Pad A Cheek...Did not take pressure off my neck area

[Suddenly Worn Out]

I ordered one of those Pad A cheek things to fix to the lower strap on my Quattra FFM. The objective was to take pressure off the back of my neck, particularly there is an area on my left side of my neck that puts some mild pressure on my eustacian tube area. Which, over time has created an ear pain issue for me.

Tried it one night. It did not take the pressure off the eustacian tube area of my neck on the left side. I still had pain, increased pain actually, the next day. The extra padding just made the problem worse. I also found it harder to adjust my mask straps with the thing on.

So its back to square one for me. I still have an appointment with a dentist to see if he can make me an oral appliance to stop mouth leak. And then switch back to a loose fitting nasal mask, like the Activa. If that works, I should be doing better. If not, I dont know what Im going to do.

Pad A Cheek does seem to be a great product in many respects and I believe it would help many others. It seems very well made and the service was excellent. It just did not work for me.

Eric

[MyIdaho]

Which device did you buy? Contact Karen at Pad A Cheek, she strives to provide excellent advice and product.

Sounds like you have adjusted your straps way too tight. I found the Pad A Cheek anti-leak strap to be very helpful, reduced leaks to almost nil and allowed side sleeping without causing leaks. Have you tried the tips in this excellent article on how tame the quattro: http://maskarrayed.wordpress.com/taming ... e-quattro/

[Sheriff Buford]

Suddenly: looks as the Quattro may not be your mask. I have found that people will put up a fight to get a mask to work, then eventually give up on it. They seem to know when its not going to work out for them. Have you considered that the Quattro is not for you?

Sheriff

[Pad A Cheek]

Eric,

Please check your PM. We want to help, not make things more difficult.
Karen

[JeffH]

I ordered one of those Pad A cheek things to fix to the lower strap on my Quattra FFM. The objective was to take pressure off the back of my neck, particularly there is an area on my left side of my neck that puts some mild pressure on my eustacian tube area. Which, over time has created an ear pain issue for me.

Tried it one night. Total failure. The extra padding just made the problem worse. I also found it harder to adjust my mask straps with the thing on.

So its back to square one for me. I still have an appointment with a dentist to see if he can make me an oral appliance to stop mouth leak. And then switch back to a loose fitting nasal mask, like the Activa. If that works, I should be doing better. If not, I dont know what Im going to do.

Eric

Total failure after only one night? Man have you got alot to learn about how learning to live with XPAP treatment. NOTHING works right first rattle out of the bag. Karen will work with you and you should talk to her, not post crap like this on the board.

JeffH

[Suddenly Worn Out]

Yes I have considered the Quattro may not be for me. The thing is, Ive been using it with success (minus the tight straps and the problems the tight straps have caused) since 2007. Ive just reached a point where I (or my left ear and my sinuses) cannot take the tight straps anymore. Yes, that is why I made an appointment with a sleep medicine dental person to have an oral appliance made to shut down mouth leak and then go back to a loose fitting (loose straps) nasal mask.

Eric

Suddenly: looks as the Quattro may not be your mask. I have found that people will put up a fight to get a mask to work, then eventually give up on it. They seem to know when its not going to work out for them. Have you considered that the Quattro is not for you?

Sheriff

[Suddenly Worn Out]

Hi Karen,

Thank you for your thoughtful and helpful PM. I responded back. I want to emphasize the problem is not your product, the problem is tight straps. I merely thought "some padding" might help my problem and some other posters here suggested your product. So I tried it. That it did not work for me does not at all mean it is a bad product, it appears extremely well made and for its intended purpose, Im sure it would work great.

I just have to go a different route, I think. Oral appliance and go back to a loose strap nasal mask. Otherwise, I think I am pretty well screwed as the Quattro is the only full face mask that has been able to handle my jaw drop and mouth breathing.

Thanks again,

Eric

Eric,

Please check your PM. We want to help, not make things more difficult.
Karen

[Suddenly Worn Out]

Uh, dude, I have been using CPAP with total compliance since Fall 2007. I know when things work and when they do not work.

Eric

I ordered one of those Pad A cheek things to fix to the lower strap on my Quattra FFM. The objective was to take pressure off the back of my neck, particularly there is an area on my left side of my neck that puts some mild pressure on my eustacian tube area. Which, over time has created an ear pain issue for me.

Tried it one night. Total failure. The extra padding just made the problem worse. I also found it harder to adjust my mask straps with the thing on.

So its back to square one for me. I still have an appointment with a dentist to see if he can make me an oral appliance to stop mouth leak. And then switch back to a loose fitting nasal mask, like the Activa. If that works, I should be doing better. If not, I dont know what Im going to do.

Eric

Total failure after only one night? Man have you got alot to learn about how learning to live with XPAP treatment. NOTHING works right first rattle out of the bag. Karen will work with you and you should talk to her, not post crap like this on the board.

JeffH

[MyIdaho]

Hi Karen,

Thank you for your thoughtful and helpful PM. I responded back. I want to emphasize the problem is not your product, the problem is tight straps. I merely thought "some padding" might help my problem and some other posters here suggested your product. So I tried it. That it did not work for me does not at all mean it is a bad product, it appears extremely well made and for its intended purpose, Im sure it would work great.

I just have to go a different route, I think. Oral appliance and go back to a loose strap nasal mask. Otherwise, I think I am pretty well screwed as the Quattro is the only full face mask that has been able to handle my jaw drop and mouth breathing.

Thanks again,

Eric

You should retitle this thread. You are totally disparaging a company because one of their products did not work for you. It would be fair to list the product by name and state it did not work for you. Your thread title is a total failure on your part.

[angcor580]

I agree with the last post...You need to change the title as you are making the company look like a failure when in fact they are not. I have been using their products for a week now and my AHI has gone down. You may just need to try a different technique.

[Loreena]

I would be in misery if Karen did not make me the strap covers for the Pilairo. They now enable me to sleep on my side with absolutely no discomfort or marks whatsoever. Karen, you are an angel.

[Denial Dave]

suddenly... I don't doubt you know your mask....

just a thought ---when was the last time you replaced your headgear straps?

is it possible that they may have lost some or all of the elasticity from washing??

[JeffH]

Uh, dude, I have been using CPAP with total compliance since Fall 2007. I know when things work and when they do not work.

Eric

I ordered one of those Pad A cheek things to fix to the lower strap on my Quattra FFM. The objective was to take pressure off the back of my neck, particularly there is an area on my left side of my neck that puts some mild pressure on my eustacian tube area. Which, over time has created an ear pain issue for me.

Tried it one night. Total failure. The extra padding just made the problem worse. I also found it harder to adjust my mask straps with the thing on.

So its back to square one for me. I still have an appointment with a dentist to see if he can make me an oral appliance to stop mouth leak. And then switch back to a loose fitting nasal mask, like the Activa. If that works, I should be doing better. If not, I dont know what Im going to do.

Eric

Total failure after only one night? Man have you got alot to learn about how learning to live with XPAP treatment. NOTHING works right first rattle out of the bag. Karen will work with you and you should talk to her, not post crap like this on the board.

JeffH

You don't act like it.

JeffH

[BlackSpinner]

Maybe you could consider this one

[Suddenly Worn Out]

I changed the title to make it more specific.

You need to remember, it was a couple members here (not Pad a Cheek) whom originally recommended the product for my complaint. I tried it and it did not work for me. I posted that it did not work for me. And I get jumped on by a bunch of people, overreacted IMO. Except for the maker of the product, Karen. She acted nice about it.

Thanks Karen.