Resmed Quattro FX - Rave! Rave! Rave!

[Scootter]

Help, I am new

Hi all,

I am new to this CPAP Therapy, and I am getting confused with all the mask options.

I have the standard Mirage Quattro from the NHS, and was also given the Oracle 452 (scuba style).

I didn't get on at all with the 452, which was dissapointing as it looked so good.

I am a mouth breather and so the nose only one doesn't appeal to me.

I had great sleeps with the Quattro at first, but since have found it leaks, leaves impressions on my forehead or needs adjusting.

It's only been 2 months, so maybe I just need time to adjust, but I was thinking of asking about the Quattro FX, but I wondered if anyone had any other masks they found worked?

I tend to be a side sleeper, so I suppose that has a bearing on which mask is best.

So sorry if I am putting this post in the wrong thread/forum bit.. . I don't use forums much so usually get it wrong.

Cheers

Scott

[DanJayUK]

I picked up my NHS CPAP set up a couple of weeks back and was chuffed to note that the physiotherapy department had Quattro FX masks available. I nearly bought one of these at the time I had my Auto off Intus but was between sizes so picked the safe option of an F&P 432 which comes with different fittings.

It has gone from being a love to a love/hate to hate relationship very quickly for me.

The mask is extremely comfortable to wear, hardly like you've got it on. I also like the fact it has an air pipe adaptor between the hose and headgear which makes for a quick and easy release during the night should you need to pop to the bathroom or whatever. It's also quiet. Not silent but certainly better than the jet engine that is the F&P.

So what's the problem? I adjust the mask just right and get off to sleep. A few hours later I'll be woken up a jet of air blowing right into my eye. Not nice. You can't simply shift this mask on your face either to re-seal so you have to undo it and then perform the whole "hinge" thing down onto your nose yet again. If the instructions are to be followed exactly (see the video referred to in an earlier video) then you need to loosen and re-do all the straps! Not really ideal when you just want to go back to sleep. This then repeats every hour or so for me. I've had a bit of a cold the last two days and the increased pressures that the box is working at has exacerbated this greatly. It's almost as bad as the OSA - I'm being woken up all through the night which rather defeats the object.

This seems to be a combination of design fault, the shape of my nose, and how I sleep. I think what has been said by previous posters about stretching headgear is absolutely correct. You get it just right but it slowly stretches just slightly as you're wearing it so what was a good seal when you went to bed isn't two hours later. There is no support behind the seal at the top of the nose and this is without doubt the weak point. When you do get a leak you can't resolve it without mask removal.

I also sleep on my side as a rule and this is not a mask that likes to be unsettled or have any external pressure (eg from a pillow) placed on it. It just quickens the "stretch rate" and when the mask starts to leak.

Also in line with an earlier post no amount of tightening seems to prevent these problems happening if not immediately then shortly afterwards.

I think this is so close to being probably the best full face mask there is but its faults mean it is far from it for me. It desperately needs to have the headgear sorted to be recommended. If you are someone who sleeps on their back and doesn't move about too much you might get lucky with the leaks and you'll be hard pushed to find something comfier. I would be very wary if you're parting with hard cash though. Even if you have the luxury of trying this mask beforehand you might find in use the whole stretching/leaking issue that I and a few others have suffered negates any comfort benefit.

I should note that I am between small and medium and have a medium sized mask. This seems to fit fine but maybe if I was "exactly" on size then I'd have less problems - though it still wouldn't solve the headgear situation.

I appreciate we're all different and no mask can be right for everyone. I'm not sure the FX is maybe the one for me. But until Resmed employ a better (or perhaps less stretchy) headgear this definitely isn't the one. I note TF's comments around using the Quattro headgear instead. If this is better quality or the answer then I am surprised Resmed have persisted with the existing arrangement given i) people are complaining about the headgear, even if low numbers and ii) they already have a ready made fix. And why should I have to buy another set of headgear because the one supplied is sub-standard?

Back to the clunky (but faithful and 'fit and forget') F&P for me for the time being...

[silvercarper]

Since correctly fitting the mask I am getting AHI,s below 1 and low leakage rates.
Last night my AHI was 0.5 and leakage was 0.

[Barely Awake]

The sizing is crucial it seems, and I am rather glad I had some help from Resmed staff as I would never have got the knack of fitting this mask easily without being physically shown. In my case it seems crucial to locate the top lip of the mask at a certain point on the bridge of my nose and then drop the mask down, it then seals perfectly even sitting up (I find some masks don't seal sitting up but do as soon as I lie down).

[pjgbear]

pjgbear.

