I have been using a Fisher and Paykel Flexifit 407 for 6 months, and I really like it...until lately, that is. It has starting "fighting" me at night, with leaks, etc.
I really want to try the Activa, since I've read so much good feedback on this site.
I went to cpap.com and used the mask fitting guide, and the Activa is not one that is recommended for me.
In general, is it better for people with small faces, or large? I wonder why it's not on my list?
What Kind Of Face Do I Need?
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What Kind Of Face Do I Need?
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I honestly do not know why it would not fit, unless you have a very small face. I do know that the Activa is large and heavy compared to the mask you have been using. I use the Activa and also the Ultra Mirage II. Perhaps the seal has deteriorated on your mask due to age, and it needs to be replaced. One thing I do know is that if you have a mask that has been serving you so good, changing to another mask is generally not the way to go. I would try cleaning the mask in a 1/3vinegar 2/3water solution and see if that stops the leaks. I am sure that you already know about washing your face to remove all the oils.
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rested gal
- Posts: 12880
- Joined: Thu Sep 09, 2004 10:14 pm
- Location: Tennessee
Lee Lee, I have a small face and the Activa works fine for me.
Out of curiosity, I went to the sizing guide just now; did careful measurements:
Length 1 1/2 inches
Diagonal 1 1/2 inches
Width 1 1/2 inches
Depth 3/8 inch
Full Face mask length 3 3/8
Female
Slotted nares - Yes
(Mine aren't narrow like the ones in the pic, but are definitely closer to slotted than to round.)
Only two masks that work well for me made it onto the list:
Breeze with nasal pillows
Ultra Mirage FF
But the sizing guide is way off on pillows size to recommend for women with the Breeze. Should be Medium and Large pillows for most women, imho. "Small" are too apt to leak and/or have to be crammed up uncomfortably into most peoples' nostrils, even small ones. With the Breeze I use the Large nasal pillows - very comfy and leakfree.
Several masks that made it onto the "recommended" list are ones I've tried and found very unsatisfactory (hurt or leaked, sometimes both!):
Comfort Classic
Comfort Curve
Mirage Vista
With the exception of the Breeze, regular nasal and nasal pillows masks that I use and that work great for me are not even on the list:
Aeiomed "Headrest" (Aura) However, I can understand omitting that great interface from the list for women until Aeiomed releases the smaller headgear for women. The current headgear needs some tweaking for a lot of women.
Activa (shallow or standard) - the most leakproof nasal mask I've ever used. I like it extremely well.
PB's DreamFIT (shallow) - another nasal mask that works extremely well for me.
Ultra Mirage nasal mask - does fine for me.
For that matter, the Swift should be on the list as recommended for me, as it fit fine and didn't leak when I used it. Just had an exhaust position and noise I didn't like.
So.....if I were a new user, absolutely uninformed about masks and went to the sizing guide, I would be steered away (with two exceptions) from some of the best fitting masks for me and steered toward three that I found unsuitably leaky.
Masks really are a very individual thing, but anyone who is thinking about trying an Activa should try it. It ought to pop up on every "recommended" list, imho. The Activa certainly is much more worth a try than masks with "comfort" in their names...on any size face. I'd suggest getting the "Shallow" Activa for most women.
I agree with capt that you might simply need a new cushion for your present mask, especially since you say it's been suiting you well for the first six months.
Out of curiosity, I went to the sizing guide just now; did careful measurements:
Length 1 1/2 inches
Diagonal 1 1/2 inches
Width 1 1/2 inches
Depth 3/8 inch
Full Face mask length 3 3/8
Female
Slotted nares - Yes
(Mine aren't narrow like the ones in the pic, but are definitely closer to slotted than to round.)
Only two masks that work well for me made it onto the list:
Breeze with nasal pillows
Ultra Mirage FF
But the sizing guide is way off on pillows size to recommend for women with the Breeze. Should be Medium and Large pillows for most women, imho. "Small" are too apt to leak and/or have to be crammed up uncomfortably into most peoples' nostrils, even small ones. With the Breeze I use the Large nasal pillows - very comfy and leakfree.
Several masks that made it onto the "recommended" list are ones I've tried and found very unsatisfactory (hurt or leaked, sometimes both!):
Comfort Classic
Comfort Curve
Mirage Vista
With the exception of the Breeze, regular nasal and nasal pillows masks that I use and that work great for me are not even on the list:
Aeiomed "Headrest" (Aura) However, I can understand omitting that great interface from the list for women until Aeiomed releases the smaller headgear for women. The current headgear needs some tweaking for a lot of women.
Activa (shallow or standard) - the most leakproof nasal mask I've ever used. I like it extremely well.
PB's DreamFIT (shallow) - another nasal mask that works extremely well for me.
Ultra Mirage nasal mask - does fine for me.
For that matter, the Swift should be on the list as recommended for me, as it fit fine and didn't leak when I used it. Just had an exhaust position and noise I didn't like.
So.....if I were a new user, absolutely uninformed about masks and went to the sizing guide, I would be steered away (with two exceptions) from some of the best fitting masks for me and steered toward three that I found unsuitably leaky.
