Amara View Full Face - Help, I want to Like this mask!!

[metsfan302]

I got the new Amara View Full Face Mask the other day. I have been seeing great user reviews, not many bad things said about it.

I just cannot seem to get it to work for me. It was fine when I was at my DME supplier for the "Test Fitting" - think they did a ramp test with it on for like 10mins going up too I think he told her to put it on 13.... no issues felt fine....

Get home to use it and well from my sleepyhead data yesterday I was leaking like no buddies business, ugg.

Last night I tightened it up a bit, seemed ok. did not feel any air leaking myself - my nose did drop into the slot were its suppose to "sit on top of"? a few times...... went to check the numbers and well I left my sd card in my computer last night so no data.

I want to learn to love it well as much as someone can love something on there face all night

[Pugsy]

There is leak data(95% number) on the LCD screen as long as you check it before 12 noon your machine clock time. Do you know how to get to that data screen?
Sleep Quality has to be set to ON first and then data is available on the LCD screen.
Explained in the manual.
If your 95% number is reasonable...good chance that minimal time was spent in large leak.

Sorry, can't help with the fit issues. I still haven't got that mask to check it out. DME promised to send and didn't and I just haven't got over to the town they are in to pick one up.
These hybrid type masks can be a challenge for fitting but once you get it just right you won't need to change it.

[flightco]

I got the new Amara View Full Face Mask the other day. I have been seeing great user reviews, not many bad things said about it.

I just cannot seem to get it to work for me. It was fine when I was at my DME supplier for the "Test Fitting" - think they did a ramp test with it on for like 10mins going up too I think he told her to put it on 13.... no issues felt fine....

Get home to use it and well from my sleepyhead data yesterday I was leaking like no buddies business, ugg.

Last night I tightened it up a bit, seemed ok. did not feel any air leaking myself - my nose did drop into the slot were its suppose to "sit on top of"? a few times...... went to check the numbers and well I left my sd card in my computer last night so no data.

I want to learn to love it well as much as someone can love something on there face all night

I had the same issue, loved the mask, it was almost like sleeping with no mask at all, I just couldn't get the leaks under control and my AHI was showing higher than my sleep study. Really like the way it felt though.

[PoolQ]

The Amara View is my favorite mask and it is not easy to get it right, but for me everything I have tried has required fiddling with.

Some things I have found:
1. this mask is very sensitive to needing a clean face and mask
2. getting the nose in just the right place takes me several tries most of the time. I know when it's right because the mask feels like it has gone away.
3. if the mask leaks right around the nose, your nose is in the wrong place
4. if the mask leaks at the side of the mouth, sometimes I can pull the mask up slightly and wiggle it left-right and then let go to get a seal
5. for me this mask likes to be slightly tighter than the Simplus FFM that I used to use
6. adjusting the straps by very small amounts is important
7. I always get the nose in place first by holding the chin part away from my face and then rotating the mask to bring the chin into place. I can do this when the mask is at pressure.

Practice putting the mask on a lot, get the nose under control first, then work on chin leaks

[chunkyfrog]

I loved this mask when I first saw it.
Sadly, this mask shall never be mine, unless a smaller size is made.
(Tiny violin playing)

[M'ohms]

I got this mask 2 1/2 weeks ago. My DME fitted me for a Med. (according to the fitting template), but I couldn't get it to stop leaking. I asked to try a Large, so she brought one out. That one fit much better.

At home with my large pressure swings, I had leak problems the first night. As with other masks, I have found the headgear to be too flimsy to cope with my ASV activity, so I use the Respironics Blue Mesh Headgear which is perfect for my needs. I modified the top straps to angle correctly with the Amara View and now it's just right.

I agree with PoolQ that this mask needs to be tighter. I wear the top straps loose but the lower straps fairly tight. This anchors the mask in place without disturbing the nasal seal. I also bury my nose in the cushion so that the cushion inflates all around my nose. I also gently push the outer side of my nostrils down into the cushion since they tend to flare out when I put the mask on. This creates a trustworthy seal for me.

Good luck!

[JoeWingrove]

The Amara View is my favorite mask and it is not easy to get it right, but for me everything I have tried has required fiddling with.

