Initial Feedback on AirFit F10 FF Mask

[KenTheriot]

I got my new ResMed AirFit F10 FF mask yesterday and tried it last night. I fit-tested it with my ResMed S9 VPAP Adapt ASV machine and it seemed to perform pretty well on the leak front (the biggest problem I've been having with FF masks). So I tried to actually sleep with it. Though it wasn't leaking and was quite comfortable, what kept me awake was the constant heaving and large rapid pressure changes with the ASV! I wonder if this is an issue others have. It seems like there's some kind of octopus on my face sucking and thrusting air into my mouth. It's not painful or uncomfortable, just distracting enough to keep me from falling asleep. Anyway...to the mask.

As usual, I switched to back to my nasal mask/APAP machine for actual sleeping. But last night was one of those nights where my sinuses completely block up - I was dreaming I was suffocating. On nights like this, it's Afrin or nothing if I can't use a FF mask. So I sprayed Afrin up one side. I decided to try the F10 with the APAP machine and just adjust the pressures up. The whole reason I have the ASV is that though I can use a nasal mask just fine with APAP, FF masks with APAP have not worked to prevent snoring or apneas/hypopneas. Some weirdness of my physiology. The ASV titration got me through the night with a FF mask for the first time ever. I just had to crank the mask so tight that I was sore for 2 days after, so not a good long-term strategy for preventing leaks. Hence my constant challenge to find a FF mask solution.

Anyway, I changed my APAP pressures (which, for nasal success, are set at 8/12) to 9/19, and tried the F10 that way. I did sleep for awhile, but leaks started happening, even at not very high pressures! It was actually the sound of the "face-farting" - through white-noise earplugs - that kept waking me up. The leaks seemed to be worse if I rolled over on my side. So I changed back to the nasal mask.

My overall summary of my 1st night with the F10 was that it was surprisingly comfortable and unobtrusive. I don't usually care much about the claustrophobic feeling people often complain about with other masks, but the F10 was so NOT claustrophobic, and so light, that I kept reaching up to make sure it was still on:). I might need to just re-do the tightness of the straps to prevent the leaks and try it on APAP again. I'll report back.

Cheers,

Ken

[library lady]

I've been using my F10 for several weeks now; I like it better than my Quattro Air. I love not having the forehead arm and strap around my head. I have much better control of my leaks now.. last night I had just one large leak - it lasted 67 seconds according to sleepyhead, and did not wake me up. The previous 4 nights I had no large leaks. It feels so free without the headgear strap going around my forehead, not that it ever really bothered me. The Air is now my backup mask, and an added benefit is that these masks both use the same cushion.

[flyingwithoutwings]

I made some liners out of old T-shirts and they work great at reducing leaks. I also bought a boil & bite mouth guard and last night I used it and the liner and had absolutely no leaks and I sleep on my side 90% of the night.

[KenTheriot]

Thanks for the info! We'll see what happens tonight.

Ken

[Stevoreno_55]

I've been using my F10 for several weeks now; I like it better than my Quattro Air. I love not having the forehead arm and strap around my head. I have much better control of my leaks now.. last night I had just one large leak - it lasted 67 seconds according to sleepyhead, and did not wake me up. The previous 4 nights I had no large leaks. It feels so free without the headgear strap going around my forehead, not that it ever really bothered me. The Air is now my backup mask, and an added benefit is that these masks both use the same cushion.

I took a look at your mask on CPAP.com; not having anything coming across your forehead the mask still manages to stay in place?


Stevoreno_55
MS Gulf Coast
06/06/14

[library lady]

Stevoreno,
Most definitely the mask stays in place! The frame is thicker on the nose bridge there than for the Air, and I think that's what makes the difference, with the side straps helping it, but doesn't feel any heavier.

[mols001]

I just started using the Resmed AirFit F10 mask and really like it. My leak has been very minimal,
and the mask stays in place. The first download showed basically no leak. I like that it does not
touch the forehead, and I really like the quick clip to take it off easily.
I think it is an improvement over the Quattro FX mask.

[Stevoreno_55]

Stevoreno,
Most definitely the mask stays in place! The frame is thicker on the nose bridge there than for the Air, and I think that's what makes the difference, with the side straps helping it, but doesn't feel any heavier.

Thanks.

[library lady]

I just started using the Resmed AirFit F10 mask and really like it. My leak has been very minimal,
and the mask stays in place. The first download showed basically no leak. I like that it does not
touch the forehead, and I really like the quick clip to take it off easily.
I think it is an improvement over the Quattro FX mask.

