full-face mask choice: Mojo, Hans Rudolph or Quattro?

[likely]

To avoid leaks, what’s the best full-face mask for a bipap user at 20cm pressure with severe sleep apnea?

I’m a pre-op stomach bypass surgery candidate. Am losing weight, so my facial contour is changing. That’s caused bad leaks in my Resmed Ultra Mirage full-face mask.

I’ve been told to consider the following full-face masks: Mojo (made by SleepNet – it has a gel mask cushion), Hans Rudolph V7600, & Resmed Quattro. Thanks in advance.

[Rich03079]

I am pressure 17, and Quattro is my choice !!!!! It works great!!!!!

Rich03079

[papdaddy]

I would go to the top of the board click on search and type in the kind of mask you are looking for. There are many a great threads on different types of masks and peoples experiences. I would not recomend the Mojo mask as there are many bad reviews for it (leaks like crazy).


Rich

[jla930]

Just keep in mind that every mask works differently for different people. For example, the Resmed Ultra Mirage full-face mask doesn't leak a single bit for me. Rich03079 says the Quattro works great. I've heard many people say the same thing. I've also heard people say the Ultra Mirage seals great whereas the Quattro leaks like crazy. It's all a personal thing. I even read in one of these forums that some poor person had to go through 20 masks to find the right one.

You say your facial contour is changing. Stupid questions here: have you tried the Ultra Mirage in a smaller size? Have you tightened up the straps a bit? Just asking.

[rested gal]

You might need a new cushion for your Ultra Mirage FF mask if you've been using it a long time and haven't replaced the cushion yet.

Of the masks you're considering, I'd put my money on the Quattro.

[jburnham]

I've got new UMFF and Quattro and while I like the Quattro better, it leaks like the devil when my pressure goes up (I range from 6-12cm). I can't imagine how anyone gets a either of those masks to seal at high pressures - the cushion seems too flexible. Are you tightening them down so far that the acrylic is denting your faces?

[likely]

Yes, by all means, I am both changing mask cushions regularly (in response to Rested Gal's question) and am tightening down the mask straps. I'm somewhat detail oriented and so have tried every adjustment on my Resmed Ultra Mirage masks (I have two in case one breaks down or if I need replacement parts quickly).

I'm living with the bridge of my nose being constantly red. A few times the skin has broken and bled. I worry that eventually it could lead to some form of skin cancer but have not yet consulted a dermatologist about this.

Every day upon awakening, I have vertical ridge impressions on either side of my nose (as well as forehead indentations from the forehead part of the mask). They mostly go away after being awake a few hours.

I'm having to change mask cushions more often, lately about once every five or six weeks. This definitely helps, but lately (since I've been losing weight) less so.

Washing the mask doesn't seem to help. I wash it in a gentle detergent solution and warm water, per the Resmed maintenance instructions.

jla930 suggests trying a smaller size mask of the same model I have. I guess that's an option. I hadn't thought of it. Thanks, jla930.

As to fitting options, I've got a fitting appointment with Apria next week. Have had bad experiences with Apria. Here in the S.F. Bay Area, they have a high personnel turnover and quality of RTs and their assistants varies widely. Much bureaucratic sloppiness and mis-communications between docs and RTs.

Also have a second fitting appointment at Kaiser's new, really nice San Jose facility (called Santa Theresa, which his a suburb of San Jose). They eschew Apria, have their own fitting staff and offer a one to two week try-it-before-you-buy it program. (Returned masks are sterilized and recycled somehow.) Trouble is, there's a long wait for fitting appointments (minimum six weeks right now) and it's a bleary-eyed, sleepy, one-hour drive on busy freeways (one way) from where I live.

This is my first time posting to an apnea chatboard. I very much appreciate the number and quality of responses. Keep em' coming, please. I need the advice.

[quote="jburnham"]I've got new UMFF and Quattro and while I like the Quattro better, it leaks like the devil when my pressure goes up (I range from 6-12cm). I can't imagine how anyone gets a either of those masks to seal at high pressures - the cushion seems too flexible. Are you tightening them down so far that the acrylic is denting your faces?

[goose]

I just started with a HC431 -- but don't use FF mask unless my nose is totally clogged up.
You don't say anything about being a mouth breather. If you don't breathe through your mouth there are many more mask options for you.
If you are a mouth breather, you might consider an alternative mask and either tape or polident (you can search through forum for info on methods to accomplish that).

Of the masks you mention, the only one I know about is the Hans Rudolph (not directly yet - saw and tried to fit one at my titration study but didn't use it). It seemed very good quality, seals well, but it's my understanding that it is very very size specific and if you fall between sizes, go small. If your face is changing size and shape continuously it probably wouldn't be appropriate at this point -- by the way, congratulations on your weight loss!!!!
I'm going to try the V7600 myself -- but a bit down the road.

I'm presently using the EVO Headrest/Aura but that's nasal pillows (and I'm at pressure 10cm). It doesn't really touch the face with the exception of the nose pillows. I had the red ridge in the bridge of the nose issue with the ComfortGel mask I used for the first 3 months of my treatment.

Welcome to the forum!!! Let us know how you're doing!!!!
cheers
goose