getting a full face mask fitting - what should I ask?

I've been pretty happy with my Swift FX and plan on using it for the bulk of the time, but then there are those occasional headcolds, and Afrin only gets you so far. Also, I may be intermittently mouthbreathing-- so altogether, the upshot is, I'm going to have a fitting for a full face mask as a backup mask and also just to try it out. The DME is going to come to my house for this.

I don't know what masks he will bring along, and/or if I might have any influence over which ones could be brought to try. There are some that look good in pictures but who knows how they might fit my particular face... maybe this is so individual that there are no good general guidance, but if people have advice to offer about what to look for, or which full face masks seem to be particularly good for may folks (and as such might also be good for me)-- I'd be interested to hear it. Thanks.

wolewyck wrote:I've been pretty happy with my Swift FX and plan on using it for the bulk of the time, but then there are those occasional headcolds, and Afrin only gets you so far. Also, I may be intermittently mouthbreathing-- so altogether, the upshot is, I'm going to have a fitting for a full face mask as a backup mask and also just to try it out. The DME is going to come to my house for this.

I don't know what masks he will bring along, and/or if I might have any influence over which ones could be brought to try. There are some that look good in pictures but who knows how they might fit my particular face... maybe this is so individual that there are no good general guidance, but if people have advice to offer about what to look for, or which full face masks seem to be particularly good for may folks (and as such might also be good for me)-- I'd be interested to hear it. Thanks.

That could be problematic. However, since you have a ResMed machine and IF you got it from them, then that raises the probability that they deal in ResMed equipment. Getting the CORRECT size is imperative!!! From the ResMed full face category, my first suggestion would be the one that I use......the Ultra Mirage Full Face (UMFF). My next suggestion would be the Quattro. Anything else is "somewhere" down the list.


Den

Started on quattro FF went to nasal but quattro is my cold backup!!!

FIrst question (and only question, really) is WHAT IS THE MASK RETURN POLICY? If you get a FF mask and it doesn't work out for you, how long do you have to return it, and what is the policy on the next mask you try. If the DME has a liberal return policy you're good, but if not, don't buy from that DME unless it's the ONLY DME your insurance will cover (and even then, think twice before you do business with them--you might be better off online with mask return insurance).

What feels good during a fitting--even the best fitting ever in your own bed, with your machine on full pressure--may not feel so good 3 or 5 or 7 hours into the night. Or on night 2 or 3 when the leaks start to drive you up the wall and your nose develops an open sore. So if the mask can't be returned and you can't try one or more alternatives, then you may lose big time.

Also, a word of advice--don't wait for the stuffed nose to try the FF mask out for a few nights. I'd try to wear it a week right away, to see if there are any problems. If you wait until you desparately need the FF mask in perhaps two months or more, then it's going to be too late to exchange it.

I think it's so important to ask about the return policy. My DME never told me about any return possibility. I have had the quattro FX for a week and I think it's more comfortable than the quattro ultra mirage. I found the ultra mirage better than the quattro mirage. so IMO the quattro FX is the one to try.