Quattro FX -- Please post feedback on it

[magentapolkadots]

Many, many thanks to all who have posted their experiences with the Quattro FX on this thread. I just got mine this morning and had a terrible time with it during a nap. As soon as my head/neck relaxed and my chin fell forward, it began to leak into my eyes. I knew this forum would have info from other users, and I was right. After reading the entire thread, I think maybe it was too high on the nose bridge and perhaps a bit tight as well. I've printed out some posts that I think may be useful and am looking forward to trying it again tonight.
Will report back...
-K

[Bright Choice]

I have used mine a week. Some very good nights with zero leaks but when the leaks start it is a pain. It is impossible to just lift it off of your face and have it settle into the right place. I have to get out of bed, take the whole thing off and start all over again. Plus, the face piece does not fit securely into the frame. Just lifting it off of my face to try to re-set it while in bed has dislodged the seal and I have to get up to secure the two pieces together again - which is not all that easy to do. I am thinking of gluing the two pieces together. And yes, I do know about the "swing" thing.

[Uncle_Bob]

I had a fever last night and due to related congestion I pulled out the FX.
What an absolute nightmare. It already fits kind of snug over the nose bridge but if you get any kind of congestion and sinus pain then you probably want to forget it. The pressure is magnified 10x over and its just too uncomfortable for me.

So out came the original Quattro with its even feel which i got to float fit with the upper pressure distributed evenly across my forehead. Much better.

[Kiss42day]

Hi Everyone , I have only had my FX for a little over 1 week, I had the Mirage Quattro for the past 2 yrs, I have tried so many different masks, each one promising that this is the one to fit you with all the comfort that you would expect from a mask for my apnea , The FX seems to be the best so far , I am a mouth breather so all those pillow masks just do not do it for me . I have a resmed that goes over mouth with the pillow for nose , what a waste of money , the FX so far is working , yes I have had to adjust the headgear at times,I too have a auto vpap machine , the mirage Quattro was great , but too tight , my vision to watch TV was much better than the FX , but I am sleeping more with the FX , Time will tell , I go to sleep on my back , seems to have less chance of air leakage , whan I am on my side I can hear the air going in , its very relaxng ,

[lucynethel1998]

I just picked mine up today! Got home and tried it on. I use a medium Quattro, so I also went with the medium on the FX.

I spent about 30 minutes messing with it and finally took a nap with it. So far, I like it very much. There may be a slight learning curve to figure out the easiest way to put it on and maintain a good seal over on top of my nose. I did sleep well with it once I got it sealed up. I did notice that if you over-tighten it, it will leak pretty bad.

I will report back in a few days with further thoughts on this mask.

On my Quattro I take a Medium. On the FX I take a SMALL.....

[lucynethel1998]

Banned, what was your experience with the Quattro?

Cybergoon, please keep us posted!

I am still hoping to hear from people who had nose bridge issues with the Quattro, but were successful with the Quattro FX!

My nose has NONE of the soreness issues my Quattro gave me using my new FX. However....It keeps trying to ride UP my nose making me very uncomfortable. I have made it through the night with it just twice in 2 weeks. Always go back to my Quattro now that I have my Pad A Cheeks. Eye leaks seem to also bother me with it. I tried that darn gel pad and that lasted less that 15 minutes the 3 times I tried it with ANY mask.

[smsfire2003]

Tried a medium FX, lasted two nights, walked back into the DME office and exchanged for my ULTRA FFM...
wish this mask worked for me, fit nicely but in the middle of the night it would always ride up my face, and those side spring clips would somehow always end up in my eyes, no matter how I adjusted the mask it always rode up....kind of wondering if I should try a different size in this mask I'd love it if it would work and I wish it would...

[drjeff2267]

I have been trying the new Quattro FX. I have been a faithful user of the Fisher & Paykel FlexiFit HC431 Full Face for one year but when it leaks it makes loud noises (for lack of a better word it sounds like loud farts). As much as men love fart noises the wife is not amused. So I ordered and tried the new Quattro FX. From the very first minute I tried it I noticed something I have never noticed on any CPAP mask (nasal or full face and I have tried them all). There is a direct stream of air blowing directly at my nose. It is there between breaths but when I breathe in it is much stronger. I have tried ignoring it but it irritates and dries out my nostrils. Does anyone have any insights into this? Any solutions?

