Quattro FX -- Please post feedback on it

[trytryagain]

Has anybody had any luck with larger headgear than the standard it comes with? I had a terrible time with it, but I'm wondering if the larger headgear would have better results.

[lunarlunarlunar]

I have been using a Medium Quattro FX for a month now and it is lot more comfortable than my earlier Mirage Quattro which used to give me headaches due to the forehead support. Although one issue I have with Quattro FX is that it presses my nostrils a bit and makes it difficult sometimes do breath through nose especially with my slightly deviated septum. I tried a Large last night and it turned out to be easier on my nostrils but woke up multiple times due to leak near the eyes. I had very few leaks on the Medium though. I don't have a very wide nose so not sure why I have this sizing issue. Wish they had a size called Medium-Wide like they have for shoes

Has anyone else encountered similar issues with Quattro FX?

[joelrk35]

I have been using the Quattro FX for two weeks and find it very comfortable. Some minor leaks initially but all less than 24l/hr. After some strap adjustments and finding the sweetspot on the bridge of my nose the leaks are less than 5l/hr. I keep my original Quattro as a back up. Both masks are the medium size.

[Sudsy]

i was lucky to try both a large and med at the same time at home.

The med and large were nice. The med at first felt small around the mouth and the large seemed better. But after 3 nights i could not get leaks under control. So went back to the med and had no leaks at all. Its been about two weeks and still loveing the med.

The head gear was fine on both med and large. The only thing that hurt was my pocket book $261 dollars for it. Prices in Canada hurt.

Sudsy

[alexstjo]

Hey bright choice,

I too have problems with the cushion coming out of the mask. I have tried taping the cushion to the mask and it didn't work. I cannot find a tape that will stick to the cushion.
What is this 3m microfoam tape and how did you use it? I was thinking about using super glue also but 1) not sure if it will stick to silcone 2) not sure I want to breath that in all night.

Help!!

It has a definitely tendency to ride up as the night goes on. As it rides up and my mouth drops open its leaksville. The problem seems to be the uppermost strap. Its not adjustable.

My QFX headgear does have velcro adjustments on both the upper and lower straps. Take a close look. I'd guess that they are there.

I used some 3M Microfoam tape cut in narrow strips to hold the face piece onto the frame. It seems to be working good. I was tempted to use superglue but decided that would probably be a big mistake. If anyone tries that, I'd like to know.

[pratzert]

After following this post for so long, the most important piece of information I have gleaned, is that the sizing is slightly off.

I get the impression that most people who orer the size they think they need or normally use, end up (if they're lucky) getting the next size smaller.

Most seem to report better results with a smaller size.

I tried the Quattro and at first the DME claimed I needed a Large and it ended up being WAY too large.

I then got the small size and it worked much better, but still not as good as my Activa, so I went back to the Activa waiting until I was eligible for a new mask.

In about 4 more weeks I can get another new mask so I will try the FX "Small" size in hopes it will be a good fit.

Along wiht the many tips and tricks posted so far, I look forward to success with the FX.

Time will tell..... Once I get it and try it out, I'll chip in with my experience.

[kluge]

I'm a first time CPAP user who started off with the Quattro FX.

I had many problems with leaks around the bridge of my nose. The lining would separate from the mask itself, as mentioned by several other users in this thread.

Went back to my provider and found out that this is a common problem if you have a small nose bridge. If you have a large bridge, this mask will work well. If you have a small bridge, good placement is hard to come by.

[Ms.Snuffleupagus]

I measured in between a small and medium. I went with a size small and was able to control leaks after much fiddling. But I found that the upper part of the cushion was compressing my nostrils and I ended up breathing mostly through my mouth as soon as I put it on. I had the same problem with the cushion separating from the mask frame. So 2 days ago I decided to go to my DME and buy a medium. It is a little big and the upper part of the cushion sits higher than the mid-bridge, but it is ever so much more comfortable. No more compression of my nostrils. It still took a lot of strap adjustments but I think I have finally found that sweet spot. Last night my leak rate was only .02!

By the way, the technician asked me if I had a prescription that specified a full face mask as it was now required?? What??

