Buy another HC 431A FF, or get an HC 432?

[Guest]

Hey guys. I use an F&P HC431(A) mask (w. medium cushion), and it works fine for me. Good seal, low leak numbers, comfortable, AHI ranges from about 2.1-3.2, all seems well.

However, it's getting old and I want to order another. Given that:

* I have no problems with the 431 and I KNOW it works for me.

* people have reported seal and comfort (nose bridge gouging) issues with the 432.

* With the 432 I'd have to make a nonrefundable $170 guess as to the right cushion size for me (candidates: medium, large), but no such risk with buying another 431 (proper size already known, and besides all three sizes are included with every 431).

...do you guys think I should just get another 431? I don't want to risk getting the wrong size 432, or experiencing some of the sealing and nose-bridge-gouging issues that others have reported with the 432 (I believe I heard the 432 is a bit smaller than the 431, etc.) when I *know* the 431 works perfectly fine for me.

Is the 432 headgear any better, or is it the same? One problem I have with the 431 headgear is that the Velcro stops working after awhile (particularly the bottom right fastener), and I must wrap the (closed) Velcro fastener with surgical tape to prevent middle-of-the-night Velcro failure (and awakening from the resulting rushing leak). However, this is very effective... the Velcro doesn't fail for about a month, and then you just change the tape and repeat. Not a huge deal.

Opinions anyone? I'm leaning toward another 431, and just not using the Velcro as much so it doesn't wear out (set it once, then use the quick-release only). The 431 I have now is my first CPAP mask ever, so I probably adjusted the Velcro fasteners WAY more often initially than I ever would on any headgear ever again.

Any reason to get the 432? I already have a good seal and pretty much total comfort. Only improvement the 432 could possibly bring aside from better Velcro is lower AHI numbers, but I doubt it would do that.

I'm liking a $110 sure thing over a $170-340 (depends if I choose size correctly) gamble that's risky in quite a few ways.

Opinions? Thanks!

[GoofyUT]

Sounds like you've already made your decision in favor of the 431, and I agree. Here's what I've learned from my own experiences: I basically started with the Mirage Swift, and strayed away a number of times looking for greater comfort or efficacy. But each time, I wind up going back to the Swift because I know that it works for me, and now, its like I have NO MASK ON; its that comfortable and effective. Plus, as I've gotten more and more used to it, my numbers have plummeted, and my AHIs now average 0.4. Each time I've tried a switch, I've wound up feeling optiomisitic at first, and then more and more tense and uncomfortable till I finally wound up returning to the Swift.

Sounds to me like, as is often true in life, if it ain't broke, don't fix it!!!

Cheers!

Chuck

[IORHHI]

I wear a small 431 FF and I bought the Small 432 because I really like the 431 except that it tends to leak around my eyes. Guess what. The 432 leaks around my eyes. And I found on first trial that where the 431 was on the loose end of fitting the 432 was probably too small. (I'm experimenting with it right now to see if there's a way to wear it where it still goes under my chin and doesn't press on my nose so that I can't breathe. )
My bedside table is covered in little bits of polar fleece and foam and tape.
It's such a comfortable mask-- Both the 432 and 431 are. The addition of the foam cushion makes a wider, firmer seal, and that makes it less inclined to leave lines on my face or press too hard anywhere. I like the seal, and the way the 432 feels. I'm trying to decide if I want to buy a medium cushion and go even deeper in the hole.
Incidentally my pressure is 15 cm. Everyone says, Oh, the masks are all rated to handle that, but every night when I put the ramp on, the masks seal like a charm at 6, at 8, at 10, and then someplace in there between 11 and 15, they start to develop a little hiss.
Waugh.
So basically, the 432 cushion adds a wider base of firm seal and reduces the aperture by about a quarter inch top and bottom. That's just enough to pinch my nose shut.
Barbara