New Mask for me: F & P HC 481 Infinity, My thoughts.

azaloune · Post by **azaloune** » Sat Jun 30, 2007 4:19 pm

I got a new mask yesterday. The Fisher & Paykel HC 481 Infinity.

I could not wait to try it last night. My first night impression is, I LOVE IT! It is small, lightweight, not much to the headgear and comfortable for a claustrophobe. The exhaust is the tiny diffusion holes, that really do work. It is quieter than my Vista! which was very surprising for it's size.
I checked the machine for the numbers this morning, 9 hours, AHI 1.4 and NO LEAK!!!!

I am eligible for a new mask every 3 months, but I bought this one on my own. I don't like advertising for a competitor, but, http://www.youneedsleep.com is having a sale. I bought this mask for $45 and free shipping. Since My Husband will be on CPAP soon, I bought 2. What can I say, they were on sale. The service was perfect, the the shipment was on time, and the mask was sealed. It came with all the sizes so, there was no guessing. Just try on and go.

This mask has 2 types of headgear, mine came with the black normal headgear. My RT said she will give me the other headgear to try (even though I didn't buy the mask from her; HOW COOL IS THAT?). She calls it a spaghetti string. I will get that on Monday.

Since I bought this on my own, it will not count against me and I can get a more expensive mask and the insurance will pay 80%. I will use that for a new Full Face of some kind, (I think I am about to be a guinea pig for The Liberty) since I am still looking for a good full face for allergy nights. The rain is creating mold faster than I can keep up with meds, this search needs to have a positive result soon. My allergies and spacial issues makes this search difficult.

It is supposed to rain another week here, Oklahoma is a swamp. We have a little sun today, but, it is supposed to start raining again before dark. I have 1 very important question: "Just who will be paying for the GIANT PROZAC this state will need if this rain doesn't stop soon?"

Just wondering,
Azaloune
(Big Girl Panties are on and Hitched up, ready for anything)

jennmary · Post by **jennmary** » Sat Jun 30, 2007 5:53 pm

lol....You crack me up.

BrianRT · Post by **BrianRT** » Sat Jun 30, 2007 7:18 pm

The Infinity with the spaghetti sting is VERY lightweight. So much so that you have to watch the hose as it can pull the mask out of the nostrils some.

I'm thinking they are so cheap because they are being phased out for the FP Opus. So I've heard.

azaloune · Post by **azaloune** » Sun Jul 01, 2007 1:24 pm

Night 2: I am still impressed. I have figured out the tilt of this mask going over my upper lip is not as comfortable as I would like. I think I have that figured out though.

I got some cotton rounds and some cosmetic wedges. I laid down withe the mask on and CPAP and played with the items I had until I found something that feels comfortable. I needed just a cotton round, folded in half, to 'pad' my upper lip under the mask.

Then, I made a round piece out of fleece (softer than the cotton for long term (overnight) use) for me to use tonight.

The fact that I have been able to sleep as well as I have ever done, with this mask the first 2 nights is very incredible to me.

My RT has said she has great success with this mask and the lighter spaghetti string "headgear". Especially with older women that get their hair done "once a week" at the "beauty parlor". It doesn't mess up their hair like all the others. She has indicated, she sets up more patients with this mask than any other.

Her information is, this mask is not going to be discontinued anytime soon. And if it is, they keep a very large stock of these, since they have a large number of patients that like it.

jabberwock · Post by **jabberwock** » Sun Jul 01, 2007 1:41 pm

Glad you found something you really like azaloune!

I'm curious... I am a stomach sleeper and tend to toss and turn a fair bit. Do you think this mask would be stable enough for that? And I normally route a hose over my head because of the stomach sleeping (don't want to lie on the hose). Can you do that with this mask?

Thanks.

Bonnie

azaloune · Post by **azaloune** » Sun Jul 01, 2007 3:48 pm

I think so Bonnie.

The mask has a ball joint built in just below the vent. I can move my hose any direction from the mask. I'm a side-sleeper/toss-n-turn'er. It seems to move with me in every position.

wkosturko · Post by **wkosturko** » Sun Jul 01, 2007 4:50 pm

It sounds like people just like to collect masks around here!!! I feel kinda sad owning just one!!!

