FlexiFit™431 Full Face Mask

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Sep 01, 2006 8:59 pm

Yes, Lori, we can just say that.............after all, I'm no one to talk....A few times, I've even gone off and left myself behind somewheres...............

Gidgie · Post by **Gidgie** » Fri Sep 01, 2006 9:01 pm

See what I mean? That last was me.

Sleepless on LI · Post by **Sleepless on LI** » Sat Sep 02, 2006 7:42 am

Gidgie wrote:See what I mean? That last was me.

Thank you!

RHinNC · Post by **RHinNC** » Sat Sep 02, 2006 1:08 pm

Well the slight irritation I had yesterday has turned into a very painful welt.

I used a band-aid last night over the irritated area, but this morning when I removed the band aid (I made sure I used a large enough band-aid for the pad to cover the irritation and not the adhesive part) the area is very bruised looking with small bumps.

Bad part is the mask works great, 2 consecutive nights of very good sleep. I need this mask to work!

Bought some moleskin, but as bad as it looks today I think I will let it heal before I use it again. I will use my nasal pillows tonight.

cwsanfor · Post by **cwsanfor** » Sat Sep 02, 2006 7:06 pm

RHinNC wrote: I used a band-aid last night over the irritated area, but this morning when I removed the band aid (I made sure I used a large enough band-aid for the pad to cover the irritation and not the adhesive part) the area is very bruised looking with small bumps.

I had the same experience when first using a full face mask. I'd use a CF2 or UMFF for a couple of days until the bridge of my nose was sore, then switch to a nasal pillow interface until my nares got too sore, and so forth, until both my bridge and nares toughened up. Ayr's Gel and NeilMed saline lavage helps the nares soreness, and Band Aid Activ Flex bandaids, cut in two lengthwise helped with the bridge soreness, as did cortisone/aloe cream and triple antibiotic cream. The Activ Flex bandaids are kind of expensive, but I only had to use them for a couple of weeks.

But you gave me the idea to order the FlexFit this morning, because my FF masks are both putting a lot of pressure on my lower teeth, and that can only be so good. Might work, might not, you never know.

_________________

CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): nasal pillow

RHinNC · Post by **RHinNC** » Sat Sep 02, 2006 7:12 pm

cwsanfor wrote:
RHinNC wrote: I used a band-aid last night over the irritated area, but this morning when I removed the band aid (I made sure I used a large enough band-aid for the pad to cover the irritation and not the adhesive part) the area is very bruised looking with small bumps.
I had the same experience when first using a full face mask. I'd use a CF2 or UMFF for a couple of days until the bridge of my nose was sore, then switch to a nasal pillow interface until my nares got too sore, and so forth, until both my bridge and nares toughened up, Ayr's Gel and saline lavage helps the nares soreness, and Band Aid Activ Flex bandaids, cut in two lengthwise helped with the bridge soreness. They're kind of expensive, but I only had to use them for a couple of weeks.

But you gave me the idea to order the FlexFit this morning, because my FF masks are both putting a lot of pressure on my lower teeth, and that can only be so good. Might work, might not, you never know.

Shedahl · Post by **Shedahl** » Mon Sep 04, 2006 10:43 am

I hope this isn't off the topic, since you're using the FlexiFit #431. I've been using the FlexiFit #405 as my first choice mask. For anyone who isn't familiar with them, the #405 only fits over your nose - it's not a full-face mask.

I've been having the same problem with the mask irritating the bridge of my nose. I've tried band-aids and moleskin (two layers), and it's not a "sore", but it definitely leaves an indentation on the bridge of my nose in the morning, and it feels like it's bruised from the pressure there. I haven't had any problem getting a seal using a thin padding, but have had more leak problems when I tried a thicker padding.

I've been back and forth to my DME - trying a variety of masks - and they said that the problem with the irritation on my nose with the #405 is that I really need a little bit of a larger size that would sit up at the very top of my nose. That makes sense to me, as far as the design goes, since there's an indent at that point of the nose. I'm already using the "large" size, but I have a long nose, and I guess it's not quite big enough for me, even with pulling it up as close as I can to the nares.

