Seeking purchase of F&P Forma or Hybrid from you..hopefully

[notyorz]

There is the Great Pillow Exchange, but is there a mask purchase thread? I could not find it before I posted this one. I am interested in buying either a Fisher & Paykel Forma Full Face mask or the Innomed/Respcare/? Hybrid. I need a size Medium in either style. Yes, I am aware of the online shops and our host site, but need to stay within a lower budget at this time.

I will sanitize anything before use. If you want to keep the headgear, that's cool - I can buy that online. My wish is to get a complete set, very gently used (if used at all) but any condition from good and above would be ok depending on price you would want. I, of course, would also pay shipping through whichever service is convenient for you as long as there is a tracking number.

My DME has a one time limit on mask exchanges (great policy, NOT). I tried on the Quattro and returned it. I have now a Liberty which is my only mask and would like to find a Forma or Hybrid as a back up mask. The DME is not willing to let me try any other masks until the 6 month mark (yes, I am actively seeking a new DME, but hands are tied with insurance and paying out of pocket is tough). It's very disappointing when you read stories of people being able to try as many as needed within their 1st 30 days to get the right one I don't have that option.

Perhaps you switched to nasal type. Maybe you bought it and it just doesn't work for you, but are not able to return it. Or, just maybe you have quite a few stocked up in your arsenal of masks and have a spare. If you do have one and would be interested in selling/donating it to me, please PM me. It would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

Marianne


*** I will be bumping this thread up from time to time, so please bear with me.

[avi123]

I had a lousy experience with Fisher & Paykel full face masks #431 and #432. The Forma is the same as #432 but has the added forehead support. These masks were leaking like crazy and I could not get good treatment. This is b/c the cushions in these masks don't use the double layers of Silicone for sealing. Technologically it's a big mistake.

Can you use a similar mask to my with a chinstrap (see below)?

[notyorz]

Hey there avi,

I admit I am more than a little nervous about using a chinstrap. I had a very bad injury to the underside of my neck about 10 years back. It has healed, but the way it happened still leaves me (perhaps psychologically) nervous about anything pressing on it. It's a big hurdle to jump and I'm not sure I could do it. All I can say is I am very glad v-neck shirts exist. I can't even stand anything with a collar...

I think I will do some behavioral cognitive therapy sessions with tying a loose strap of stretchy fabric in the same area a chin strap would sit and see, if over time, I could overcome the issue. If so, it would definitely open up a new world of masks. I've thought about this a lot since having to start CPAP therapy.

I tried the Forma on for a second at the DME's when she was out of the room. It fit much much better on my face than the Quattro ever did, but I did not get to secure the headgear or try with pressure. My DME is SO fired..

For some reason, I find the forehead piece comforting and IF it doesn't attack the nose bridge like the Quattro, I would have to consider it a success for my face type.

Since the Liberty fit good and I had no more exchange options left, I decided to keep the Liberty for the first go-'round. I *can* wait the 6 months and get one of the listed masks then, but figured anything is worth a shot to see if a member here had one they're not using.

Thank you for your suggestion, though. I appreciate your comments on the masks...

[Pugsy]

Are you tied into a full face mask type only or can you use a nasal pillow type of mask?

[notyorz]

Hi Pugsy!

I can handle the nasal pillows pretty well on the Liberty, so far. I tend to have a very sore nose every other morning from it, but by the time evening rolls around, I put some Lansinoh on and can get through another night. My only concern is developing a nose sore of some kind and it would become horrible to use it until it healed. Have you ever had one of those inner nose inflammations from an ingrown hair? (NOT that my nose is hairy LOL!!! I'm talking about those little fine hairs that get irritated. You get the idea...) I develop those little annoyances about 2-3 times a year. It must be from very narrow passages rubbing the fine hairs trying to push through and grow.

I think that's where the full face would offer a relief option and the Forma seemed to fit better than the Quattro did.

