Anyone find something "better" than RESMED F20 FFM

What I've been curious with the F20 is whether it needs to be so tight that it verges on uncomfortable. I've read posts that say that masks in general should be comfortable, that being too tight can interfere with the seal. I know everyone's mileage may vary, just wondering if there was an ideal to aim for somewhere out there.

Sluggish wrote: ↑

Sat Aug 31, 2019 9:36 am

Yes I’ve read extensive reviews on every mask. I find the reviews only somewhat helpful because most users do not come back to update the review when they find a mask that’s better.
For me... the F20 interferes with my eyes because of how far up it sits on my face. It leaks unless pulled so tight that it feels like an octopus is attached to my face.

This is what i experience. I wear glasses and I can not read before I fall asleep (its my routine). I also had big leaks - blowing into my eyes from the top/side & the farting noises that cracks my partner up. Tightening down to calm the leaks did nothing but cause pain across my face & neck. I'm an All Over Sleeper, flip & flop constantly and the mask always leaked on me (medium size went to a small and still leaked).

Currently I'm using a Dreamwear FF with a mask liner from Remzzz. I'm a drooler so the mask liners help in that dept. Before the liners, i was having the squelching issues but not as bad as the F20. I was due for a replacement mask and the DME sent me a F20 kit with 4 mask replacements geeesshhh, let me see if i like it before you ding me. I can read and watch TV without any issues while wearing the Dreamwear FFM. I had to go down to the small headgear, the medium was too close to my ears and caused a lot of feedback/whooshing noises. With all my steamrolling in bed, this stays on the best.

Sluggish wrote: ↑

Thu Aug 29, 2019 11:56 am

For me the foam or silicone is fine. I’ve tried them both and for me they perform about the same.
Most of my issue is with the headgear and leaks etc..
Considering the magnet things are removable, I wonder if anyone has successfully used headgear from another mask.

I recall someone using the amara view headgear with a F20. Something I am tempted to try.

Long day's journey wrote: ↑

Mon Sep 02, 2019 4:12 pm

What I've been curious with the F20 is whether it needs to be so tight that it verges on uncomfortable. I've read posts that say that masks in general should be comfortable, that being too tight can interfere with the seal. I know everyone's mileage may vary, just wondering if there was an ideal to aim for somewhere out there.

In my case, comfortable = leaks.
I have no choice but to wrench it down. The straps dig so deep into the back of my neck that the marks last almost all day. Furthermore, the neoprene material causes an itchy allergic reaction that is pretty much constant. I got the strap covers from pad-a-cheek that help with the marks a bit (but not fully). Oddly, I still have the itchy irritation which means either I’m also allergic to the material on the pad-a-cheek, or the neoprene is somehow “sweating” through the cover. I have also noticed that the lower bands of the F20 are so low on the neck that they do not follow the head when it is turned left or right.

I found the F30 fit me the best, no leaking, no need for liners. It did not hurt my nose, etc.. I use a small cushion. I am currently using a Dreamwear FF because what I hate about most masks is the hose nose. That's why I went back to dreamwear because I prefer the hose on top of my head. I was battling the hose at night with other models, causing me to rip the mask off my face or dislodge it. Unfortunately, with the Dreamwear FF, I need a mask liner. I like Pad a cheek brand. Otherwise, the farty noises occur. I also wear a chin strap even though I am using a FF because I still need my mouth shut or I get serious dry mouth which is more uncomfortable than wearing a chin strap. So, in conclusion, I do recommend you try the F30.

