Need help with Forma mask leaks

[BusyLyn]

Last night was my first night with my new F&P Forma mask, and the results were less than spectacular. According to my Encore Viewer report for last night, my average leak was a responding 62.2 lpm, and I spent 12.8% of the night in large leak!

As you can see from my mask listed below my previous mask was/is a ComfortGel FFM. The average leak rate overall for the time I've used the ComfortGel has been about 36 lpm, which is close to the intentional leak of 33-34. The ComfortGel has been adequate, but I've been having issues with periodic lower tooth pain and lately, some leaks, so I wanted to try another FFM. The F&P masks seemed interesting as they fit under the chin, hence the switch to the Forma.

My big leakage area is under the chin. I can get the mask adjusted so that statically I don't have any leak there, but life isn't static and my leaks were high and the graph is all over the place. I don't have the straps too tight; in fact the upper straps are now so loose that the forehead support doesn't touch my forehead! But can I expect problems tonight with no support at the top?

What are the tricks to adjusting the Forma - or the HC431 or 432 for that matter - so that it fits properly? Or will it ever fit for me? Please help!

Lyn

[M.D.Hosehead]

The first thing I can think of is that you need a different size cushion-liner.

I ordered the set that includes medium and large liners, but it turns out I needed the X-large, so that required an additional $68 purchase. A little irritating, but I let it go.

It is the first FFM that worked fairly well for me.

[Diplomacy]

You can purchase from a large selection of Forma masks on CPAP.com!

[allend]

Last night was my first night with my new F&P Forma mask, and the results were less than spectacular. According to my Encore Viewer report for last night, my average leak was a responding 62.2 lpm, and I spent 12.8% of the night in large leak!

As you can see from my mask listed below my previous mask was/is a ComfortGel FFM. The average leak rate overall for the time I've used the ComfortGel has been about 36 lpm, which is close to the intentional leak of 33-34. The ComfortGel has been adequate, but I've been having issues with periodic lower tooth pain and lately, some leaks, so I wanted to try another FFM. The F&P masks seemed interesting as they fit under the chin, hence the switch to the Forma.

My big leakage area is under the chin. I can get the mask adjusted so that statically I don't have any leak there, but life isn't static and my leaks were high and the graph is all over the place. I don't have the straps too tight; in fact the upper straps are now so loose that the forehead support doesn't touch my forehead! But can I expect problems tonight with no support at the top?

What are the tricks to adjusting the Forma - or the HC431 or 432 for that matter - so that it fits properly? Or will it ever fit for me? Please help!

Lyn

Hi Lyn,

I had the same problem as md hosehead but the x-large mask didn't help me. It fit like it was supposed to but still leaks and lead to an AHI of 28.6. It flies off my face even at pressure of 12 and 13 and leaks like crazy. With that mask you can not even adjust it with an adjustable forehead angle. Perhaps an extra velcro strap across the middle will keep it on your face. Washing with ivory soap sometimes helps get a better seal.

[Thomas F.]

what size cushion are you using? if you are leaking at the chin you may want to try the smallest size you have. Mine came with a large and medium cushion. The large fit me great with no leaking. Be sure you have the outer rubber gasket fitted correctly and tightly in the plastic slot. If this is not fitted correctly you can get leaks.

[BusyLyn]

Sorry for not responding before now, but my family arrived for Christmas a day earlier than I expected and left a day later due to the weather, and I decided to go back to the ComfortGel until they left...

M.D.Hosehead's suggestion to try another cushion size definitely helped. I use a medium in the ComfortGel, so that is how my DME set up the Forma. (Unfortunately we didn't test the fit under pressure, but I've learned this lesson!) Tuesday night I tried the large size to better results. The Forma still leaked more than the ComfortGel (and I was in large leak for a total of 20 minutes), but I slept for a longer overall duration and I was ready to continue trying.

Last night seemed to start off OK, but I kept waking up trying to adjust the mask. The leak would start around my eyes, then most adjustments I made would cause a leak around my chin. Once the leak was at the chin I had to stop the machine, take off the mask and adjust anew. After about 3 hours I was so awake that I had to get out of bed for a couple of hours before I was tired enough to try again. This time I fought with the Forma for almost a full hour - until 8AM! - before I finally admitted defeat and switched back to my ComfortGel to get some restful sleep. I'm just lucky that I could afford to sleep until Noon today - I need to get up early tomorrow.