I have the Liberty and it is very similar to the Hybrid, but the Hybrid has some options that the Liberty just doesn't have (as in, all 3 sizes of cushions and pillows to find the right fit, where the Liberty only has a small or large cushion with 3 sizes of pillows. I've also heard that the Hybrid's pillows are height adjustable whereas the Liberty's are trampoline styled.) My DME will order the Hybrid if I want it, but they would offer no exchange on it if it does not work out. I thought if I could pick up one that someone else isn't using, I could see if it offered a better fit from what I have...

Too bad the mask trial ended at one of the supplier sites! It was a perfect concept for mask trials!

[Pugsy]

If you are a devout mouth breather (like with major nasal congestion or real need to breath through your mouth at night) then a nasal (cover your nose) or nasal pillow mask (like my Swift FX) are probably not something that you could use without the aid of either a chin strap (which you likely would have trouble wearing) or taping your mouth (which some people don't want to do) would likely be unacceptable choice for you.

I might have a used Swift FX laying around you could try...not sure how many I have now as I have already promised one to someone else but I mention this because sometimes on EBay you can find some really good deals or perhaps one of the other members might have a nasal interface mask they could part with. EBay doesn't allow sale of the entire mask but it does allow sale of all the replacement parts and sometimes you can "build your own" mask with replacement parts rather cheaply (if any of these masks are considered cheap which is an oxymoron I suppose).

You mention only a couple of specific full face masks and someone might have another model they could help you out with.
If we knew for sure that you might be able to try a nasal interface mask then it might open the doors a little more for your options.

[notyorz]

Pugsy,

Thank you and I sincerely appreciate your thoughts. I am going to try over the weekend and see if a chinstrap is something I can handle - it would definitely open up options for the long haul.

If not, and I have a feeling I won't be able to, I will have to wait that 6 month time 'til I'm due for a new choice and get my (insert any word of your choice) DME to spend the time to correctly measure and try on as many masks as I need to in their office - and for full face that shouldn't take an excessive amount of time.

Please hang on to the Swift, as I am sure there are people in desperate need who would love to be able to benefit from it. I can scrape $ together to order another mask online if I feel it is absolutely necessary, but just wanted to check here to see if by chance someone had one they aren't using at all.

Thanks for taking the time to read and respond

[Pugsy]

I have a metal plate in my neck so I understand about neck issues and straps and such.
Using a full face mask eliminates the need for the chin strap to keep your mouth closed.
If you can keep your mouth shut all by itself...opens up a whole new mask game.
What size nasal pillow are you using with the Liberty?

[avi123]

notyours, have you tried the Forma mask since you're determined to get it? Let me tell you how I have experimentd with about six different masks recently. I bought them with an option to return within 30 days from this outfit:

http://www.directhomemedical.com/index. ... 7QodY0Tg8A

The option cost me about $25 and returning the mask back to them cost $5 in the U. S. mail and $10 in UPS. The shipping from them was free. I did NOT like any of those masks. The only thing that I purchased from them was the Topaz Chinstrap for $20.

p.s. is the problem in your neck related to the spine? My 50 years old daughter in- law did not listen to me to avoid any surgery on her neck. Now she is on disability. Her first husband hit her on the neck and broke it. Yes, I am annoyed. My 50 years old daughter also had neck problems. But she avoided any surgery and doing now physical therapy successfully.

[notyorz]

Pugsy, I get where you're coming from (finally through my brain fog)... Yes, I am definitely an avid mouth breather even if I take away the other issues (of which I have many LOL)... If I can deal with the chinstrap I will switch from a full face mask, but it will take a while to get there.

I'm using a small Liberty with medium nasal pillows. They seem to hold a seal great until the last hour of sleep, but probably due to me mushing my head in the pillow - I'm a 100% side sleeper.

avi - I will check out your link for sure. I was just hoping to save a little and see if someone here had one lying around.

I do have spinal issues, but not from the neck. My spinal issues are further on down (L4 & L5, stage 2/borderline stage 3 spondylolisthesis, degenerative disk disease). The neck thing was a severe flesh wound that happened on the side of my neck, and has since healed physically, but not emotionally.

Thank you both for trying to help me through this!

