Quattro ff mask

sleepyhead63 · Post by **sleepyhead63** » Sun Oct 07, 2007 7:26 am

I can't seem to get a good seal! My leak last night was 2.14, I tried making adjustments all night but nothing worked. The leak was all in the chin area, I had to make the straps soo tight that it was uncomfortable. Do you think the mask is just too big, I used the sizing guide and it called for a large but it was also real close to being a medium also. Any suggestions would be appreicated. I really need a ff mask because of nasal congestion so I am hoping I can solve this problem.

Wulfman... · Post by **Wulfman...** » Sun Oct 07, 2007 8:05 am

You didn't say what your pressure was......but.....
Tightening that mask down tight shouldn't be an option. It should seal better if it's on the looser side.
You didn't say how you adjusted the forehead piece and tension on the upper straps, but my recommendation is to put the forehead piece in the full upright position (no angle) and loosen up the top straps (a lot).....to the point where it almost doesn't touch the forehead. Put whatever tension on just the lower straps.

If all that doesn't work, maybe a medium size would be in order. I know I have to wear my Quattro in a slightly lower position than my UMFF. Both are Large size, but the Quattro feels just a teenie bit larger. It's got a good set of seals, though.....I usually wear mine on the weekends and get low leak numbers even with a little longer facial hair.

Den

RiverDave · Post by **RiverDave** » Sun Oct 07, 2007 9:10 am

One thing I have noticed is that the position of the bottom straps makes a big difference in leak rate. For me, the bottom straps have to sit about an inch higher than the headgear would "suggest". If the straps touch my neck at the back, I get leaks. Now, the straps are resting on my head at the back rather than the neck.

I have actually shortened the vertical pieces of the headgear to keep the bottom strap higher.

Good Luck,

sleepyhead63 · Post by **sleepyhead63** » Sun Oct 07, 2007 10:24 am

My pressure is set at 14. I from loose to tight and everything in between but can still feel the air escaping under my chin. I would turn on the machine first, then lie down and adjust the straps on my forehead like you said to where its barely touching my forehead then work on the bottom, to no avail.

The ironic thing is my leak was high but my numbers were lower so once I take care of the leak I will be in good shape. The funny thing is even though my numbers were lower I woke up tired, I guess because along with the leak there was a trumpeting type of sound coming from the sides of the mask which would wake me up and I would adjust the mask. All night long this went on. I feel like I am soo close to getting good therapy but I need to come up with a solution to this problem. Thanks for any help you can provide.

Wulfman... · Post by **Wulfman...** » Sun Oct 07, 2007 10:55 am

sleepyhead63 wrote:My pressure is set at 14. I from loose to tight and everything in between but can still feel the air escaping under my chin. I would turn on the machine first, then lie down and adjust the straps on my forehead like you said to where its barely touching my forehead then work on the bottom, to no avail.

The ironic thing is my leak was high but my numbers were lower so once I take care of the leak I will be in good shape. The funny thing is even though my numbers were lower I woke up tired, I guess because along with the leak there was a trumpeting type of sound coming from the sides of the mask which would wake me up and I would adjust the mask. All night long this went on. I feel like I am soo close to getting good therapy but I need to come up with a solution to this problem. Thanks for any help you can provide.

Did you wrap the elbow (both ends) in the front of the mask with Teflon tape? (about 4 wraps per end)

Until I wrapped mine, it felt like I had a leak under/around there, too.

Also, were you going by the feeling around your face or the numbers on your machine?

Den

sleepyhead63 · Post by **sleepyhead63** » Sun Oct 07, 2007 12:40 pm

The feelings around my face. I could feel and hear the air rushing out. I wrapped the teflon tape around the elbow threads that connects to grey piece that connects to the tubing.

Wulfman... · Post by **Wulfman...** » Sun Oct 07, 2007 12:53 pm

sleepyhead63 wrote:The feelings around my face. I could feel and hear the air rushing out. I wrapped the teflon tape around the elbow threads that connects to grey piece that connects to the tubing.

