Amara View

I went for my yearly check late last month with my sleep med doctor, and had to meet with the DME first. I had enough of the F10, and told her "Please tell me it's time for a new mask". She said it was, but she wanted me to test out the new Amara View. She was given 2 to give out to people for feedback. The first person who got one never bothered to call her back about it, but she knew I would after a few weeks use. And I will. I have issues with my nose - it's small, and I get a lot of leaks, and my bridge gets sore easily. I still use a FF because it's what I'm used to. I can breathe through my nose again after the surgery last year, but sometimes still get stuffy at night, and nasal only masks just don't work for me, and my ENT forbid me from using nasal pillows. The F10 was the stuff of nightmares for me. Even the largest headgear was tight (something I've never experienced before), and I had the bridge of my nose ripped up so badly by the mask that I have a scar, and had to go to a Pad-A-Cheek liner, which caused large leaks, but at least I was getting my therapy, and my apnea events were down to less than one a night.

I LOVE the Amara View. It's comfortable, and doesn't interfere with my nose in any way. I also love that the air vents forward out of the mask, so I have nothing blowing into my eyes. I've been using it for upwards of 3 weeks now, and the only night I had any large leaks was the night that I tried the Medium cushion, since I'm between small and medium, and decided to try the larger size. That was a mistake, as it leaked badly all night.

Of course, nothing is perfect. Some mornings (not all), I will wake up with the face farts, always at the bottom, around my cheeks. I've had no success in stopping them, and usually will take the mask off in frustration. Should I try adjusting something? I do clean the mask and my face every night to keep the oils off. I know not a lot of people here have experience with this mask, but I am hoping someone can share some experience so I can stop the fart symphony.

You may be able to get a mask liner from pad a cheek, but I don't see Amara on their page.
In cases like this, Karen encourages you to call her, as a liner may be under development,
--even though the site may not show it. Karen's phone: 434-985-4003
As an experiment, you can make a simple gasket out of an old clean t-shirt or cotton undies.
Good luck, and WELCOME back to the forum!

After trying just about everything and not being able to stop the face farts, I called Pad A Cheek. She has a limited amount of Amara View liners in blue only. I ordered one. She wants feedback on it. I'm hoping it shows up soon because I'm not sleeping really well. I got really clogged up in my nose last night for some reason, and I tried mouth breathing, but it didn't work, and I ended up taking the mask off. I fell back asleep, only to wake up about 2 hours later, and I put the mask back on. It leaked, but at least it wasn't the farty leak - it was more the hissing kind.

I love the mask in that it doesn't cover my nose, but if I can't stop the leaks, I'm not sure what to do. The first 3 days I had it, it was great - no leaks. Then I tried the medium cushion when my nose got pinched on the underside one night. It leaked so badly that I switched back to the small the next morning, but it hasn't been the same since.

Got the liner yesterday. Bless Pad-A-Cheek for getting it to me quickly.

What a difference! No face farts. No loud hissing. I could sleep on my side without issue. And the occasional pinch to the underside of my nose from that piece of the cushion behind the nose hole was non-existent. My mask fit was 100% per Sleepmapper, and I got more than 4-5 hours sleep.

I'm hoping this will be it. I'll report back to Pad-A-Cheek in a few days, and hopefully she'll have this one on the website soon. In the meantime, she does have a limited supply, so call if you are looking for one.

Interestingly, my new sleep doctor's daytime sleep tech said he has had little success in fitting patients with this mask. When I asked him what he was talking about numbers wise, he said low 20s. I forgot exactly what problems he was running into but he discouraged me from trying it even though I am sure if I insisted, he would have relented. But the great news is I was fitted with one of the zest nasal masks (can't remember exactly which one) that was very comfortable and should arrive sometime next week.

I just think it is so interesting how varied mask experiences can be and wish everyone who is trying this mask all the luck in the world.

49er

I just got my Amara View yesterday, my Doc recommended on Tuesday that I try it. I was using the Simplus and had tried the P10 which I can't use.

Only the first night, but AHI was 0.0. I did end up getting up 3 times in the night. just over 8 hours of sleep with the last 4 without interruption. two large leaks that flagged, 4 more of spike duration. I have a beard, trimmed short.

THis mask does not have the bellows like the Simplus and is put on much tighter. I did not notice any red marks in the morning. Big plus is no congested feeling from bridge of nose pressure. Jury is still out, but so far, so good

Edit: my pressure is only 8-14

I have a size medium and it is better than the f10 I was trying. I printed out this sizing guide I found online, and my nose goes exactly where the printed line of a nose goes on the online gauge for sizing--so I am thinking I need the small--has anyone else printed out and used this sizing chart??

Mine came with a plastic thing and I'm between small and medium. Respironics says to go up a size, but that didn't work for me. I had to go back down.

Well it's been a week since I got the Amara View mask. I only use it now, my Simplus is my backup sitting on a shelf. What I decided/learned:
1. This mask does not use bellows to seal, I strap it down more and can get no leaks on most nights
2. Getting it on my face is a learned procedure. I tilt it so my nose goes into the mask first and then rotate the chin section onto my chin. this help position the nose over the breathing holes and makes sure that the top front of the mask seal goes up and on the tip of my nose.
3.once you get the hang of putting this mask on, it works great YMMV
4. I had an issue with a FFM and pressure on the bridge of my nose-gone
5.I used to get lots of periods with large leaks-gone
6. I used to get air leaking into my eyes-gone
7. This mask uses a short hose from my heated hose, this seems to make the hose pull less on the mask when I move around.
8. I use breathe right strips and this mask does not get near them

My pressure is 8-14 so take that into account, but without bellows I think this mask might do better at higher pressures.

Just spoke with Karen at Pad A Cheek, what a lovely lady she is, so helpful. I've ordered a couple of the mask liners, I think they will be help in my use of the Amara View. The problem I have with the mask is it will tend to slip during the night probably due to skin oil and saliva (sorry to be gross lol). Nose seal can be uncomfortable at higher pressures, it tends to "blow out" and ride up your nose. Does for me anyway.