Headgear woes

I have the ResMed Quattro FX FFM, and I love it, but I am having a slight problem. The top strap (the one that does not attach to the disconnectedness, but loops through the top slit) and attaches normally where the red circle is in the below picture is the issue. What I am finding is the strap is too long to fit properly, and I have to route the strap as in the red line below, and then to the back part behind my head. The issue I am having (as the red line indicates) is the strap goes right over my ears and my ears hurt like hell in the AM.

Anyone have this problem and what did you do to solve it? I thought about and tried going above the strap that it should attach to, but it pulls the mask upwards and does not fit well.

I think the problem would be rectified if the strap have more Velcro material farther along itself, but it only has it at the very tip.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

John

It is rather difficult to made adaptions to that particular strap. However to get the headgear up off your years why not get a strip of velcro and pull the top strap that fits over the top of the skull up and put a small fold in it. Hold the fold in place w/the velcro until you find the length of that strap that fits well and then cut the fold out w/a pair of scissors and velcro the cut ends back together.

Or cut the skinny velcro ends off the top "side" straps and put your own velcro on to fit. That is difficult to do since you don't have a lot of room from the "face" side of the "strap" and the velcro could then give difficulty sliding thru the slit.

The next time you order a new Quattro FX mask, ask for a smaller size headgear. For instance the Quattro FX Small comes w/a Medium headgear which was too large for me and gave me that same problem you are encountering. I bought a Small headgear from cpap.com to try out and it worked great. So - no more "fixes" w/each new mask and headgear. I just requested that they order in the Small headgear w/the Small Quattro FX mask.

I have a good local DME provider who takes pretty good care of me. Others may try to snow you w/they don't make or they can't order the size headgear you name. Check out the headgear sizes at cpap.com.

Hey slink... so how do I attach the new velcro? Sew it on or is there a more "guy friendly" way?

I thought about asking the DME to swap out for a smaller headgear, but I didn't think they would do that. I was actually not aware that the headgear is sized differently.

I had the same problem, I ordered a small headgear and it works fine. I don't know why they packaged med headgear with a small mask. If you can't trade you could try fabric glue, but it might not hold well enough with tension on the straps. Find it in sewing or craft stores, it is waterproof and flexible. Kathy

Sewing is SO a guy thing.
Sailors have made/repaired their nets and sails for millennia.
I remember my father sewing his own chaps, using chrome tanned deer skins.
My sons have modified their backpacks, substituting real leather for the crap originally used.
Now, embroidery is another thing. . .

Padacheek has (see link)this for for the upper strap. http://www.padacheek.com/PAC_Original.html If you decide to purchase it make sure to mention
you want it for the upper strap.

chunkyfrog wrote:Sewing is SO a guy thing.
Sailors have made/repaired their nets and sails for millennia.
I remember my father sewing his own chaps, using chrome tanned deer skins.
My sons have modified their backpacks, substituting real leather for the crap originally used.
Now, embroidery is another thing. . .

Well, yes, I sew my own sails. nets and chaps all day long... I just don't want to have to bother with it when I go home.... jeesh.. Maybe I'll try a stapler.

...And "O-nay ice-day", to the padacheak thing. No offence to Padacheek, they make great products, but I want these buggers off my ears.

Perrybucsdad wrote:Well, yes, I sew my own sails. nets and chaps all day long... I just don't want to have to bother with it when I go home.... jeesh.. Maybe I'll try a stapler.

Perry: you need to watch it! You can get into trouble real fast here... just sayin'

Sheriff

How so Sheriff?

Perrybucsdad wrote:How so Sheriff?

Some of the women-folks can set you straight real fast... just sayin'

There is double-sided velcro. Check the hobby, arts & crafts and sewing stores. But you don't really need it. In fact, it might be more trouble than it is worth. It only needs to stick to the two ends or over the fold.

The size of the headgear is written right on the Resmed label on the back lower strap.

I used a small dab of Gorilla Super Glue to attach a small bit of velcro to my barrel cozy when the velcro got tired and wouldn't "catch" anymore.

I don't sew either and besides way to small of an area to try to sew.

Pugsy wrote:I used a small dab of Gorilla Super Glue to attach a small bit of velcro to my barrel cozy when the velcro got tired and wouldn't "catch" anymore.

Pugs: did you glue the headstrap velcro to the head gear (wouldn't this disable the strap) or did you glue another piece of velcro to the headgear strap? The reason I'm asking is that my velcro straps on my headgear get weak after 3-4 months. The mask is ok, but the headgear wears out. I sometimes buy another headgear, but I am of the lazy-type and I'm sometimes cheap.

Sheriff

I just stapled mine last night Sheriff and it worked great.

Sheriff Buford wrote:Pugs: did you glue the headstrap velcro to the head gear (wouldn't this disable the strap) or did you glue another piece of velcro to the headgear strap? The reason I'm asking is that my velcro straps on my headgear get weak after 3-4 months. The mask is ok, but the headgear wears out.

I glued a small section of velcro onto the barrel cozy (the little cover for the nasal pillow). It wasn't the headgear straps. I forget which velcro side is called what. But the part that does the "catching" had become tired and wouldn't hold the cozy close around the barrel. So I just glued a fingernail size (little finger) of the hooking side on top of the tired part.

I see no reason why someone couldn't do the same with head gear velcro that has become tired. One could easily add a short piece of whichever side of the velcro that has become tired or even add both velcro pieces on top of the old and secure with the super glue. That way the head gear will still pull open for adjustment. I think most often it is the hooking side that wears out but I supposed that the other side could be tired too.

That way no need to staple and one still would have the ability to adjust it just like new. Some velcro has a sticky back and some require sewing. The velcro that I had handy didn't have a sticky back. I only used the "large hook" side to fix my barrel cozy. That was what had become worn out. Nothing left to catch on.