CPAPtalk.com

The methods for minimizing leaks on Quattro FX and the Quattro FFM are almost like night and day.

in order to start out on the right foot for the FX at night, you need to follow the tips of placing it on the bridge of your nose and swing it down into place. When you tighten the straps, make sure that the straps are evenly adjusted...

make sure all of this is done at full pressure

I tried the Quattro FX for about 45 days and gave up... It just would not stay in place all night. face farts, eye leaks, chirps... most of my problems were caused by my higher bi-pap pressures....

try changing pillows as Dori suggested.... some pillows tend to push the FX up or across your face.

I'm now using the Quattro.... upper straps are loose & the forehead pad doesn't even touch my forehead. Lower straps are tight, but I can easily fit a finger in between the strap and my cheeks... almost every night, my leak levels are below 10 for 95% of the time.

which is pretty good considering my bi-level pressures are pretty high at 20 IPAP/14 EPAP.

Artz, a strap like in the bottom picture will keep the mask from riding up. Like Dave, I had to give up on it, too. Couldn't stop the leaks, went back to the regular Quattro.
viewtopic.php?f=1&t=85334&p=776126#p776113

I tried the Quattro FX when I thought my skin was reacting to my Mirage Quattro FF. I had the same tightness problem (with leaks) as you. I went back to the Mirage Quattro FF with great success. There is an adjustable feature on the Mirage that permits you tip the mask forward and back, to "fine tune" the facial pressure until it feels just right. It comes with full instructions ... or, there are tutorials on line. Best of luck. DEAN

Thanks for the tips. Great. I just started on the Quattro FX. Used it a few nights and did pretty well, but didn't totally relax -- probably just learning a new mask. Then on another thread a couple of guys strongly recommended the pad-a-cheeks liner, so I order one -- and laid the mask aside until it arrives. Back to my Hybrid, which has taken an upturn and doing great. Ain't that the way it goes!! Still looking forward to using the new Quattro FX.
Does anyone rotate masks? Like using one for a week, then changing to another for a week? Does that work? Be great to have four masks that would work, and change every week. That would carry a person through a month.

Good luck on finding the right pillow. As it turns out, I finally had to give up on the FX and switched to the Mirage Quattro on January 14. That seems to be working much better for me, and I'm thinking with this one, I'd also have additional flexibility on using different pillows. Seems like quite the learning curve. I'm now hoping the third mask tried will be the one that really works.

As much as I liked the size and the light weight of the Quattro FX, it turned out to be a total disappointment for me. I tried to play with it day and night to eliminate the leaks but at higher than pressure 10-11 it is absolutely hopeless and the mask is useless, it leaks like hell so I gave up on it. The only mask which works well for me is the Mirage Quattro FF mask which gives me a red nose every morning, but no leaks at all. So for the time being I am just sticking with it until a better one comes out.

Julius wrote:As much as I liked the size and the light weight of the Quattro FX, it turned out to be a total disappointment for me. I tried to play with it day and night to eliminate the leaks but at higher than pressure 10-11 it is absolutely hopeless and the mask is useless, it leaks like hell so I gave up on it. The only mask which works well for me is the Mirage Quattro FF mask which gives me a red nose every morning, but no leaks at all. So for the time being I am just sticking with it until a better one comes out.

How high does your pressure go? Mine is set at 11-17, and it usually only leaks if I drool too much. It took me awhile to master it. I had to learn to leave it a little loose at first to allow the seal to inflate. I also had to get a smaller size headgear so that it wouldn't move around on my face. Apparently, my head is smaller than normal. My mom has no problem with the medium headgear. I did a lot of swearing at my mask during the first month, and some occasional swearing during the second month. Now, it rarely leaks (except when I drool).

Hi all,
I found this thread while trying to determine what constitutes a large or big leak?? I am using the Quattro FX sz Med. I also use a Resmed chinstrap. Though I have always been a mouth breather the dry mouth from doing so in this mask is unbearable. That is helped by the chin strap.
I also use a pad-a-cheek liner that was trimmed a bit to keep it from mashing my mouth.
Last night I slept all night w/o getting up to readjust or flinging the mask aside. However the leaks over a month's time avg. 9 L/M. Is this good or bad? I 'm still trying to find the best way to use the VPAP. I think the liner is very comfortable. I recommend it for people who have trouble tolerating the Quattro FX.

jencat824 wrote:Here is a link to a tutorial on the Mirage Quattro, some of the steps may help. I think the basic point it not to overtighten, that loose is better. I've tried to use the Quattro FX for her, but I'm not having much luck myself. Even loose, it seems to big for my face, the cushion does not hit my face at the bottom, even with the nose piece at the very top of the bridge of my nose. In short, I think if it fit my face, the loose approach would work.

http://maskarrayed.wordpress.com/taming ... e-quattro/

Good luck,
Jen

When I can finally get a new mask (in Feb 18), I want to try out the Quattro for her. I think it might be designed for a woman's smaller bone structure. I'm 5'8'' about 180 pds and I think at least a large frame. I'm sorry to hear you're having trouble with this same mask that I want to try out. Is there such a size as an extra small or petite?

I've tried both the Quattro FX and Mirage Quattro and I went back to the Quattro FX. I made some mask liners and use those. I rarely sleep on my side; mostly on my back but it stays in place pretty good. My mask is a Small. The mask still rides up sometimes but I couldn't stand the Mirage Quattro it left places on my nose and forehead. I suggest mask liners of some type.

