Quattro FX Leaking

[WindLaker]

I started out using a Res Med Quattro Mirage about 18 months ago.

In January, I switched to a Quattro FX. I love it. No more red line across the bridge of my nose. However...

Usually after about 4-5 hours of sleep (sometime sooner), the mask will develop leaks, and I end up taking it off. Never had that problem with the old mask... it stayed sealed all night.

I wash my face with Cetaphil (sp?) every night, and use a mask wipe everynight. When I go to sleep it's nice & tacky, seals real nice.

The other ting is it's real hard to sleep on my side with the FX. Again, never had problems with the old mask. Ideas? Kicking around buying a CPAP pillow.

Thanks in advance.

[greatunclebill]

if you're getting 4 or 5 hours without leaks, you're just about at the sweet spot in adjustments. now you need to tighten it a little more to block the leaks. just tigten each strap a little bit and see. continue each night til you hit it. i had a terrible time with mask leaks til i got the quattro fx and did it this way. now its feels sorta tight, but my leaks are near zero. some may say to loosen it, but if it's working that long without leaks i don't think it is over tight.

your vent rate for leaks in trhe quattro and quattro fx are 22, 32, 41, 48 and 54 for pressures of 4, 8, 12, 16 and 20, so your leaks may also not be as bad as they seem. what size are the 2 masks? quattro fx probably should be a size smaller than quattro. mask sizing is different mfgr to mfgr and mask to mask within mfgr's just like women's clothes.

[WindLaker]

When I started with the FX, the tech recommended a MED. I barely had any room on the sides & bottom of my lips.

I switched to a large. It felt much more comfortable, and leaked a lot less... for the 1st few hours.

[greatunclebill]

When I started with the FX, the tech recommended a MED. I barely had any room on the sides & bottom of my lips.

I switched to a large. It felt much more comfortable, and leaked a lot less... for the 1st few hours.

my quattro fx fits very snug and feels very snug but it works. if you go to cpap.com and look at the quattro fx, in the special tips tab. it shows the exact measurements for the different sizes and how to measure. if the tech didn't measure he doesn't know. you may lie somewhere between sizes. i know if the eyes leak it is riding too high. i was a large in every mask the dme gave me because they said i was large. when i got the quattro on-line i measured myself and it showed as medium and medium works. heck, my wife's quattro fx small almost works. remember your face is not small medium or large, masks are small medium or large.

like i said, play with the straps and i think you'll find it.

[LakeH1042]

I want to suggest that a mask liner may be the solution to your problem.

I'm a newbie (just went over the 30 day compliance mark), and use a Quatro FX full-face mask without the forehead pad. I was very dilligent about using the CPAP machine (Resmed System 1 - series 60), but for the first 21 days my AHI with APAP was basically the same as my sleep study without APAP.

My AHI went from 11.6 without the liner to 0.9 with the mask liner (got it from Pad-a-Cheek, but other people have made their own). It was also the first night in years that I have slept through the night without waking once.

Good luck

[chunkyfrog]

I've had to turn down the temperature on my humidifier as the nights are getting warmer and more humid.
My face gets sweaty otherwise. (or did I wake up under the faucet?)

[MaxDarkside]

My face gets sweaty otherwise. (or did I wake up under the faucet?)

Yer a frog, yer face is SUPPOSED to be wet

To the original poster, a homemade liner helps me.

[WindLaker]

Good morning all,

I snugged up the straps last night. The mask felt real tight, but it did stay sealed all night. I slept like the dead...laid down on my back, work up the same way, do not remember waking up at all. A great night of sleep. I may try backing off the tension bit by bit to make it feel not quite so tight.

I tried both store-bought and home made liners before. Too much monkeying around for no benefit, IMO.

I never thought to turn down the humidifier....

Anyone use a CPAP pillow? The ones with the cut outs on the sides. Are they worth the $100.00?

Thanks for all the help.

[Pugsy]

Anyone use a CPAP pillow? The ones with the cut outs on the sides. Are they worth the $100.00?

Before the spending the big bucks go to Walmart and get a cheap memory foam pillow and cut out your own side things.
See if you even like it that way.
Electric meat slicing knives cuts memory foam like butter.

[Suzjohnson]

Anyone use a CPAP pillow? The ones with the cut outs on the sides. Are they worth the $100.00?

Thanks for all the help.

For me, I would say no. I didn't spend that much but found the pillow uncomfortable and went back to my regular pillow after several nights. I believe there are much better options out there. I really like Pugsy's idea and I'm sure others will chime in with what works well for them.

Suz

[Pugsy]

FWIW I don't use one of those pillows with the sides cut out. I prefer a buckwheat pillow because it has the lower profile that my neck needs and still allows me to make a little "nest" for my mask.

I mention the cutting up of a cheap memory foam pillow as an alternative to spending a bunch of money for something we don't even know we would like. I have cut up memory foam (old mattress topper) for dog bedding so I know about the electric kitchen knives. Using regular scissors or a box knife is PITA but can be done on memory foam.

There are people who like the cpap cut out pillows and others who don't like them. Pillow preference is highly personal and each person pretty much has to come up with what works best for them. I can't use a higher profile pillow due to my neck but that doesn't mean that someone else wouldn't like one. Even the "low" end of a contour pillow is too high for my comfort but I am small boned woman with a metal plate in my neck.

I think that there is a picture someone on the forum of a DIY cut out foam pillow. Not real pretty but hey if it gets the job done who cares because it can be covered up with a pillow case.