If Quattro hurt your nose, what FF mask DID work for you?

Sleeping,
I have tried on a few that had a "chin tab". But it doesn't really work like a chin strap. It's more like a marker to place the mask than to hold it in place firmly. I also have a chin strap that just attaches to the lower straps but it is not nearly firm/tight enough to be effective. I have looked at the total face you refer to. That would be my last choice, but that list is getting shorter all the time. I do have a wide face so it would probably fit me. Just looks too much like a welders mask. I am determined to make this work so whatever it takes.........

It does look like a welder's mask, and I balked at the idea of it. But I actually found it fairly comfortable (I didn't sleep in it, though), and I preferred having something touching the sides of my face rather than my nose. Just something to keep in mind, but hopefully the 431 will work for you.

DoninOrlando wrote:Sleeping,
I have tried on a few that had a "chin tab". But it doesn't really work like a chin strap. It's more like a marker to place the mask than to hold it in place firmly. I also have a chin strap that just attaches to the lower straps but it is not nearly firm/tight enough to be effective. I have looked at the total face you refer to. That would be my last choice, but that list is getting shorter all the time. I do have a wide face so it would probably fit me. Just looks too much like a welders mask. I am determined to make this work so whatever it takes.........

SleepingUgly wrote:I think technically I should be in a Medium. (According to cpap.com's guide where you put the measurements in, NO full face mask suits me!) I think I have a difficult head to fit. I actually have a small head, believe it or not, but my face is long and narrow/thin. Eyes are close and deep set. My nose is prominent... And I'd like to change my name from Sleeping Ugly, because I'm not feeling very attractive with this description!

Uncle_Bob wrote:I had a medium Quattro fitted at the DME that i had to tighten so much at the top that my nose got sore. I also i noticed that the bottom of the mask would push my mouth open during the night and i would suffer from dry mouth.

Once i checked the fitting templates I found that i had the wrong size and I was actually a size small.

http://www.resmed.com/us/assets/html/ma ... lates.html

If you think you have a unique facial structure not well suited to a FFM then why not consider a nasal mask?

If you think you have a unique facial structure not well suited to a FFM then why not consider a nasal mask?

Well, I don't know if it's THAT unique (people don't stare at me when I go out in public or anything). But the answer is that I was using nasal pillows and the doctor (and I) felt my mouth was opening, and now that winter has hit, I'm too stuffy to count on breathing only through my nose anyway.

Interestingly enough, I struggled through the Quattro through 3 sleep studies and a week at home. I'm new to all this and it was what seemed to fit best. My nose bridge was raw to the point of bleeding and I still could not get a good seal no matter how tight the mask was. I didn't know there were other options. I use a vpap adapt ST at 15 lbs. Getting anything to seal is REALLY a problem. Anyway, I went back to the provider and we tried almost 2 dozen different kinds of masks. The only one that I've been able to get a seal on successfully is the Drive FF. In order to get it to work right and not take my ears off, I've had to change the headgear to the headgear from a ResMed Nasal Mask. Together it is light and comforable. I still have a "mask" and strap marks that can be seen all day though they don't hurt.

Sleeping,
I just looked up the Drive FFM that Ruff mentioned above and that is the one I was describing also. The photo I found is identical. It was very lightweight, all clear, and no nose bridge. It felt comfortable in the DME office but I had terrible leaks with it. I also paid twice what I see it sells for elsewhere. Never again........ It may work for you though. If you could get it to work all night, it would be more comfortable than any others due to no nosebridge and very lightweight.
Have you tried loosening the top strap on your Quattro? I found the top strap has very little to do with how much the mask leaks. You can have the top fairly loose without increasing leakage. Almost all leaks are cured by tightening the bottom strap. If you turn the dial all the way out, and just barely tighten dial and top strap enough to not leak, you can later cure the small leaks near the top of nose with one or 2 clicks of the dial.

I'm not sure what you mean by "no nose bridge". It does seem to make contact with the nose. It looks similar to the FullLife that I tried, which had a low profile like that, and pulverized my nose when I slept with it with no protection. This is a picture of the Fulllife:

https://www.cpap.com/viewImage.php?PNum ... -front.jpg

I have tried loosening straps. I actually have gone to bed with the dial pretty far out, and I've been surprised that my nose has still gotten hurt. If I can work up the guts to do it, I may try to sleep with the Remzzzs only and see if maybe my adding tapes and things is just making the problem worse.