It was Resmed who measured me, I have been in contact with them and they are sending me a medium to try out.

That's good news, hope it works out for you

[Caterpillar]

pjgbear.

It was Resmed who measured me, I have been in contact with them and they are sending me a medium to try out.

[pjgbear]

Who measured you? Was it Resmed or an NHS sleep clinic, whoever I'd contact them ASAP and get this sorted, you have to try a medium to see if that works for you. Everyone's faces are different, so it is difficult for the manufacturers to make a small/medium/large that will suit everyone. My mask is small and only just and I mean JUST fits from the dent in my chin to where it should on my nose. Don't struggle, go get it sorted

[Caterpillar]

Hi folks, recently purchased the Quattro FX from ResMed with the machine etc, when they measured me they said I was an in between size, between a Medium and a Large, so they gave me a Large, my problem is that I cannot stop the leaks for long and the slightest facial movement starts it off again.
Today I used the measuring tool that was in the package and it actually shows that I am within the Medium size, does anyone know if there is much difference in the size's as I am wondering if I had been given the Medium would I have the leak problems. I wash my mask daily and wash my face before putting the mask on. Any thoughts appreciated.

[Caterpillar]

Mask Fit

Hope I have done this correctly.

I have the ResMed Quattro FX mask and had a fitting done at ResMed where they said I was an in-between size (bordering on Med but not quite a large) so they gave me a Large size mask, but I am suffering with leaks around the nose area.
I fit the mask as per instructions and lie in bed and then block the vents and blow hard and do not get any leaks, but it seems that as i relax then the mask starts to leak, I keep tightening the mask until it is uncomfortable. I have also noticed that it causes me problems with sitting on my cheek bones which I think could be adding to the problems of not sealing, has anyone else come across this and do you think that a Medium mask would have been better.

[silvercarper]

http://www.resmed.com/uk/products/quattro_fx/videos.html?nc=patients&sec=true

The " fitting at home" video does show how the mask should be fitted but it could be more helpfull.
What is important is that the top strap should not be pulled over but should be ,initially, loose enough to go over the head without pulling

[symmit]

Maybe I'm not suffering much as I'm mostly using the nasal only Sleepweaver and the FX is the "backup" mask (been using the FX for the last week) but I don't loosen the top straps at all.

I fit it by holding the mask with the straps flopped forwards, (only one bottom one detached) swing the mask down as per the video, pull the straps over my head then fix the bottom one in place, give it a wiggle to make sure it's snug, tighten if needed then fall asleep.

[dravidio]

In 10 pages no one has posted how the mask should be put on and the video does not really explain it suffiently.
I spoke to Realsleep this afternoon and they told me how the mask should be fitted.
Before fitting the mask you loosen the top strap as much as possible so the tabs just stick.
Put the mask on ,using the hinge method, and clip the bottom strap in and finally tighten the bottom and top straps as required.
By doing it this way you are not stretching the headgear over your head and also the mask sits much lower on the nose.
The only disadvantage of this method is that you loose the tab settings for the top strap each time.

Don't understand this. I have one of these and the problem is leaking at the top end and blowing into my eye. "So the tabs just stick" ? I am being thick. Do you tighten the bottom straps before tightening the top one that you loosen? Do you do this before you lie down? The only way I seem to be able to do it is to put it on very tightly while sitting up then when I get to a sleeping position to loosen it off as much as I can without it leaking.

[Tigers Fan]

And it doesn't stop the headgear stretching, either! The stretch and deformation (stays stretched, won't return to its original dimension) is because the cross-section of the material is inadequate.

The Quattro headgear works fine on the Q FX, no need to release the top fastenings, because it has sufficient material cross=section.

TF

[silvercarper]

In 10 pages no one has posted how the mask should be put on and the video does not really explain it suffiently.
I spoke to Realsleep this afternoon and they told me how the mask should be fitted.
Before fitting the mask you loosen the top strap as much as possible so the tabs just stick.
Put the mask on ,using the hinge method, and clip the bottom strap in and finally tighten the bottom and top straps as required.
By doing it this way you are not stretching the headgear over your head and also the mask sits much lower on the nose.
The only disadvantage of this method is that you loose the tab settings for the top strap each time.

[pjgbear]

Resmed did after some discussion send me a new geadgear, so I'm much happier, I just have it planned in my diary to return it if it has stretched before the 90 day warranty is up.
I did send comparison photos of the new & old headgear to Resmed and they have forwarded these to Head Office.
I'm sticking with my FX as it really is comfortable for me, as Tigers Fan says it's my favourite mask so far. I have been put on the list for trialling full face masks for Resmed too.