Behind the Ears Headgear?

[DiverCTHunter]

I need some help resolving a catch-22 with the standard size headgear for the ResMed Quattro before my DME and chiropractor come to blows

If I wear the thing correctly (have re-adjusted the straps several times), it sits directly over my C1 vertebra (which is mis-aligned) and slowly worsens the alignment to the point where I start to lose sensation in my fingers.

I've tried sliding the headgear up to the point where the bottom strap is level with the bottom of my ears, but in that configuration, the top strap is over the top of my head and I have to crank the nose-bridge adjustment down to its lowest setting to stop the mask from leaking around my eyes. The bottom strap sometimes slides back to the "correct" position during the night, so I wind up with Raccoon-face in the morning.

I've been a SCUBA-diver for years, and just about every SCUBA mask manufacturer uses an above-and-behind-the-ear strap configuration. Surely at least one CPAP mask manufacturer makes something similar.

Do I just have the wrong size ResMed headgear, or are there any manufacturers that make a behind-the-ear style with 4-point attachments? I've seen several nasal-only masks where the headgear would be far enough away from my C1, but all of those either come with a chin-strap or else only use 2-point attachment.

[xenablue]

Yes, there is a new mask that attaches to behind your ears.

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

Cheers,
xena

[Pugsy]

I have a similar issue with my neck and that lower strap was the killer for me. I looked at a great number of the full face masks at my DME and on the web. I have a metal plate securing the spine from C3 to C5. The only one that came close to having that lower strap farther up on my head to not mess with the base of the skull and C1 was the Innomed/RespCare Hybrid. The lower strap can be worn up a bit higher on the head and still get a very decent seal and doesn't hurt the neck.

I used to have an older picture of the mask on a fake head that showed it with the lower strap placement above C1. I will see if I can find it again. That is why I did eventually try the Hybrid. I ended up not really ever needing or wanting to use it since I do well with nasal pillow mask but the strap placement was not the issue that I chose not to use it. It would have been the best choice should I have had to absolutely use a full face mask.

The ResMed Liberty is also a Hybrid type..but the lower strap wouldn't sit high enough to be comfortable and not put the torque on the upper spine that I was trying to avoid.

So I would suggest you consider the Innomed Hybrid. I can for sure relate to your problem and that mask offered me the best chance at relief... Let me go see if I can find that picture. It was one that I stumbled upon about 3 months into therapy.

Now if you don't just have to use something over your mouth (but I am assuming that you feel that you do for some reason) give the nasal pillow mask a try. Next thing to having nothing on your face as there is. The Swift FX is awesome comfortable. I am using the new behind the ear Bella Loops with it right now but the original headgear is quite comfortable. Check my profile for link to it.

[NateS]

Diver, my impression from your post is that you want/need 4-point attachment for a full-face mask, and are ruling out using nasal pillows, in which case the Bella Loops Swift will not meet your needs, is that correct?

If so, I would suggest that you start your search in cpaptalk with this thread called: "Links to Lab Rat Trophy Awards" and for an update also type: "Lab Rat" into the Search box.

Hopefully, you may/will find a solution there or, in the alternative, a fellow user of your type of mask may chime in.

Good Luck!

Nate

[Pugsy]

I looked and I cannot find the picture of the headgear placement that I wanted to show you.
Everything I find now points to lower placement of the straps but it can be worn with all thing being a bit for forward on the head which brings the bottom strap up just a bit..enough to get it off the base of the skull.

I would suggest getting in touch with Dane at the mask trial library....and for $14...you get to test the mask for a week. It's a very expensive mask to just buy and have it fail.

http://www.cpaplibrary.com/mask-trials

Not a lot of each model available so waiting time depends on how many are on the list wanting the Hybrid ahead of you.

[DiverCTHunter]

Diver, my impression from your post is that you want/need 4-point attachment for a full-face mask, and are ruling out using nasal pillows, in which case the Bella Loops Swift will not meet your needs, is that correct?
...
...
Good Luck!

Nate

Yes, my jaw drops open as soon as I hit N1. The few times I've tried to keep my jaw closed, I couldn't get to sleep at all.

