F&P 431 FF mask Question

Deadmanwalking · Post by **Deadmanwalking** » Thu Jan 04, 2007 7:46 pm

Hi, I have the F&P 431 FF Mask. A very strange thing is happening I can't figure out. maybe some one has experienced this.
Mostly I use the medium size face adapter, after a couple of days it leaks like crazy, then I switch to the large one, a few days later it leaks like crazy, then i go back to the medium, etc. etc.
What's going on here? is my face changing sizes??.
What do you guys think? Thanks DMW

AeroScout · Post by **AeroScout** » Thu Jan 04, 2007 9:39 pm

HMMMM Sounds like the natural set of the moulding may be collapsing under the combination of your body heat and the compression of the headgear...After you remove it the silicones memory takes over and it returns to close to its original shape then does it all over again. That is the first thing that popped into my head anyway.

Scout

OwlCreekObserver · Post by **OwlCreekObserver** » Fri Jan 05, 2007 4:54 am

This "good night -- bad night" thing has happened with every mask I've ever tried. One night I'll have a great fit, few leaks, excellent numbers and a good night's sleep. The next night nothing works -- same mask, same adjustments, same pressure, etc.

I think it has less to do with the mask than with other factors, such as room temperature, humidity, skin oils, slight weight fluctuations, etc.

Tonight, using my F&P 432, I gave up after about four hours of constant leaks and a really painful nose. The previous time I used it. things went much better.

OCO

bdp522 · Post by **bdp522** » Fri Jan 05, 2007 5:51 am

Are you cleaning your mask daily? Do you give your mask a 1:3 vinegar and water soak weekly? Do you wash your face right before going to bed?

Brenda

snorestats · Post by **snorestats** » Fri Jan 05, 2007 8:00 am

DMW,

Wow, I had the EXACT same thing happened to me, but no more.

I now wipe the seal daily. Even just water and a small towel works good, although I recently ordered some Benzalkonium antiseptic wipes from ebay:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 0056041900

Shaving at night and/or washing face well before going to bed can only help also.

BTW... I also keep the upper straps as loose as possible and tighten the bottom first. Makes the mask most comfortable. Also, make sure that then you put on the mask, make sure the the seal around the nose bridge does not fold... otherwise, discomfort.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Jan 05, 2007 10:50 am

Agreed about shaving at night, right before bed. My F&P HC431 seals wonderfully after a good shave. Grabs on and won't let go all night.

It also works fairly well with mild to moderate stubble too (anything more and my chin slips out), but a clean-shaven face is absolutely excellent.

snoozeandlose · Post by **snoozeandlose** » Fri Jan 05, 2007 10:12 pm

When I tried my FP FF mask during my sleep study they put me in a large and said it was leakfree. At home the large leaked like crazy and so did the medium. I finally tried the small and it was sooo much better, but I did have a terrible time getting the straps adjusted--almost a week. Then I gave up and went back to mouth taping with my nasal mask. I have started using the FF mask again and have had better luck and am sleeping the best I have in a couple years. So go figure. You have to be so motivated to use a cpap. No wonder so many people give up.

musiccomposer1968 · Post by **musiccomposer1968** » Sat Mar 17, 2007 1:51 am

I had a similar problem with the 431 in the beginning. No matter how much I tried to tighten the straps, air would leak into my eyes... finally I found a solution: When I pushed with my finger lightly on the outside of the silicone piece, the leaks stopped, so I figured I could try some minor mod to tighten these spots. I found some rubber pieces in my junk drawer that looked promising and started to cut them to the right size and jammed them lightly between the outer plastic and the silicone part of the mask right where the leaks happened. Tried it on and the leaks were totally gone... now I don't even have to tighten the straps that much anymore and it's actually quite comfortable... here's some pics:

dudley_doright · Post by **dudley_doright** » Sat Mar 17, 2007 5:51 am

How do you prevent the red mark on the bridge of the nose?

snoozeandlose · Post by **snoozeandlose** » Sat Mar 17, 2007 9:56 am

Your rubber pads are the same principle as the insert the newer model uses except it fits inside the entire gasket. It makes it too stiff for me, so maybe I will try your method one of these days. Thanks

bookwrm63 · Post by **bookwrm63** » Sat Mar 17, 2007 8:33 pm

Music,

That's exactly where mine leaks all the time. I wake up with puffy eye lids almost daily! What were those rubber pieces from? I'm wondering if I have something like that here..hmmm...might be worth a try.

Mary

dataq1 · Post by **dataq1** » Sat Mar 17, 2007 8:41 pm

I found that I had to cut my fp431 to get a good seal and not cut into my face. I shaved the hard shell in just about the area that you added the rubber "stiffeners"
Cheers,

musiccomposer1968 · Post by **musiccomposer1968** » Sun Mar 18, 2007 4:24 am

bookwrm63: Those were replacement rubber / silicone feet from an older Sony external CD-Burner... the nice thing is that they are soft and easy to cut and have a good shape to start out with. Unfortunately I don't think they are sold anymore. Here's a picture of the drive:

http://www.amazon.com/Sony-Spressa-6x4x ... B00004XOYV

Mask

Additional Comments: I love my ComfortSleeve and my Pad-A-Cheeks! See www.ComfortSleeve.com and www.padacheek.com

Humidifier

F&P 431 FF mask Question

F&P 431 FF mask Question

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Good post.