My original prescription for APAP had specified a nasal mask, but as they had already given me the regular Quattro about a year and a half ago before the new policy came into effect, she said I could get a new full face mask. She did say that there is a slight risk of aspiration if you vomit while wearing a full face mask (hummm, don't believe I have ever been that drunk..). She also said that the trend now is to provide nasal and nasal pillow masks, as these were now considered to be more effective than full face masks for many patients. She said that often the right level of humidity and pressure could solve a lot of problems that people experience with mouth leaks and that in the past the full face mask option was offered too quickly to patients before the nasal mask was really given a chance to work. Kinda echoes what Dr. Gold said...
Wish this was true for me, but for now I will stick with the Quattro fx.

[Hosehead4ever]

I couldn't use it. I had it for my sleep study and for one night at home. I had to tighten it so far to stop leaks that in the morning it felt like my face had been pressed in a vice.

[Jayjonbeach]

I started a Poll on this mask before I made the decision to buy it as I wanted to see it directly compared to the Mirage Quattro which I was using and relatively happy with (read after a month of farting around I got leaks down to zero but the damn thing was leaving a red mark on my nose).

Here is the Poll: viewtopic.php?f=1&t=60860&p=572285#p570907

And here are my comments on the mask after owning it for 2 weeks (and its now been 4 weeks, sticking with it good mask), I figure I might as well post them here as this was always the main thread.

I bought the FX about 2 weeks ago. I voted for great mask coming from the Mirage Quattro, its not perfect but good, I was good with the Mirage Quattro for 6 months, it took me a month to get leaks figured out but once I did they were gone for good. Biggest problem was red mark on nose due to having to keep the straps so tight to avoid leaks.

FX Pros - Less of a red mark on nose than Mirage and a little less tight on face possible overall
- No forehead piece anymore and sits a little lower on nose so more visability
- Once set at right tightness and cleaned nightly, no leaks

FX Cons - This is only a soso con, the seal is a little trickier to pop back into place after cleaning
- Could still have had a bit more room inside for someone's nose

I had NO leak issues right from night one, and overall when moving around and such during the night I have less little leaks than with the Mirage, probably due to no forehead piece for one. I bought a medium and the medium headgear is perfectly fine for me, got it adjusted night one and havent touched it since. It did seem like I was in between a large and medium mask and had to pick medium in the end, I wish it was just a touch bigger, maybe they should have made 4 sizes instead of 3. I think the air exhaust is just a touch louder however buts it pretty minor and after 2 weeks the wife and I don't notice it at all. Strap marks on face are about the same as Mirage, they are there but fade in about 30 minutes so not an issue for me(Mirage was about the same but the nose mark with Mirage took anywhere from 1 - 3 hours and now any mark there with FX fades in 30 minutes or less with strap marks)

It took me a few nights to feel comfortable with the FX just due to it being different but I do like it more than Mirage and will not be going back to Mirage.

I am lucky to have insurance to cover masks and while I was at the store I tried the Hybrid. I thought I would hate the pillows but they actually werent so bad. The big thing here is NOT having a mask go over your nose at all, and if you're like me, this can be a good thing just due to an insanely itchy nose sometimes!!! I will likely buy this mask next just to have the trifecta and give it a go and see whihc comes out on top.

[Bugdude]

I've been using the Quattro FX for a few weeks now. I've been using the small size; I started with the default medium headgear but had to upsize to the large size headgear as the mask wouldn't seal properly and wanted to ride up my nose.

Now that I've got it sorted out, I get great scores (< 2.0 AHIs) and practically no leaking.

I have found though it's really important to clean the oil off my skin before using it, and to put the mask on properly with the "swing" technique.

The only issue I have with it is learning to side-sleep with the mask without getting leaks on my nose bridge, and some redness problems on my nasal bridge.

[BillH]

I gave up on mine, exchanged it for a FlexiFit 432. Could not get past the comfort issue. Leak numbers were better with the FX though but I have not compared it with the FlexiFit.

[navyvet72]

I have been using the FX for two weeks and have had some trouble with leaks especially when I turn on my side. I had a Flex fit 431 and didn't like the mark left on my nose or forehead. I don't believe there is a perfect mask that won't leak. I look for comfort and th FX fits the bill for now. I will deal with the leaks as they occur. I had my data checked and my AHI was 9, I know thats high and I am work on getting at below 5.

[jfred]

I just got mine today i will post more when i find out how it does.....

[lars4life]

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