Great news! I am now able to use my Dreamwear Nasal pillow mask with the Ruby Adjustable chin strap. I tried this combination last night for the first time. (I was trying it with other chin straps & headbands before with no success). I thought I was destined to use a FF mask for the rest of my life. The RUBY is my FOREVER chin strap! Glad to be done looking for the "perfect" chin strap since I've FINALLY found it. Also glad to be away from HAVING to use a FF mask. The headgear & nasal pillow cushion STAYED PUT even with the chin strap placed on my head first. The Ruby chin strap helps anchor the mask frame & head gear in place, and I don't even have to put the chin strap OVER the headgear to make it work. So, I am a happy camper now, best night's sleep last night in a LOOOONG time. Sooo much more comfy! I am going to try the same experiment tonight using the regular nasal cushion to see if I can get it to seal just as well as the pillows with the Ruby strap. I am hoping so because I would prefer the normal nasal cushion over the pillows if it works. The pillows can make my nostrils sore sometimes, but the regular cushion constantly leaked, the pillows were more reliable. Hope I can make the regular cushion work for me. But.. I would still like to try Resmed's version N30i or P30i to see if I like it better. Then I can make my final decision to use Resmed or Phillips. LOVE being a hose head!

the "standard" cushion on my Dreamwear nasal mask FINALLY sealed for me thanks to the Ruby chin strap. Had another GREAT night. Will be staying with dreamwear nasal with the "standard" cushion until my DME has Resmed N30i in stock, then I will be switching to that. I already know I will prefer the N30i over the dreamwear based on my experience with the F30. The cushion has two holes instead of one & is a better fit for me.

I have used the Resmed AirTouch and Airfit F20, and the Airfit F30 masks.

The F20 series seems to be the best for me so far. I like the F30 from a standpoint of being able to better watch TV or read w glasses on, but I seem to knock the nasal vents out of alignment sometimes during my sleep.

The AirTouch F20 with the memory foam is most comfortable. The downsides are small. The cushion won't last as long, and you can't get it wet to clean it. I also will sometimes get a hair stuck to the foam when taking it off, and while I can feel it with the mask on, it's not always easy to locate that hair and get it off the foam without getting up, putting my glasses and a light on, and locating the hair.

The AirFit is better for those regards, but I have to tighten it down a bit more to stop leaks, and the straps will leave marks on my face for a while.

All in all, the AirToch F20 has been best for me. Even though they say to replace the cushion every 30 days, I can get 45 to 60 days in most cases.

I couldn't stand the F20 or Quattro Air for Her because of the covering the entire nose. Not really a claustrophobic thing, but they leaked something fierce, were "too much equipment on my face" and I had nose pain and had a hard time sleeping on my side. This was before I purchased a CPAP pillow. That is why I found the Dreamwear FF & the Resmed F30 to be more comfortable, but I still had leaking issues unless I buckled up in both a chin strap AND liners. The liners tickled & made me itch, so I hated them. I tried Remzzz first, and they worked as long as they didn't slide around. The Pad a Cheek for my Dreamwear FF mask was the best with the velcro fastener, so it didn't move, but it also itched. That's when I started just wearing a headband or chin strap. Still not perfect, but that experience led me to purchase a Ruby adjustable chin strap after several people on the forum recommended it. It was a Godsend. I am now able to go back to a nasal mask because for some reason, my dreamwear cushion now seals for me because this particular chin strap is large & wide enough, and adjustable enough, and seems to "stick" to my nasal headgear. I have tried it both under & over my headgear, and I get great results either way. My dreamwear nasal headgear no longer shifts, so now I get a good seal. I don't ever want to go back to a FF version. Still want to try Resmed N30i because I will like the cushion better if it is similar to the F30. I will still need a darned chin strap though. I don't mind, I had to use one for a FF mask anyway, & am used to wearing one now and feel naked without it.

by the way, I am using a small frame & small cushion, so the sliding around before I found my perfect chin strap it not because it's too big. I have the smallest frame they make. Maybe they can make a third size called "mini". Knowing my luck, it would be too small! I am glad for people who discover what finally works, even if it takes over a year. for those of you still struggling with the "perfect as possible" CPAP mask, please do not give up! There is a lot of good advise on this forum. I am due for new supplies in October. I have requested the N30i. If my DME still does not have it in stock by October, I am seriously considering spending my own money to obtain one. I just have to try it out so that I can make my final decision whether to switch or stay with dreamwear.

