Mirage FX

[jdm2857]

I've been using APAP for years (18 - 20 cm) with nasal pillows. Currently using the Swift FX.

I also use a PapCap chinstrap clamped down pretty tight to keep my big mouth shut.

Since the nasal pillows occasionally irritate my nares, I recently acquired a Mirage FX which has worked pretty well.
It's the only non-pillows mask that I have made it through the night with. ("which with I have made it through the night"
for you English teachers out there. )

To be fair, it's the first nasal mask that I've tried. The Liberty hybrid and the Quattro FX full face, which I tried in order to
lose the chinstrap didn't work for me at all.

Now to my point: I'm surprised that the Mirage FX has so few users. CPAP.com reports that it accounts for 2% of nasal mask sales.
Its design is minimalist (almost Wisp-like) and it works well for me at least. And people seem to be clamoring for the Wisp.
(Maybe that's just the result of wanting what you can't have -- just yet.)

So I'm looking for comments from others on the Mirage FX and alternative nasal masks. Please include your pressure setting
in your post, as what works at 8 cm may well not work at 18.

Thanks.

As an aside, I wish that the manufacturers would name masks with more originality. I know that they want to benefit from name
recognition, but the name recycling makes searching for information rather difficult. A search for "Mirage FX" get hits on Mirage Liberty
Quattro FX, Ultra Mirage among many others. I'm waiting for ResMed to introduce the Ultra Quattro LT Mirage II Swift FX ® convertible mask with
built-in Sousaphone.

[Terresac]

The first mask I tried was the Mirage FX for Her. When given the mask I had never use one so I had no idea what I was supposed to feel when fitted. After a week's use, I was extremely frustrated. It was too long for my face - either pushing into the inside corners of my eyes or over my upper lip. Neither allowed for a complete and constant seal.

I did research and found that there is a small version, I was given the Standard size. When I asked my resp. therapist when I went back for a follow up, she was unaware of any other size. As well as Apria. Supposedly a small size has been ordered, and I'll be notified.

In the meantime, I was given an Eson mask from Fisher and Paykel. I really LOVE this one. However, it isn't one that Apria carries so I won't get it again (unless I buy it outright.) I have had some trouble with condensation in this mask and whistling, so it's not perfect either!

Do you have Apria as a provider? I was wondering which of the masks they offer are the closest to the Eson.

Good luck!

[jdm2857]

I'm not covered for DME, so I'm on my own.

Fortunately, the sleep medicine practice I use has a mask fitting lab that is staffed by employees of local DMEs. And they
will sell sample mask us uninsured folks for very reasonable prices.

They usually have most of the current ResMed and Respironics masks and some of the F&P masks. None of the others. But from
what I read here, their selection is better than most DMEs.

[Nyx]

Terresac,

Sounds like you've had the same fit problems I've been experiencing with the Mirage FX for Her (as described in this thread: viewtopic/t87118/Need-mask-help.html) -- it's over my lip or up to my eyes. I, too, was just wondering about trying the smaller size. I hope it works out for you. I'll think I"ll contact my DME about it now.

Jeff,

As to your mention of people clamouring for the Wisp, I'll admit, I'm one of them. Of course, I have no way to know how it will work from me until I try it, from the video/images available online, it appears to have a much smaller coverage area than the Mirage FX (at least compared to the Standard size Mirage FX cushion that I'm familiar with) and the lack of a frame extending to the forhead would allow me to use reading glasses in bed with the mask on -- definitely an extra perk.

[jdm2857]

About the glasses -- I've found a way (it's a bit awkward, but it works) to get my readers on under the Mirage FX.

To to this :

- Open both earpieces.

- Turn the glasses upside-down (trust me.)

- Feed one earpiece between the mask strut and your face.
At this point, the glasses should be upside-down, with the lenses against your face
and the earpieces facing away from you.

- Now, rotate the glasses so that the earpieces wind up on your ears.

Voila!


This may not work with all size glasses, and I would be very careful with delicate frames.
But it works with my $1 readers from Target (French pronunciation, please.)

[RandyJ]

I use the Mirage FX as an alternate mask, and of 3 nasal masks I tried, the Mirage FX was the one I liked the best.

[raptor5150]

I use the Mirage FX, its the only one I have used since my sleep study, I like it and seem not to have any problems sofar. I wouldnt mind trying the new Wisp but all my stuff comes out of pocket so its not in the budget anytime soon

[tomma]

I use the Mirage FX, along with a PapCap and it works well, for the most part. My pressure can occasionally get up to 22 or 23 at which point I get some tough to fix leaks but I'm not sure there's a mask out there that wouldn't spring a leak or 2 at those pressures, at least not any of the 4 or 5 I've tried.

[jdm2857]

I know this is a subjective question, but how much do you have to crank down the straps (of the Mirage FX) at those pressures?