Quattro FX -- Please post feedback on it

I am sad and confused. After my third night with the Quattro FX, I woke up convinced that it will be going back. I just cant get it to fit without many leaks. Last night in order to get it sealed I had to pull the straps so tight it hurt. I woke up with sore bottom teeth, mask marks down my cheeks and the mask had risen into my mouth. The thing I am confused about is my AHI was 1.9 and the leak rate said 3.3. That is the lowest leak rate I have ever seen on my daily reports?? Whats up with that? I was so excited to get this mask. I broke the seal several time to adjusted and lower the mask, also to scratch an itch. I don't understand why the low leak rate. I was up half the night moving the mask around. I have yet to find a FF I can tolerate.

I posted last week about some initial success but since then it has been a challenge, and I've only made it all the way until morning on one occasion.

The FX starts out great each night, it seems very straightforward to get a good seal at first, but it seems like as my face relaxes while drifting off to sleep I get leaks along the side of my nose, often right into my eye. Sleeping on my side seems to make the problem worse as it seems to shift sideways on my face when rolling over. I've been experimenting with starting it slighly higher and lower on my nose, different headgear positioning, etc., but the problems keep coming back.

The sizing is correct in theory, I have a medium and the sizing guide seems perfect at medium.

I wasn't smart enough to order return insurance, so I'll try a few more combinations + nights. I also haven't tried the pad-a-cheek anti-leak strap with this mask yet, I was hoping I wouldn't need it with this one.

Dave

After the disappointing results of “Avatar” in Oscar, now the movie has come into controversy for copyright infringement.

Link:

http://www.sinapseblog.com/2010/03/avat ... ement.html

I would change the Avatar before they sue us and this website!

Well, well, this is a first ! We've never had a reminder call about supplies in over 2yrs. I always have to call and then they send it out by mail. The DME just called and said we're due for a new mask on the 25th and would like to set up an appt to bring us the new Quattro FX in 3 different sizes. She said they're getting lots of calls for this new mask but when I asked her about feedback she said the mask is still too new to give an opinion. I accepted the offer but told her to also bring along our usual UltraMirageFF Medium. Mike is a "leave well enough alone" kind of guy but I was looking forward to trying a new mask but with the feedback so far I'm getting disappointed but we'll keep an open mind. The first time I saw the mask my first question was about those straps right over the cheek bone area?? Will give an update when we try it.

jdmoore99 wrote:I posted last week about some initial success but since then it has been a challenge, and I've only made it all the way until morning on one occasion.

The FX starts out great each night, it seems very straightforward to get a good seal at first, but it seems like as my face relaxes while drifting off to sleep I get leaks along the side of my nose, often right into my eye. Sleeping on my side seems to make the problem worse as it seems to shift sideways on my face when rolling over. I've been experimenting with starting it slighly higher and lower on my nose, different headgear positioning, etc., but the problems keep coming back.

The sizing is correct in theory, I have a medium and the sizing guide seems perfect at medium.

I wasn't smart enough to order return insurance, so I'll try a few more combinations + nights. I also haven't tried the pad-a-cheek anti-leak strap with this mask yet, I was hoping I wouldn't need it with this one.

Dave

Dave, ditto in my case when I try this Fisher & Paykel FF # 432:

https://www.bestcpapprice.com/Fisher-Pa ... p_147.html

I was expecting it to mechanically support my chin to avoid mouth leak. But if I forcefully open my my mouth while I wear this mask (with no chin strap) then it leaks on the sides. The Quattro FX would not solve the problem b/c it does not use under-chin mechanical support to hold my mouth closed.

https://www.cpap.com/

We make all our purchases through the host of this forum! I'm so grateful for the service they provide.!

Well Banned, all our hope is hinging on you.

SleepingUgly wrote:Well Banned, all our hope is hinging on you.

If that's the case, than the small Quattro FX (per the Quattro FX sizing guide) is the perfect mask for me. No leaks. Lower cushion fits my chin as it should, upper cushion rests ever-so slightly below my bridge. All straps are relatively loose. Still no redness or soreness on my nose. No side leaks, due to the slightly narrower cushion width as ccompared to the medium Quattro FX. Super easy to put on and take off. I've ordered a large Quattro FX Head Gear so I can loosen the upper straps even more. Sometimes my mouth opens while I sleep. However, no Quattro has ever proved problematic for me, as the mask always limits how far my mouth can open.

Banned wrote:If that's the case, than the small Quattro FX (per the Quattro FX sizing guide) is the perfect mask for me.

Per the plastic sizing guide or just the numbers that Carolyn posted?

SleepingUgly wrote:Per the plastic sizing guide..

Yes

Banned wrote:

SleepingUgly wrote:Per the plastic sizing guide..

Yes

Well, before I am hauled off to jail, let me just ask you a couple more things:

If the Medium worked well, how did you know the Small was better (i.e., what was better about it)?
And is this something I would figure out just by trying on both masks or would I need to sleep with both?

Thanks!

Banned, what about the cheek bone area? Do the straps stay put there or might there be a tendency to slip ?

I have finally had some time to use this mask. I love it! I was having trouble with leaks around the eyes, but found that it was due to having the mask to tight. I can't believe how loose I can keep the straps on this mask and still maintain a good seal. The only times I have leaks is when I first put it on and when I wake up in the morning, but lay with my mask on for about 30 minutes before I get out of bed. To take care of the leaks, all I usually have to do is pull the mask away from my face (not enough to break the seal, but enough so that the cushion can move) and kind of wiggle the mask so that the seal can straighten out. Hard to explain, but what I think is going on is the seal is creasing and causing the leak. When I pull the data from my S9 Autoset, my max leak rate has been 21, my highest 95th percentile has been 6 and median has been 0 every single night. With my regular Quattro, the leak rate was always low, but never like with this mask. Also, since using this mask, my AHI has gone down as well. It's been below 1 every night since I started using the FX.

My experience so far has been that tighter is NOT better with this mask. If you over-tighten it, it will leak MORE.

cybergoon wrote:I have finally had some time to use this mask. I love it!
My experience so far has been that tighter is NOT better with this mask. If you over-tighten it, it will leak MORE.

You are getting smarter by the minute CG. The Quattro FX concept was simple and well executed. Build a CPAP Head Gear that mimics a full leather helmet to position the mask. Then build a mask that floats on a cushion of air.

DoriC wrote:Banned, what about the cheek bone area? Do the straps stay put there or might there be a tendency to slip ?

Dori, my experience is that the cheek bone straps are not noticeable while wearing the mask. There is no tendency for any of the straps to slip if you positioned the head Gear properly. Woman with allot of hair may want to consider getting the large headgear. I will report on the large head-gear (i.e. Tell you it is compatible with a small or medium Quattro FX when I receive my large Quattro FX Headgear). It is important to remember the Headgear is as important as the mask with The Quattro FX. The Quattro FX Headgear is what makes the Quattro FX mask work.