Need advice from Resmed SoftGel users

[digitaleagle]

I recently switched from the Swift FX nasal pillows to the Resmed SoftGel mask and have been having good results with it. Now for comfort - that's another story. I was wondering if anyone has any advice here.

At night when I first put the mask on I'm pretty comfortable with it. It seems like I have it adjusted not too tight - not too loose. I'm primarily a side sleeper and am pretty active side to side. I notice that by the morning hours I am getting pretty uncomfortable with this mask. (It feels heavy and also feels like it is tightening up like a vice around my face) I also feel really warm with it by morning and I'm only using humidification on passive mode. (I don't like heated humidity much and keep my humidity up in my home in general)

Last night I tried loosening it some more (top and bottom straps.) I started having quite a bit of leakage after doing that. So - I'm not sure if there is any trick to getting this thing comfortable throughout the entire night or not.

Maybe the mask weight is just a trade off I have to deal with over the Nasal pillows? I can sleep with the Nasal pillows but don't like the feeling of something up my nostrils and have had a lot of leakage problems with them during the night.

Any advice on anything you have tried with success would be greatly appreciated. I also tried the Activa LT as it fits in the same mask frame and hated it the first night I tried it. The SoftGel insert feels much more comfortable to me.

[OutaSync]

The Activa and Activa LT caused too much pain on my upper lip where they pressed into my teeth. The SoftGel, while heavier, is much more comfortable (if you can call any mask comfortable, maybe just less painful). What helps me with the leaks is wearing a maskliner. padacheeks.com makes a great one for the SoftGel. The liner diffuses the little leaks that annoy me so much. I still get nose bridge bruises, but not blisters.

I have also had to cut the silicone on the cushion to make more room for my nose bridge. That was the biggest improvement that I have made in comfort. But then, I have a large nose on a small face and have not been able to find a mask that fits right out of the box.

[digitaleagle]

I'll have to check into the liners. I did buy the covers for the lower straps from Pad A Cheek - I'll give them a try tonight.

There seems to be a very fine line of how tight or loose to adjust this mask to get just the right fit. I think my face is swelling up at night which is causing the mask to tighten. I don't get any bridge marks from it. I fall asleep great with this mask but as the night goes on I get more and more uncomfortable with it. By morning - I'm very anxious to get it off my face.

Every morning I swear I'm going to go back to the nasal pillows - but my AHI numbers are so darn good with this mask that I just keep trying each night.

[danimal71]

I'll have to check into the liners. I did buy the covers for the lower straps from Pad A Cheek - I'll give them a try tonight.

There seems to be a very fine line of how tight or loose to adjust this mask to get just the right fit. I think my face is swelling up at night which is causing the mask to tighten. I don't get any bridge marks from it. I fall asleep great with this mask but as the night goes on I get more and more uncomfortable with it. By morning - I'm very anxious to get it off my face.

Every morning I swear I'm going to go back to the nasal pillows - but my AHI numbers are so darn good with this mask that I just keep trying each night.

I have been having exactly the same issues\results. I wake up about 4 hours of wearing it and am ready to rip it off. I check my numbers in the morning and they are the best I have had (ahi of 2.0 - 2.9). I haven't been wearing it the last few nights as I can't breathe through my nose right now. I figure each night I am going to try to keep it on a little longer and just get adjusted to it. I haven't had any leaks since I started wearing it. The weight seems to be the biggest issue for me but I am sure I can learn to live with it. The air flow seems to tickle my nose to...which can be annoying at first.

Good luck. Hopefully it will just be a period of time getting adjusted to it.

[Hueffenhardt]

This may be irrelevant, but the F&P Zest Nasal Mask is lighter than the gel nasal masks I have tried on. Instead of gel, the Zest uses a lightweight foam. It is very soft and does not have that chemical smell new gel masks tend to have.

[avi123]

Hi, presently I use two kinds of masks during the night.

This one by Resmed as your:

https://www.cpap.com/productpage/3072

And this one FF FlexiFit 432 by F&P:


viewtopic/t59889/Why-Resmed-Quattro-FF- ... traps.html

With the Resmed I have experienced these pluses and minuses:

Pluses:

It's small and compact which minimize leaks
The Silicone Cushion has 2 layers which helps in sealing
It has an easy headgear buckle
It has a forehead adjusting screw to keep the mask off the nasal bridge (very important)

Minuses:

I get mouth leak with it even that I am not a mouth breather
I must use my upper teeth denture to supprt the seal above my upper lip (my dentist recommends sleeping with denturs OFF).
And if I leave the upper denture in my mouth for the night, the mask lower Silicone seal wraps the false teeth on the denture from below and the lower denture teeth bite into it.


So, I am looking for a new FF mask to be yet invented.

See my problems with the F&P FF #432 in the above link.

Would the Quattro old style or FX work better?

