FlexiFit HC431 or HC432

[Pugsy]

So why have posted OMG and those silly faces?

Because I felt like it....simple as that.

Yes, even one night out of a 56 nights period with a Max Leak = 1.2, like in the following night, should effect a long term Stats period away from all zeros

No, not necessarily.
I think that ResMed rounds down instead of up. It all goes back to the law of numbers. When the pool to draw an average from is large it takes a substantial number to make a difference in the average of those numbers.
I also think that the time spent at whatever leak will also affect the median number.

I have lots of ResScan reports showing median 0.0 but with leaks being reported in both the 95% and maximum.
Here's the summary from Feb 1 to May 8 of this year. The nights not used what when I was using a different machine...
In fact I just ran the summary from May 1, 2012 through May 1, 2013 and the median leak number is 0.0 for it also.



I think the leak has to be really big for a prolonged period of time for it to affect the median number.
See this summary April 5, 2012...that was a big leak night because it was the first night with the Bella Loops.


And I just ran the summary for April 1, 2012 through April 30, 2012...which would include that one really bad leak night and the median for that time frame is again 0.0.



I have to shorten the time frame to 7 nights (April 1 to the 7) to get anything show up on the median leak..and I get 1.2 for an median average of those nights.

[VikingGnome]

I tried the FORMA and hated it. None of the so-called "high tech" FF masks fit my face. Only a few are available in PETITE or EXTRA SMALL and even those weren't small enough. I had a lot of success with the Hans Rudolph earlier in the year. But now I'm totally given up on it. They just don't make a FF mask that fits me. I need one that is 3.5" from bridge to chin or 3.0" from bridge to under lower lip. Such masks don't exist.

On August 14 I had all ZEROS under events. One would think that is fantastic.

Leak Median = 6.0
95 percentile = 37.2
Max percentile = 157.2 but that is meaningless since I use Auto start and stop so flow is wide open when I take off mask until it shuts off in 5-10 seconds

The real story is in the LEAK graph. Look how ugly that night was.



If I had a stupid brick machine I'd think I was doing great in my therapy and so would my sleep doctor. I think CPAPs without data should NOT be sold. The difference between a ResMed Escape and ResMed Elite is only $50.

[squid13]

I know some people just hate the Forma but for me it's a perfect fit, so I guess I'm lucky to have found a mask that works. I still like trying other mask just to see if they'll work on me so I can put it in my memory file.

[VikingGnome]

I won't be buying either FlexiFit. The Small is way too big. Until a company comes up with an adjustable mask (both height and width), I will always have trouble finding a mask that fits me.

I'm back to using my Activa LT with RUBY chinstrap and mouth tape. But even the Activa LT small is too big. I just let the lower part of the mask rest over my mouth tape over my mouth instead of under my nose above my upper lip. Isn't too horrible but certainly not ideal. Even using 3m Transpore tape which is very hard to get off, I tend to droll out my taped mouth. The tape gets wet and eventually I wake up with leaking out my mouth around the tape (after 4 hours sleep). I have to get up, take of all the stuff and retape and put the Mask and Ruby back on.

Oh, if only I could use nasal pillows. That's not an option for me. I have a severely deviated septum and my pressure is 24/20, too high for my small nose.

[Pugsy]

Oh, if only I could use nasal pillows. That's not an option for me. I have a severely deviated septum and my pressure is 24/20, too high for my small nose.

Have you ever tried a nasal pillow mask? We have people using pressures in the 20s wearing them and having awesome good results.
I ofter see my IPAP hit 20 and that makes my EPAP 16 and I do well with them.

Is it the deviated septum so bad that you can't even breathe through your nose? Perrybucksdad (forum member) thought he couldn't use nasal pillows due to high pressure and his crooked septum but he found out that he would use them quite well and actually he was able to lower his pressure just a little over what he needed with full face mask.

[VikingGnome]

Oh, if only I could use nasal pillows. That's not an option for me. I have a severely deviated septum and my pressure is 24/20, too high for my small nose.

Have you ever tried a nasal pillow mask? We have people using pressures in the 20s wearing them and having awesome good results.
I ofter see my IPAP hit 20 and that makes my EPAP 16 and I do well with them.

Is it the deviated septum so bad that you can't even breathe through your nose? Perrybucksdad (forum member) thought he couldn't use nasal pillows due to high pressure and his crooked septum but he found out that he would use them quite well and actually he was able to lower his pressure just a little over what he needed with full face mask.

Yes, my left nostril is totally occluded. I think that is why I mouth breathe because I can't get enough air through one nostril. I would actually need a hybrid mask if I was to try at all.

I broke my nose when I was 14 which caused the problem. Medicare doesn't want to pay for me to have a septoplasty. I used to have chronic sinusitis because hard to drain sinuses. I'm now on steroid nasal inhaler to keep that at bay.

I was just looking at the ResMed Air for Her mask. The "extra small" dimensions look like it might fit me. Certainly worth a try. I did so well when the Hans Rudolph worked for me.

[Madalot]

I know some people just hate the Forma but for me it's a perfect fit, so I guess I'm lucky to have found a mask that works. I still like trying other mask just to see if they'll work on me so I can put it in my memory file.

Like you, I have found the 431 to be PERFECT for me, having used it consistently since the end of 2009. I know many people hate it, but it has been a blessing for me (and my husband as he uses it as well).

The so-called better masks, with superior technology, leak like crazy for me. I've used both Respironics & Resmed and thank my lucky stars F&P has the 431. If not, I'd be screwed.

