Quattro FX -- Please post feedback on it

[SleepingUgly]

You go, Girlfriend! You are totally in the right and this kind of thing makes me steaming mad.

[chunkyfrog]

I wish the sizing gauges were 3-dimensional.
Turns out the Quattro FX fits me even worse than the regular Quattro.
I didn't pick my little nose. (well, at least, not lately) --(make that 'choose')
Fortunately, the new DME is a really good sport. I think we'll get along.
I'm just trading for a back-up for my Comfortgel Full face.
The ZZZ-mask I just got from our hosts fits better than the pricey FX.
I'm just disappointed that it no longer comes with a replaceable cushion. Still a good deal . . .

[drj130]

DoriC,

I remember waking up two different times and finding the mask in my mouth as well. I wasn't sure what was going on and thought that maybe I was hungry during the night or something and tried to eat it????

Once I get things figured out with my leak problem with my comfortgel, if I can, I'll give the FX another try. I hate leaks. lol

David

[SleepingUgly]

I think the spot it sits on the nose is a lower lower than where the original Quattro would sit. So if you start with it too high, it might keep riding up as the night goes on. Just a guess.

[DoriC]

SU, you're right .When I did the fitting myself and not Ms Uppity RT, I did place the mask lower on the nose as the diagram and manual states and I can understand why it's designed that way since there's no forehead brace, but that's where the problem is, when you put the mask where it should be, lower on the nose the straps then become too tight and too short, right to the end of the velcro so you can't loosen and it then probably pulls the mask up. So here's the story of our visit to the RT Supervisor today. He was wonderful, spent over an hour with us, seemed to know all about the problems we had, but in defense of his RTs he said they just got the FX mask in 2weeks ago and were only going to use them if it was specifically written on the Dr's RX and training would then begin at that time. He himself has had a training session and seemed to know the ins and outs. He said Resmed makes good masks but often sends them to market with initial glitches(like the leaky Quattro that needed the teflon fix) and others and now the FX with the improper size headgear. They have too much stock of the older masks and I'm the first one who's even inquired about the FX. He let us try the small FX and that made the headgear situation even worse and anyway Mike definitely was a Medium. He didn't have the Large FX in stock so he couldn't even switch the headgear out and he checked with another department and they wouldn't special order just the large headgear at this time. If later on when and if they get in a supply of Large FX he might be able to do something for us. He told us off the record he wasn't too impressed with this new mask,stating that with a FF mask it can become pretty unstable without forehead support, and was much happier when he fitted Mike with his new UMFF "girlfriend". Best part of the story, just as we were leaving I asked him what he was going to do with the FX we were returning (I hated to give up on it) and he said it was going into the bin in the corner with all the others that were puchased as samples only and could not be returned for credit and are used for parts and emergencies. Then he hesitated and said "if you want to take it I didn't see it". At my leisure I will try to get a large FX headgear and experiment. Mike was a little confused about the transaction so when I told him he'd be sleeping with his same mask model, he smiled(or should I say "smirked)!!!

[SleepingUgly]

I don't have an issue with the headgear being too small, and admittedly I haven't logged more than 3 hours in a row with the mask. There may prove to be issues of leaking that I can't resolve (haven't tried enough yet to say), but so far I haven't found it riding up into my mouth.

[Darin]

I was just diagnosed with Sleep Apnea and used the Quatro Fx on my titration last nigh....very comfortable, very well fitting with a leak index of only 3...no problems this morning with comfort..gonna demand this mask if BCBS pays for it or not

[SleepingUgly]

Wow, that's amazing that they are already using it on titration. You're sure it's the FX and not the regular Quattro? If they are using it on titration, that speaks to some degree of confidence in it (not sure based on what, since it just came out...unless they got some earlier than we did). My sense is that sleep techs do not have time in a titration to screw around with crappy masks that leak, so they do their best to use ones they feel won't. Again, are you sure it was the FX (no forehead piece)?

[Tip10]

Here's what I wrote up in the other thread regarding this mask:

Not sure I can give you much feedback on it since I'm brand new to CPAP (2 whole nights).
I used a Quattro for my sleep test and found it comfortable enough. Did some looking around and decided to go with the FX when I got my machine, etc. My RT agreed said she was going to recommend it over the Quattro if I hadn't brought it up. First night in it was comfortable enough for me -- leaks were 13.2 (95th) and 15.6 (Max), changed the way I put it on last night based on the sleepnation video and leaks went to 0.0 (95th) and 1.2 (max).