[DadscreepyCPAPmask]

I used a Soft Gel for 7 days on loan from Sleep Nation and I found it to be extremely comfortable and almost totally leak free!!! I guess we are all very different. I just bought a slightly used Soft Gel for a great price and hope to have it in a few days! The only difference, and hopefully it does not make much, is I used a size large and the one I bought comes in size large - wide. I do have a decent size schnazz so I should be ok with it.
Last night I used my Swift FX again and had a large leak and spiky graphs I even switch back to my Resmed Micro in the middle of the night. I think I might be giving up entirely on the Swift FX since I just can't seem to master it even though it is extremely light and comfy.

[digitaleagle]

This may be irrelevant, but the F&P Zest Nasal Mask is lighter than the gel nasal masks I have tried on. Instead of gel, the Zest uses a lightweight foam. It is very soft and does not have that chemical smell new gel masks tend to have.

I actually got titrated with this mask but did not like it. I seemed to get a lot of pressure marks from using it. Of course - nothing felt good as I was just starting out - so maybe now the Zest might be worth a try again? It was certainly a lot lighter - but not as comfortable IMO.

[digitaleagle]

[quote="DadscreepyCPAPmask"
Last night I used my Swift FX again and had a large leak and spiky graphs I even switch back to my Resmed Micro in the middle of the night. I think I might be giving up entirely on the Swift FX since I just can't seem to master it even though it is extremely light and comfy.[/quote]

I have the same problem with the FX. It moves around too much with me turning from side to side. Putting the velcro on the back strap did help a lot though. I'm thinking I might switch back to it in the summer months as it will be a lot lighter and cooler. I guess there are compromises with all the masks. So ..... Pick your poison!

[jmelby]

You mentioned trying the Activa LT cushion and said you didn't like it, but I would encourage you to give it another try (presuming you still have it). It is designed to be worn much more loosely than the SoftGel, so loosen the bottom straps if you do try it. Then, after you put it on, pull on the "ridge" on each site to pull it out slightly from your nose. I have found that the Activa is very resistant to leaks because it moves with your face if you sleep on your side (by that I mean the outer part of the mask--it is able to move but keep the contact points against your face). I know mask comfort is a very personal choice, but just a suggestion based on what I have found to work for me.

[digitaleagle]

You mentioned trying the Activa LT cushion and said you didn't like it, but I would encourage you to give it another try (presuming you still have it). It is designed to be worn much more loosely than the SoftGel, so loosen the bottom straps if you do try it. Then, after you put it on, pull on the "ridge" on each site to pull it out slightly from your nose. I have found that the Activa is very resistant to leaks because it moves with your face if you sleep on your side (by that I mean the outer part of the mask--it is able to move but keep the contact points against your face). I know mask comfort is a very personal choice, but just a suggestion based on what I have found to work for me.

Thanks for the advice. I still do have it and may give it a try again. I probably had it on too tight the first time I tried it.

[bilnap]

Try washing it daily. That may be of some help. I know I have to wash my at least twice a week for optimum performance.

[DadscreepyCPAPmask]

Is size (large) much different that size (large Wide) in the SoftGel?

[jazzer4]

Hello Digitaleagle

I use both these masks your trying. I use one for a few nights, then the other for a few nights.
On me they do not leak.
Compared to pillows they are more "in your face", or on it.
I have tryed many many mask for one year. I keep going back to these two.

This is what I do with my mask.
I put it on and adjust it while laying down.
Once I have it right....and yes I do feel it on my face but it doesn't hurt anywhere....yet.
Then I connect it to the hose. I have the machine on auto start....so I just lay still and take a deep breath.
It sort of sucks onto your face.
I lay there and let it settle in for a few minutes. If I feel a leak I pull the the mask away from my face and giggle it a bit then set it again.
If there are any leakes after that I just tuck in place that feels like it's leaking. I never wake up because of leaks it stays put all night this way.

OK, now I'm set.

Yes, I feel it on my face. I'm a side sleeper also and turn a lot.
There are some places that feel pressure but then I set my mind to ignore it.

I also found the soft gel has to be tighter to achieve the same seal. But I generally gets very low, if any, leaks
P.S. It did take a few weeks to get used to it but I kept trying b/c nothing else stayed put all night.
In both of these masks the small is a bit too small and the med a bit too big. Can't have everything I suppose.

[digitaleagle]

Susan - thanks for the post.

I'll keep working with it. I'm motivated as I have been having AHI readings of below 1.1 and consistently below 2. If I tighten it too much, I feel like I'm suffocating by morning and if it is too loose, I start to get leaks. Not large leaks but just enough to be annoying. They aren't big enough to affect my therapy though.

The Large mask fits me very well. I didn't try the Large Wide - but did try the medium which was way too small for my face. When I first put it on it is very comfortable and I hardly even think I'm getting any pressure. (Of course I'm only doing 6.5 so it is very low)

Overall I like the design of the mask - if they could make it lighter it would be a real winner. Oh don't - then I'd have to spend money on buying a new mask again!