Quattro FX - what is the right fit?

[artz]

I've been using the above since December 11 (after having to give up on the Swift FX Nasal Pillows). The change was a good move (as I couldn't keep my mouth shut with the other). After struggling with leaks while lying on my side (that's how I prefer to sleep), I ended up buying a CPAPmax Pillow (which I like). I seem to still have leaks, however, and I find myself messing around trying to adjust the face mask during the night to stop the leaks. This then gets me to wondering during the night if the face mask needs to be tigher. But in some ways it already seems too tight, and I wonder if too tight is counter productive. I re-read the manual today (rather limited) so just wondering now if anyone has gone through this struggle and arrived at a solution for getting the right face mask fit?

[Trouba]

I have the same problem. But I don't have the answer.

[porete]

I tried the Quattro FX, but had the same problems. I could never seem to get the headgear tight enough to stop the leaks or get a proper fit. I finally ended up switching to the Philips Fitlife FFM. I have no problems with leaks and it is pretty comfortable to sleep on your side.

[Toreador]

Artz if you haven't done so, check here for tips on the proper sizing and videos on it's use. www dot cpap dot com/productpage/3397
This mask requires practice. Generally, tighter is not better.

[slepybear]

I`m a newcomer in this, but it seems that the method I have picked up from the technician and the internet works. Been at this for ten days so I`m a true expert.
When I put on the mask I tighten the top straps just so the mask touches the bridge of my nose. Then I tighten the lower straps so the mask settles on my lower face. Still featherlight. Then I start the machine. I can then feel that the seals inflate. If I experience leaks i tighten the lower straps very lightly, till the leaks go away; even if the leak is at my nose. Should it still leak at the nose I tighten the top straps maybe 1/32 inch. When leaks have stopped I put the machine in mask fitting mode. That gives me 15 cm/H2O. If it is still leakfree I put my head on the pillow and move around a bit to see if any leaks occur. If I have to correct for any leaks I use the tiniest of corrections on the straps. Generally I only correct with the bottom straps.
A week or so ago I had a number of leaks. Tried to correct by tightening. This led to more leaks. So I started from scratch. That helped. Max leak last night: 6l/min, Average : 0,42.
Hope this can help.

[Julie]

Overtightening can definitely be counterproductive, so try fighting your instincts and loosen it some - also try following the trix Slepybear uses (poster just before me) and see how things go.

[jencat824]

Here is a link to a tutorial on the Mirage Quattro, some of the steps may help. I think the basic point it not to overtighten, that loose is better. I've tried to use the Quattro FX for her, but I'm not having much luck myself. Even loose, it seems to big for my face, the cushion does not hit my face at the bottom, even with the nose piece at the very top of the bridge of my nose. In short, I think if it fit my face, the loose approach would work.

http://maskarrayed.wordpress.com/taming ... e-quattro/

Good luck,
Jen

[70sSanO]

For me tighter is better, but I use elastic straps so the mask is pulled straight back on my face and not up and back as with Quattro FX headgear.

I have a medium, which is a little big according to the sizing, and when I first got the mask, it would leak. I tried a small but the mask pinched my nose to where I could not breathe easily. So I got my medium back.

The main problem I have with a loose fit is that when I move, toss or turn, or go from my back to my side the seal would break and start to leak. Masks are a hit or miss because one size; such as a medium does not fit everyone equally as well. It would be nice it there were multiple cushion options for the same mask size. At one time Resmed had masks that were regular and shallow, but that may not have been successful/profitable and it is not an option on the Quattro.

In March I will have 2 years on the original mask and cushion and it is still going strong.

John

[Trouba]

Well last night was a bust that thing leaked like a sieve, not sure what to do now. I tried looser last night but just laying there on my back you could just feel the seal give out slowly.

[artz]

Thanks all for the input and sharing of experiences. I'm still working on trying to figure this out. I'm hoping one day I won't keep waking up several times a night with leaks. I notice too that the mask tends to move up during the night i.e. level with my eyeballs. So, I either shift it down while on, or sometimes I stop the air flow, take the mask off, and start over. I am looking forward to sleeping through the night one day and feeling more rested.

[MrStein]

Have you tried mask liners? They really helped me with the FX. Pad A Cheek, RemZZZ or Quietus liners are well reviewed here.

[wardmiller]

My experience has been the sizes within a product line can be just as variable as one product line to another.

After trying and rejecting four different full-face masks, I found the Quattro FX was perfect for me -- almost. With all the others, I ended up making them as tight as heck, just to stop the leaks, even though the instructions always said to not over-tighten (what ever that meant, quantitatively). With the FX, I adjusted the straps very loose. When I had the machine on max, the seals just filled out nicely and the mask floated on my face, perfectly. The triangular shape of the seal seemed to fit between my cheeks just right, and then nestled above my chin.

But it turned out not to be Paradise. Each night I'd wake up after about 4 hours, chewing on the lower edge of the seal. The mask would slowly ride up my nose until the bottom got to my mouth and broke the air seal. The MDE aide said that size Medium was too small and a size Large would cure the problem. But that was like changing from Medium to Large pajamas because I was getting too large around the middle. It now made the sleeves and pant legs too long. The Large FX added the needed length from nose to chin, but also got wider and hit my cheeks instead of the grooves between my cheeks and nose. Alas, leaks galore.

So, I tightened the straps a wee bit. Still leaked. Tightened some more. Etc, etc. Now I have been using the Large Quattro FX for two months, with the straps very tight, and I sleep through each night with no leaks when I roll over. So, as we've seen here time and again, what works just fine for one person, or one mask, just may not be the answer for another (person, or size mask).

[questor1]

Artz, I started at just about the same time you did and I had a medium Quatro FX that turned out to be to large. I just exchanged it for a small. Aside from restless leg syndrome, I sleep on my side and because of bursitis, I know I change positions frequently during the night. This always results in leaks. The good part is that regardless of the leaks, my AHI is ok. I'm confident I will find the optimal fit eventually and minimize the leaks. I suspect being leak free is not something that many, if any, people enjoy.

[cosmo]

Practice practice practice

I wanted to test out my Mirage Quattro last night for when I'm sick. I practiced a lot during the day. I can be leak free but it is very snug under the ears. More than my liking. I did at one point during day get it to be very loose and could run a finger under the straps below my ear with no leaks. Couldn't replicate it again after I removed the mask But its possible as I was laying on my side and switched sides of the pillow like that.

This is a snap shot of 1 hour of sleep during the night. When I woke up, I went back to my regular nasal pillow because I had recorded enough data

[DoriC]

Art, you mentioned the CpapMaxPillow. My husband tried it and we found it to be too firm with very little give so his mask leaked a lot on his side as it dislodged the mask. We haven't found the "perfect" pillow yet but have the most success with a memory foam contour pillow. Mike is quite restless and turns a lot.