My RT had me unhooking only one strap and putting it on that way -- without the machine on.
Last night I unhooked both, fired up the machine (well started in maskfit) put the headgear on top of my head, positioned and swung the mask down and then hooked both bottoms back up. Seems to have worked well -- the seals all inflated and I was able to wiggle the mask around and get it settled in then snug it up. Mask was snug but not tight (not as tight as first night) nor as tight as I remember the Quattro being at my test.

Hopefully the trend will continue but its hard to say with only the two nights.

I can add that the third night was virtually leak free as well -- a couple of instantaneous leaks as I moved but a quick wiggle and it sealed back up. The 95th percentile numbers were zero again. Max leak was back at about 13 or so (but that was probably when I stuck a finger in to scratch my schnoz a quick wiggle sealed it back up) I'm getting more comfortable with it and more adept at putting it on. Keeping it down lower on the nose seems to help in getting it on and sealed. I've got a medium mask and the medium headgear and am having no problems with the range of adjustment or, obviously, getting it leak free.

[SleepingUgly]

My RT had me unhooking only one strap and putting it on that way -- without the machine on.
Last night I unhooked both, fired up the machine (well started in maskfit) put the headgear on top of my head, positioned and swung the mask down and then hooked both bottoms back up.

So are you putting the mask on your face (on bridge, swing down over mouth) and then turning on the machine and then pulling the headgear over your face and clipping both bottom straps? Or are you turning the machine on, then putting the mask on your face, then pulling the headgear over and clipping?

I wasn't turning the machine on until the whole thing was on me and clipped. Maybe that's not the best way to do it.

[Tip10]

I put the mask on with the machine blowing.

I use the mask fit function of the S9 to turn the machine on.
Once the machine is blowing I set the mask on my nose and swing it down and settle it into position -- usually giving it a couple of little wiggles to seat it and get the seals set so they don't leak.
Then I hold with one hand and pull the headgear up and over with the other -- snap the clip on one side, switch hands and hold the mask with the other hand and clip in the other side.
I then snug up (not tight) the upper straps and then the lower straps -- switching hands and holding the mask in place till everything is snug.
Then I turn off the mask fit function and start the machine.

What I found was having the machine running fills the seals with air and I can wiggle them into place and get them to seal and I don't have to crank on the straps.

As I said I've only slept in the mask 3 nights but I have put it on and taken it off probably a couple dozen or more times -- this is the method I found to get it sealed and comfortable.

Hope this helps.

[SleepingUgly]

I put the mask on with the machine blowing.

I use the mask fit function of the S9 to turn the machine on.
Once the machine is blowing I set the mask on my nose and swing it down and settle it into position -- usually giving it a couple of little wiggles to seat it and get the seals set so they don't leak.
Then I hold with one hand and pull the headgear up and over with the other -- snap the clip on one side, switch hands and hold the mask with the other hand and clip in the other side.
I then snug up (not tight) the upper straps and then the lower straps -- switching hands and holding the mask in place till everything is snug.
Then I turn off the mask fit function and start the machine.

Thanks! One question: Why do you have to adjust the straps? Doesn't the same setting of the straps that worked the previous night work the next night?

[Tip10]

Yeah they probably should -- and I suspect they probably will once I get a bit better at doing this. Keep in mind I'm still a neophyte at this - still in my first week -- just hoping to repay some of the immense info debt I owe the good folks on this site by talking about what seems to be working for me.
My problem right now is I'm not entirely sure I'm getting the mask and headgear in the same place from night to night. I think I'm probably getting the mask on sometimes slightly higher or slightly lower. My aim right now is to get the mask comfy and sealed and then make sure the straps are set. Last night for example I only tugged on the lower.
I've been fortunate though in keeping my leak levels pretty consistent with medians and 95th percentiles at zero and only a couple of leaks episodes a night.
Probably a bit of luck and a bit of having a noggin and face that's perfect for the medium FX.

[SleepingUgly]

Tip, I have followed your tip of putting it on with the blower on the past two nights. The first night it went reasonably well (I couldn't get through the whole night with it, but not due to leaks, just my general intolerance of sleeping with something). Last night it sealed OK but then started leaking after a few hours. The bizarre thing is that my S9 Autoset doesn't show it was leaking. It was leaking enough that I couldn't deal with it, so not sure why that didn't register. I suspect that there is some variability night to night in where exactly it is on my nose, and maybe that affects how much it leaks later. I have no idea. Masks remain a great mystery to me.

For others following this thread: I do think that putting it on with the blower on is a good tip.

[DoriC]

We received the Large FX headgear yesterday and we tried it for a nap. While it was easier to adjust with the larger headgear it was still very finicky to get a good seal and the slightest head or mouth movement broke the seal . We tried it again today for a nap and the same thing happened. This mask is not very forgiving so we'll stick with our old trusty UMFF for now.