I'm coming to believe that there is no way for this mask to comfortably fit my face. The more I swap the Forma with my ComfortGel, the more I prefer the ComfortGel. At least with it, if I wake up with a leak I just have to make a small but quick adjustment tug before going back to sleep. And isn't restful sleep what we're all trying to have?

Does anyone have any other suggestions? I'm willing to give the Forma another go, but not if I'm fighting it alone. I'm almost getting a phobia about this mask!

Lyn

[Portageegal]

Last night was my first night with the Forma. I was disappointed. I had the same problems you had and spent most of the night adjusting it. It felt like it was going to blow off my face at times and the leaks were constant. I am going to try to adapt my old headgear to it, as this headgear is too long for my head. Hopefully it will hold it in a better position.

[BusyLyn]

It looks like you're switching over from a Mirage Quattro, which is the other mask I'd like to try. May I ask why you're switching?

[bobbiesue2]

Lyn,
Check out Quietus Liners they have worked wonders for me.

Regards,
BobbieSue2

[Portageegal]

I liked the idea of the cushion on the forma. It seemed like it would feel better on my cheeks area. I've gone back to the Quattro. It seems the one I always go. back to.

[BusyLyn]

I liked the idea of a mask that went below my chin, but I couldn't stop the leaks from there once they started. It also seemed very narrow at the bridge of my nose. I'd like to try the Quattro - or maybe the Quattro FX when it's available here - but for the time being I've gone back to my trusty ComfortGel.

It's truly all about the mask when it comes to comfort and compliance, isn't it!

[Emmy1]

The sleep lab technician recommended the Ultra Mirage and Mirage Quattro very highly to me when I had my sleep study done. I also tried the Forma at the lab and liked it better.

When I got my loaner machine to do my at home titration study (which still isn't complete), I tried both Mirages again and had more leaks with them.

I liked the Forma better, but to stop leaks had to keep tightening it more. I had a lot of jaw and ear pain from the mask needing to be so tight. Loosening didn't help, just made it worse. My pressure kept going up as I became accustomed to the APAP and with the increased pressure, the mask started to shift and leak even more. I decided to try the ComfortGel FFM by PR and found it more comfortable. The large seemed a bit too small, especially around the mouth so I asked for an XL to borrow. It seems to fit best sitting up, but when I lie down it leaks more. Weird!

Now that I've been on APAP for over a month, of all the masks I've tried, the large (and slightly smallish) ComfortGel seems to be the one that leaks the least amount and causes the least discomfort. Its heavy, but it seems to work for me, so I'm going to buy it.

I tried the Forma one more time just to make sure, and couldn't even get through the night with it. It was leaking like crazy and very noisy. After using the ComfortGel for so long, I can't stand the Forma. Now that my pressure is up to 13.9, it just keeps lifting off my face with exhalations, even with C-Flex+.

So, at the moment, my favourite is the Comfort Gel that you started with.

I would really like to try the Mojo, which I think would fit even better. It can be adjusted more to your face and the gel is only along the edge, so it should be lighter, however, my provider says she can't get one here in Canada. I'm hoping to order one from our host, when I get my prescription. I have a feeling it would work, but of course I'll get the insurance, just in case. It might be worth looking into for you as well.

[jromano]

Emmy1,

Hope everything's going well for you... Check your PM.

Cheers,
Jess

[BrianinTN]

I've tried the ComfortGel and the Quattro, but I keep coming back to the F&P 432. There are a couple things I've found that help. First, make sure the horizontal straps that go around the forehead truly end up going around. It's easy to find ways to put the mask on where those straps wrap around your head at 45 degree angles, rather than the smooth 180 degrees that it should be.

Second, unlike some other FFMs, I wouldn't be afraid to tighten the F&P up good. The velcro on my straps comes quite a good ways back on mine.

Third, make sure the light gray "slider" piece is pretty even. Don't let it slide too far to the left or the right. I've found that getting it too far away from the center makes me leak more.

Fourth, are you 100% sure your foam and silicone are seated properly? I know early on that I had a couple nights where the silicon wasn't quite in the grooves -- which is a recipe for instant leaks.

Last, any chance your chin is flapping open during the night? With the F&P, that'll pretty much doom you. I used a chinstrap for a few nights which, fortunately, broke my habit, and I don't seem to flap open at night as much anymore. The couple days where I was using a chinstrap were bad for mask leaks though (overlapping the fabric and the silicone on the chin just didn't work well).