[chunkyfrog]

I wonder if anyone has hacked a nasal mask for full face use by installing an anti-asphyxia valve,
or at least the elbow off a full face mask with the valve in it. (What do they do if a child has apnea?)
I was tempted to cut the hole out a little on a Sleepweaver Advance, but it is not that long on me.
As for the valve, I could probably Dremel and super glue something off an old FF mask.
(More disjointed frog thought)

[avi123]

I won't be buying either FlexiFit. The Small is way too big. Until a company comes up with an adjustable mask (both height and width), I will always have trouble finding a mask that fits me.

I'm back to using my Activa LT with RUBY chinstrap and mouth tape. But even the Activa LT small is too big. I just let the lower part of the mask rest over my mouth tape over my mouth instead of under my nose above my upper lip. Isn't too horrible but certainly not ideal. Even using 3m Transpore tape which is very hard to get off, I tend to droll out my taped mouth. The tape gets wet and eventually I wake up with leaking out my mouth around the tape (after 4 hours sleep). I have to get up, take of all the stuff and retape and put the Mask and Ruby back on.

Oh, if only I could use nasal pillows. That's not an option for me. I have a severely deviated septum and my pressure is 24/20, too high for my small nose.

Question,

If you use the Activa mask plus the Ruby chinstrap why do you need to tape your mouth in addition?

[avi123]

I wonder if anyone has hacked a nasal mask for full face use by installing an anti-asphyxia valve,
or at least the elbow off a full face mask with the valve in it. (What do they do if a child has apnea?)
I was tempted to cut the hole out a little on a Sleepweaver Advance, but it is not that long on me.
As for the valve, I could probably Dremel and super glue something off an old FF mask.
(More disjointed frog thought)

Comment,

I agree with you that all nasal masks should have antiasphyxia valves same as FF masks do. If VikingGnome, while using her Activa mask plus the Ruby chinstrap plus taping the mouth runs into a power stoppage then she will be rebreathing. There are valves to buy that go over the inlet to the Activa (and the Resmed Mirage SoftGel) masks.


http://compare.ebay.com/like/1510980376 ... s&var=sbar



Also here:

http://www.directhomemedical.com/400HC2 ... iC5SibD8l0

[avi123]

Yes, my left nostril is totally occluded. I think that is why I mouth breathe because I can't get enough air through one nostril. I would actually need a hybrid mask if I was to try at all.

I broke my nose when I was 14 which caused the problem. Medicare doesn't want to pay for me to have a septoplasty. I used to have chronic sinusitis because hard to drain sinuses. I'm now on steroid nasal inhaler to keep that at bay.

I was just looking at the ResMed Air for Her mask. The "extra small" dimensions look like it might fit me. Certainly worth a try. I did so well when the Hans Rudolph worked for me.


Question,

Have you tried the HC 452 Oracle mask from F & P?



http://www.directhomemedical.com/hc452- ... iCyPSbD8l0

Instead of blocking the nostrils with the provided inserts you could just leave the unblocked nostril as is and use the Oracle at the same time.

The only issue would be to get used to the mouthpiece which sits between the teeth and inside the lips.

[chunkyfrog]

When I tape, I use a single vertical strip, which allows breathing out of the corners of my mouth.
With Poli-grip strips, a half inch remains in the center; and with a home-made chin-up, I can almost whistle.
My mouth finally "learned" to stay shut enough to keep the numbers decent, so I don't do that any longer.

[VikingGnome]

Question,

Have you tried the HC 452 Oracle mask from F & P?



http://www.directhomemedical.com/hc452- ... iCyPSbD8l0

Instead of blocking the nostrils with the provided inserts you could just leave the unblocked nostril as is and use the Oracle at the same time.

The only issue would be to get used to the mouthpiece which sits between the teeth and inside the lips.

The Oracle is NOT RECOMMENDED for people with high pressures. The air entering the mouth will be too dry and can't get humidity high enough to be comfortable.

[VikingGnome]

Question,

If you use the Activa mask plus the Ruby chinstrap why do you need to tape your mouth in addition?

Because I breathe through my mouth without opening my jaw. Only takes a little opening to mouth breathe. If I just tape, the tape won't stay. So I use the Ruby to keep my jaw closed and tape to keep lips closed.

I would guess if I had a septoplasty so I could breathe through both nostrils, I wouldn't need to breathe through mouth.

I have noticed when I use Activa with Ruby and tape on mouth, my AHI goes up dramatically. So I'm trying to breathe, have obstruction, and my taped mouth won't let me breathe that way.

I really need a FF mask that fits me and I can depend on it every night. Finding one that fits is my big issue. I earlier noted that the ResMed Air For Her might work for me. But several reviewers say it doesn't work with high pressures.

I was doing great as far as leaks on my Hans Rudolph with pressures up to 20/16. Maybe it just can't handle 24/20 without leaking. I'll try my Hans Rudolph again and bump pressure back down to 20/16 and see what happens.

[hyperlexis]

The Forma would be interesting to try and also the new F&P FF mask that is coming out in the US 'soon'...., the Simplus.

But re the Hans Rudolph, you know you can buy the replacement cushion only if you want, and keep the other parts. It's cumbersome, but can be done. Some vendors sell the part. Plus, with the HR, you need to remember this one seems to require a bit of a break in before the mask seals well. At least with me, that's what happened. Been very good ever since. Or, perhaps, your headgear has stretched out with age and needs to be replaced.