Mirage Quattro

[Hea83ther]

I went back to my DME to exchange my Comfort Gel for a Mirage Quattro mask. The respiratory therapist said that the bridge of my nose is really narrow, and that's why I'm having trouble. He tried several nasal masks, and didn't think they would fit well, either. It didn't seem to leak much at first, but in about five minutes, it started leaking like crazy, especially on one side of my mouth. I laid awake until 4 am trying to mess with it, and just could not get a good seal. The more I messed with it, the worse the leaks got (didn't matter if I tightened or loosened it). My pressure is really low (at 7). Does that make it harder to get a good seal if the pressure is lower? I'm at my wit's end. I have to work (teacher), and I'm getting only get three hours of sleep per night. Plus, I have a seizure disorder, and lack of sleep can trigger seizures.

I've read all the advice about not tightening the mask too much, having the machine already on when you put the mask on your face, etc., and nothing is working.

I couldn't tolerate the nasal pillows the night of the study, b/c the pressure burnt my nostrils. Plus, they kept falling out every time I move. I read about the t-shirt mask liner. Would that help with leaks?

Thanks,
Heather

[cflame1]

if the pillows fell out every time you moved... you either had the wrong size or they were adjusted wrong.

Check Janknitz's signature for taming the quattro

[Hea83ther]

I read it and tried the suggestions, and I still couldn't figure it out. Maybe it's because I'm not mechanically inclined .

[RandyJ]

The Mirage Quattro is just a leak monster... I've never heard anyone say that they used it right out of the box with no leak problems.

I followed Janknitz's instructions on her blog as well, and wasn't successful; I concluded it was maybe my face/nose etc that did not allow it to work.

So I went another route: I got a mask liner and anti-leak strap from Padacheek (http://www.padacheek.com), and tightened that sucker down. Of course, you don't ever want to make a mask so tight that it makes your head hurt or pulls your jaw back, but I made it snug enough that it didn't leak anymore. And without the padacheek products I don't think it would have been possible.

[Janknitz]

I'm the author of Taming the Mirage Quattro. I use mine every night. It STILL leaks.

There's just too much surface area there on a dynamic face to seal perfectly. However, I've got it tweaked so that it doesn't leak most of the time. 99% of the leaks are at the chin, which is no big deal. It's the eye leaks that drive me bonkers. I sleep on my side and have learned just to snuggle my face in the pillow to stop the leaks when they occur.

Lately I've been having a lot of hip pain and can't lay on my side all night like I used to. On my back, my apneas go up, my jaw goes slack, my pressure increases, and even with my beloved Padacheek liner I get face farts. I just wake up, push the mask in and try to turn on my side. I seem to go back to sleep immediately.

I had to discontinue the anti-leak strap because I had to really crank it down and I was having a LOT of jaw pain during the day.

I loved nasal pillows but still having sinus issues, so I just can't use them any more. Nasal congestion is waking me even in the Quattro the last few nights--I think I'm fighting off a cold.

[LSAT]

My secret for stopping the leaks around the upper nose is to move the mask DOWN about 1/4" to a wider part of the nose. That will drop the lower part of the mask a little lower on the chin, but, it works and I find it very comfortable.

[Hea83ther]

How do you know if the mask is leaking too much? Mine's mostly leaking by the mouth, and it just drives me nuts. I may have to try a mask liner at some point. I don't have a full data capable machine, but the DME said they thought my machine tracked leaks.

[snoozysue]

I also had some jaw pain with the anti leak strap when I used it in the position that is shonw on the website - going up high on the back of the head.
I now have it going much lower at the back - really just straight around and the jaw pain has gone.

[newhosehead]

I have used the Mirage Quattro for over two years now. Janknitz' instructions helped me a great deal but, as has been said, this mask is infamous for leaks. Some nights are good, some not so good.
I just had to respond to your post because after a string of leaky nights in a row, I finally decided to give the t-shirt liner a try. I had read about it many times on this forum and I wish, wish, wish I had tried it before. This may be a fluke but the last few nights have been great. HUGE reduction in leaks and the mask is much more comfortable, even though I did not feel I was experiencing any real discomfort issues. Try it.

[stacyrings]

I got the liner and anti leak strap and I'm still fighting this beast. My problem is the sucker creeps up on my face while I sleep. I've woken up twice now with my mouth hanging out of the bottom. Nothing I can see to help that. The liner does help with the leaks though. I love it!!

[Gazhacks]

Never had a problem with my Quattro ??? Didnt leak, the only reason I changed was everyone else seems to have several different masks so I got a Quattro FX. When I got my mask fitting and was measured at medium, it didnt feel write so I asked for a large and never had a problem sinse then, My opinion is that for the quattro the sizing is wrong! Try a size bigger next time, it worked for me

[stacyrings]

Oops, I have the FX, it doesn't have the forehead part, so not the same mask. Sorry.

[Gazhacks]

The FX has a reputation of being a beast, most have said the first few nights are great then it turns into a leak monster

[LSAT]

Never had a problem with my Quattro ??? Didnt leak, the only reason I changed was everyone else seems to have several different masks so I got a Quattro FX. When I got my mask fitting and was measured at medium, it didnt feel write so I asked for a large and never had a problem sinse then, My opinion is that for the quattro the sizing is wrong! Try a size bigger next time, it worked for me

I disagree...I was measured as a large for the Quattro and the F&P Forma...The Quattro leaked all ofer. I switched to a Medium and I have used it for almost 3 years without any leak problems.

[cindjo717]

Stacey, my Quattro FX did the climb up my nose to my eyeballs thing with my mouth hanging out. The reason that mine did it is because my top strap in the back of head was way too tight. Once I realized that and loosened it, no more problems. I am having minimal leak problems with this mask ever since the anti leak strap and mask liner. They make a big difference for me. Once a night or so I wake up briefly with a leak and it's always that top back strap. All I have to do is move it a little up or down in the back of my head, and the leak stops and that's it. I really am starting to like this mask, it's just a matter of figuring it out. Took me three months almost!