My DME said that I'd get used to it - like wearing glasses. That was pretty funny, since I already wear glasses. So, we'll see. Even with the fit issue, it's the most comfortable and leak-free mask that I've found, and I think I've tried every one that's available now. The seal is nice and tight with a minimum of tightening of the straps, and it doesn't press too hard on my teeth, which irritates my TMJ with some other masks that I've tried.

Shedahl

cwsanfor · Post by **cwsanfor** » Sat Sep 09, 2006 5:37 am

I had some Large Leaks the first part of the night, but tightened straps and ended up with an AI of 0, AHI = 1.8, with pressures at least 1 cm below what I've been seeing. I think I can lower both the leaks and the HI. More importantly, I feel great this morning, and the mask is the most comfortable I've tried. Very promising: I may have found my new default mask. There was some odd whistling from the mask, which annoyed the cat, but I probably can fix that (the mask, not the cat).

I'm going to try the small cushion and take the pressure down a cm, maybe try fixed pressure and less C-Flex.

birdshell · Post by **birdshell** » Sat Sep 09, 2006 9:24 pm

It certainly doesn't seem to be a good thing for a mask (even if more effective than others that were tried) to cause a sore on the nose. Cannot there be an adaptation (extra silicone cushioning, or a replacement seal with more nose bridge cushioning, for example)? If this were a baby's playpen or toy, there would be a recall! The manufacturer would be scrambling to fix the problem somehow.

Is this the mask that others have mentioned that needs to be worn very loosely? Sorry I do not know the name of that mask, but I use the CL 2. I do remember reading about the looser straps.

Vader · Post by **Vader** » Sat Sep 09, 2006 9:38 pm

birdshell wrote:Is this the mask that others have mentioned that needs to be worn very loosely? Sorry I do not know the name of that mask, but I use the CL 2. I do remember reading about the looser straps.

Perhaps you're thinking of the Activa? The Activa, though NOT a FF mask can be worn loosely.

I wish there was a FF mask that fits as GREAT as the Activa. :::sigh:::
______________________________________________
"We are the music makers, and we are the dreamers of the dream.
Wandering by lone sea breakers, and sitting by desolate streams.
World losers and world forsakers, for whom the pale moon gleams.
Yet we are movers and the shakers of the world forever it seems."

- Arthur O'Shaunessey

_________________

CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): activa

cwsanfor · Post by **cwsanfor** » Sun Sep 10, 2006 7:22 am

Woo hoo: I had an AHI of 0.2, and that was only 1 hypopnea. This was at a slightly lower pressure than I've been using, and I feel more rested than I have in weeks. I believe I have found My Mask. My snore index was elevated the first part of the night, but after I routed the hose upwards, the SI went down.

I may be offering some bargains on two ComfortFull 2's (M and L), two Ultra Mirage FF's (M and L), a Breeze, a ComfortLite 2, and a slightly modified Hybrid here or on Yahoo shortly.

_________________

CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): breeze, mirage, hose, Hypopnea

cwsanfor · Post by **cwsanfor** » Wed Sep 20, 2006 5:01 am

My leak rate with the FlexiFit HC431 had been creeping up, as if the mask were leaking more as it got broken in. I tried Rested Gal's Mantyhose strap (which was pantyhose in a former life), looping it through the glider strap, but orienting it so it did not pull on the gliders, and my leak rate was way down last night (average = 46.26) . Worth another try.

RHinNC · Post by **RHinNC** » Wed Sep 20, 2006 7:26 am

The Lunesta (3mg) works as far a getting me to sleep in 15 minutes, however I am still waking up after 4-5 hours. As someone earlier pointed out perhaps that is all my body sees I need and I wake up.

I am full of energy until about 1:00PM and then the steam runs out, I get very sleepy and tired. I do not nap.

I had a full pulmonary function test this past Monday, was scheduled to have a CT Scan of my lungs and upper airways, and blood work but a little thing called a intestinal flu has a hold of me. Temperature of 102.5 for 24hours, now it is a little over 100 so it is getting better. My PCP said it was highly contagious and usually lasts 24-48 hours. Therefore all tests are off until this clears up.

Not giving up but am still waiting on the "euphoric" good nights rest.

FlexiFit™431 Full Face Mask

FlexiFit comments

First night with 431a

Nose Bridge Soreness

Re: Nose Bridge Soreness

HC431 and RG Mantyhose

Update