many questions

[columbiacpapuser]

dear friends,

I read this site daily and appreciate all of your knowledge.

I have had a ultramirage full face for about 13 months. The headgear does not fit. I have to pull it down the back of my head to keep the front top part of the mask in place. If I follow the pictures as to how to wear the top part of the headgear, there is no head to get a tight fit. Does anyone have a suggestion about this headgear. My ENT Dr and the DME are not knowledgeable about most anything, but that is another story.

Also, the BCBS advisor group called me the other week, told me that the resmed ultra mirage mask comes in a medium shallow size. For 13 months, I have been complaining to ENT and DME that the medium mask rambled into my eyeducks and made my eyeball very red. The shallow medium seems to work better after one night's wear. I ask the resmed company to call me about the shallow medium mask buy the mask has arrived and no resmed representative has call. I called them as I read somewhere that the resmed ultramirage ff shallow has a 3D template and I thought I might use it to measure my face to see if indeed I would profit from the shallow.

[nanuke]

I use an Ultra Mirage ff standard medium and I've had the same issue.

For me it was resolved by a balance of tension and positioning. The top of the headgear stays put right at the point where my head begins to curve upwards. I found this by trial and error.

Of course, since everyone's head is different, this may not work for you. Good luck.

SLEEP WELL

[Slinky]

If modifying the headgear would be any help there is always some good ole velcro and a pair of scissors. I had to resort to the velcro and scisoors w/my Respironics Simplicity simple nasal cushion headgear (it must have been made for giants!). I just put a fold in where I needed it snugged up and held the fold in place w/velcro for several nights until I was sure I had the right fit, then cut the fold out, put the cut ends back together w/a velcro strip and voila! A good fit and a fix that has held for months.

[Julie]

Resmed is not going to contact anyone about a mask - you need to keep checking back with them - they're a huge international corporation and there's no one person sitting there checking off a list of people waiting for answers on a mask.

[jules]

LINKS to discussions about some masks - nasal mask, nasal pillows, nasal prongs
viewtopic.php?p=35286#p35286

There have been some "lab rat" fixes people have used:
LINKS to Lab Rat Trophy awards
viewtopic.php?t=15104

and you can consider making your own headgear - this is my latest

viewtopic.php?p=313413#p313413

[jda1000]

Columbia, I couldn't activate a link to send you a private message.

Do you live in the NW? I'd be interesting in talking sometime about local resources; I'm in Vancouver, WA.

***
The headgear for my Mirage Quattro felt loose to me at first, and even though I've relentlessly tinkered with it, I'd still say it's "loose" on the top straps - but actually does seem to work that way.

I sleep on my side, and have found better comfort and a lower leakage rate (for a couple nights, anyway) by snugging the lower part a bit, and leaving the upper oddly loose.

Won't be the same for all, but that's what I'm doing....for now.

[Slinky]

Yup, jda, you are so so right, bottom straps more snug than top straps to eliminate leaks around the eyes. Right on!! You rock!

[DoriC]

Slinky, I know you're right but I'll be darned if I can figure out the mechanics of it. My logic tells me that if the top straps are kept loose and bottom straps snug, then it should be pulling the top of the mask away from the face causing eye leaks. I know it doesn't work that way but why? Since I'm not the one wearing the mask I can't really know what each adjustment does and hubby is not very clear about it. Also, I did the same velcro thing with my husband's headgear for a perfect fit.

[Slinky]

These mask cushions need to be filled w/air to provide a good seal. When we tighten the mask down we reduce the air space and thus the cushion's flexibility.