FullLife Sizing Guide

[BleepingBeauty]

Good news BleepingBeauty! Sound like a real positive experience with your new mask.

Definitely.

I was particularly glad to hear your report on how silent it is. What was the "LT" old mask you were previously using? Was it the Mirage LT... Swift... or what?

I'd been using the Swift LT since last December. Prior to that, it was the Swift II for a year (similar ResMed nasal pillows, but a different mask design). I loved the LT, but (1) the new pillows weren't working for me at all (flimsy and collapsible), and (2) I was really sick of taping my mouth every night. Chinstraps keep the chin up but do nothing to stop you from exhaling (if not also inhaling) orally. So I had to tape.

If the new pillows for the LT were as sturdy as the old ones, I would have kept using it and taping my mouth, simply because the mask was so light and unobtrusive on my face. But when ResMed ruined my favorite mask by messing with the construction of the pillows, sending my previously decent leak line off the charts, I lost my resolve. I saw AHI numbers in the 20s, 30s, 40s and beyond. (I know a leaky mask makes for unreliable data, but my highest AHI was 68.8 , and my level of exhaustion led me to believe my numbers were not that far off.)

Thanks for posting the leak chart as well. Did anyone figure out what the Whisper Swivel 2 is?

No problem. Thanks for finding the info on the Whisper Swivel II. I don't imagine it would be needed with the FullLife, but it's good to know what it is.

Glad to hear the mask is working good for you.

Here's to many more bleeping nights of beauty sleep!

Thanks. At this point, I'll take all the sleep I can get - beauty or otherwise.

[fuzzy96]

Thanks for finding the info on the Whisper Swivel II. I don't imagine it would be needed with the FullLife, but it's good to know what it is.

and i thought it was a move i had seen on dancing with the stars

[BleepingBeauty]

Oh, one more thing I really want to know...

BleepingBeauty - have you slept on your side with this mask?

I am wondering if your pillow hits the part of the mask that sticks out (where the lower straps connect).

Is this a problem at sleeping on your side?

Funny you should ask. I posted about that in my update this morning.

My first night (Friday), I found that I could sleep on my side if the mask was hanging over the edge of my pillow. (I'd done that last year, with my Swift II, as it has a barrel design that sits under the nose which holds the pillows. It was a little too wide not to be dislodged by my pillow.) Last night, I successfully slept on my side with the FullLife ON the pillow, not over the edge, without dislodging it or breaking the seal. I'm sure the adjustments I made to the straps (which gave me a great seal and more comfort) worked wonders for my ability to side-sleep without a problem last night.

I should mention that I have a Tempur-Pedic pillow (and bed, both of which I love) made of dense memory foam. It's nothing like a typical fiber-filled or down pillow. I would think that a less dense pillow would make sleeping on your side even easier with this mask, since the memory foam gives but is rather firm. The only potential problem I can foresee with this mask and side-sleeping is the possibility of blocking one of the vents on the front of the mask if your pillow is of the "fluffy" variety.

I know there are just a few of us who actually have this mask right now, but maybe someone who uses a "regular" pillow will comment and give everyone their take on side-sleeping with the FullLife.

[BleepingBeauty]

Thanks for finding the info on the Whisper Swivel II. I don't imagine it would be needed with the FullLife, but it's good to know what it is.

and i thought it was a move i had seen on dancing with the stars

[robertmarilyn]

When I used my Resmed machine with this mask it showed leak around 20 LPM but since I switched to my Respironics in CPAP mode it is showing much much higher.

It's always puzzled me how ResMed leak rates can be accurate if the setting that has to be used for so many different (i.e., non-ResMed) masks is simply "Standard." Leak rates vary from mask to mask, so

When I got my F&P 407 mask, -SWS (one of my go-to folks when I need help) showed me a chart made by some of the folks on this forum, that gave leak rates of various masks. And he showed me where my 407 matched up very closely with one of the Resmed machine settings. That way I didn't have to pick standard as my setting. So if you need help on this situation, ask -SWS.
mar

[BleepingBeauty]

It's always puzzled me how ResMed leak rates can be accurate if the setting that has to be used for so many different (i.e., non-ResMed) masks is simply "Standard." Leak rates vary from mask to mask, so

When I got my F&P 407 mask, -SWS (one of my go-to folks when I need help) showed me a chart made by some of the folks on this forum, that gave leak rates of various masks. And he showed me where my 407 matched up very closely with one of the Resmed machine settings. That way I didn't have to pick standard as my setting. So if you need help on this situation, ask -SWS.
mar

I use a Respironics machine, so the mask-setting issue doesn't affect me personally. I just wondered how ResMed users deal with that question whenever they get a new mask. ResMed has to realize that many of us use masks that are manufactured by other companies. I guess it's too much to ask that they make helpful information available to the people who use their machines, notwithstanding the company's mask sales goals.

I'm really glad -SWS is here, along with a few other veterans who make themselves available to us. (But he'll likely be silently cursing you soon, mar, as his Inbox overflows with PMs from anyone and everyone, asking for his help. )

[lfzguud]

Bleeping Beauty - thank you for posting the sizing and info about this mask. I'd give parts of my anatomy to get the same kind of information on the FITLIFE mask they make.
Respironics themselves are having a hard time locating a sizing guide for the FITLIFE.

[Uncle_Bob]

Here's a link to Respironics' sizing and other info about the FullLife, including a video: http://fulllife.respironics.com/rightfit.aspx

Note: link was originally missing. Thanks to SoCalMonkey for pointing that out.

