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Permalink Reply by Renee on March 22, 2010 at 9:11am

Hello Linda ~

I found that I am also sensitive to the material that the masks are made of. I tried both the ResMed Quattro and the Respironics FullLife and, while they both felt soft and comfortable when I tried them on at first for a couple of minutes, I discovered that I was sensitive to the material and I couldn't wear either of them. However, I have found a solution - well, actually, two solutions.

I got Remzzzs from www.remzzzs.com. They are pieces of thin cotton material designed to match the shape of nasal and full face masks. I tried the full face Remzzzs with both the Quattro and the FullLife and the Remzzzs worked with both of them. I have settled on using the Quattro and I will offer you a tip. Although I use an XS Quattro mask, I use a Medium Remzzz - because although most people just want to the Remzzzs for comfort - I want extra cotton material to completely cover the material that the mask is made of.

An interesting tidbit . . . I had gotten Remzzzs prior to receiving my CPAP equipment and had taken them with me to my first titration. Since I was completely new to CPAP and had no experience with a mask before that night, I started out without suggesting using a Remzzz. I was having difficulty going to sleep for a variety of reasons (as it goes at one's first titration) - including that the mask was very irritating and that I had an awful headache - and after a couple of hours the tech came in to adjust the mask for leakage. I happened to ask the tech if we could try a Remzzz and the tech said: "Why not"?. And AS SOON as the Remzzz was in place - the mask felt so comfortable, my headache instantly went away by about 95% and the tech didn't have to make any adjustment for leakage. -- AND I, then, went right off to sleep !

And so, even if I didn't need the Remzzzs due to my sensitivity to the mask material, I would wear them anyway because they provide so much comfort and also since they decrease leakage, I don't have to tighten my mask as much as I would have to without them.

And the second really marvelous solution is that I contacted Karen Moore at www.padacheek.com. Actually I called Karen at 434-985-4003 because I had read a posting about how she will help people with individual problems and I found out from Karen that she makes little "covers" out of natural fabrics for the forehead support of the Quattro - EXACTLY what I needed ! Karen offered the smooth or the softer fabric choice and when I mentioned that I wanted the softer because I needed as much density as possible because of the headache I had gotten from the pressure, Karen offered to make the covers extra dense for me. Of course, I would have to consider that I would, perhaps, have to compensate accordingly for leakage but, for me, it was sure worth it. And so, with Karen's wonderful, personal handiwork - I have comfort and no headaches. My first choice had been to be able to use the Respironics FullLife because there's no forehead support and there's more clear vision; but, because the FullLife is wider than the Quattro, I couldn't adjust the width and the hardness of the FullLife to my pillow and so I had to give up on the FullLife. But, no matter, with Karen's soft forehead support covers, the Quattro forehead support is completely comfortable anyway - so the Quattro has become my choice.

Lastly, when I was trying out the Respironics FullLife mask, I tried using the little "sleeves" or "covers" on the strap in the back of the FullLife on my neck because the strap had to be pulled tight and because, alas, I also had a sensitivity to the material of the strap material. I had purchased a pair of the little "sleeves" from one of the CPAP suppliers online. HOWEVER, I found that I was ALSO completely TOO sensitive to the "sleeves" that I purchased. So, in the future, I will always FIRST contact Karen Moore to find out if she makes WHATEVER I need in natural fabrics - then I will know that it will be ABSOLUTELY COMFORTABLE and the best fit ! Plus, it was enjoyable talking with Karen.

Gosh this turned out to be a long posting . . . hope some of this helps !

Best,
Renee

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Permalink Reply by Judy on March 22, 2010 at 10:58am

Yup,yup. Karen uses PAP herself so she is TOTALLY familiar w/the problems these masks and straps can cause some of us! She is widely known and respected thru out these apnea support forums for her great products and willingness to tackle individual specific problems w/specific masks. Her choice of materials for both comfort and attractive colors and prints is outstanding. And her prices are great as well.

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