Activa mask pros and cons

I'm due for a new mask soon and I'm considering an Activa. How do you like or dislike it?
I've tried many types of masks and have not found my perfect mask yet.
I have requested the Activa twice from the DME only to be told they are too big and would be uncomfortable.
I've read on this board that alot of people like them and they do not leak.
Right now I have a big red sore spot on the side of my nose from a nasal mask which I believe is from Resmed. It didn't feel irritating when I was wearing the mask.
My face is round shaped because I'm overweight and my head size seems a little big. Any ideas?
Thanks

I can't imagine why he would say they are too big. I have a large and the hole to stick your nose seems small to me but then I am used to full face masks. I would think the different sizes would accomodate about everyone.

track wrote:I can't imagine why he would say they are too big. I have a large and the hole to stick your nose seems small to me but then I am used to full face masks. I would think the different sizes would accomodate about everyone.

Realize that she is asking about the Mirage Activa which is the Nasal mask. You have the UMFF like you state it is a full face mask which is the full face mask version of the Mirage Activa. Both use the Active cell technology which allows the mask to move laterally (left to right) against the pressure of a pillow, arm etc. The active cell is like a air bellows and fills with air when your machine starts.

I use a shallow Mirage Activa. I love it the only down side is that I find that the hose seems to pull it around too easy. The mask is fairly light but the hose really bugs me, I am going to try a stand to hold the hose away from the mask, hopefully will take the pressure of the mask. The other con and probably with all masks, is that the neoprene headgear eventually stretches. Otherwise it is very comfortable mask. I get very few leaks and easy to remedy by just moving it off my face and letting it reseat itself!

Thanks for the replies. I think I'll give it a try.

I love the Activa. I had originally gotten the Activa from my DME, but I also tried many other interfaces at my own expense. I always went right back to the Activa.

Realize that she is asking about the Mirage Activa which is the Nasal mask.

I know...I used the nasal version last night.

I've been using an Activa for over 3 1/2 yrs. and wouldn't have any other. I still ocassionally wake up to a small leak but usually just a flick of my finger at the leak point will reseal it. I sleep on both sides and my back during the night and the Activa moves right with me.

I loved the Activa! Easily the most comfortable mask I have ever used. It literally seemed to float over my face and it moved with me very well, too. Unfortunately for me I need a full-face mask and I never could successfully solve the mouth leak issues. Otherwise, its a fantastic mask. Best of luck!

I love it. It is like a leach. It sucks onto your face and is somewhat flexible. I can sleep on my stomach as well with it and it has the ability to stay snugg after you experiment and get the tension just right. Then I just get the replacement silicone part every 6 months or so. I don't see any cons.

Activa is my favorite mask of all – and I’ve tried 9 of them. It seals wonderfully without having to pull the straps too tight. I’m an Asian female with a low nose bridge so I got the shallow cushion which fits great. It does stay sucked to your face all night – sometimes I feel like I’m in the movie Alien. It keeps it seal throughout the night when I thrash from side to side (I’m a very “active” sleeper). It’s cheaper than the other nasal masks too. For those of you at your wit’s end on finding your perfect mask – this may be the one for you!!!

If the Activa worked that well for everybody, there wouldn't have to be any other nasal mask. I use the Activa Standard, but have also used the shallow. I have to say that there is nothing I can do, in the year that I have tried, that will get that mask to stick to my face all the way around. It always pops a leak somewhere if I move my face at all, and lots of times when I don't move, just when the pressure changes. Many nights it gives me a huge red welt on my nose bridge, despite using the nose bridge guard by padacheeks. All that being said, at least it leaks more quietly, which is more than I can say for the other masks that I have tried.

Still looking for the perfect mask that will fit a thin face with a huge nose.

Bev

A few things I've learned while using the Activa:

It is easy to get the cushion installed on the frame incorrectly and have lots of leaks.

For best results the cushion and area around my nose should be freshly cleaned.

It's easier for me to get the proper strap tension if the adjustments are done while lying down.

With my respiration, the mask tends to pulse up and down when the treatment pressure gets much below 7cm. Therefore, my low pressure is set at 7.5cm.

Having the hose routed so that it comes down from the top of the bed headboard works best for me.


Other Comments:

The tried comes with a short (inlet tube and swivel assembly) which attaches to the mask elbow. I have tried to find out why ResMed didn't incorporate the swivel into the elbow, as with their other masks. But was never able to communicate with an engineering type, the customer relations person speculated as to why but never satisfied my curiosity. My suspicion is that a standard hose with it's heavy cuffs would tend to collapse the Active Cell and be unsatisfactory. Both of my Activas have been modified to have the hose swivel incorporated into the elbow and are used with a cuffless hose. I find this arrangement to be better than using the inlet tube with it's smaller/lighter cuffs.

It's good to know that we have more company on our quest to find that ever elusive perfect interface.

OutaSync wrote:If the Activa worked that well for everybody, there wouldn't have to be any other nasal mask. I use the Activa Standard, but have also used the shallow. I have to say that there is nothing I can do, in the year that I have tried, that will get that mask to stick to my face all the way around. It always pops a leak somewhere if I move my face at all, and lots of times when I don't move, just when the pressure changes. Many nights it gives me a huge red welt on my nose bridge, despite using the nose bridge guard by padacheeks. All that being said, at least it leaks more quietly, which is more than I can say for the other masks that I have tried.

Still looking for the perfect mask that will fit a thin face with a huge nose.

Bev

Bev, nosbig17 has some good points for fitting this mask. In fact if you got the DVD on this baby, it shows how the mask is not suppose to be tightened. Basically just enough so the active cell does not bellow out and not so much that the bellows is flat like a pancake...All said and done, this may not be the mask for you. I know we all love it and seems to work for so many, but everyone is different structurally. Hope someone comes up with a mask that you can rave about - I am truly belieiving that the mask is the first priority when getting CPAP going. The selection of the tank is much more straightforward especially with all our knowledgeable folks and even cpap.com (yeah a plug for our wonderful sponsor of this forum - they are good though and deserve the mention!).

This was my favourite mask before I got the swift LT. I now only use the Activa a night or so a month to give my nares a break.

Someone gave me a used Activa when I was a newbie. It worked for me. It showed me that a mask can be sloppy loose and still get a good seal. I had it so loose that I had to hold it with my hand until my machine started or it would fall around my neck. The top strap and forehead piece never touched my face. It is big and covers a lot of face - a downside in my opinion. You do have to become accustomed to the way the Activa moves. It got me through those difficult early months as my fallback mask while I tried 13 of the other ones available then.

I have since switched to bi-pap, and Activa won't work with it. That sucker does push-ups with the bi-pap!

I now use the decapitated, minimized mask that is currently called the Headrest. Doubt that I will change. I like the way the exhalation goes over the head, and I like the homemade straps.

Catnapper - Joanie