Resmed Quattro FX - Rave! Rave! Rave!

[beartypes]

My experience with this mask.

Hi, I have only been on cpap for a month and after two weeks on constant leaks with the full face mask with the forehead support i was given by the NHS one of these smaller masks. I have to agree that it is certainly more comfortable and considerably quieter, the problem is i do still suffer with the leak issue, if i am on my back then as soon as my jaw relaxes I hear the hissing of an escape, the same when i turn onto side unless I bury my head in the pillow to hold it firm. If I pull the straps so tight then this does not happen but makes it considerably more uncomfortable and you wake with lines all over your face. I know I am new to this but if people are not lucky enough to be given their masks then it is alot of money to pay out and I thought I should post that it may not be suitable for everyone. I'm back tomorrow to clinic and am going to try Fisher paykel flexifit as thanks to ochrob he tells me it has a chin strap and may be better, fingers crossed, i keep persevering.

[Tigers Fan]

Some clinics are reported here as already dispensing Quattro FXs. I've written mine a few months in advance to give them time to order one/several. But you know the NHS as a whole, they take to change like ducks to sandy deserts.

TF

[Grumpy]

FX on NHS

I've mentioned it to my local sleep clinic (Chesterfield) and given them a demo and a fitting guide. No reason why they shouldn't supply them as its price is similar to other Resmed masks which they already supply.

[mart9012]

Ooh.. looking at the FX with interest.

I got my new S9 machine and got the climate control and a new Mirage Liberty mask with it. I simply cannot get on with the Liberty. The nasal spikes dig into my nose. They just don't fit my nose properly (tried all three different sizes) and even when forced into the right place lose their shape and block up. The end of the pillows digs into my nose and I woke up with a very sore nose inside. Obviously my nose is some freaked out shape or they should offer a fitting service for their masks.

My other mask is a Mirage Quattro that I get on with pretty well. Needed a small headgear to avoid strings of velcro fasterers hanging out into my hair but it fits ok, leaks only a little, makes the odd farty sound etc.. but overall it's ok. Much better than the old Mirage masks. Don't like the high forehead pillows as they often fall out at night and you end up with two dig marks in your forehead that makes you look like you've had a lobotomy recently...

Are these FX's going to be available on the NHS????

[Tigers Fan]

Sorry, silvercarper. I have an NHS machine as per my 'signature', which I use all the time - except.....

I have a Remstar APAP which I bought myself before the NHS in Southampton dispensed CPAPs (actually, you had to apply for funding; I was told 10% of applications were successful and that the process took three months minumum). The APAP tells me everyhting I need to know about averages when I feel the need to swap machines for stats purposes, including AHIs. It does not give me a time line so I can not see when apnoeas occur.

I was waking during the night for no apparent reason (no apnoea related symptoms) so I bought an oximeter. It gives me a time line and confirms my waking is not due to apnoeas - milkmen and noisy neighbours account for some wakings. It tells me about SpO2 Index rather than AHI and I tend to regard them as the same thing (they are not) in that I want the two Indexes to be as low as possible. I average SpO2 Index and AHI < 1.

The new APAPs are a stats chasers dream, from what I can gather.

TF

[silvercarper]

You have me confused TF. First you say you use "an NHS CPAP which tells me nothing except hours used" but then you talk about AHI,s.
I have found out how to get my AHI,s and leak rates from my Remstar

[Tigers Fan]

Very interesting!

Hi silvercarper

oh! boll*x! not so interesting! I had thought you were getting different AHIs with different masks - didn't read carefully and I use AHI as my guide.

Not a problem that your APAP 'uses' different 7/30 day pressures with each mask - leak rate, de dah.

I use an NHS CPAP which tells me nothing except hours used, so I use the "how do I feel in the morning?" technique, as does Fredxx. If my answer is, "not so good" on consecutive days, I wear my oximeter for a night or three to confirm what I know from experience - my set pressure is out by 0.5cm one way or the other. Usually I have to increase it to settle my sleep and then reduce again.