doing the happy dance now. Just got informed by my DME that they do carry the Ruby adjustable chin strap & will have Resmed N30i in stock by the time I reorder supplies for October. So those of you who are using N30i.. how do you like it & can anyone tell me if they tried both Dreamwear nasal & N30i and which one they preferred?

bristolman wrote: ↑

Thu Aug 29, 2019 11:32 am

forgot to add I ordered a foam cushion to try with f20 ( 24.00 but fairly inexpensive to try ) .

mike

I started with the F10, now have an F20.

I swap between the AirTouch and AirFit cushions. Both work fine, the foam is slightly more comfortable, but doesn't last nearly long enough.

AHI and leakage is pretty much exactly the same on each.

My top 3 are the F30 and (tied for second place) the F20 Airfit and N30i.

I have a badly-deviated septum, but I'm not a mouth breather. The F30 and N30i both help hold my nose open because the air inside my nose is pressurized and the air outside is not.

The F30 helps prevent mouth leaks because the air is pressurized both inside and outside the mouth. It's also quiet. The fit can be a little finicky, but once it is adjusted right I don't get leaks. This is what I'm using every day now.

The N30i is more susceptible to mouth leaks unless I use a cervical collar of some sort (I prefer "The Eliminator"). It can also be loud in my ears, and the front vent holes don't have the P30i-style diffuser for some reason. It seals well at my nose though, it's easy to adjust, and probably the least finicky of the three (for me).

The F20 Airfit doesn't have that pressure difference to hold the nose open, so I generally have to use a nasal dilator with it. I also have to wear it fairly high, near my eyes. The fit can be a little finicky on this one too (for me). I can't use the Airtouch version because the foam presses in on the sides of my nose, making it hard to breathe. I also feel like I'm between sizes on the F20 - medium is a little too small, and large is much too big.

The Amara View and Dreamwear FF are similar to the F30, but the AV just didn't fit my face, and I couldn't stop the leaks with the Dreamware FF.

I loved the F30, fit exactly right & had no leaks, so it is my favorite FF mask, but... I hate the hose on my nose. I prefer being a hose head. I went back to dreamwear FF, but needed both a chin strap (yes, a chin strap on a FF mask). & liners as well to make it stop leaking and making farting noises. The liners tickled my face & I couldn't stand it. I accidently discovered I CAN wear the Dreamwear Nasal mask if I put the Ruby adjustable chin strap on my head first then put the mask on. It actually worked better for me to put the chin strap under the mask rather than over it. The chin strap material helps hold my mask in place so that the headgear doesn't slide around & affect my seal on the cushion. I am about to get a N30i in October. I am hoping I can just wear it without a chin strap, but we shall see. I was a bad mouth breather when I started therapy a year and a half ago, which is why I felt I needed a FF mask and would not be able to use a nasal mask successfully, but I seem to be doing better at keeping my mouth closed, so I would like to get to the point where I don't HAVE to wear a chin strap. Not really wanting to try the medical collar thing or mouth tape just to make a mask "work" for me. I have heard both good & bad regarding the N30i. Most seem to like it, but some say the cushion has hard plastic on it which digs into their face. I am willing to try it anyway. If I don't like it, I go back to the dreamwear.

Thanks for all the input folks.
I’ve not abandoned my search or this thread but for some reason I stopped getting the notifications so it’s more work to keep up.

In my opinion thee F20 is just “decent” but it’s what I’m still using. The straps dig into my neck through the pad-a-cheek strap cover and the back of my neck is itchy and red all day every day. The mask interferes with my eyes and leaks unless pulled VERY tight. It rides up my face until my bottom lip drops out unless I also use the chin strap from pad-a-cheek. Even on my best nights I still feel pretty terrible the next day. I imagine my next money dump will be on a Simplus.