Some things I have found:
1. this mask is very sensitive to needing a clean face and mask
2. getting the nose in just the right place takes me several tries most of the time. I know when it's right because the mask feels like it has gone away.
3. if the mask leaks right around the nose, your nose is in the wrong place
4. if the mask leaks at the side of the mouth, sometimes I can pull the mask up slightly and wiggle it left-right and then let go to get a seal
5. for me this mask likes to be slightly tighter than the Simplus FFM that I used to use
6. adjusting the straps by very small amounts is important
7. I always get the nose in place first by holding the chin part away from my face and then rotating the mask to bring the chin into place. I can do this when the mask is at pressure.

Practice putting the mask on a lot, get the nose under control first, then work on chin leaks

This is some good advice. I will also second the fact that I have found using a wipe on the mask daily to be a big help in reducing leaks. Another issue I have found with the mask is that the fit on it seems to vary a lot depending on your position. For example I have found that what might be a good fit when sitting up will cause some leaks when laying down. From what I have seen making small adjustments after I am in bed keeps the leaks down to a minimal amount and sleepy head never complains about them.

I must say overall this mask is amazing and I will be using it for a long time!

[M'ohms]

I forgot to mention that I use a mask liner too.

[yoshi]

I have been using this mask for a little over a week now. I love this mask. It's comfortable, NO bruising/marks at all for me, no waking from the tornado sound (like my P10), and no leaks. Sorry this post is long; I hope that what I found might help you or others.

It took me about 3 days to get to that point of love. It was not a straight out of the box LOVE like my P10. I just couldn't handle the mouth breathing and taping anymore with the P10.

I noticed the headgear is really finicky to my hair position. I had it fitted for my long hair down but the next night I had leaks like crazy. So for longer haired people, consistency is a must. I got around it by pulling my hair in a high pony and fed it through the top of the headgear. Ponytails give me headaches so I remove the band after I have fished my hair through.

I loosened the mask straps at first so the cushions were flapping... then slowly cinched it up until the mask fit setting had a light "hiss" leak with the mask fit setting. Then I loosened the top of the headgear... oddly for me, loosening the crown setting got rid of the hisses. I turned on my side, zero leaks... the only leak I could get was when I pushed in a section with a single finger. Took a nap on day one, and got the dreadful marks. But had an aha moment... the "sweat" between the seal and my face made for more suction, so I ended up loosening the bottom anchor (it didn't take much).

Night 2 (and even today)... the mask leaks like crazy if I just clip in. I noticed if I put the mask on, start my machine at my normal pressure settings, then pull the assembly straight outward and reseat that it makes a perfect seal. I think the key to this was just making sure there was pressure flow between the membranes.

I'm actually quite surprised how loose my mask is. It is near floppy when I put it on for the night but the reseat and the air pressure somehow makes for a nice comfortable seal. Someone mentioned about face oils and a clean cushion, I found the same thing for me. As long as I wash my face and mask, watch where my hair is, and reseat my mask after the APAP is turned on, I've had good success... So in short this mask is not just a clip and go for me, it takes a little bit of fidget at night.

Another thing I personally noticed--the asphyxiation valve and the way the vents disperse air--at first I was confusing that with a mask leak. While fitting on the first couple nights, I would displace the air with one hand and felt with the other around the seals--didn't feel any leaks... looked at sleepyhead and yep, no leaks...

I need to amend a little bit, I *do* have a small, short amount of leaks but looking at sleepyhead they correlate to when I have been flipping over at night. The small leaks end up resolving itself. I suspect the air is just filling dead space and recreating that seal. Now if I can get over tossing and turning due to dead arm... I'll be super happy with the mask and my therapy.

[AcedDublB]

I have had the Amara View for 3 weeks or so and do like it, very quiet and no claustrophobic feeling. I wear mine fairly loose.

Mine is a Medium but the tech said I was on line between Medium and Large.

Last night my wife and I checked with a flashlight and saw that the silicone dam covers almost 3/4 of each nostril, is this normal or is it likely that I should move up to Large so the nostril opening is larger.

Your thoughts are welcomed.