I think I am going to order the FitLife mask - since I am having problems with the Full Life mask.  If I go through my DME supplier - I cannot return it (long story).  If I get it off the internet I can pay a little more and be able to return it.

Till then I will continue to struggle with the Full Life mask.


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Resmed S8 Elite II with FitLife total face mask.
DISCLAIMER - I am sometimes corrected by those that actually do know what they are talking about.

I was having trouble with the full life mask, then I discovered two things (after looking at the how to fit video again) -
1-I thought the cushion went under the chin...i had it down to low.
2-The guy who delivered it had never seen it before, and we decided the small one was to small for me w/out even opening the package. If there was a sizer included in the kit as the video says there will be, he either threw it away or took it with him. I never saw it. anyway I think most of my leaks have been because the cushion was too big (i was using medium.) I will try the small tonight and see how it works.
-me

I`ve had my Fit life for a little over a month now. My thoughts haven`t changed a bit, still love it, still very comfy to wear. I see a post or two about the cost, and DME this and that. Now my financial situation may well be different than someone elses, but the comfort I have wearing this mask, over the 2 nose manglers I had tried prior to the Fit Life, well if my DME said it wasn`t covered, I`d just pay for it out of pocket, it`s that comfortable. However that is it on my face, my head, and I can appreciate that some might not fit so well into this mask, but if your current mask is a nose mangler, I`d suggest a trial of the Fit Life, worst thing could be is it isn`t for you, best thing it could change your life, at least as far as your mask.

Just my 2 cents.

Hoping everyone is getting the great rest that I am now.

GW

Geolousysleep wrote:

I`ve had my Fit life for a little over a month now. My thoughts haven`t changed a bit, still love it, still very comfy to wear. I see a post or two about the cost, and DME this and that. Now my financial situation may well be different than someone elses, but the comfort I have wearing this mask, over the 2 nose manglers I had tried prior to the Fit Life, well if my DME said it wasn`t covered, I`d just pay for it out of pocket, it`s that comfortable. However that is it on my face, my head, and I can appreciate that some might not fit so well into this mask, but if your current mask is a nose mangler, I`d suggest a trial of the Fit Life, worst thing could be is it isn`t for you, best thing it could change your life, at least as far as your mask.

Just my 2 cents.

Hoping everyone is getting the great rest that I am now.

GW

I say ditto.  It isn't perfect, it would be difficult to use if you were claustrophobic, it seems to leave marks on my face even with it being as loose as I can manage without excessive leaks.  But I like it much better than the nose manglers.

Now if my AHI would only go down!


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Resmed S8 Elite II with FitLife total face mask.
DISCLAIMER - I am sometimes corrected by those that actually do know what they are talking about.

I am new to this forum,but I have been using the RESMED mirage quatro and find it very uncomfortable.Iam thinking about trying this mask,I dont know if my ins. will cover it though

We are not allowed to link to internet sales deals, but I have seen this mask shipped free for $149.00. As I stated in my post I can`t speak for everyone`s financial status, but from what I know of this mask, and how it`s impacted me. I would pay that sum out of pocket to get this mask, to not have to wear something I felt was very uncomfortable, and potentially a source of infection if my nose was an open sore from pressure. Not to mention nights without my CPAP if my nose was raw, and I couldn`t wear my nose mangler.

dkdc makes a point, they do leave a suction cup mark on your face, and to not look like you`ve been attacked with a toilet plunger, you need a hot soapy shower after getting up. For those of you who don`t start your day that way, I highly suggest it   

After 5 nights with this mask, I can say two things.

1. It's comfy.
2. The forehead leak is the main thing that wakes me up.

My final pressure is 19/15 bipap, but I start with a ramp pressure of 14/10.  There are NO leaks at 14/10.  But at some point in the night, invariably, after the machine's hit its final pressure, the mask decides to randomly break its seal just enough to shoot a column of air up my forehead.  I spend the next 3-4 minutes conciously trying to fix it.  I prod at the silicone, I try reseating the mask (19cm is quite loud when the mask is unseated let me say).  Eventually I get it sealed up again but I'm somewhat awake by that point.

I don't want to cinch the straps any tighter than they are.

I can tell by poking my finger at the forehead part that the slightest pressure there WILL keep it from leaking.  My problem now is determining HOW to apply that slight pressure.

I'm thinking about glueing a small post to the center forehead of the mask and attaching a velcro strap to cinch up to the top of the headgear.

...was describing this to someone here and they said "why not use a headband"

duh.

Rather than mucking with adding another strap, I'll just grab some cloth and tie me a headband around the forehead part.  See how it goes tonight!

Good idea about the headband

I actually found myself sleeping on my stomach last night - mask still in place and only a few minor leaks according to machine data.

I am still using earplugs due to the noise it makes - but that is not a big deal.


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Resmed S8 Elite II with FitLife total face mask.
DISCLAIMER - I am sometimes corrected by those that actually do know what they are talking about.

It is 6:30pm and my mask marks are still on my face from 7:30am this morning.  I wonder if they will become permanent eventually?  Usually the marks go away by noon.

Any ideas on how to prevent them?  

I think it is already almost as loose as it can be and still work.  0.14 L/Second last night (8.4 L per minute).  20 SLPM is the intentional leak per minute allowed at my pressure - but I have a resmed elite which apparently subtracts some leak off to begin with.

I think it marked my face up more last night cause I rolled over and was laying on my stomach (and on my face - pressing it into the mask).


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Resmed S8 Elite II with FitLife total face mask.
DISCLAIMER - I am sometimes corrected by those that actually do know what they are talking about.

Are they actually indentation type marks or is it possible that your skin is sensitive to the material your maks is made of, or that you used to clean it with, or perhaps you didn't wash it first and it is residue from the manufacturing?


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Some people are like Slinkies... Not really good for anything, but they still bring a smile to your face when you push them down a flight of stairs.
Resmed VPAP Auto. Humidaire 3i, Simplicity mask, ResScan 3.7, S8 ResLink, Embla oximeter.

Indentation marks


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Resmed S8 Elite II with FitLife total face mask.
DISCLAIMER - I am sometimes corrected by those that actually do know what they are talking about.

I'd like to say the headband worked quite well to stop the forehead leaks.

A new problem, though, is keeping the headband from slipping.  The mask slopes back a bit, so it's not a truly flat edge to wrap something across.  I think my solution to this will be to apply a velcro strip to the top of the mask, and to the headband.  That should keep it from slipping.

I had indent marks this morning along one side of my face, but I think that was from sleeping on my side - I tend to try to bury my head into the pillow when I side-sleep.  It's almost 5hrs since I woke up and the mark is all but gone.

You are posting at 8:15 Florida time and have been awake for 5 hours?

You must go to bed early!


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Resmed S8 Elite II with FitLife total face mask.
DISCLAIMER - I am sometimes corrected by those that actually do know what they are talking about.

I wake up ~3:30am.

I say "wake up" but what I mean is "my alarm goes off at 3:30, and 3:40, and 3:50" and I'm out the door by 4.  My commute to work is 68 miles and I work a 10hr/4day shift.

Yes it sucks, but having 3 day weekends and saving gas are good things to me.