I didn't like the quick clips so I took them off and I just loop the ends over the hook. I think arthritis in my hands is the reason for that, and I can quickly take it off by unhooking it. When I get up, I unhook the loops, and before I get to the bathroom the mask is off. Either way, with clips or loops, it's a quick process. I have had very minimal leak, and my AHI has consistently remained below 2 since I started using the AirFit F10. It's a great mask!

[KenTheriot]

My update from the 2nd night using the F10 - using it with APAP, since the ASV seemed to really be so active (large swings in pressure in very short periods of time), that it distracted me too much to actually fall asleep), I'm seeing if my APAP, which when used with my nasal mask, is the perfect PAP therapy. Problem is my nasal congestion makes the latter impossible to rely on more than 4 or 5 days per week. So anyway...

For this experiment, I set my APAP pressures at 9 and 19. Last night I started out with a fairly low humidity and hose temp. According to Sleepy Head, my AHI was about 13.0 during the first 90 minutes. The cold air on my face and leaks woke me frequently as well. I got up and went to the bathroom. Then switched the ramp from 10 to 15 minutes, and adjusted my temps higher. The next period was 3 hours long with an AHI of about 6. So that 2nd period was better. Whether due to the warmer air or longer ramp, I'm not sure. Or maybe I was just more tired. Either way, it seemed to me that the leaks are what woke me after that 2nd 3-hour period. Sleepy Head reports leaks during this time were averaging 5, with peaks to about 15. That entire time, pressures maxed out at about 16 (not sure why, when I set the mzx to be 19, it would bump up against what looked like a ceiling of 16). And the average pressure where I was usually NOT having event seemed to be about 11. So tonight, I may set the low pressure to 11 and the high to 21.

After that, I took off my F10 and put the nasal mask on - from 4:30 to 9:45. During that 5+-hour period, I slept really well (thankfully, my nasal passages were cooperating!). AHI was .39. Leaks mainly stayed down about 0, but with several spikes reading 20, 30 and ever 50 at one point. But all those leaks were only a second or 2 long, Probably just me rolling over and dislodging the mask momentarily. The pressures were the same (9 and 19), and the average pressure all during that time was about 9! It never had to go above 10 when I was wearing the nasal mask. This at least gives me some data to support my assertion that I nasal masks work for me, but FF masks do not when using the same settings used for nasal (historically 8-12).

Hope that gives some folks some useful info. I'll post again when I have more good data to pass on.

Ken

[charlesrshell]

I just started using the Resmed AirFit F10 mask and really like it. My leak has been very minimal,
and the mask stays in place. The first download showed basically no leak. I like that it does not
touch the forehead, and I really like the quick clip to take it off easily.
I think it is an improvement over the Quattro FX mask.

What do you mean the "quick clip?" My new AirFit F10 straps attach by loops around the mask frame post. I would rather have clips like my old Mirage Quattro has. Are there different AirFit F10 strap attach versions available? I like my AirFit F10 so far and really like the hose quick disconnect? Comes in handy during the nite when you have to make the dreaded trip to the Occupy.

[charlesrshell]

I just started using the Resmed AirFit F10 mask and really like it. My leak has been very minimal,
and the mask stays in place. The first download showed basically no leak. I like that it does not
touch the forehead, and I really like the quick clip to take it off easily.
I think it is an improvement over the Quattro FX mask.

I didn't like the quick clips so I took them off and I just loop the ends over the hook. I think arthritis in my hands is the reason for that, and I can quickly take it off by unhooking it. When I get up, I unhook the loops, and before I get to the bathroom the mask is off. Either way, with clips or loops, it's a quick process. I have had very minimal leak, and my AHI has consistently remained below 2 since I started using the AirFit F10. It's a great mask!

Your ResMed AirFit F10 has quick clips? My F10 has loops, wish it did have the clips.

[flyingwithoutwings]

Mine didn't come with clips, just loops but that's fine with me.

[library lady]

Mine was shipped with clips; I ordered it from cpap.com. I just got them out to look at them, and I'm not sure they are quick-connect clips now that I look at them. They hook onto the posts. I'll take a picture of them and edit this post a little later; I don't think they would stay on as well as the hooked loops.

EDIT: My humble apologies! The clips did not come with the F10; they are from an earlier headgear that I no longer have. They don't even fit the F10!

[zbmidad]

I had an F10 on 5/31 and returned it on 6/2. In order for it to not to be noisy from leaking air I had to have it too tight. Which left marks longer than normal. My high pressure is 19. That's my experience with it.