I take a leak (3 dats of Quattro FF data)

Hi DoriC,

My recommendations for the Quattro will work for the UltraMirage – I actually own and have tried both masks but prefer the Quattro because it seals better. I have the small and medium sizes in both masks. Do you think your husband has the right size mask – it seems as if his is a bit small if there are so many bottom/cheek leaks assuming a small amount of jaw drop. For the Quattro, a mask that is a tad larger is better than one that is a bit smaller. The thing I dislike about the Quattro masks is that there are large size variances between sizes – the small is much smaller than the medium – they should offer in-between sizes. From the many posts I’ve read about the Quattro on CPAP.com and various forums, many people have discovered that the sizing template for the Quattro gives you the smaller size when the next size up is a better fit.

Have you seen the Quattro dvd that came with the mask? You’ll see in the video that the forehead piece is supposed to rest low on the forehead. Our intuition when we put the mask on is to ride it high on the nose bridge because it feels natural to us. Keep in mind that as your husband sleeps, the mask will typically ride upwards as he moves around/straps slide on slippery hair etc. This will cause leaks in the nose bridge area (bridge becomes flatter towards the top of face) and leaks at the bottom as there is less room to accommodate jaw drop.

If your husband sleeps with his mouth wide open than a chinstrap is a must. As we mouth breathers/jaw droppers sleep we are constantly opening at shutting our mouths especially as we move from side to side. A chinstrap can be used not to clamp the mouth shut but to keep the jaw in one steady position.

elader wrote:Marsha, the thing is that the mask is such a relief pain-wise versus what I was using, that if it wasnt leaking, I would actually be quite pleased. As it is I can tell I am sleeping better - amazingly, when i retire at 10AM, I am up and at 'em at 6:30 AM - something I have NEVER experienced as far as I can recall. So I am not unhappy, except I am jealous of the leaklines that people keep posting here. I am not inept. 25 years of bench research has certainly enabled me to methodically adjust variables to get best results. I am just a little disappointed that I dont seem to be getting anywhere. I am far from giving up though. I want to try the fit on the mask that Carbonman is using. Maybe I can convince the DMA to order one of these too. Fitment is free after all.

My apologies, Eric. When you said this...

I can get a new mask in January. I will call the DME and can ask her to order a couple I have not tried on yet. I guess I'll see about the one you have. Any other suggestions?

...I thought you were asking forum members for full face mask suggestions. Never meant to infer that you were inept or insult you in any way.

Marsha

Songbird wrote:

elader wrote:Marsha, the thing is that the mask is such a relief pain-wise versus what I was using, that if it wasnt leaking, I would actually be quite pleased. As it is I can tell I am sleeping better - amazingly, when i retire at 10AM, I am up and at 'em at 6:30 AM - something I have NEVER experienced as far as I can recall. So I am not unhappy, except I am jealous of the leaklines that people keep posting here. I am not inept. 25 years of bench research has certainly enabled me to methodically adjust variables to get best results. I am just a little disappointed that I dont seem to be getting anywhere. I am far from giving up though. I want to try the fit on the mask that Carbonman is using. Maybe I can convince the DMA to order one of these too. Fitment is free after all.

My apologies, Eric. When you said this...

I can get a new mask in January. I will call the DME and can ask her to order a couple I have not tried on yet. I guess I'll see about the one you have. Any other suggestions?

...I thought you were asking forum members for full face mask suggestions. Never meant to infer that you were inept or insult you in any way.

Marsha

Hey Marsha, absolutely no offence taken. Actually, I was asking for other FF masks to try. All I was saying is that I have tried every which way i could with three different masks, and the leak rate charts are always ...uh... interesting. The best so far has been the quattro on certain nights. I see newbies post leak graphs that are better than the best I have ever seen at home. I am convinced it's : a_ the assymetry of my facial bones next to my nose - I always leak from the same spot - and that I tend to jam my face sideways into the pillow, forcing leaks. Que Sara Sara.

elader wrote:Hey Marsha, absolutely no offence taken. Actually, I was asking for other FF masks to try. .... I tend to jam my face sideways into the pillow, forcing leaks. Que Sara Sara.

Very glad to hear it. I hope you're successful in your quest.

Marsha