Thanks for all the good advice, I picked the ACTIVA™...

[Ric]

My insurance will pay for a new mask every 3 months. And I'm ready to try a new one. (I only have 4 others, and I'm currently stuck on the UMII). Based on all the good advice and experience from this forum I picked the ACTIVA™...

But now I have another problem. The ACTIVA™ comes in three sizes. None of which are recommended for the measurements that I punched in on the sizing page on cpap.com. WHAT ???? My face can mostly be described as stunningly average. People I have known for years can't even remember what I look like. (Sometimes that's good). So I decided to pick a new nose. I added 2 inches to the length and a full inch to the width. No luck. Removed an inch. Same. Flat. Wide. Skinny. One side larger than the other. Still no luck. Flared nostrils. Slotted nares with pointy nose. Bent. Straight. Parrot beaks. Ski-jump noses. Boy noses. Girl noses. Streisand. Durante. Cossell. Kate Elder. Tycho Brae. Michelangelo. Wedders. Myslivecek. Cyrano de Bergerac. Rudolf of Hapsberg. Bob Hope. Barbara Walters. Changed the size from almost nothing, by 10% increments, up to massive. (Back to original now). Whatever I punch in, same response:

"Given your measurements, the Mirage Activa Mask with Headgear is not the ideal mask for you."

WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH~~~
.

Nothing seems to work here for that mask and those particular dimensions!


Question for this audience: has anybody purchased an Activa based on the size/measurement recommendations online? If so, I would really like to know what kind of face/nose combination I need to get the mask of my choice. Any advice will be greatly appreciated.

[Gidgie]

Ric......don't you get the feeling it's trying to tell you something?

[Ric]

Ric......don't you get the feeling it's trying to tell you something?

uhhhhhh.... you mean like "it's not EASY being the cookie monster" ???

OR WAIT! did you mean "TEMPORARILY OUT OF STOCK" ???

[linda b]

I know this won't really help, but just can't resist (it is, afterall, almost 2:00am and I'm feeling kind of silly): Sounds like you may be a candidate for plastic surgery!!!!! Perhaps this would be the solution for all of us who don't fit the mask we really like?!?

[Darth Vader Look]

Ric, that online sizing page is driving me up the wall also. I want an UMFF but if I buy based on the sizing instructions and the mask doesn't fit I am stuck with it. The DME's want $350 dollars for one minimum so that doesn't help me out. I guess when purchasing online you pays your bucks and takes your chances .

[Gidgie]

Depends on how you feel about cookie monsters.......once in a while a few come around.......and if it wasn't for the cookies, I'd wonder why, since I've got a face that'd stop an eight-day clock!

[reval]

Seriously, I think the Activa is a mask that does not require an exact fit as some other masks do.
I think it is best to contact the people at cpap.com and ask them for the best size.

[Selena (but really Julie)]

Hi - I just went thru what you did - I was using an Ultramirage in a particular size, then went to measure for an Activa and it told me that ideally an UM in TWO sizes different to what I was using was good, leaving me at a loss - because I really, really measured carefully. Well after talking to Resmed directly, to a bunch of customer service people at 'stores', and to a local dealer, I crossed my fingers and got the size that seemed closest to the UM I'd been using and it worked! It does have a kind of big floppy structure (not that it's too 'big' sizewise tho'), and I think you'd probably be fine with a standard unless you have either a particularly prominent nasal bridge, or much less of one (as I do). I think it's great and I'm sleeping better, even though the UM is definitely good too and a great backup. So don't worry about the guide... it can't measure what matters as far as I'm concerned.

[NightHawkeye]

Ric......don't you get the feeling it's trying to tell you something?

uhhhhhh.... you mean like "it's not EASY being the cookie monster" ???

OR WAIT! did you mean "TEMPORARILY OUT OF STOCK" ???

My guess would be that they've gotten so many complaints from people wanting to return it (because it's a weird mask) that their initial response is NO to everyone that wants to order one.

Then, when someone like you persists in ordering one anyway, at least you can't say they didn't try to stop ya . . . More importantly, you can't really bad mouth 'em here either since you went against the official recommendation.

Regards,
Bill

[mikemoran]

Ric,

Call the folks at CPAP.com and talk to a human. Give them the measurements and see what they say. Sometimes the humans have a little better understanding of the mask sizes than the online sizer.

Okay stopping practical advice and returning to humor .

[Snoozin' Bluezzz]

I got interested in the Activa as well after all the various bits of feedback and encountered exactly the same problem with the sizing tool.

In fact I tried various others measurements and could not get a result that worked. Cynical me, wonders if Bill (Nighthawkeye) is correct.

Please let us know what CPAP.COM has to say to you.

SB

[Guest]

I had the same problem with the sizing tool for the Activa. I called cpap.com twice. I told them that I understood the Activa wasn't recommended for me, but if I were to go against that advice, which size would come closest to what I would need. One rep just told me they couldn't give a recommendation if the sizing tool said it wasn't a good mask for me. The other rep gave me size recommendations based on 3 out of the 4 measurements. If you don't get a good answer the first time you call, try calling back. I bought my Activa from them (Standard) and it is working well (even though I got a Shallow for my UMFF).

There is one question I have not seen the answer to, though. If you buy an Activa, and think you chose the wrong size, can you simply order a replacement cushion in a different size? When you look at the replacement parts page for this mask, you need to specify a size for a replacement cushion, but not for a replacement mask frame, which makes me think that all size cushions fit on the same size frame. At least that would lessen the cost of initially choosing the wrong size.

[mousetater]

Sorry - forgot to log in. The above post was from me.

[PhilinOK]

There is one question I have not seen the answer to, though. If you buy an Activa, and think you chose the wrong size, can you simply order a replacement cushion in a different size? When you look at the replacement parts page for this mask, you need to specify a size for a replacement cushion, but not for a replacement mask frame, which makes me think that all size cushions fit on the same size frame. At least that would lessen the cost of initially choosing the wrong size.

Yes, you can just buy the cushion. I used the sizing tool, it told me I needed a large, after I got the large, it was too large. I called cpap.com and complained; they said I must have made an error; and sure enough I had (although when I corrected it, it still said I needed large.) Anyways, I just got a standard size cushion and it has been great ever since.

Also, I agree with the other statement above that an exact fit is not required for this mask, but keep in mind I am no "professional".

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[Snoozing Gonzo]

When I ordered an Activa, the size was cross-referenced with my previous mask (my first). After struggling for a couple of weeks, and frankly getting pretty good with late night tiny adjustments I called back and asked if the size was right given my measurements (not asked for or volunteered by me in the first call). The person I talked to said I was firmly in the Standard size, not Large as indicated by crossing. The lack of adequate measurements for my first mask by my DME ("this looks like the right size") coupled with my poor initial communications cost me an additional $41 + shipping to get the proper cushion. The total cost through cpap.com is still less than the DME charges for the mask and I'm very happy with the mask now.