Possible fix for FP 432 FFM nose issues & foreheadSplint

[kreesti]

I have had the FFP 432 (size Large, generally wear a medium in FFMs) since early December. The great news was that I had NO leaks - AMAZING for me!!! Like others, I noticed after about two nights that I had a sore directly across the bridge of my rather pug-ish nose, midway between the tip and the top of the nose.

After much evaluation and consternation, I have decided that the culprit is not the foam or the silicone of the mask itself, but the inside edge of the track that holds the silicone seal (looking at the mask from the inside, while holding the valve in your hand, that piece of just deep enough to hold the silicone, and goes straight across the mask, i.e. it doesn't follow the curve of the nose one bit!).

I have a VERY flat face, and I was advised by my DME provider that the top strap does not have to be tight at all, so I had it so loose that it was not doing much at all.

Incidently, I don't feel this "bump" when I put the mask on, no matter how hard I press it onto my face!!! But, I am a side sleeper, with firm support pillows, and I think the pressure of the pillow pushes the mask into my face as I roll onto my side.

I used some Bandaid "advanced" bandages so that I could evaluate the remedies I was trying (different pillow, foam padding inside the mask, etc.)...every morning I awoke with some sort of dent in the bandage.

SOLUTION:

Yesterday I folded 4x4 gauze sponges in half (individually) and stacked them on top of one another with the goal of stabilizing the upper part of the mask so that it could not "reach" my nose when I am lying on my side. I wound up with 7 sponges stacked up with one wrapped around it, nearly an inch thick in use. (I used Medline AVANT gauze sponges (rayon polyester) if that makes any difference to anyone... I am a nurse and have things like this just lying around the house after random trips to cool pharmacies!)

I then took the bundle and set it under the forehead pad horizontally, so that it was held in place by the forehead straps and pad, adjusted the rear head straps. In total, I don't think there was ANY difference in the fit of the upper velcro straps around my head (no tighter, no looser, since they were already so loose anyway).

When I awoke this morning, I had no new bump on my bandage, and I believe the pad stayed in place all night. (I forgot to check before I took off the mask, but velcro attachment from the strap to the sponges is always a possibility). Likely only adjustment I will make is to fold the pads in thirds, as I like to read at night with my mask on and the 4xi2 gauze was annoyingly present in my visual field.

Once I get the right size and shape, I will probably baste the layers together (without compressing them) and devise some sort of cover I can use to keep the system relatively clean.

The best news of all is that I think this will solve the minor leak issues I have had, which I think were caused by my trying to loosen the bottom straps in order to relieve pressure on my nose.

Design problems for F&P-

1) flat inside piece that does not conform to anatomy of nose

2) non-adjustable forehead splint that "rumor has it" is largely unnecessary... that is true ONLY if you sleep on your back... if you sleep on your side, you need some forehead stability or the mask can slide side to side on the face, even with the "glider straps"

[Snoozy Q]

I wonder if this will work for FP Flexifit nasal masks as well. I use a flexifit 406 (used to use a 407) and have issues with red marks & bumps on the bridge of my nose from time to time. I think I'll check it out.

Thanks for the tip.