[Product Review] ResMed F40 Full Face Mask (* new *)

[elliotg]

I have been using the F40 mask on and off got some moths now. It seems very comfortable and has very low AHIs (often as low as 0) and (providing I use a loose neck collar) only low leaks.  Almost perfect. However, I wake up each moaning when I have used it with a nasty headache which can hang about for some hours. Looking at the Oscar results I see that I have a continual flow limitation up to about .3 which is enough to cause my pressure to stay up to my full pressure (currently set to 9) for most of the night.  So I am not really getting any benefit from the APAP functionality!

I have tried higher pressures but this only has a marginal effect on the flow limitation level, and introduces more leakage. 

I do not know if the headaches are due to the need for having to use a loose foam collar to discourage mouth breathing or the mask itself. Without the collar I get very large leaks. I don't get the Flow limitation issue with my F20 mask, but this is much more uncomfortable and more prone to large leaks. I would love to  make the F40 my main go to mask, but the headaches can be an issue.

Any feedback will be appreciated!

[robbob2112]

Try mouth tape instead of the collar. The wrong height collar can cause all sorts of neck issues.

[RayBee]

I can address the headache issue.

I can get headaches with any of the ResMed headgear being too tight. My headaches' focal point id the back of my head where the strap convergence is located. The material where all the straps come together is neither padded enough or large enough to distribute the pressure over a sufficiently large enough area to prevent my headaches. My headgear induced headaches usually last for a few days.

I have to balance several things on a razor's edge it seems. Headgear too tight = nasty headache. Too loose = leakage around the cushion that can keep me from falling asleep. IPAP Max pressure too high = aerophagia resulting in very uncomfortable bloating, and propensity of cushion leakage. Too low = efficacy falls off. EPAP Min pressure too low = feeling of being starved of air occasionally. Too high = difficulty in falling asleep.

It's kind of a dance I play with the equipment. There in lies the beauty of this forum. Lots of experts here (I am not an expert, only experienced with my personal journey) can help you tweak your settings and equipment to make for the best PAP adjustments possible for you.

Hopefully you can get to the point of being able to do the dance on the razor's edge and get things sorted out quickly. There are lots of variables to this game.

All the best.

Ray

[elliotg]

Try mouth tape instead of the collar.  The wrong height collar can cause all sorts of neck issues.

I have just ordered a box of Somnifix mouth strips to see if this works for me.  I will let you mow!

[JonathanBravo]

What kind of pillow do you use? What position do you prefer to sleep in? 

I agree with RayBee that strap tightness can be an issue - that would actually make a lot of sense since it seems to happen more with one mask type than another. I find the F40 pushes my jaw back because of the straps on the bottom, and it's a real battle to get the strap tight enough to keep the mask on under high pressure, but also not so tight it gives me pain. I would suggest you try playing with the straps and adjusting - play around with the mask while you have 'leak test' on your CPAP.

I lean away from it being a mouth breathing/tape issue, but it's worth trying everything.

[CLCCW]

I'm a newbie to CPAP/APAP and the ResMed AirFit F40 worked well in my lab titration test, and I have only used this mask since starting in November. I have a few perceptions. I am mostly a side sleeper, and unconsciously land on my back at some point.

1. The seal seems pretty good overall, especially when first going to bed, even when on my sides.  

2. Mask seems to seal best during the first week of use, and seems to peter out as time goes on. Does it stretch out? I think so, but the replacement schedule is every month. I might write ResMed about their "every month" recommendation being off. DOES ANYONE ELSE have this experience?

3. Any oily skin or slight humidity that builds up causes the mask to 'skate' out of place a bit during the night on top, bottom, left or right, waking me for a slight adjustment. I find this annoying. But the softness of the mask is preferable to a hard plastic thing.

4. Headgear magnetic straps are strong, but have come undone once or twice for me while sleeping resulting in leaks.

5. Headgear is maybe just a smidge too big, as I am maxed out and run out of velcro area to tighten, but I figure it out.

6. If I land on my back the mask slips up or down somehow too far.

Not sure what mask to try, but this has been my experience thus far.

[mecutl3r]

 2. Mask seems to seal best during the first week of use, and seems to peter out as time goes on.

How often do you wash the cushion with soap and water? I find that helps a lot whenever the sealing seems to peter out.

[BuzzaJim]

I was an early adopter of the F40 and still use it, occasionally.  I have similar observations about leakage increasing after a week or two.  I was usually able to resolve leaks with slight headgear adjustments and the overall comfort of the mask justified staying with it.

I can only use the f40 for a few days before my right nostril gets irritated by high velocity air impinging on my septum.  I had similar issues when I tried a P10 pillows mask.  I’ve tried all the nipple cremes and ointments recommended on this forum but they aren’t working for me.

My fall back mask is still the F20 Airtouch.  From my experience adjusting the F40 headgear, I’ve learned to keep my F20 headgear looser than I used to.  The leakage rate is still consistently better than the F40.  The F40 is a lot more comfortable, though, so every few weeks I give it another try, hoping my nostrils will be more tolerant.  That lasts two or three days.

That’s been my experience.

[sleepingbetterinFl]

Yes here is what I have observed over using f 40 for 6 months 

1- if I over wash the cushion , it stretched and loses elasticity - so I gently run my fingers with warm soap over it when cleaning 

2- I have to tighten upper strap on headgear to insure a more snug leak proof night 

3- I believe this mask seals really well for 2-2.5 weeks then loses its tight seal .

4- the magnets do get unattached but I use tape to reinforce the clip so it won’t get undone when tossing and turning 

5- I sometimes try a liner from pad-a-cheek that helps seal and is also quieter .

[CLCCW]

I wash daily, per the ResMed instructions.