Quattro FX -- Please post feedback on it

Received my new FX yesterday. Wasn't eligible for a new one through insurance for another 5 months so I found one on eBay (NIB) for a nice price. First night with it was pretty darn good. Leak rate was the lowest it had been in about 3 weeks. The Quattro had really been getting to me....primarily the forehead piece and couldn't sleep on my side without it shifting. Also had a tendency to fall asleep without putting it on as I like to watch TV and/or read and have to wear glasses to see more than 5" in front of my face.

FX allowed me to wear my glasses. Leak rate was 4.6 and the AHI was 1.0. Didn't have the problems some have mentioned with the mask shifting.

My size was medium (I am between a small and a medium but closer to a small). I did buy a medium based on the reviews and the mask I found at $110 was a medium. Actual mask fit was good and do not believe a small would have worked. However, I do think the standard headgear is a little small and may have to buy the large. The standard works for now.

One night does not make success but I will take it and go back for more tonight!

Mike

I am still wearing my Quattro fx and it is going okay. Last night I loosened the bottom straps as my pressure is quite a bit higher with this mask. With the Swift fx and taping my 95% hovers around 10. 4 or so, but with the Quattro fx it is often around 12.6 or 12.8. Quite a difference and enough to get some aerophagia. I guess I loosened the straps too much last night, as I was awakened several time with leaks, although my leak rate on my machine was still acceptable.

SleepingUgly asked me to post over here in this thread, since I noted I was having success with the Quattro FX. So, here it is:

I'll do the best that I can (at explaining how I fit mine)... But remember that my circumstances are a bit strange. Due to the high pressure surges, I need to have the mask tighter than most people.

First a disclaimer. As I mention, due to my ASV machine, I need my masks tighter than I recommend for most people. So what works for me may not for others.

Next, also be aware that my head is on the extra large size. Literally. I wish I could say it's because there is more in there. I think it's just because I have a thicker skull. Just ask my wife or kids!

But it does impact how I adjust a mask. I start by letting out the mask to the very end of its reach.

Then I put the mask on. Follow the printed guide by placing the nose first and the "swing" the mask onto the face. And I allow the machine to start before I start adjusting the mask.

Next, I "scootch" the top of the the mask down below where my glasses go. If it's up higher, it leaks. If it's down lower it presses against my face and cuts off my sinuses.

Then I adjusted the straps to the loop that goes over the top of the head and the top strap fit me rather like a yamaka. In other words my bald spot is surrounded by the top strap and the part that goes over my head.

The lower strap I pull down so the strap comes up under my jaw up to the mask.

The nuisance of this arrangement is that the top strap comes even with my eyes. I can not watch TV or read with this mask, because of that. But it is much more comfortable than the Quattro with the head piece.

Like I say, I need mine to be a bit tighter than I would normally recommend. When I have a central apnea, my ASV machine ramps the pressure upto 25cm H2O, which blows out just about any seal if the mask is not tight. But this way, I do not have the head piece buried in my forhead. It literally left indentations that lasted most of the day.

Hope that helps.

Thanks, John. I am not sure what to do anymore... the small? the medium? neither? I guess I'll throw them across the room and whichever lands closer will be the one I use tonight.

another almost $200 investment now residing in my cpap graveyard. I can not get a consistent seal. It may get pulled out when i get congested as it does have a slight edge over the regular quattro in terms of comfort.

We've been working with the FX for a week during naps in the recliner but even with no real movement it starts to leak after a few minutes as soon as Mike relaxes his jaw just a bit, and no amount of adjusting helps. We even purchased the large headgear for the medium to see if that made a difference. This mask is just too finicky and I think there's a problem with the design although the concept is a good one. We're at a point now with our trusty UltraMirageFF where we just slap it on, maybe a minor adjustment and it's good to go. BTW, we also could not get the original Quattro to seal either so we may not be a good judge.

I had successful night of sleep last night with the FX. I used a chinstrap under my mask and ran my 10 foot hose up words under the covers to help keep the mask in place. I slept six hours straight and than four more after that and I am feeling good! I did have some leaking the previous three nights but I think I got it figured out. I also used a whole chamber full humidifier of H2O. That's a first after two years.

tgzlavistane wrote:I did have some leaking the previous three nights but I think I got it figured out.

