Am getting this mask tomorrow.  (so tomorrow night will be first night)

It was suggested by the DMI Tech who has been getting me started on CPAP because I take my dentures out at night, and nasal mask slides down to lips!  Not to mention I am a mouth breather...

And yes, I am very new to all of this (one week!)

Any suggestions re it's use?  Commits, pros, cons?  

Thanks!

Make sure that when you do the mask adjustments...you're laying down. If you make changes while sitting up...the fit will be totally wrong. This mask...people either love it or hate it. I used it for 9 months...was middle of road...changed only because I found a mask that I liked better.


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EVERY SILVER LINING HAS A TOUCH OF GREY
-Grateful Dead

BARBCCRN wrote:

Make sure that when you do the mask adjustments...you're laying down. If you make changes while sitting up...the fit will be totally wrong. This mask...people either love it or hate it. I used it for 9 months...was middle of road...changed only because I found a mask that I liked better.

And the mask u like better is?  And why???


_________________
Oldster
wheel chair person
4 x cancer survivor
If in doubt, take a nap!
***
Started CPAP 5.2.08
Full face Flexfit 431
RemStar Pro M w/heated humidifier

I love the 431. My DME provider did fit me with the wrong sized (medium) silicon insert though. For the first couple nights I hated it. When I relaxed as I fell asleep, the mask would emit noises of a bodily nature. Threw my girlfriend and I into fits of laughter.

After looking at the pamphlets and other instructions that came in the box with the mask, I realized that I needed a large sized insert. Tried it on, and what a HUGE difference. Love the mask now.

I found the Oracle...an oral mask. I happen to LOVE it but most people can't get used to it. The positives for me :its extremely lightweight; I turn side to side all night long...no adjusting needed...it doesn't move. Negatives: even with my humidifier turned up to max...my mouth feels like a desert by morning...swig of water fixes it but it is annoying.


_________________
EVERY SILVER LINING HAS A TOUCH OF GREY
-Grateful Dead

Spondee.....just a few hints about the HC-431.  When you get it fitted DO NOT tighten it hard to stop any leaks.  Just make sure that it fits snug.  Then when the pressure comes on, just pull the mask away from our face until the silicon pillow fills up with air.  Then put it back on your face.  You will not have many problems with leaks.  I have a trimmed beard and I have no problems anymore with leaks.  It is a great mask.

I like it too and have used it for several years.  I tried the Quattro (ResMed) and didn't like it as much because the 431 is soft against my face whereas the edges of the Quattro cut into my face more.

For me, the 431 works better the more I can cram my face into it.  I also have to wash the insert daily (I don't bother washing the whole mask) because the oils off my face make it leak.

Vicki


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That which does not kill you makes you stronger-Friedrich Nietzsche
Friedrich must of had apnea.

Vicki - do you wash the insert with just water or with soap too?

My tech told me to just wipe it off daily with a warm, damp washcloth.  Then wash weekly in a pure soap (I use baby shampoo - castile soap).


_________________
Oldster
wheel chair person
4 x cancer survivor
If in doubt, take a nap!
***
Started CPAP 5.2.08
Full face Flexfit 431
RemStar Pro M w/heated humidifier

I wash my face with Neutrogena and use it on my insert.  For major washing (which I don't do very often   ) I use Ivory dish soap.

Vicki


_________________
That which does not kill you makes you stronger-Friedrich Nietzsche
Friedrich must of had apnea.

After a year with the FlexFit 431 I have "upgraded" to the 432.  I found that after three months of use the seal on the 431 would emit the same noises mentioned by a previous blogger.  I even wrote to FP and asked what was up.  I was told they have a 90 day return policy but when I went to the medical supplier they said they didn't know about it.  After checking into the FP policy however the medical supplier offered me the 432 as a replacement.  I guess they got tired of my many complaints.

My face is narrow and even the Small 431 seal was too big.  The 432 is altogether a smaller mask and fits much better over my nose.  I've only used it two nights but already like it better.  Some adjustment will be necessary but it seems to provide a better seal.  The foam cushion is much more comfortable than the plastic mask was with the 431.  

I have gone through the list of masks provided through my HMO's DME.  The nasal pillows blew me up like a balloon (hiatal hernia allows that to happen) and the nose-only mask didn't solve my mouth breathing problems.  The 431 seemed to be the best fit except for the seal breakdown.  Hoping the 432 continues to be as good as it has been.  Strange but the HMO uses the 432 in its sleep labs but prescribes the 431.  To get the 432 you have to have a special prescription that is reviewed.  

One last comment - many of the problems could be solved if only the HMOs provided better followup support.  My HMO has apnea classes outside of our region but is still not offering them locally.  If there were someone who could talk to us about our masks, wouldn't the HMOs be saving bundles of money?  How many patients take the expensive machines and masks home and never use them or give up within a week?  How many millions of dollars worth of equipment is being wasted?  Take it one step further - if there are 7 million apnea sufferers (and this is a very low estimate) and half of them are diagnosed and given equipment, and one-fourth of those don't use the equipment, more than $500,000,000 is going down a rat hole somewhere.  Folks, that's half a Billion (with a B) dollars.  And Medicare does pay a portion of that.

And try to imagine the cost of health conditions that would have been prevented by truly compliant users. It's such a mystery to me, but the insurance companies will get wise eventually. Virginia


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Resmed elite , 17, mirage quattro ff . 25 + years of untreated OSA

I hated the flex 431 initially because I couldn't get it to seal. Then i started using the mack's ear plug trick to line the entire mask and waa-laa - no more leaks. I really prefer the swift nasal pillows for comfort but the 431 is a good mask for us mouth breathers. My next mask will def be the 432.
Best of luck!

I've been using the mask for a week.  I like it - very comfortable.  I have a goatee and no trouble with facial hair at all.  I sleep on my stomach and haven't had much trouble with leakage.  I've found that with the humidifier, I get a pretty good seal (at times almost like a plunger to the face).

List of a few small things that I've found....

The clip on the strap that comes with it could be designed better.  Sometimes I have trouble getting out of the mask in the morning or if I need to get up to use the restroom.  There is a little "lanyard" type thing that you can pull in order to make the clip disengage that (when it works right) works well.  My DME never told me about this trick (and she kept the instructions).

I think sometimes the latex may be flapping around and tickling my nose.  I've woken up a couple times with an itch that was driving me nuts.

As far as the noises - if I have a big exhale (like after a yawn) it will make noise, but I haven't noticed anything else that's too annoying.

We are all shaped differently but the leaks I have had are below the chin or up by the eyes.  Both leaks I've been able to fix by moving the mask up or down my face or like as mentioned above just pulling it away from the face and letting it re-seal altogether.

Aside from the small stuff, I think it's terrific and I'm not really interested in getting something else.

kolchak wrote:

I hated the flex 431 initially because I couldn't get it to seal. Then i started using the mack's ear plug trick to line the entire mask and waa-laa - no more leaks. I really prefer the swift nasal pillows for comfort but the 431 is a good mask for us mouth breathers. My next mask will def be the 432.
Best of luck!

What ear plug trick???  I didn't see that...


_________________
Oldster
wheel chair person
4 x cancer survivor
If in doubt, take a nap!
***
Started CPAP 5.2.08
Full face Flexfit 431
RemStar Pro M w/heated humidifier