Anyone switch from F& HC 431 or 432 to the F&P Forma Fit FF?

[rise&shiner]

Just got the hc 431 and the hard plastic is putting a lot of pressure on my nose and causing me severe sinus problem. I like the F&P glider system and am thinking that maybe the Forma Fit with the nose T might be better. Interested to know if others have gone this route. I have gone through 5 masks in 3 weeks, just want to find something that will work.

[cinco777]

Here is what worked for me re my F&P 431. I have been using the 431 for more than 5 months with great success. Initially, I had air leaks into my eyes after getting into bed and it took me 5 minutes or so to stop them. Now, on laying down to sleep, if I detect any leaks, I can move the mask a few times and, in less than a minute, the leaks are gone. I now own a Forma (acquired from CPAPAuction) but like the 431 as I prefer the single forehead support of the 431.

Following is from one of my postings 4+ months ago in response to another member having difficulty in adjusting her 431 for both leak control and comfort:

I have a F&P Flexifit FF Mask 431 and also a 432. I bought the 432 with the foam cushion a few weeks ago and wore it a few nights in a row. The foam cushion made the mask "warmer" and my cheeks and chin were moist in the morning leading to more leaks and a drippy face. I am back to wearing my 431 until the weather cools down (usually November here in the Bay Area). I seem to be avoiding the red spot that you described. I have arranged the headgear so that the forehead pressure part of the mask is pulled upward and with a lesser amount of inward pressure against the bridge of my nose. From the top, it must look like I am wearing a hat with a 3" x 3 1/2" oval opening (I just measured the opening so I could put the measurements in this response). I tighten my bottom straps snugly but the forehead pressure straps are not as tight (mainly because they are pulling up and not in). I sometimes tighten the forehead straps if I feel air leaking into my eyes. Before tightening the forehead straps, I will pull the mask down just a little so that it is not as tight fitting under my chin. The mask moves just a little downward on the bridge of my nose but this is often enough to stop the air leaking into my eyes. I wash my silicon seal (and often the plastic mask part) each morning and let it air dry as I have discovered that w/o a thorough washing (I use baby shampoo) it takes me longer to stop my mask leaks and, especially, any air leaking into my eyes.

When I first received my 431 mask, I spent about an hour one afternoon (a non-stressful time), hooked up to my CPAP, trying out different headgear and tightness arrangements. I finally settled on the one described above as it worked best for me. YMMV.

[rise&shiner]

It is worth trying the forma fit mask!!!! The Hc 431 & 432 didn;t fit my nose. I guess my nose is too high and the masks felt like a plastic brick and created sinus pressure. Also the size large was too big and the medium too small so I had tighten the straps so tight on the large that I looked like a chipmunk with cheeks full of walnuts.

There is enough of a design difference on the forma fit that makes this mask work for me. The nose area has been built up so now my nose is not bumping up against the mask so no brick feeling, The padding on the mask is very nice and much better for me than just have the silicone up against my skin, and is more comfortable than the pad on the 432. Air is not blowing on my husband either with this mask. The glider is also a little bit diffferent so I get a different fit so my cheeks are not blowing up with walnut air.
Also I amnot getting the air leaks into my eyes but do wish they they made the area around the eyes a little lower so that it isn't up against my sensisitve lower wye area.

So sometimes you even little changeas in a mask can make a huge difference in how it fits. So if you tried the 431 or 432 and it just missed the mark , it might be worthwhile trying the new forma fit.

I am actually looking forward to going to sleep tonight.

[John From RI]

The Forma is a completely different fit from the 432. I like it better. You should try it.

[rise&shiner]

The Form by far has been the best fit and dth emost comforable out of all the masks I have tried and it does fit differently than the 431 or 432 especially in the nose bridge area.

What I have discovered though after 3/5 weeks of usage is that the cushy pad is starting to breakdown I have a tear in the nose part, and in the headgear it is tretched out of shape and the velcro is not a tacky as it once was. So I can see having to replace these 2 parrs more often then the suggested 3 month intervals. Small price to pay for a mask that is working for me. Although I would like to find a mask that I culd use to rotate it with and I am thinking about trying the HAns Rudolph V2 mask.