If you pull the elbow out from the front of the mask, that end can be wrapped, too.
This MAY NOT be your problem, but those connectors leak like crazy until they get the full Teflon treatiment.

Den

wintersweet · Post by **wintersweet** » Fri Oct 26, 2007 8:14 am

Can I "thread hijack"? I just got a Quattro, used it for the first time last night, and it leaks into my eyes (at the top of my nose) like crazy. It's very annoying. I wonder if they should have given me a small...I tried loosening and tightening, and the only thing that worked was tightening the top and bottom straps pretty severely. (I don't think that's going to be a good idea during a migraine, so this doesn't seem like a good permanent solution.) I'll try the adjustment suggestions here, but if anyone has any other thoughts, let me know.

Sigh...they failed to give me replacement allergen filters, too, and the slip of paper in the box indicated the wrong insurance. Can't wait to call them about all that. :p

Wulfman · Post by **Wulfman** » Fri Oct 26, 2007 9:16 am

wintersweet wrote:Can I "thread hijack"? I just got a Quattro, used it for the first time last night, and it leaks into my eyes (at the top of my nose) like crazy. It's very annoying. I wonder if they should have given me a small...I tried loosening and tightening, and the only thing that worked was tightening the top and bottom straps pretty severely. (I don't think that's going to be a good idea during a migraine, so this doesn't seem like a good permanent solution.) I'll try the adjustment suggestions here, but if anyone has any other thoughts, let me know.

Sigh...they failed to give me replacement allergen filters, too, and the slip of paper in the box indicated the wrong insurance. Can't wait to call them about all that. :p

I don't know if this will help or if it's just too big for you......but, I found that there's just a little bit of a size difference between my (Large) UMFF and (Large) Quattro. With my UMFF, I push it up farther on my nose so the bottom rests close to my bottom lip. With the Quattro, I end up pulling it down on the top of my nose.....which makes it ride a little lower on my chin. I've NEVER had to tighten mine down and it seems like the looser I wear it, the better it seals......well, to a point, anyway.

Good luck.

Den

WxMan · Post by **WxMan** » Fri Oct 26, 2007 12:02 pm

Would guess mask size could indeed be the issue...as it always can.

My experience: When I couldn't use a nasal mask due to mouth leakage, I was switched to a full face mask. Fisher & Paykel 431. Of course the DME, wouldn't give me the all the packaged cushions...just checked my face out and said I needed a large. I couldn't get the mask to seal. If I stopped the leak at the chin, it leaked at the nose...stop the leak at the nose and it leaked at the chin. After ten days I went back and complained and was then given the medium. Much better but had to cinch it down so hard I had permanent lines for over four hours after removal.

So...I had read here about the high degree of satisfaction with the Ultra Mirage. Went back to the DME and requested it. They wanted to furnish me with the Respironices FF first but I insisted I wanted the Ultra Mirage. They agreed to give it to me, measured my face and said I needed a large. Here we go again...fix a leak at the top and the bottom starts...etc. This time it went back in three days and was given the medium...best I'd tried but still had nose leaks unless the mask was worn low on the face and very tight.

After a year on the Ultra Mirage, I was anxiously awaiting the Quattro to solve those nose leaks. When it was released, it was down to the DME once again...this time I told them I wanted the medium...which I got. It solved the nose leaks and although I still get occasional leaks (they usually develop after about 4 to 5 hours with the mask on)...suspect its related to sweating under the seal.

In order to get my mask to seal well, I have to wear it slightly lower than the normal postion...the top being just below the depression at the bridge of my nose and the bottom actually on the lower part of my chin. I can wear the mask higher and compensate for the nose leak that develops by using the nosepiece adjustment, however, this creates uncomfortable pressure on my upper cheekbones. Pressure has to pretty firm but not excessive.

The moral...just because the fitting guides indicate you need a certain size, those guides remain just that...a guide. Due to your facial features you may do much better with a different size. Where that is the case, I suspect in most cases that will involve a smaller mask. Wear the smallest mask you can in order to minimize leaks.

Mask