Ultra Mirage Questions

[izzyb]

I just got the Ultra Mirage Full Face mask and have a few questions to you who use this one. I have used it two nights now and I am not sure if I like it. (I could only find the Ultra Mirage II on the CPAP website.)

Is it normal for the mask to "suck" in and out when you breathe? I am used to a nasal mask.

It seems like I have to make it tighter than my nasal mask to keep it from leaking. Is that normal? This makes deeper dents in my face and of course these are longer since the mask is bigger.

The headgear seems to fit me better than the other, except the strap at the bottom falls around the back of my neck instead of higher. I have a short head/face and I have a problem with the length of the masks and headhear. That is one reason why I am trying the full face. My old mask started in the corner of my eyes and came too far down on my teeth. And this was a petite. My DME rep said that was as short as they get.

Oh, and although this is not a question, the air blowing against my mouth is something to get used to. I prefer it going directly into my nose. It seems like they could direct it more toward the nose instead of the mouth. I use my humidifier on 0 since I found out the warmer the air is, the stuffier I am so the air being cold against my mouth bothers me too.

Anyway, any comments or advice would be appreciated.

[izzyb]

I just found this mask on the website and it is $149.95. My DME said they charge $350.00. That is such a rip-off to our insurance companies and ultimately us. This makes me angry.

[carbonman]

I just found this mask on the website and it is $149.95. My DME said they charge $350.00. That is such a rip-off to our insurance companies and ultimately us. This makes me angry.

I totally agree.
FYI
I have purchased 2 Quattro masks and one UM, from the auction.
These were new, in original packaging.
To my door, $162, for all three masks.

[Wulfman]

I just got the Ultra Mirage Full Face mask and have a few questions to you who use this one. I have used it two nights now and I am not sure if I like it. (I could only find the Ultra Mirage II on the CPAP website.)

Is it normal for the mask to "suck" in and out when you breathe? I am used to a nasal mask.

It seems like I have to make it tighter than my nasal mask to keep it from leaking. Is that normal? This makes deeper dents in my face and of course these are longer since the mask is bigger.

The headgear seems to fit me better than the other, except the strap at the bottom falls around the back of my neck instead of higher. I have a short head/face and I have a problem with the length of the masks and headhear. That is one reason why I am trying the full face. My old mask started in the corner of my eyes and came too far down on my teeth. And this was a petite. My DME rep said that was as short as they get.

Oh, and although this is not a question, the air blowing against my mouth is something to get used to. I prefer it going directly into my nose. It seems like they could direct it more toward the nose instead of the mouth. I use my humidifier on 0 since I found out the warmer the air is, the stuffier I am so the air being cold against my mouth bothers me too.

Anyway, any comments or advice would be appreciated.

Pardon the pun, Izzyb, but loosen that "puppy" up a bit.......especially the top straps......and put the forehead support in the full, upright position.....no angle. I have my top straps very loose and whatever pressure on the bottom straps. It may take awhile to get the tension tweaked just right, but assuming you have the right size mask, the seals need to expand with air from the inside to be able for it to seal against your face. By having the top straps loose, the seals near the top of the nose can expand more to seal that area.

You didn't say what your pressures are or which Bi-Flex setting you're using (may have a bit to do with the pulsing/sucking thing), but try loosening it up a bit and see if that works better.

Den

[izzyb]

Thanks, Den. I'm not sure what position the forehead support is in, but I'll check that out. But when I did try to loosen the straps a bit, it leaked. I really don't want air leaking into my eyes, especially with the problems I already have with my eyes. Even before I changed masks, I started waking with "stuff" in the corner of my eyes. I'm not sure if this is related to my treatment or something else, but I don't think I had air leaking there with my old mask.

My pressure is 16/11 on straight bi-pap.

[Wulfman]

Hopefully you have the right size mask. Quite a few folks at higher pressures have reported that the UMFF has worked for them.
About all I can say is to keep tweaking till you either get it or give up.
Another thought.......sometimes the bed pillow makes a huge difference in determining whether these things leak or not. I use the Chiroflow water-based pillow. It is reasonably soft, but doesn't allow the head to sink into the pillow which skews the mask and causes leakage. I've been using these pillows for quite a few years.....even before starting CPAP therapy. One night awhile back, I thought I'd try a regular fiber-filled pillow......HOLY COW.....what a mistake THAT was. Didn't take me long to switch back and it reinforced just how important the bed pillows are.

Good luck.

Den

[jhurst747]

I use a CPAP pillow and it provides great support.

[izzyb]

Wulfman or is it Den? I am using the smallest mask there is except for my old Respironic gel which is a petite and still too long.I have never heard of the Chiroflow pillow. Do you get that online? Does it have water in it?

jhurst747, is that pillow really firm?

I really like my soft pillow. I just put my hands under my check when I am on my side (most of the time) and that seems to keep it in place. Who knows when I am deeply asleep, which is rarely.

By the way, how do you turn off the overtype mode on here? I hate that.

[Wulfman]

Wulfman or is it Den? I am using the smallest mask there is except for my old Respironic gel which is a petite and still too long.I have never heard of the Chiroflow pillow. Do you get that online? Does it have water in it?

jhurst747, is that pillow really firm?

I really like my soft pillow. I just put my hands under my check when I am on my side (most of the time) and that seems to keep it in place. Who knows when I am deeply asleep, which is rarely.

By the way, how do you turn off the overtype mode on here? I hate that.

Either one.

Here's a link to the company's website. If you do a search, there are lots of places that sell them online and they're also sold through chiropractors. They're probably cheaper online. We got ours through a local chiropractor as it was probably even before I had access to the Internet.

http://www.chiroflow.com/en/index.html

Try pressing the "Insert" button on your keyboard and see if it'll toggle the "Insert/Overtype" function for you.


Den

[jhurst747]

The CPAP pillow is very supportive but it has a nice softness to it. It's the best pillow I've ever hand honestly.

[adrienneiii]

I also had the problem with the lowest strap going around the back of my neck and was able to remedy this somewhat by getting out the sewing machine and shortening the strap that goes across the top of my head. I wore an Ultra Mirage full face mask briefly; it seems to be a perfectly good mask but it and my facial structure -- not to mention my sinuses -- just don't match.

Adrienne

[Julie]

Hi, I use the UM FF every night and it really works for me. I did have to adjust the forehead thingy a few times til I got it right, and the straps (it's really best to just make one change at a time so you know for sure what's doing what), but while the mask puffs out initially when I turn on the machine, that's the only time it does - yours shouldn't be doing it after that so I think you have something too loose, probably the bottom part. What also helps air getting into my eyes is that, once I have the mask fitted right otherwise, and I lie down, I may (depending on the night and fit) pull the whole thing down just a little, reseat it on my face, and it helps - but sometimes not doing it is better.

[izzyb]

Thanks, everbody. I'll see how it goes tonight.

[izzyb]

Thanks Den, I think I had read that somewhere a long time ago about the insert button.

Julie, I did some more adjusting last night, but my mask still puffed as I puffed. And the more I loosened the straps, the more it puffed.

[yorkiemum01]

Hi All,
I too use the Quattro and the UMFF mask alternately........but do prefer the Quattro
mainly because of the forehead tension bar.
Wulfman recommended the ChiroFlow pillow a few months back, and I purchased one.
Honestly, its been the greatest pillow for me....and I so appreciate the recommendation.
I've never used the pap pillow though, so cannot compare. Been a down pillow user my
entire life, and I found this to be a smooth transition, and you can moderate the firmness
by adding or removing water from the chamber, until it meets your needs.
Thanks again Wulf!