FlexiFit 431 +chin strap

damac100 · Post by **damac100** » Fri Jan 13, 2006 2:51 pm

No, really! Honest!

I have the FlexiFit 431 ff mask as a starter. I've been rehabing my sinus' and am ready to try nasal pillows so I purchased a nose hole measurer to see what size pillows to get... and got a chin strap at the same time.

Now I've got the chin strap, and a ff mask... sooo me being me, I play with em to see what happens.

I have found that if you put the chin strap on over the FlexiFit 431 ff mask it will seal the lower half of that mask up tighter than a drum.

I had the chin strap just as loose as it would go, not tight enough to hold my mouth closed at all, but that extra bit of preasure along the outside of the mask gasket stopped all leaks from the lower half of the mask.

I could breath from mouth, nose or combination without having to work at holding my mouth open.

I could also wear the mask a little looser with less preasure on my cheek bones and the mask stayed stable and didnt shift around when I moved my head or snuggled my face into my pillow.

The chin strap I used was the nicer Resperonics one.

_________________

CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): seal, Nasal Pillows

kikisue · Post by **kikisue** » Fri Jan 13, 2006 3:12 pm

I do the SAME thing with my Ultra Mirage FF mask! The chinstrap didn't keep me from mouth breathing, but it's GREAT as an extra stability tool for the FF mask!

Way to go - these CPAP equipment manufacturers need to hire some of us to help them do product development

Happy Friday!
Karen

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Jan 16, 2006 11:09 am

When you say over the ff mask - do you mean you wrap it around, or do you mean you put it under your chin and fasten it at the top like when wearing a nasal mask? (I have one heck of a time with ff mask leaks!)

damac100 · Post by **damac100** » Mon Jan 16, 2006 6:01 pm

I put the chin strap on like normal.

The bottom part that goes under the chin I place so it's halfway on the mask and halfway on skin.

That way, all the pressure is on the full bottom half of the gasket forcing it to seal better.

When I do that I can repossition all the straps to a bit looser of a fit and still get much better seal.

I dont know how this would work with other types of ff mask tho, the FlexiFit 431 fits under the chin.

headstraps are cheap tho so its not a big bust of an expense if it doesnt work for you.

Bella · Post by **Bella** » Tue Jan 17, 2006 10:24 am

Thanks. I don't have the flexifit (though I'm very tempted), but maybe I could do it in a semi-gag like manner. My comfortfull (?) leaks badly at one spot on the lower right hand side. The noise drove me crazy so I got the Swift nasal pillows and a chin strap. And then got a bad cold shortly after and had to shift back to the ff mask. I tried padding the spot with a variety of products, using all sorts of tape, all to no avail. I ended up tightening the straps as tight as I could. That stopped the leak pretty much, but I sure had marks in the morning. I've only be bipaping for about 6 weeks and I'm reluctant to buy more masks yet.

Mask

Additional Comments: Breeze nasal pillows