Comment on Fisher Paykell HC405

!. HC405 -- I know that face masks are awfully personal and there is no one answer for everybody but I like the FP HC405. I got on to the 405 quite by happenstance and think it is a solution well worth considering.

A little over a year ago, I started having serious skin rash problems with a Respironics Soft Gel mask. I tried a series of these masks and found that the problem was not specific to one mask but a problem with at least that model.

In what I think was an act of desperation my DME gave me the FP HC405 which a salesman had dropped off. My DME did (does) not carry FP products. Lo and behold my rash went away and I have used the HC405 since.

Happy to not have rash problems (which seems likely specific to me) , I have come to value the HC 405 for a bunch of other reasons:

a. The mask has a clever design which uses the air pressure to create a seal on your face rather than just blowing the mask off as was the case with my Respironics mask. However, I don' use the high pressures (I max out around 12cm) which many people have to deal with so I can't testify to how well it seals at higher pressures. But the principles of the seal should still apply to some degree. I don't mean to imply that the mask is leak proof but I think the straps do not have to be quite as tight.

b. The mask easily breaks down into 4 major components in literally seconds, for cleaning . My Respironic mask was essentially two pieces counting the head strap. This means that I can get into all the nooks and crannies of the 405 when I am cleaning it. And it dries fast because all of the surfaces are exposed.

c. The mask is reasonably priced and because it disassembles into components, I have only replaced the parts that wear out. Dollar wise it has been a bargain.

I don't mean to sound like a salesman but this mask has been such an improvement over what I had been using that I thought I needed to pass the info along.

If any of this rings a bell with you -- I can reccomend the FP HC405.

parker wrote:However, I don' use the high pressures (I max out around 12cm) which many people have to deal with so I can't testify to how well it seals at higher pressures.

I'm running at 14cm on fixed pressure CPAP using an HC405 without any problems.

Cheers,

Bill

I have the hc406 which is I think the same mask except in Petite size. I like it well enough and like you I think it seals very well. My only problem is that I don't have a large space between my lip and nose and it presses on my lip a bit. I also don't love the closed in feeling of a nasal mask but I got this one to use when my pillows system is giving me fits.
I agree the price is very good, it seals well and I can also sleep on my side with it.