Well, don't keep us in suspense! What did you figure out?

I started CPAP with a Mirage Quattro Full Face mask (Large) and after intial success I eventually had to stop using it because of severe irritation to the nose.

I've now been using the Quattro FX (Large) for a few months and am happy to say that I'm finding it to be very good. I tried a Medium size but it was too small and slipped up into my mouth one night. I wash the silicon bladder/seal daily in warm soapy water and that's it.

I've found the right adjustment for the headgear and leave it alone. Too tight and it seems to crimp the rubber and cause leaks, as well as cause headaches from the straps pulling on the back of the head. I have it just firm enough to stop leaks and as the air fills up the mask it pushes itself on to my face and seems to seal well. I initially used the S9's mask testing function where it blows at your max setting to adjust the straps to the right point.

My pressures only range from 4.0 - 9.0 with a ramp time of 5 minutes.

When I wake up early in the morning there might be a small leak from turning over and facial oil build-up but a small shift of the mask by hand solves this. Usually by then it is so close to getting up time that it doesn't matter for me.

I'm having a really good run, touch wood, and at the moment I have very few days when I wake up feeling rubbish. I'm also happy to report that it is not causing any issues to the bridge of my nose.

From my personal experience I can recommend this mask if, like me, you can't stand nasal pillows blowing air directly up your nose and are a mouth breather. It is simpler in construction, physically smaller and lighter than the Mirage Quattro.

For me, well worth the $250 AUS I paid for it.

Hi BigBad 64 ,
Do you find your 95% pressure is any higher with this mask?
As well, last night I had more leaks and this morning when I examined my mask I noticed that the cushion had slightly separated away from the plastic groove where the edges of the cushion sit. Have you noticed any problems with this?

Ms.Snuffleupagus wrote:Hi BigBad 64 ,
Do you find your 95% pressure is any higher with this mask?

I'm sorry, i don't know what this means or how to find that out.

Ms.Snuffleupagus wrote: As well, last night I had more leaks and this morning when I examined my mask I noticed that the cushion had slightly separated away from the plastic groove where the edges of the cushion sit. Have you noticed any problems with this?

I leave the cushion to air dry all day after the morning wash. When I put it back in I just make sure that it's pushed in firmly all the way around and that the top centre bit is in the cut-out recess.

I haven't had any issues with the cushion coming away from the mask.

Every now and then i get a slight leak but just shifting the mask slightly by hand seems to re-seal it.

I'm actually going in to do it now, it's after midnight here and I have to work at 8am.............

I have tried the Quattro FX several times and have had the same issue with the silicone liner separating from the plastic mask just as Ms.Snuffleupagus has had happen. I think it happens when my pressure ramps up. The liner comes off the mask at the bridge of the nose. I wonder if this is a design flaw on all of them or just on a few random masks?

I think the Quattro FX has good potential, but the leaks forced me to go back to the Ultra Mirage for now.

BigBad64 wrote:

Ms.Snuffleupagus wrote:Hi BigBad 64 ,
Do you find your 95% pressure is any higher with this mask?

I'm sorry, i don't know what this means or how to find that out.

Sorry BigBad..my bad.. I see you have an elite CPAP machine, so it is at a constant pressure. I use an APAP machine with 10 to 13 pressure. The 95% pressure means that the machine was at or below this pressure level for 95% of the time.

flowergal3: Thanks for the info. I will check if it happens again.

SleepingUgly; After several successful nights with the Quattro fx, I am now getting leaks around the mouth areas (face farts) sufficient enough to wake me up several times during the night, in spite of my numbers being somewhat in the acceptable range, much as you described.

Ms.Snuffleupagus wrote:SleepingUgly; After several successful nights with the Quattro fx, I am now getting leaks around the mouth areas (face farts) sufficient enough to wake me up several times during the night, in spite of my numbers being somewhat in the acceptable range, much as you described.

Bummer. I actually am taking off a night or two because I'm congested (yeah, I know it's a FFM, but that doesn't seem to change the fact that I feel like I'm trapped in a swamp with someone holding my nose shut). Then I'll see what I can do with the mask again.