Masks Similar to Activa? Full face?

General Discussion on any topic relating to CPAP and/or Sleep Apnea.
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tiredman
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Masks Similar to Activa? Full face?

Post by tiredman » Mon Sep 28, 2015 5:40 pm

So far I've tried about 4 masks.. I've forgotten the names of all of them. The latest and most successful mask has been the Resmed Activa (tried the LT but was not as successful with that one).

I've had several full nights of uninterrupted sleep with the Activa but still have leaks or mouth breathing that force me to wake up and take it off.

I've tried different pressure ranges, tightness/looseness of straps, forehead clamp setting, but still am having trouble.

What I like about the Activa is the "active cell" design (the clear rubber part expands when there is pressure, allowing it to have less pressure on your face), it doesn't give my nose sores like the other masks and it seems to stay sealed better than other designs.

I'm considering trying a full face mask, is there a model that you would suggest that has a similar design? I'm looking at the Quattro FX and it seems to have a similar design.

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Wulfman...
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Re: Masks Similar to Activa? Full face?

Post by Wulfman... » Mon Sep 28, 2015 5:46 pm

Go to https://www.cpap.com and look at their full face masks and see if there's something that appeals to you.

My personal preference is the ResMed Ultra Mirage Full Face. It's the one I started with in May of 2005.


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KeepSmiling
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Re: Masks Similar to Activa? Full face?

Post by KeepSmiling » Mon Sep 28, 2015 11:54 pm

It does not look like the Resmed Activa, but I like the HYBRID by Innomed. I do not know how high your pressure is so do not know if it would be a good recommendation. I know someone with a CPAP pressure of 18 and she cannot use any nasal prongs.

The Hybrid has nasal prongs, covers the mouth and has a chin guard at the bottom. I usually uses most of the time. I like it when allergy and cold season are here since I do not have to worry about congestion.

nanwilson
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Re: Masks Similar to Activa? Full face?

Post by nanwilson » Tue Sep 29, 2015 6:56 am

KeepSmiling wrote:It does not look like the Resmed Activa, but I like the HYBRID by Innomed. I do not know how high your pressure is so do not know if it would be a good recommendation. I know someone with a CPAP pressure of 18 and she cannot use any nasal prongs.

The Hybrid has nasal prongs, covers the mouth and has a chin guard at the bottom. I usually uses most of the time. I like it when allergy and cold season are here since I do not have to worry about congestion.
KeepSmiling, I have read a couple of your replies this morning and you have said that nose pillows and prongs are not a good recommendation with high pressures..... simply an old wives tale perpetuated by some DMEs. There are several folks here that use pillows and their pressure is in the twenties with ASV and Bipaps. I'm sure Pugsy and others will chime in later this morning to tell you the same thing.
Started cpap in 2010.. still at it with great results.

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Pugsy
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Re: Masks Similar to Activa? Full face?

Post by Pugsy » Tue Sep 29, 2015 8:15 am

nanwilson wrote:I have read a couple of your replies this morning and you have said that nose pillows and prongs are not a good recommendation with high pressures..... simply an old wives tale perpetuated by some DMEs. There are several folks here that use pillows and their pressure is in the twenties with ASV and Bipaps. I'm sure Pugsy and others will chime in later this morning to tell you the same thing.
What nanwilson says is true. There is no reason why someone who uses a higher pressure can't use nasal pillows or nasal cushions if that is what they want to use. It might be a little bit of a challenge to get a good seal but it would be even more of a challenge with a full face mask due to the surface area involved at higher pressures. Now someone using higher pressures may simply just not like nasal pillows and choose to not use them for whatever reason but that old wives tail of "nasal pillows can't be used at pressures over 14 cm" is simply an old wives tailed told by DMEs who don't know their products or how to advise using them.
Heck, the Nuance from Respironics is rated for up to 30 cm pressure...it says so in their literature.

I routinely see pressures pushing 20 and above during the night and I have used nothing but nasal pillows and most of the time my leaks are well within acceptable limits and I sleep quite well.

So in terms of therapy...there is no reason that someone who uses higher pressures is prohibited from using nasal pillows. Now maybe they just don't like them but that's a totally different reason...that's personal preference.

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tiredman
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Re: Masks Similar to Activa? Full face?

Post by tiredman » Tue Sep 29, 2015 9:58 am

KeepSmiling wrote:It does not look like the Resmed Activa, but I like the HYBRID by Innomed. I do not know how high your pressure is so do not know if it would be a good recommendation. I know someone with a CPAP pressure of 18 and she cannot use any nasal prongs.

The Hybrid has nasal prongs, covers the mouth and has a chin guard at the bottom. I usually uses most of the time. I like it when allergy and cold season are here since I do not have to worry about congestion.
Thanks my pressure is currently 6-7.8, so relatively low.