MagsterMile wrote:

jencat824 wrote:Here is a link to a tutorial on the Mirage Quattro, some of the steps may help. I think the basic point it not to overtighten, that loose is better. I've tried to use the Quattro FX for her, but I'm not having much luck myself. Even loose, it seems to big for my face, the cushion does not hit my face at the bottom, even with the nose piece at the very top of the bridge of my nose. In short, I think if it fit my face, the loose approach would work.

http://maskarrayed.wordpress.com/taming ... e-quattro/

Good luck,
Jen

When I can finally get a new mask (in Feb 18), I want to try out the Quattro for her. I think it might be designed for a woman's smaller bone structure. I'm 5'8'' about 180 pds and I think at least a large frame. I'm sorry to hear you're having trouble with this same mask that I want to try out. Is there such a size as an extra small or petite?

The version for her is the exact same, only pink headgear. My mom has the for her version, and I have the regular version. Both size small. I have checked them together. There is no extra small, though I wish there were as it would be even better for me.

There *is* smaller headgear, which has to be ordered separately. I did that, and it fit me much better after that.

zoocrewphoto wrote:

Julius wrote:As much as I liked the size and the light weight of the Quattro FX, it turned out to be a total disappointment for me. I tried to play with it day and night to eliminate the leaks but at higher than pressure 10-11 it is absolutely hopeless and the mask is useless, it leaks like hell so I gave up on it. The only mask which works well for me is the Mirage Quattro FF mask which gives me a red nose every morning, but no leaks at all. So for the time being I am just sticking with it until a better one comes out.

How high does your pressure go? Mine is set at 11-17, and it usually only leaks if I drool too much. It took me awhile to master it. I had to learn to leave it a little loose at first to allow the seal to inflate. I also had to get a smaller size headgear so that it wouldn't move around on my face. Apparently, my head is smaller than normal. My mom has no problem with the medium headgear. I did a lot of swearing at my mask during the first month, and some occasional swearing during the second month. Now, it rarely leaks (except when I drool).

My pressure is set 10-16 on my S9 Autoset but when I use the mask fit check the machine uses the top limit which in this case 16 and it leaks like hell no matter what I do. I spent countless time playing with it several times during the days but can not eliminate the leak blowing into my eyes. At pressure 10 it seems to be OK but I also noticed that my top strap is too long and can not tighten enough, the velcro is halfway outside of the strap.
I took your advice and ordered a small size headgear and try it with this one, maybe I am having the same problem as you did.
My Mirage Quattro is stable as a rock and does not leak but every morning gives me a red nose which I do not have with the FX. After a got the small headgear this will be my last try and if I still have problem with the leaks I will give up on it for good and stick with the Mirage Quattro.

Julius wrote: My pressure is set 10-16 on my S9 Autoset but when I use the mask fit check the machine uses the top limit which in this case 16 and it leaks like hell no matter what I do. I spent countless time playing with it several times during the days but can not eliminate the leak blowing into my eyes. At pressure 10 it seems to be OK but I also noticed that my top strap is too long and can not tighten enough, the velcro is halfway outside of the strap.
I took your advice and ordered a small size headgear and try it with this one, maybe I am having the same problem as you did.
My Mirage Quattro is stable as a rock and does not leak but every morning gives me a red nose which I do not have with the FX. After a got the small headgear this will be my last try and if I still have problem with the leaks I will give up on it for good and stick with the Mirage Quattro.

When I was using the medium headgear, I would be pulling the straps as tight as I could, only to run out of room to attach the velcro. When I got the small headgear, I had to start with it at the very widest setting as it was a little snug, but I slept much better that night. After some adjustments, I managed to go over 3 months without having to adjust the velcro. Now, it comes loose occasionally, but that is because the velcro isn't sticking as well. I think I may need to get new headgear. But I would like to do it at the same time as I am ordering something else.

I got the small headgear back in July, so about 6 months ago, and I have barely had to tighten it more. I don't think I have adjusted the bottom at all. And the top straps are still pretty close to the widest setting. So, it still fits me great. The only problem is the velcro coming loose, usually right as I put it on. It has never come undone while I was sleeping.

zoocrewphoto
When I was using the medium headgear, I would be pulling the straps as tight as I could, only to run out of room to attach the velcro. When I got the small headgear, I had to start with it at the very widest setting as it was a little snug, but I slept much better that night. After some adjustments, I managed to go over 3 months without having to adjust the velcro. Now, it comes loose occasionally, but that is because the velcro isn't sticking as well. I think I may need to get new headgear. But I would like to do it at the same time as I am ordering something else.

I got the small headgear back in July, so about 6 months ago, and I have barely had to tighten it more. I don't think I have adjusted the bottom at all. And the top straps are still pretty close to the widest setting. So, it still fits me great. The only problem is the velcro coming loose, usually right as I put it on. It has never come undone while I was sleeping.

The best place I found to buy a headgear is at CPAPMaskDeals.com they selling it for $28.99 and free shipping, mine should be here within the next couple of days. Cross my fingers, hope it will make my FX work for me without leaking.
http://www.cpapmaskdeals.com/accessories/headgear.html

Julius wrote:
The best place I found to buy a headgear is at CPAPMaskDeals.com they selling it for $28.99 and free shipping, mine should be here within the next couple of days. Cross my fingers, hope it will make my FX work for me without leaking.
http://www.cpapmaskdeals.com/accessories/headgear.html

I bought from them in December. Everything was sealed and legit.