Having said all that, you are absolutely not wrong. I was doing as well as I could on a Quattro, AHI < 2 but when I switched on the same pressure to a Quattro FX. The next morning I felt deeply rested - can you remember the first good night you had on CPAP after years of OSA sleep? well, that sort of difference. No question in my mind that the mask makes a difference to quality of sleep.

As you know, the FX is easy to adjust and over-tightening is not a temptation, except experience teaches that a little over-tight at bed-time will get you through the night without stretched strap leakage. I don't know whether it is higher pressures that cause the stretching and/or whether it is confined to large size headgear.

All Resmed masks come with a medium headgear. A large size headgear (£30 extra) is made of the same material as a medium, straps the same width and thickness, just they are longer. I suspect they need to be wider and thicker for them to retain elasticity.

Hi Fredxx

The oximeters are the current fashionable toy and would only serve to tell you what you already know - that you are sleeping well or not so well. What I like about them is that I can see the effects of a pressure change and if a little more or less improves the situation. I can have a short night and know that my tiredness is due to that alone - I can see that I slept well with low AHI (actually, low SpO2 events).

If you have a spare £80-90 and like toys, they are - helpful toys.

TF

[Fredxx]

I guess there is an argument that your CPAP therapy should be re-calibrated to any replacement mask, but the reality is that the NHS isn't going to do that, and even keeping to the same mask type, the model evolves over time.

The ultimate measure again has to be "is the therapy effective with the equipment and settings you have". For most of us the only test is whether we feel we are sleeping well, as the machines issued don't record anything useful other than run hours, the NHS only glance at them once a year (if that).

Personally, my CPAP is set to 16 and that has provided satisfactory therapy for me for 9 years, 7 different masks and only 4 checks by the clinic. I keep wondering if I should get a pulse oximeter and check, but then again I am feeling fine with this, so why bother!

[silvercarper]

My APAP will register different 7/30 day pressures for different masks .
My ZZZ will be in the 9,s
My Forma will be in the 13,s
My new Fx will be in the 11,s
If you are using a CPAP should your pressures be set with the mask you are using?
So far I have had no problems with the FX headgear but as im running lower pressures then I probably dont need to tighten up so much.

[Tigers Fan]

Hi silvercarper

The short answer is, "No, I haven't".

I am utterly curious about what you think may need retesting and why you think that.

All my stats tell me I'm doing well on CPAP.

TF

[silvercarper]

TF Have you ever considered getting retested using the FX mask.

[Tigers Fan]

Quattro FX headgear

After experiencing problems with two headgears, I reported my difficulties to Resmed and sent them the "defective" items when they sent me two brand new ones.

I am delighted to copy the following, received from Resmed Abingdon:-

"I would like you to know that we have liaised with our UK Patient Interface Product Manager who has escalated the matter to our Head Office in Sydney, for further investigation."

Fingers crossed for a beefier product!

TF

[dravidio]

OK - I have bitten the bullet and spent some more of my (dwindling) savings on a Quattro FX. Got it today and just tried it on - it must be the smallest, lightest, least obtrusive full face on the market. Let us hope it will kick start me again - as I have got into the nasty habit of removing any mask I wear (and I have a few!) in my sleep. Looking forward to trying it...and going to bed right now...

Not a perfect night's sleep - with a cough and cold that was always going to be difficult, but I did get about 4 or 5 hours with the mask - which is more than I usually manage. Yes - it is lighter, less obtrusive than other masks - the seal is brilliant. But it is still a mask! So - dry mouth continues to be an issue - I am pleased so far and hope to make further progress.

[dravidio]

OK - I have bitten the bullet and spent some more of my (dwindling) savings on a Quattro FX. Got it today and just tried it on - it must be the smallest, lightest, least obtrusive full face on the market. Let us hope it will kick start me again - as I have got into the nasty habit of removing any mask I wear (and I have a few!) in my sleep. Looking forward to trying it...and going to bed right now...

[Grumpy]

Liberty

The Mirage Liberty Headgear has the same problem and the side straps have a tendency to curl up (longitudinally).