Resmed Mirage Quattro and jaws

I've been having trouble with my Resmed Mirage Quattro mask for the past month or so and am hoping you all can help me out. When I put the mask on I seem to instinctively clench my jaws to keep the mask from leaking. Tightening the bottom straps eliminates the leaks but then creates extra pressure against the jaw, which is what I'm trying to avoid. Does this happen to others as well and if so what do they usually do about it? My nose seems to have learned to tolerate the mask but my jaw doesn't seem to be equally capable of adapting. One thing I've considered is just replacing the mask - it's probably about 6mo old at this point. I clean the mask daily but even so the oils from my face have probably softened the silicone quite a bit. I've got a graveyard of other masks that I've tried in the past but have had the best luck with this model so far, as I don't tolerate any pressure against my forehead well (causes headaches and I just loosen the top) and it doesn't leak much with movement. I'm using a size L, which has been checked twice by the home healthcare company, and my pressure is relatively low at 7 with peaks up to about 10 some nights, probably to make up for leaks (high AHI though).

Is there a chin strap that I can buy or have you all found something else that works well? I've already modified my mask in a few ways. First, I use the Moleskin on the bridge for those nights when the mask slips down and the hard plastic digs into my nose. Not often but I get terrible hypoxia headaches several times a night if I go without it while my nose heals. Second, I've tied my forehead piece to the back strap using twine to keep it from sliding down the back side of my head. Not only does it cause the head piece to press down hard but I also wear an Onyix goggles underneath and it messes up the fit for those as well.

Thanks!

Change your cushion. Medicare will pay for a new cushion every MONTH! I found I was doing all sorts of shennanigans to stop leaks, but when I finally got a new cushion they (mostly) stopped miraculously. DUH! My cushion was 2 years old at that point

I'm not eligible for Medicare for another 30 years or so Still, with my insurance, I can replace the mask every 3mo I think. I didn't think I needed it then so I didn't replace it. While insurance covers it, with deductibles and all that junk it still ends up costing me a good mount ($125 last time I think). Perhaps this one will be cheaper. Another reason I haven't replaced it is that there seems to be a sweet spot with the masks - it's uncomfortable when you first get them because the silicone is too hard and problematic when it gets old because it's too soft. It only seems to take 1-2 weeks to soften it up though. Very well - will try to replace it

balor123 wrote:... I can replace the mask every 3mo I think. ...still ends up costing me a good ...

Unless the mask is "broken" you don't need to replace the entire mask. As mentioned by Janknitz above just replace the cushion. About a quarter to a third of the cost of a complete mask.

Didn't realize that was an option. Probably the home healthcare company prefers to sell the more expensive option to make more money. I'll ask about it though.

Our first DME would sell ff cushions, but insisted on coding them as a ff mask less headgear.

Quote,
" We charge the same for the ComfortGel full face mask as we do for the Quattro ($223.23). We also charge the same for the replacement cushion for each respective mask ($95.00). A replacement cushion is submitted to insurance using the same code (A7030) regardless of the make."

(I have saved the email in case the FTC is interested. --as if!)

We fired them.

your face is not small, medium or large. masks are small medium or large. mask sizes vary from mfgr to mfgr and mask to mask within mfgr just like womens dress sizes. my dme told me years ago i was large and i always had mask problems. i always had leak problems til i measured myself for a quattro fx. i was a medium and almost small. i bought medium and it fits fine, as my wifes small darn near fit but was just a little too small. with the medium quattro fx i'm having leaks lower than i ever had. considering vent rate i'm almost at zero. after i read this thread i went and measured myself with the quattro template and found out i'm a medium in the quattro also. i'm a high medium, almost large in quattro and low medium, almost small in quattro fx. the point of all this? don't trust the dme to show you a template and call you large for every mask. try here: https://5faacd0c97cf0d23c6dc-064f3cd61b ... mplate.pdf it's the cpap.com link for fitting the quattro.

please delete, duplicate message. (hit quote instead of edit)

greatunclebill wrote:your face is not small, medium or large. masks are small medium or large. mask sizes vary from mfgr to mfgr and mask to mask within mfgr just like womens clothing sizes. my dme told me years ago i was large and i always had mask problems. i always had leak problems til i measured myself for a quattro fx. i was a medium and almost small. i bought medium and it fits fine, as my wifes small darn near fit but was just a little too small. with the medium quattro fx i'm having leaks lower than i ever had. considering vent rate i'm almost at zero. after i read this thread i went and measured myself with the quattro template and found out i'm a medium in the quattro also. i'm a high medium, almost large in quattro and low medium, almost small in quattro fx. the point of all this? don't trust the dme to show you a template and call you large for every mask. try here: https://5faacd0c97cf0d23c6dc-064f3cd61b ... mplate.pdf it's the cpap.com link for fitting the quattro.

While you are contemplating a new mask or cushion...try tboiling the cushion..... It comes out like new.
viewtopic/t75749/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=74 ... il#p685240

balor123 wrote:I've been having trouble with my Resmed Mirage Quattro mask for the past month or so and am hoping you all can help me out. When I put the mask on I seem to instinctively clench my jaws to keep the mask from leaking.

And if replacing the mask cushion or the mask doesn't fix the problem, then it may be time to see the dentist about a night guard to deal with the teeth clenching. You might be able to get away with a boil-n-bite guard. But if this is indeed a dental problem that has developed, you may need a custom made TMJ guard.

Ok ordered new mask but won't be here for 5 -7 days. Will try boiling it tomorrow in the mean time. I have a night guard already btw - it prevents tooth erosion but not the soreness or the pressure sensitivity.

The cushions are much cheaper than the whole mask but most of us have a second mask that we kept as a backup.

The cushions do not last forever. They will last longer for some people than others. When washing mine doesn't stop it from leaking, it is time to replace the cushion. When I first started on cpap, I cleaned the mask every day and replaced the cushion every other week because insurance paid for two cushions a month. i have since learned I don't need to do that and insurance only pays for one cushion a month now anyway. Wash your mask on a regular basis and the cushion will last longer. I wash with Ivory dish soap unscented. Don't use anything harsh to clean it. If it gets to the point like you are now where cleaning doesn't help then replace the cushion.

I have had some cushions that only lasted a month and some that lasted several months.

I asked about that and they don't seem to carry the cushion. Will be moving in 2mo so I'll get a new company then who will hopefully be able to provide it for me at a cheaper price.

balor123 wrote:I have a night guard already btw - it prevents tooth erosion but not the soreness or the pressure sensitivity.

I'd back to the dentist. A properly fitted TMJ guard should not only prevent tooth erosion, but it should also prevent the soreness and pressure sensitivity. If it doesn't, then it may be time to ask for a referral to a dentist who specializes in TMJ and orafacial pain.

I would not boil a mask until you have a second one.

You can order just the replacement parts. I would recommend a full second mask and then just order the parts that go bad.

I can't use the headgear that comes with my MX. I grind my teeth and have headaches and its just bad. I used a different vendors headgear and that works well. I only have a nasal mask but different head gear will sit differently.

You can make your own by getting Velcro from the hardware store or elastic and just tying it up if your desperate for a different solution.