Sleep Apnoea Forum Bringing Help + Support to the Patient
yippee the font size works ... lol... sorry to get excited but being partially sighted it is a huge help.
Well, back to thread ...
This week I actually got two masks to try from the hospital (yes, two!)
after sticking to my guns that I needed help and was having big problems with current mask (thank you Kath for the support and giving me the confidence with knowledge) I was given an oral mask and a Quattro FX to try and then to go back in May.
This got me to thinking what everyone uses and if they are nhs and what was the 1st mask you were given? How many have you had?
Now I know that what suits one, does not suit another, and people have success with ones that I have not been able to use successfully for one reason or another ... so please do not be put off trying because of what you read! I do have several health issues and none of them promote good sleep and I do have to move around to ease pain more than some people may, so please remember this.
(I have Hose Covers and Hose Lift from www.hope2sleep.co.uk etc which were of benefit to each mask by the way)
My first mask around 12 months ago was the Resmed Mirage Quattro full face
however, being partially sighted and blind in one eye I found it terribly constricted on my vision and no glasses could be worn and the bridge of my nose was rubbed to raw and bleeding very quickly and lots of vivid straps marks ... also lots of leaks later I thought that it seemed a bit short in the face, seating just under my lower lips, but next size was too big.
Mask no. 2
Resmed Mirage Liberty - so much better - good vision and very comfortable, but did find that the nose pillows quickly lost their staying power with my nostrils - I got 3 monthly cushion/pillows replacements and even a full mask replacement at 6mths - but I finally figured out that it was a very cold nose that caused the problem.
I tried all sorts, but because of burning sweats even more heating in room is not an option - tried foil on nose, cling film ... etc (yep looked like a drunken martian).
Got up looking like Miss Piggy because I was even ramming the pillows tight upwardly but to no avail and they pinged out constantly all night.
Sooooooooooooooooooooo Mask no.3 Fisher Paykel Oracle Oral Mask
Because I have a deviated septum (which the Liberty helped actually and my nose sort of cleared a bit with the air pressure, but back to snuffling during the day) the nurse thought this was the answer.
I promised faithfully I would try it ....
I did for 6 hours - never again, it felt enormous in my mouth and my gums hurt and my jaw ached, I kept chewing on the mouthpiece and barely managed more than a doze and could not swallow without feeling blown up - and for the first time ever, I took the mask off and choked for a couple of hours with nothing on. However, there were no leaks whatsover!
Mask no. 4 oh, joy.... the new Resmed Quattro FX
Had two good nights in comparison - a little problem at first with some tiny leaks but did settle down after refixing. This one you put on bridge of nose first and then swing it down to chin before doing the straps.
It does not impact on my vision as much as the 1st Quattro and no forehead fixings. It is much more comfortable on the nose and a better fit. The top straps are a little close to under my eyes, though this is something I can cope with. No straps marks on face, just a tad pinking, and no nose soreness. I can get my glasses on, albeit a little wonkily but okay for emegency.
Well that about covers my 12 months of treatment so far ... next instalment at end of May lol. Miss Piggy look was not a good look for me, ugly enough - so am glad to be rid of that!
What's yours?
hugs Jacks xx
Views: 1199
What a great post Jackie :-)
Well, I shall share all the masks I have:- Fisher Paykel 432, Resmed Mirage Quattro, Resmed Mirage Liberty, Innomed Hybrid, Sleepnet Mojo, Respironics Comfort Gel Full, Resmed Ultra Mirage, Respironics Fit Life (maybe some I've forgotten too LOL).
I will tell you my favourites:-
Respironics Fit Life. If you can view the picture, this is my favourite mask. Now you might take one look at it and wonder why as it's a real 'beast' but the fact is, your line of vision is so clear, which means a lot to me. Also, there are no face marks in a morning as the seal goes around the edge of your face, and any marks are easily hidden by my hair.
Innomed Hybrid. This mask is very much like the Resmed Mirage Liberty. The difference is that you don't need an extra little tube attached to it, and it has a chin support (like the Fisher Paykel 432) which is much more comfortable and stops it slipping. I like this mask because I can wear my glasses to read in bed and there are very few face marks in a morning.