DoninOrlando wrote:Sleeping,
I just looked up the Drive FFM that Ruff mentioned above and that is the one I was describing also. The photo I found is identical. It was very lightweight, all clear, and no nose bridge. It felt comfortable in the DME office but I had terrible leaks with it. I also paid twice what I see it sells for elsewhere. Never again........ It may work for you though. If you could get it to work all night, it would be more comfortable than any others due to no nosebridge and very lightweight.
Have you tried loosening the top strap on your Quattro? I found the top strap has very little to do with how much the mask leaks. You can have the top fairly loose without increasing leakage. Almost all leaks are cured by tightening the bottom strap. If you turn the dial all the way out, and just barely tighten dial and top strap enough to not leak, you can later cure the small leaks near the top of nose with one or 2 clicks of the dial.

This looks like the "Drive" mask you guys are talking about: https://www.cpap.com/productpage/zzz-ma ... asics.html. If so, it's known around here as the Probasics Full Face ZZZ-Mask.

Sleeping
Sorry I meant no Forehead Bridge. It does of course rest on the nose as most do. It just does not have the forehead support most FFM's also have.

I just tried the Comfort Gel ffm and it was worst than my Quattro!

I have read and heard so much negative about the comfort gel FFM I never bothered to try it. I like the comfort gel nasal, but they say the FFM is no where near as comfortable. I would prefer to try all the ones with good reputations first, and then start on the bad ones

The Quattro was mask #2 of the three masks I have tried so far. I resort to mouth breathing easily, so I only use full face masks.

#1 was the Full Life, which felt wonderful, but leaked terribly.

#2 was the Quattro, which felt okay, but leaked too much for me to get acclimated (including a sort of oboe sound) and also bothered the bridge of my slightly large nose.

#3 is the relatively unknown F&P Forma. It goes on a little tight, but is virtually leak-free, and almost as comfortable (nose-wise) as the Full Life. It's the first mask that gave me a full compliant night's usage.

By the way, nose bridge notwithstanding, I went back a few weeks ago and got a Quattro as my "spare," because I have hopes I can use it successfully after I build up good skills and habits. It was a nice mask. If I am successful with it, I may actually try the FullLife again, the comfiest of 'em all.

I started CPAP just over a week ago with the quattro mask. It just killed the bridge of my nose and it leaked alot. I switched to the mirage liberty and so far it works great. It is both comfortable and no leaks. I feel it also allows me more movement. I am currently waiting for my hosebuddy hose management system. I hope between a new mask and not having to deal with a hose drapped across my arms and chest that I will have a great night of sleep.

FWIW, I've played with my Quattro quite a bit and even modified an old seal/cushion. What I've found is that the red make on the nose bridge isn't caused by contact with the mask body. It's caused by the shape of the mask seal. The seal is significantly stretched where it contacts your nose bridge, it creates a pressure sore/wound, not a friction type wound. The wound is a result of blood circulation being reduced at the point of contact. Try taking just the seal without the mask and holding it on your face at what seems like the normal position & level of compression while looking in the mirror. You should see what I'm refering to.

The vertical position of the Quattro on your face (along with outher factors) seems to to dictate whether your going to have a comfortable fit or have a sore. I've noticed that opening my mouth, rasing & lowering my eyebrows all affect the seal position & instance of leaks. I took an old seal and trimmed away the portion that was being stretched tightly. It helped in some respects but left more of a defined line in my nose.

I try to gauge the position of the mask every night by checking the distance between the forehead cushion and my eyebrow with my finger to see if I can get some consistancy in the position and thus repeatable comfort. As someone else pointed out, the top straps need not be tight, only tight enough to keep the forehead piece from sliding or moving.

A few things I'd like to try: Applying some K-Y or food safe silicone lube on the heavier inner lips of the seal cushion to perhaps allow the thin portion of the seal to position better. It seems to cling or stick to the inner seal lips which may cause problems. Also, I'd like to position a piece of round dental gauze, foam or something similar in the apex (inverted-V) of the seal so that there is some overhang on the left & right side of the nose bridge to see if it would help reduce the seal stretch over the nose bridge without causing leaks.

As common as this complaint is, it's a wonder that Resmed doesn't take more interest in it. We're not talking a major mask rework, only a seal modification. Perhaps some accordian type mod or a few added layers to reduce contact pressure & improve sealing.

falvesjr wrote:This looks like the "Drive" mask you guys are talking about: https://www.cpap.com/productpage/zzz-ma ... asics.html. If so, it's known around here as the Probasics Full Face ZZZ-Mask.

Yep, that's the mask. Notice how the top strap interferes with your ears. It either rubs them raw close to your head or if you put them over your ears where the straps would naturally go (based on design) they leave welts there also.
I took the head gear off of a ResMed mask (it has nose hoses and fits over your mouth) and retrofitted this mask and it really seals well without leaks now.