Sergey45 · Post by **Sergey45** » Sun Jul 01, 2007 5:26 pm

I think you are kinda lucky having just one. Because I am still in search for that ONE.
Sergey.

wkosturko · Post by **wkosturko** » Sun Jul 01, 2007 5:35 pm

Hope I was not out of line! Just seems like there are a thousand different masks out there. I am lucky so far, have not been doing cpap very long. i guess I'm in the minority. I love my machine, mask is great, and therapy is going great. I just wish it was this easy for everyone!!!

azaloune · Post by **azaloune** » Sun Jul 01, 2007 5:56 pm

Not out of line at all, in My Opinion, Just very lucky.

wkosturko · Post by **wkosturko** » Sun Jul 01, 2007 6:04 pm

I thought maybe I said something wrong which was not my intention!!! everybody in this forum has been such a great support group with a wealth of knowledge

gasp · Post by **gasp** » Fri Jul 06, 2007 10:44 am

azaloune wrote:I got a new mask yesterday. The Fisher & Paykel HC 481 Infinity.

I could not wait to try it last night. My first night impression is, I LOVE IT! It is small, lightweight, not much to the headgear and comfortable for a claustrophobe. The exhaust is the tiny diffusion holes, that really do work. It is quieter than my Vista! which was very surprising for it's size.
I checked the machine for the numbers this morning, 9 hours, AHI 1.4 and NO LEAK!!!!

I am eligible for a new mask every 3 months, but I bought this one on my own. I don't like advertising for a competitor, but, http://www.youneedsleep.com is having a sale. I bought this mask for $45 and free shipping. Since My Husband will be on CPAP soon, I bought 2. What can I say, they were on sale. The service was perfect, the the shipment was on time, and the mask was sealed. It came with all the sizes so, there was no guessing. Just try on and go.

This mask has 2 types of headgear, mine came with the black normal headgear. My RT said she will give me the other headgear to try (even though I didn't buy the mask from her; HOW COOL IS THAT?). She calls it a spaghetti string. I will get that on Monday. . . .

I just went to the site and bought one. I actually found it for less than half that price at shop.com but decided not to buy it there because the site has so many bad reviews. The http://www.youneedsleep.com site answered on first call, actually called me back, and honored the $45 price versus the $49 that is now posted on their site.

I decided to buy it anyway as it comes with all the nasal sizes so I should have a fit. I had to pick between the black headgear and spaghetti strap. I chose the headgear thinking I could make my own spaghetti strap. Thanks for posting!

I live in a very humid climate and you live in a "swamp." Perhaps you too have to use a hose cover. How does the hose hanging off the end of the mask feel (versus going up over head)? Heavy? Cumbersome - gets caught on covers etc?

Panhandler · Post by **Panhandler** » Fri Jul 06, 2007 11:08 am

I've been using the Infinity for about 4 months, now, and have only noticed a few problems which are easily remedied. First, the very fine vent holes trapped condensation and whistled as I breathed. The fix was to turn down the humidifier, which I'd had on 4 with my FF mask. If it gets bad, I just pull off the silicone piece and wipe out the chamber with my teeshirt.

I started with the medium prongs, as they were easy to "install", but if the hose pulled, they'd slip. I went to the large prongs with a little KY jelly or water to ease the installation and the whole thing has been much more stable. I typically stuff the silicone piece in my nose and assemble the rest of the mask to it when I put the headgear on.

I wish the ball joint had been made a little different (rotated 45 degrees forward instead of straight down and a 90 on the hose) but it works pretty well. I'm a side sleeper and route the hose upward, toward the head of the bed. If I scrunch the pillow up, I can even sleep on my stomach. I want to try a different pillow, when I get around to it.

I want to try the NaselAire II, but the Infinity is good. I think hooking a flexible interface to the most flexible part of my face is a pretty good idea!

tater pie · Post by **tater pie** » Fri Jul 06, 2007 5:47 pm

I was wondering if this mask would work for side sleepers. I can't really tell by the picture on the webisite although the guy is sleeping on his side. Would the hose pull the things that go up your nose over to one side and cause leaks? Are any of you guys that tried it side sleepers?

Panhandler · Post by **Panhandler** » Fri Jul 06, 2007 6:06 pm

I'm a side sleeper, and the hose and the friction of the headgear against the pillow both have some impact on the alignment, but no worse than the FF mask I had been using. If I roll from one side to the other, I generally have to wake up enough to reorient the hose anyway. Maybe I need to try a better hose management system, like some I've seen on this board.

I haven't tried the microgear yet. Just ordered it. I'll be interested to see if the misalignment gets better or worse.

When I went to the large prongs, the leaks stopped, and I can tolerate a fair amount of distortion of my nose (though I wonder what I'll look like in a few years).

New Mask for me: F & P HC 481 Infinity, My thoughts.

New Mask for me: F & P HC 481 Infinity, My thoughts.

2nd night HC 481 Infinity

Re: New Mask for me: F & P HC 481 Infinity, My thoughts.

Mask	Humidifier

Additional Comments: Pursleep, Padacheek, Regenesis™ Pillow, Neti Pot, Travel Buddy hose hanger