Fisher Paykel 432 has to be my 3rd choice as a full face mask, as it also has a chin support, which means it fits me better. The facial marks for me aren't as bad as the Mirage Quattro in a morning.
I have to say though, that I'm looking forward to trying the Resmed Mirage Quattro FX (are you listening Resmed LOL). I've read good reports about this one, and you yourself have given positive feedback Jackie.
Looking forward to reading other members experiences.
Please remember everyone, that our faces are not the same though, so we will not all like the same masks. Also bear in mind that my experience is based on full face masks only, as I'm a mouth breather (at least I was until my recent operation, so perhaps I could try some nasal masks now).
Fit Life.jpg, 30 KB Hybrid.jpg, 31 KB It matters not which masks I have used. I have a cupboard full of rubbish (which I might have put on eBay until I said that). I recently bought a Resmed Quattro FX.
In full face terms, all anyone needs to know about masks is "Resmed Quattro FX".
Headgear aside, has anyone not had a brilliant result with this mask?
TF
I have just got the fx - it is far better than the others I have tried, yet it is not perfect and I am hoping to discover something better still for me.
The straps are too near my eyes, as in right under my lower lashes and going to the outer corners, but I can forgive this for the time being. It does not seal perfectly and have odd leaks - yet again, it is better than anything else I have tried so far. If you wiggle your nose or mouth around just a little due to an itch or forgetting yourself the mask does leak easily and it recommends you do not wiggle it around, but turn off and do a full refit again.
Maybe I am reaching for the unattainable?
You haven't got the fit life mask in your cupboard of rubbish have you? I would love to try that - nhs I go to says fit life is for people or children with facial abnormalities???? how abnormal is abnormal lol .
Everyone is so different, or there would only ever be one mask - but I am so pleased that someone is very happy with theirs.
Come on folks, there must be more of you out there with happy masks????
Does the fit life blow into your eyes??? anyone know please?
hugs Jacks xxx
Does the fit life blow into your eyes??? anyone know please?
Had a few nasal masks but these were never very satisfactory, finally tried a full-face mask but can't remember the number, however it was a vast improvement and upped my compliance no end.
Currently using a Mirage Quattro, best mask I've had but as you say impossible to wear glasses with, but this is no problem since I can read just fine without them although I do have to hold the book close!
I recently bought some strap protectors, and these have been great - sometimes lying on the pillow will push the lower straps into my ear lobes and it's just a wee but painful by the time you wake up.
Slightly off topic but relevant - pillows. I use two pillows, a standard firm with an anti-snore pillow on top from Lancashire Textiles http://www.lancashiretextiles.co.uk/pillows.asp which is a weird looking thing but has helped enormously because it keeps your head and neck straight rather than you ending up 'scrunched up' as the pillows flatten. I find this helps to stop the mask being displaced by the pillow.
Hi Jackie
I had a Fit Life in my cupboard - well, bottom of the linen basket, actually, they are so big - but have long since sold it.
As they are (were), they are pretty much guaranteed to leak at your forehead - the design makes it a 99% certainty. It's very clear what was/is needed to prevent this and now Resmed have come up with it in their Quattro FX.
When Respironics do away with the snap fastenings for the headgear at the top of the mask and put in their place a 'cage' as per Resmed's Quattro FX, then the Fit Life will be fit for sleeping without leaks. It's a great mask apart from this weakness.
As for your Quatro FX,may I suggest you adjust the headgear so that you wear it lower on your face? With straps dangling, I put mine where I want it on my face and then tighten the straps to hold it there. I find that with ever stretching straps it gets ever more difficult to keep the mask low on my face - but still possible - so far!
Elsewhere, a newbie has this to say of the Quattro FX - "so thrilled with it, so much more comfortable than my original mask (Mirage Quattro), I can have my glasses on whilst wearing it so I can read and watch TV if I want."
TF
I use the Swift FX, Quattro, and the Respironics Easy Life. I switch back and forth between the nasals to protect my nose. I have the FFM for when I am sick as I am prone to sinus infections.
I agree with you on the Fit Life. I have never been able to get this mask to work on myself or a patient.