I looked and I cannot find the picture of the headgear placement that I wanted to show you.
Everything I find now points to lower placement of the straps but it can be worn with all thing being a bit for forward on the head which brings the bottom strap up just a bit..enough to get it off the base of the skull.

I would suggest getting in touch with Dane at the mask trial library....and for $14...you get to test the mask for a week. It's a very expensive mask to just buy and have it fail.

http://www.cpaplibrary.com/mask-trials

Not a lot of each model available so waiting time depends on how many are on the list wanting the Hybrid ahead of you.

Thanks, I'll give them a try. I was hoping for a quick-fix, but I guess the long and winding road continues. At least I'm old enough where I don't have a roommate throwing things at me the second I start snoring.

[chunkyfrog]

Have you tried the P/R FullLife full face mask?
The headgear is a little different--modular--no forehead cushion and SIX-point headgear,
including a small stabilizing strap under the chin.
It feels a bit like a bondage fetish, but is comfy for me.

[Kiralynx]

I do not know if it will work on the Quattro, but the first full face I got (for use during respiratory infections, as I hate, hate, hate, hate HATE having my face covered) was the Zzz full face.

This came with a four point harness which was (a) too large for my head, and (b) drove me crazy with claustrophobia.

I did well with the Respironics Comfortlite 2, and really liked the Y-strap on it.

So I removed the harness from the ZZZ, put the clips from it on the lower straps for the Ys, fastened the upper straps to the mask, and put it on.

This meant I had a single strap around the back of my head, and the mask actually quit leaking.

[Jay Aitchsee]

Have you tried the "small" size resmed headgear? The distance between the top and bottom straps at the back is a little less, maybe 3/4" -1''.

[SleepyInIndy]

If the headgear is really giving you a problem - here is an out of the box possibility.

Use a papcap with your mask. The new 'caps' have a method that allows you to attach the mask directly to the chinstrap and bypass the headgear. I don't know if it really works, but on their website they say:

"The PLUS 4 model includes the additional feature of headgear replacement for any standard four-point attachment CPAP mask by directly connecting the cap to the mask using hook and loop connectors." I guess it depends on how hard you have to 'cinch it down'.

The website for papcaps is http://www.pur-sleep.com, plus our host sells them.

John

[DiverCTHunter]

If the headgear is really giving you a problem - here is an out of the box possibility.

Use a papcap with your mask. The new 'caps' have a method that allows you to attach the mask directly to the chinstrap and bypass the headgear. I don't know if it really works, but on their website they say:

"The PLUS 4 model includes the additional feature of headgear replacement for any standard four-point attachment CPAP mask by directly connecting the cap to the mask using hook and loop connectors." I guess it depends on how hard you have to 'cinch it down'.

The website for papcaps is http://www.pur-sleep.com, plus our host sells them.

John

Looks like that one has a chin-strap as well. I really don't want a chin strap if I can avoid it - I've got enough stuff on my face as it is

[TxBobS]

I would suggest getting in touch with Dane at the mask trial library....and for $14...you get to test the mask for a week. It's a very expensive mask to just buy and have it fail.

http://www.cpaplibrary.com/mask-trials

Not a lot of each model available so waiting time depends on how many are on the list wanting the Hybrid ahead of you.

I have the Innomed hybrid coming now. It took about 2 weeks or so for my turn at it.

But on your current mask, considering that the straps should not even be compressing the silicon, having it so tight that I can cause a misalignment seems like it is too tight. That masks is supposed to ride on a cushion of air. With your machine off, the straps should be loose. Are you maybe having to tighten them down to deal with leaks?

[DiverCTHunter]

But on your current mask, considering that the straps should not even be compressing the silicon, having it so tight that I can cause a misalignment seems like it is too tight. That masks is supposed to ride on a cushion of air. With your machine off, the straps should be loose. Are you maybe having to tighten them down to deal with leaks?

Yes, I have to tighten it down. As I said, the headgear sits on my neck, so I have to re-adjust the mask throughout the night.

[DiverCTHunter]

The smaller of the two independent DMEs in my area just gave me a Gel pad as a freebie. I've only used it one day (eyes and sinuses got crudded up last night), but I'll keep you all posted.

[DiverCTHunter]

Well, the gel pad cuts down on the leaking, but I think the real culprit was my seal was due for a replacement.