Fisher and Paykel Forma ... /sigh

[RomeinDNVR]

Good evening--

I just got this new mask from my DME Fisher and Paykel Forma FFM both in the medium and large sizes. The large is too big and the medium seems to be ok... but no mater what I do I can't keep it from leaking around my eyes. Any advice?

THanks,
Rome

[Pugsy]

What pressure?
Sorry I forgot.
Wonder if some hand made mask liners would help? Hand made or Padacheek or Remzzz seem to help a lot of folks.

[RomeinDNVR]

Pressure is 14. I should try a T-shirt liner.

[ZeeMan]

There are two things that sometimes cause leakage with my large Forma. Most often, the gray gasket isn't seated quite right. I can't always see where its misaligned, but I often cure that leak by removing the gasket and seal, and then re-seating them.

The other problem is not having the upper straps tight enough. If they are too tight, you'll have red rectangles on your forehead all morning. If they're too loose, you get leakage. There is a comfortable middle ground, and it gets easier to find it with practice. When the straps get old enough (mine must be 1.5 years old), they don't hold as well. Sometimes they come off in the night when I sleep on my side.

The best thing about the Forma is the shelf at the bottom that slides under your skin. It helps me keep my mouth closed when I sleep, and that reduces the dry mouth issues. If you don't have that shelf under your chin, you'd probably have some extra leakage somewhere. Be sure not to over-tighten the lower strap. If you set it too tight, you'll force your jaw inward which may add to the air flow problems that cause apena.

The other "best thing" is that the Forma holds up well. I've just replaced the gray gasket for the second time and the original straps are getting tired, but the rest of it is like new. A prior "big name brand" mask had broken plastic parts in less than a year. In contrast, I can travel with the Forma in my backpack and never worry that it might get crushed in the airline's overhead compartment or under a seat. I never worry that I'll need something repaired in some strange place that might not even have DMEs.

Are you using an APAP or a CPAP? I find that if I roll onto my back in my sleep, my APAP quickly goes to its max setting and the Forma starts whistling like a tea kettle. I just reset the APAP, change positions, and go back to sleep.

The Forma was the third mask I tried. It isn't perfect, but it is much better than the other two. I stay with it because if you've got something that's better than average and you make a switch, odds are greater than 50% that you'll end up with something worse.

Good luck with your treatment and your mask.

[RomeinDNVR]

Tried working with this mask for over 2 hours with the machine on. Liner, tightening, loosening and still leaked bad around my eyes. I decided to just try and sleep with it... finally switched masks at 3am and fell asleep. From the data this morning the leak index was crazy high and I had an AHI of over 5.

Zeeman--

Tried your advice, removed and replaced the cushion and seal multiple times, tightented/loosened the forehead straps. I don't know... I just can't stop the leaks next to my eyes, it is frusterating. I am on CPAP with a pressure of 14, is that a high pressure for that mask?

Fun stuff. =(

[Pugsy]

I am sorry but no ideas other than the liner thing as I have never used this type of mask.
14 cm of pressure is not too much though.
It is all about fit and the shape of your face.

[chunkyfrog]

I've been debating whether I want to try the Forma or the Flexi fit 432.
DH has a 431, but the small cushion with his is a bit too wide on me, as I have dieted off my 'chipmunk cheeks'.
I hear the fit in the padded versions is tighter--might be the ticket--hoping.
Is there a difference between F/P's other masks in fit, softness, anything besides the forehead pad?
Hope this isn't too bad a hijack. . .