[pdean44]

I have been following this thread pretty closely as I was thinking of trying this mask in about 4 months when I am covered to get another mask. I think with all the problems I see posted here I may opt out on that. I am using the quattro full face mask now. I had some comfort issues which i mostly have over come thanks to suggestions here. But i still get some leaks now and then rounf the corners of my mouth unless I wear the mask pretty tight. I was thinking of trying the hybrids just not sure where to turn now. Or just make do with what i have. I started out with the mirage activa and loved it. Just could seem to get past the mouth breathing issues not matter what i tried.

[snoozysue]

Hi pdean44, I have tried the FX but have gone back to the Quattro. I wanted to expriment with it and started using the Pad a Cheek leak strap - I figured what how could one more thing on my face matter. I now use the strap every night and have the bottom straps of the Quattro almost falling off they are so loose - the leak rate is now even and the best I have ever had. I found the leak strap too long for me and now Karen is going to make a custom one to suit my needs.

[pdean44]

Hi pdean44, I have tried the FX but have gone back to the Quattro. I wanted to expriment with it and started using the Pad a Cheek leak strap - I figured what how could one more thing on my face matter. I now use the strap every night and have the bottom straps of the Quattro almost falling off they are so loose - the leak rate is now even and the best I have ever had. I found the leak strap too long for me and now Karen is going to make a custom one to suit my needs.

Ahh interesting so there may be hope for this mask yet. Reading the thread i was wondering if a chin strap would help hold the mask in place. I tend to wear a chin strap on and off. It does seem to help me have less leaks from around the mouth area. I still seem to have a higher leak rate than i would like with the Quattro. My apneas i have yet to get as low as many folks here. I have been looking for that winning combination. Unfortunately i have not been able to secure the reader for my machine. I just haven't had the 100 something dollars to spend on that. I use the read out on the machine. Experimented with pressures etc. With limited success. I think it is time to consider a change in masks to see that i can do to reduce the leak rates and see if that improves the apnea episodes. The fx sounded much more comnfortable. Securing it in place sounds like it would reduce a lot of the issues i have read here. So maybe game on for that mask. Wont be for a few months.

[S-Dubya]

When I first tried on the FX I was wow'd. So comfortable. No forehead piece. I thought I had found CPAP heaven. Sadly, it only took about 3 hours before problems arose. Each night I use it, I get about 3 hours before the leaks begin. And once they start, there is no stopping them. It has a definitely tendency to ride up as the night goes on. As it rides up and my mouth drops open its leaksville. The problem seems to be the uppermost strap. Its not adjustable. So, someone with a big head like me is stretching it out and it wants to return to it natural size. I haven't given up yet. Because it is so comfortable and has such a small footprint (faceprint?) I think its worth experimenting a little more. My wife got hers the same day I did and we both have the same problems. She has given up and gone back to the original Quatro. Here's hoping I can find the formula for FX success.

[Bright Choice]

It has a definitely tendency to ride up as the night goes on. As it rides up and my mouth drops open its leaksville. The problem seems to be the uppermost strap. Its not adjustable.

My QFX headgear does have velcro adjustments on both the upper and lower straps. Take a close look. I'd guess that they are there.

I used some 3M Microfoam tape cut in narrow strips to hold the face piece onto the frame. It seems to be working good. I was tempted to use superglue but decided that would probably be a big mistake. If anyone tries that, I'd like to know.

[desforsleep]

I have a quattro fx. same thing worked great for a week maybe two.. then constantly fighting leaks. 92 last night, but with my apap reporting zero ahi , I will go ahead and use it till my insurance will pay for different mask, I have tried the medium and small on the fx... i think it runs a little large or I could use an ex small

[SleepingUgly]

I have a quattro fx. same thing worked great for a week maybe two.. then constantly fighting leaks. 92 last night, but with my apap reporting zero ahi , I will go ahead and use it till my insurance will pay for different mask, I have tried the medium and small on the fx... i think it runs a little large or I could use an ex small

With a leak of 92, I'm not sure your AHI is valid and interpretable.