I have not been able to get my hands on the Quattro FX yet. I hear it is a great mask.Well, just adding my twopennorth - I'm still struggling to find a mask that works properly for me. I have a very small bridge to my nose so getting a good fit is proving to be difficult.
The hospital have tried me with a variety of face and nose masks (including the child sized ones, LOL) without any success - if they didn't leak all round the edges they rubbed my face raw.
At the moment I'm using a ResMed Swift FX, which is ok but if I get a cold its useless as I find the pressure directly up my nose too painful. I've just tried a Sleepweaver Soft Cloth mask but that was just too leaky.
The Respironics Fit Life would probably work as it doesn't depend on a fit around the nose, but to be honest I don't know if I could cope with having my whole face covered at night (I'm slightly claustrophobic) - If anyone knows of another mask that is suitable for small faces I'd love to know about it.
Hi Katrina
The Quattro FX has a very, very deep seal at the nose - I mean the skirt is very long - and that may just adjust to seal at your small nose.
Are you aware that Resmed and Respironics do a £25 (a couple of years ago) mask fitting session at their sleep centres? You get to try all their masks, lying down, with the aid of knowledgable staff.
Beware the FitLife forehead leak!
TF
Hi Katrina. I made it my business to ask Marion from http://www.asiliveandbreathe.co.uk/ who also has a very small face. She sends you this advice:-
"My mask is called an IQ GEL NASAL MASK by sleep net.
Not only is it very comfortable on the face, but it can be gently squeezed to mould it to suit your face. There's not a huge amount of movement, but it's enough to change its shape to make it more narrow, or wider. My head is very small, so I need it to be narrow."
I have the full face version of this mask, which is called the Mojo, and I've had good success with it :)
Katrina Wray said:
Well, just adding my twopennorth - I'm still struggling to find a mask that works properly for me. I have a very small bridge to my nose so getting a good fit is proving to be difficult.
The hospital have tried me with a variety of face and nose masks (including the child sized ones, LOL) without any success - if they didn't leak all round the edges they rubbed my face raw.
At the moment I'm using a ResMed Swift FX, which is ok but if I get a cold its useless as I find the pressure directly up my nose too painful. I've just tried a Sleepweaver Soft Cloth mask but that was just too leaky.
The Respironics Fit Life would probably work as it doesn't depend on a fit around the nose, but to be honest I don't know if I could cope with having my whole face covered at night (I'm slightly claustrophobic) - If anyone knows of another mask that is suitable for small faces I'd love to know about it.
Hi I am still using the Quattro FX and so far it really is the best mask I have tried.
Like Tigers Fan said, the nose skirt is deep and previous masks rubbed me raw on my nose till it bled.
The FX hasn't caused me any problems at all with that. I don't have a big face, quite rounded, and small bridge of nose and although the FX sits very close to my eyes, despite trying to lower it as suggested, it seems to find itself back high up quickly on me.
Considering the downsides of the other masks I have tried, coping with the closeness to my eyes seems to be nothing in comparison.
The outer seal does seem bigger than the other quattros and at the chin and nose much much deeper and seal better. I still get odd leaks, mainly two positions, one near eyes and other bottom near chin, but nothing like I used to.
I can't wear anything lower on my nose really or I cannot breathe through my nose, it seems to shut my nostrels down even though not on the spongy part. Breathe right strips do help for me and I have a deviated semptum, but with the FX I haven't had to use them so far.
I certainly do not think the NHS will have anything better to offer me and money is quite tight, so I reckon the FX will have to be my mask for a long while yet.
Everything in this forum so far, the info, hints and tips and support all help tremendously and give me the will to try different things and to persevere and make things just that little bit better.
Keep up the great work everyone :)
and thanks to Res-Med for the FX
hugs Jacks xxxxx
Hi Katrina. I made it my business to ask Marion from http://www.asiliveandbreathe.co.uk/ who also has a very small face. She sends you this advice:-
"My mask is called an IQ GEL NASAL MASK by sleep net.
Not only is it very comfortable on the face, but it can be gently squeezed to mould it to suit your face. There's not a huge amount of movement, but it's enough to change its shape to make it more narrow, or wider. My head is very small, so I need it to be narrow."I have the full face version of this mask, which is called the Mojo, and I've had good success with it :)
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