Amara View - Not what I expected

I've been using a Mirage swift for ages but thought I'd try a full face again. I tend to be a mouth breather at times because of my deviated septum but on the best clear breathing nights the Mirage Swift works fine. The nasal pillow at 14cm of pressure seems to open up my nasal passages well. But on those rare occasions I thought I might use a full face for congested nights. I've never liked full face masks because of the claustrophobic feeling I get when wearing them. But the Amara View seemed promising so I went to the local CPAP Store and picked one up. I was fitted for a medium which fit-wise seems to be good. but it sure doesn't make a good seal. The slightest change in facial expression and the air comes gushing out around my mouth. The seal around my nose was good and the mask was fairly quiet. But the leaking around the mouth was too great. Gave it a try for one night and I'm back to my Swift. The less surface area, the fewer the leaks. My Swift fits so well and never leaks so I'm sticking with it.

I also did not have any luck with the Amara View. It gave me sinus headaches and every time i turned during the night I had difficulty keeping the seal as well.

I had pressures up to and exceeding 20 with my Amara View use and leaks not be a bother...so it can seal but it can be a challenge and I toss and turn all night long.
That said...sometimes a mask simply isn't a good "fit" for the person for any number of reasons and why we say that all masks come with a huge YMMV sticker.
I personally couldn't get the Mirage Swift to work for me under any circumstances...absolutely hated it. One man's treasure is the next person's trash.
It is the life of a cpap mask.

Are you going to keep the View for a while to see if maybe you can get it to work later and have it for emergencies or are you going to return it?
If you keep it you might try a mask liner (you can make your own out of an old Tshirt) and it might help with the leaks enough to make the mask less annoying so that it could be used in an emergency.
That said...I kept the Amara View for such an emergency...and in over 8 years of therapy I didn't even own a full face mask until I got the View...and I still yet haven't had that "emergency" bad enough to even need a full face mask.

I used that mask for over a year with my pressure set at 20 - 25 cm H2O, and had very few leaks. It can be difficult to get adjusted correctly, but once you do, it seals well.

I just got the Amara based on the positive recommendations here, but I've also had a very difficult time with it. It is so much louder than my Dreamware nasal pillows and the pressure seems much stronger with the full face mask versus the nasal pillows even on the ramp. The real challenge is getting it to stop leaking air. My mask fit for the 3 nights I've used it are 19%, 76% & 50%. If I tighten the nasal area I start leaking around my mouth and if I tighten the bottom straps I leak around the nose. They gave me a medium and after checking the sizing guide that is indeed my size. I'm going back to the Dreamware until I can get back to the DME.

Pugsy wrote: Are you going to keep the View for a while to see if maybe you can get it to work later and have it for emergencies or are you going to return it?

The CPAP Store here doesn't take returns on masks so I'm out $150. Used it for about three hours and then threw it off and reattached the Swift and went to sleep. If anyone wants to buy it I'd be happy to sell it to recoup some of my money.

R

Okie bipap wrote:I used that mask for over a year with my pressure set at 20 - 25 cm H2O, and had very few leaks. It can be difficult to get adjusted correctly, but once you do, it seals well.

Nah, I'm happy with the Swift. It never leaks and isn't so finicky with the fit. I can sleep on either side or on my back with the Swift and no issues. Plus the strap and pillow mask are cheap. I hope they never stop making it.

If you want to sell it...what size is it?
Someone might want to take it off your hands. I have one...so not me though and I don't know anyone at the moment but you never know about tomorrow.