Masks really are a very individual thing, but anyone who is thinking about trying an Activa should try it. It ought to pop up on every "recommended" list, imho. The Activa certainly is much more worth a try than masks with "comfort" in their names...on any size face. I'd suggest getting the "Shallow" Activa for most women.
I agree with capt that you might simply need a new cushion for your present mask, especially since you say it's been suiting you well for the first six months.
Activa question
RestedGal,Activa (shallow or standard) - the most leakproof nasal mask I've ever used. I like it extremely well.
How high is the pressure you have used with the Activa?
I really liked this mask when I used it in my titration study. The DME therapist recommended against it. (As I recall, she said, "It leaks when used with high pressures"). She did find another mask I liked, so I didn't insist on getting the Activa.
I am thinking of getting one as an extra mask, but I would feel pretty silly if it turned out that the DME was right on this.
My titration study recommended CPAP at 15 or at 6-20 Automatic. I have been running a max pressure of 16-20 this week.
Moogy
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rested gal
- Posts: 12880
- Joined: Thu Sep 09, 2004 10:14 pm
- Location: Tennessee
Hi Moogy,
My autopap rarely hits 14 or 15. Usually stays down around 9 or 10, occasionally going up some during the night.
Perhaps some others on here who are using the Activa at pressures over 15 will notice your post and chime in. It really is quite an amazing mask.
Tell ya what I'll do. In the interests of lab-ratting how the Activa handles higher pressures, I'll try mine at several straight pressures -- 16, 18, and 20. Even though I'm only going to those pressures for a few minutes each (hey, I KNOW how aerophagia feels! LOL!!) I'll give the Activa a fair test workout - tossing and turning and shoving the mask sideways against the pillow.
Will let you know how it goes.
My autopap rarely hits 14 or 15. Usually stays down around 9 or 10, occasionally going up some during the night.
Perhaps some others on here who are using the Activa at pressures over 15 will notice your post and chime in. It really is quite an amazing mask.
Tell ya what I'll do. In the interests of lab-ratting how the Activa handles higher pressures, I'll try mine at several straight pressures -- 16, 18, and 20. Even though I'm only going to those pressures for a few minutes each (hey, I KNOW how aerophagia feels! LOL!!) I'll give the Activa a fair test workout - tossing and turning and shoving the mask sideways against the pillow.
Will let you know how it goes.
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rested gal
- Posts: 12880
- Joined: Thu Sep 09, 2004 10:14 pm
- Location: Tennessee
Welp, I decided to cut to the chase and used the Activa at a straight 20. Whew, what a blast of air. Don't see how anyone manages to breathe out against that. Or avoid aerophagia.
Stuck with it for almost 20 minutes, doing the toss 'n turn bit.
Had to adjust it tighter on my face than the normally very loose straps. Made the more rigid inner silicone press uncomfortably against my cheeks. That would have been the case with any nasal (covers the nose) mask though, at that kind of pressure.
Couple of times I had to pull it forward and let it seat back on better. Also had to stay on the edge of the pillow more. The PAPillow was very good for that. Once I got straps, forehead angle, etc. adjusted, it was virtually leakproof even with turning from side to side.
Bottom line - Activa can withstand high pressure. I can't. But it can.
Stuck with it for almost 20 minutes, doing the toss 'n turn bit.
Had to adjust it tighter on my face than the normally very loose straps. Made the more rigid inner silicone press uncomfortably against my cheeks. That would have been the case with any nasal (covers the nose) mask though, at that kind of pressure.
Couple of times I had to pull it forward and let it seat back on better. Also had to stay on the edge of the pillow more. The PAPillow was very good for that. Once I got straps, forehead angle, etc. adjusted, it was virtually leakproof even with turning from side to side.
Bottom line - Activa can withstand high pressure. I can't. But it can.
Thanks for the research
RestedGal,
Thanks for the research! You really went above and beyond the call! Your experiment certainly answered my question about the Activa and high pressures.
Moogy
Thanks for the research! You really went above and beyond the call! Your experiment certainly answered my question about the Activa and high pressures.
Moogy
Lee Lee,
When I first ordered CPAP, I ordered both the Activa and Aura masks. Due to a part missing from the Aura, I used the Activa for the first week or so. I was able to adapt to it easily and was pretty much sleeping through the night by the end of the week. My pressures runs 10 - 14 and I didn't have much of a leakage problems. It took a few nights to realize that it worked best if I kept the straps fairly lose and let the pressure seal the mask.
After I received the missing part for the Aura I've been using it almost exclusively. The Activa was very good but the Aura is better.
Jim
When I first ordered CPAP, I ordered both the Activa and Aura masks. Due to a part missing from the Aura, I used the Activa for the first week or so. I was able to adapt to it easily and was pretty much sleeping through the night by the end of the week. My pressures runs 10 - 14 and I didn't have much of a leakage problems. It took a few nights to realize that it worked best if I kept the straps fairly lose and let the pressure seal the mask.
After I received the missing part for the Aura I've been using it almost exclusively. The Activa was very good but the Aura is better.
Jim
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