way round. I love them, no leaks whatsoever, and I keep my mask straps fairly loose, the mask is intended to sort of float on your face.
Good luck
Nan

Kate meekly raises her hand to say that she has tried Remzzz's and found that while they are a good concept, they didn't work that well for her, even with one-time and multi-day use.... she still has 25 of them left (plus the 2 forehead pad liners, all in the original plastic bag they were packaged in) that she is willing to sell to someone for the amazingly low price of USD 17.50$, including shipping (from her pet and smoke free home in Vancouver, Canada)

She has a Pad a Cheek mask liner and a matching Anti Leak strap on order, and will try those next, as she searches to eradicate the leaks in her Quattro.

[pbsd]

It could also be your humidity. If my humidity is set to high the mask cushion gets to flimsy and makes it impossible to get a good seal. I turned the humidity down to 1.5 and the seal is great. Now my problem is a sore throat from the low humidity.

[Rsamfor]

I thought mine was leaking as well... come to find out my therapist almost had a cow... that is the exhale ports they are always suposed to "leak". I would be careful before making this change.