Full face masks only--pls. give mask preferences/differences

chdurie2 I have used the UMFF, the flexi-fit 431 and I am now using the activa.

Problem I had with the 431 was leaks and fit. I needed a quarter of an inch longer cushion than the large to get past the bridge in my nose. Leaks occurred at the nose. The under the chin is great until you decide to even open your mouth a little. Opening your mouth causes the mask to move down some and more leaks or at least in my case.

The UMFF also leaked on me but was a more comfortable mask compared to the 431. I would have liked to try a large size and maybe it would have been better than the medium I was given. Here is a link to a post on here whereby someone tried laying another cushion of the same size over the already installed cushion in the UMFF and it worked pretty good at resolving the leaks. Don't know if anybody else has tried it.

The activa mask I have now is very good. Very low leakage if any and very soft. The only thing I find a little weird is when I have the C-flex set to 3 and I breath out the mask kinda feels like it sucks to my face like the creature in Aliens does and then lifts away (without leaks) when the pressure returns. For this reason I set the C-flex to 1 and it is barely noticeable. The only other thing I found was if the cushion in it isn't properly snapped into place you get a large leak with a hissing. Barb (in Seattle) this may be what you are experiencing. I believe you had posted this in one of your replies.

chdurie2:

No mask is comfortable. Some are less uncomfortable than others. The 431 and the UMFF are about equal. My therapy results are also about equal. I do find that I must keep the 431 tighter than the UMFF.

You are correct that they poke in different places and therefore, different areas of my face are rested on different nights. I have also found that there is not only one spot on the bridge of your nose that the mask must touch. My masks work when I it move up or down a bit. I do this during the night.

I read about people finding leaks when they reassemble their UMFF masks. I don't have this problem because I never disassemble my mask. Every morning I fill my sink's basin with very hot water and some Ivory dishwashing liquid. I let is soak for a few minutes and then agitate it around in the water for about a minute or so. I rinse it with fresh cold water, dry it, and it is ready to go. Disassembling it daily will shorten the life of your mask.

darth and newsgrouper:

thanks for all your observations. i guess i just need to buy and try. you guys, i take it, have the UMFF rather than series 2, so you may not know how much of an improvement it is to have ultramirage nasal "hardware" (forehead and "bend" supports) installed on series 2, which is the main difference between series 2 and UMFF. i guess i should ask the folks at the cpap.com store. i have a small nose and small face in general, so my main red spots are on my cheekbones rather than my nose. and as for f&p 431, dunno whether that chin support would help or hurt.

complicating the mix is whether i can expect to go nasal for any period of time, given my deviated septum. ah, the identity problems of a start-up cpaper with some, but not a lot, of experience. after reading many of the posts on this forum, even though i am not rich, i start to think, just buy the four masks that seem to hold the most promise--i'll probably end up buying them sequentially anyway. so sometimes i just say, get it over with and do it all at once.

thanks all for your comments. one more question (at least): when you all are talking about the comfortfull, are you talking about the comfortfull 2?

i have the f&p 431 coming from cpap.com, since becky convinced me that my series 2 is not doing the job, and she didn't think the UMFF would help my particular problems enough. My main problem is that I can't seem to get the Series 2 to seal beneath my mouth. I don't have a big/long enough chin for the mask to hold onto for very long. i awoke from a nap this pm, and sure enough, big leak. My other problem is that it pushes hard against my cheekbone. Becky said most people have problems with the nose fit.

I played with my Nasal Ultra Mirage last night, and it seemed to me that the UMFF might do the trick because when you push the forehead piece all the way forward so that the distance between forehead and nose is shortest, that pushes the nosepiece back, which might push the lower part of the UMFF back so it would seal on the little i have to seal onto. but becky earlier said the improved forehead piece mostly just helps stabilize the top part of the mask, with which i have no problem.

so she said i also might want to think about comfortfull 2, although she thought my best shot was F&P.

i know you never get a perfect mask, but i'm so frustrated there are moments when i say, oh, i'll just order them all, although i am not affluent by any means.

comments on comfortfull 2? thanks everyone.

btw, that was me, caroline, just before. i also already have activa and have a swift coming, but it looks like i'll have to do full face at least half the time because of my deviated septum. thanks again.

Chdurie, I have a small face,too, and I use the 431. Found I had leaks at the top of the nose piece (into my eyes!) and beneath my chin, but only when the pressure got really high, like 18. A bit of moleskin inside the chin cup and at the top of the nose fixed the leaks, and actually the mask is quite comfortable to wear. think like a cat.......everthing is meant to be played with.

Thanks Gidgie, I bought some moleskin tonite to throw into the Series 2. i can't wait to get my 431. All these little accessories: moleskin, tape (not for me, i don't think), vaseline, ayr gel, saline solution, etc.

Hi, all. If you're having problems with pokes, you might like to try Pad-a-Cheek, which is a fleece cover over the straps. Even if the pokes are coming from the mask itself, maybe you could move the strap cover right next to that place and get some cushioning from that. Go to http://www.padacheek.com to see what they have.

I also have heard about the moleskin trick. However, I'm fascinated by the ring-on-top-of-ring technique that I read about in another post. Instead of leaving my FP 431, which I basically like except for the leaks, I'm going to try these tricks. Will post results.

Nancy

I've owned several UMFF masks, there is quite a bit difference between it and your Series2 although they take the exact same cushion.

What is missing from your Series2 is the forehead pad adjustment. This feature is critical for making the seal. If you develop a leak in your eyes with your Series2 there is no way to adjust it out other than over tightening the straps. Then when you over tighten the straps it puts a crease in the cushion and it leaks even more. The forehead adjustment on the UMFF allows you to pivot the mask to also stop leaks in the chin area. I could not imagine using my UMFF without that adjustment. My understanding is the Series2 is being discontinued.

My suggestion: Get the UMFF and remove your Series2 cushion and double up on your cushions if your getting leaks, others say it works (haven't tried that myself yet). As for quietness and comfort, the UMFF is pretty hard to beat in my opinion. The forehead pads on the UMFF don't put any pressure on your forehead I wear mine loose.

Snoredog--

I appreciate your thoughts, but eyes, forehead and nose fits are not my problem on Series 2. My problem is the whole width of the mouth on the bottom edge. There's not much on my face below my bottom lip, so the whole bottom of the mask falls open; i can get it to stay, but it's such a loose fit that I know it must be coming unsealed during the night. I already ordered F&P 431, because the cpap.com rep said UMFF won't help me. but I later re-examined that whole forehead portion on the UM Nasal, and it seems to me that if you push that four-setting part between nose and forehead forward all the way, it makes a shorter mask and pushes the mouth part forward, which may be what i need. so i'll wait until f&P 431 comes and see--it should be here tomorrow or the next day. I'll also look for a deal on UMFF on ebay.