Thanks for that useful link. I'm interested in this mask so i watched several of those movie clips. I was a little confused at the one title "Identifying and adjusting for leaks" where it shows how to adjust the straps to get rid of leaks etc. I was confuse about the very last statement "remember not all leaks needs need to be corrected"

Why do all links not need correcting?
How are you supposed to tell which leaks need correcting and which ones don't

[socalmonkey]

Yeah, I also found the statement about leaks... a bit perplexing.

I am guessing that's marketing baloney. Maybe they just say that incase you aren't getting a perfect fit. Maybe it's to placate use into thinking... that's as good as it gets.

Kind of a bizarre statement to make.

[chipbutty]

They're probably referring to the machine compensating for small leaks and not affecting therapy. A strange statement nonetheless

Here's a link to Respironics' sizing and other info about the FullLife, including a video: http://fulllife.respironics.com/rightfit.aspx

Note: link was originally missing. Thanks to SoCalMonkey for pointing that out.

Thanks for that useful link. I'm interested in this mask so i watched several of those movie clips. I was a little confused at the one title "Identifying and adjusting for leaks" where it shows how to adjust the straps to get rid of leaks etc. I was confuse about the very last statement "remember not all leaks needs need to be corrected"

Why do all links not need correcting?
How are you supposed to tell which leaks need correcting and which ones don't

[Arizona-Willie]

BleepingBeauty ... we have the Tempurpedic mattress and pillows too. I sleep exclusively on my sides, it seems, until about 4:30 or 5 am when I wind up on my back many mornings. Dunno why then.

I've had no particular problem with the FullLife and sidesleeping.

As for what leaks don't need to be fixed ... I would say the little face farts that just pop out once in awhile. Some minor little leaks don't amount to much.
I'm puzzled about mine though because I < seem > to have a pretty good seal and can't feel any leaks ( most of the time ) and have checked the hose and fittings but the Encore software keeps saying average leak of 40 - 45 and the book indicates that at my pressure the leak should be around 20. Intentional leak that is.

I'm wondering about that blue flapper gizmatchee because I can't feel any difference when I put my fingers over the holes where air should come out.
Think I will have my owner look at it tonight and see if the flapper is flapping or not.

Nothing worse than a non-flapping flapper when the flapper should be flapping.

[jdm2857]

I think that the flapper is the anti-asphyxia valve. If the pressure stops while you're asleep (power or xPAP failure) the flapper should open when you inhale allowing you to continue breathing fresh air.

[Uncle_Bob]

They're probably referring to the machine compensating for small leaks and not affecting therapy. A strange statement nonetheless

Here's a link to Respironics' sizing and other info about the FullLife, including a video: http://fulllife.respironics.com/rightfit.aspx

Note: link was originally missing. Thanks to SoCalMonkey for pointing that out.

Thanks for that useful link. I'm interested in this mask so i watched several of those movie clips. I was a little confused at the one title "Identifying and adjusting for leaks" where it shows how to adjust the straps to get rid of leaks etc. I was confuse about the very last statement "remember not all leaks needs need to be corrected"

Why do all links not need correcting?
How are you supposed to tell which leaks need correcting and which ones don't

Slightly off topic reply but your profile info is interesting as we do not get many people from other countries here.
I noticed you have an M series Pro which i understand is full data compatible? Don't tell me you got that on the NHS?

Excellent avatar I have not listened to that in a while. I was in Manc in the early 90s, fun days

[BleepingBeauty]

I'm wondering about that blue flapper gizmatchee because I can't feel any difference when I put my fingers over the holes where air should come out.
Think I will have my owner look at it tonight and see if the flapper is flapping or not.

Nothing worse than a non-flapping flapper when the flapper should be flapping.

I think that the flapper is the anti-asphyxia valve. If the pressure stops while you're asleep (power or xPAP failure) the flapper should open when you inhale allowing you to continue breathing fresh air.

It's exactly as jdm says, Willie. That little flapper valve is wide open when there's no pressure being applied in the mask; when the pressure is on, it flips up to close off that opening.

On another note... The bridge of my nose is awfully sore. I've worn a foam bandaid for the past two nights, but my nose looks angry - red, swollen, and extremely tender. (And the bonus is I've gotten three zits on my nose. I look scary. ) I bought some moleskin today, but it doesn't appear to be any thicker (or more cushioned) than the bandaids, so I don't know if I'll be any more successful with it. To be honest, I'm not sure my nose can take another night of this assault...

Saw the RT at the DME today to return the oximeter I had over the weekend. Showed her my nose. "Is that from the mask?" (No, I got hit in the nose with a baseball. Yes, it's from the mask! Why would I be showing it to you otherwise?) "Maybe you have the wrong size." (Hmmm. You're the one who fitted me with it... ) "Can you move the mask up so it sits higher on your face?" (Umm, no. The opening sits just below my lower lip as it is. If I move it up any, I'll be chewing on it.) Help me, Rhonda...

I'm debating whether to wear the FullLife tonight or to give my poor nose a break and struggle through the night with my leaky Swift LT. I've managed to get through the past three nights with this nose-bridge pain; just don't want to do any further damage. I liked my nose the way it was, before this mask came along. I like the better therapy I'm getting with the FullLife, but my nose is killing me. I guess my concern is that if I don't just push through and keep using it, I'll never get used to it, and I want to get used to it. What to do, what to do... ?

[socalmonkey]

Sorry to hear you're having the nose issue. I'm glad to be waiting for (and insisting on) the FitPack. Not that I don't trust them to get the size right. Oh right, I don't trust them! Since they don't even having the sizing chart yet. So at least I will have all 3 sizes, incase I run into any problem.

BleepingBeauty, how did your DME originally determine your size?

Willie, good to hear it's still working good for you.

I too have the Tempurpedic type pillow. So I'm glad to hear it's side sleeper friendly!