[TimWK]

I have a F&P HC432AM mask that I used for 1 night. Would be willing to give to you if you pay the shipping through PayPal.

Best Regard

[rosacer]

notyorz

The only way to know if a mask is good for you is to try it. There is people that love Quattro and others that hate it and same thing for all the mask over there.

I have tried 8 different full face masks, and the Forma Full seems to be the best for my face, then the Ultra Mirage and the Quattro FX. The Quattro, Comfort Gel blue FFM, ComfortFull 2, Mirage Libety FFM, Zzz Mask are useless for me although it doesn't seems that those mask are bad they are simply not for my face.

I know it can take long time to find the good mask if we need to pay from our pocket but it is possible to find good deals on internet and you can even resell the masks for at least a portion of the price if they are in good and clean condition as it happens when all what you did is to use it once or two times to see it's not for you. Only an idea.

[notyorz]

Thank you Tim, I've sent you a PM.

rosacer, I've searched the web all over looking, that's why I posted here. I know there are many who get masks that they can't use or have a bunch in their mask arsenal and I was taking a chance that someone here would have one of the two I think would work best. In my searches online, I even tried to "piece" a mask together, but would cost as much as brand new. Ebay has some parts, but with all the shipping charges, it gets expensive. I tried the site where you bought yours, but no luck. Craigslist in a 100 mile search from me doesn't bring anything up, just machines. I thought I'd just try my luck here and find one, or I can wait the 6 months and hope my nose can hold up to the one I have and not get an intense sore. So far, whatever soreness I have goes away by mid-day, but that might change and it would be nice to have one I can switch over to. I hate that I am already susceptible to ingrown inflammations and with the change of using a mask, I know it's only a matter of time before one hits.

I did get to try the Forma on for about 10 seconds at the DME, without pressure since the DME wouldn't turn the machine on (she very sternly said I had already done my 1 exchange and could not do another). It fit better in that 10 seconds than the Quattro did, so I think most definitely it will work. My major problem right now is I have a DME who is unwilling to let me even try masks on with pressure at their office, never mind taking one home on trial. Money's been very tight (hubby's been out of work for 3 years, just started new job last week) and I don't have the funds to lay out for brand new and the return insurance, otherwise, I would have gone that route.

Just a side note: I will not resale anything to make a profit - If I buy one cheep, then I will just post it here for someone else if they need it. If someone gives me one and it doesn't work for me, at their request I would sanitize and send it back if they choose to want it back or I'll post it here to pass on to another who may be seeking one. It's not for me to make a profit off of someone's generosity.

[Pugsy]

If you want to try some sort of chin strap in some fashion then you might consider just a really minor chin strap to see if there is any chance you will tolerate it. Don't spend a lot of money on a fancy one. Instead get a woman's stretch headband or what I call a sports sweat band (worn around the forehead usually) and just see if things are even remotely comfortable enough.

If you are a dedicated mouth breather for sure then a mask like I use isn't what you need at this time.
Watch the forum for masks that someone may be willing to part with. Bump your post here to the front page every now and then to get it front of people again. Never know but someone may not visit the forum daily and next week someone might have a mask you are wanting. Only way for people to know about your request is to keep it sort of in front of them.
Just because no one has a Hybrid now doesn't mean there might not be someone 2 weeks from now who decides to give up on it.

We used to have the cpapauction where members could sell their gently used masks. I used it often when I first started therapy to be able to experiment without breaking the bank. We no longer have that option though.
Should you get to a position so that you have the mouth breathing issues fairly well controlled then send me a note and I will see if I have an extra Swift FX you can try.

[notyorz]

Very cool Pugsy and thank you!

I cut the leg off a pair of tights and made a 3" circle from the upper thigh. I'll try that today and see if that is tolerable. I really do one day hope to get away from ffm's, but it's all so new to me and the adjustments. My husband is like "you already have so many adjustments to make, try it as time goes by but don't rock the boat with too many changes at once". He's right, so I'll take it slow in trying to adjust to something that can be used as a chinstrap.

I think there has been a Forma found, so as soon as I know for sure I will update this thread. Thank you to all who have responded!