FlexiFit HC431 or HC432

[VikingGnome]

My Hans Rudolph mask no longer seals. I bought a new mask at the end of June and could never get the new one to seal so continued using the old one. Then I had cataract surgery on both eyes and could not wear it at all because the headgear straps touched my eyes. So for six weeks I went back to my backup, ACTIVA LT with Ruby chin strap and mouth taping.

I'm looking for a replacement for my Hans Rudolph. I think the reason it leaks so bad is that I have lost 50 pounds and now have saggy skin on face which gets pushed up by the very tight headgear straps. After two nights in a row with "SAD FACE" on my VPAP, I realized that Hans Rudolph would not work for me any more unless I have a face lift. (No money for that).

So I notice that the F&P FlexiFit HC430 and HC431 also have the design with "under the chin" FF mask like Hans Rudolph. This is the only FF mask design that fits my very short face. And the headgear straps are nowhere near my eyes. The HC431 says it has a foam insert to stabilize the mask.

Which of the two models are better for those of you that use this mask? Is the foam insert one better or worse?

[Julie]

I've tried both and while I thought the foam would be a great idea, it wasn't, but the other one is pretty good though I'm not crazy about the forehead piece which is kind of hard (tho' I suppose could be modified).

[Madalot]

I have been using the 431 since late 2009. I tried the one with the foam insert thinking it would be good, but it caused blisters on my face. I've gone back to the regular 431.

[chunkyfrog]

V-Gnome: I sent you a PM.

[avi123]

I could not get good air seal with either of the two masks. After switching to my present traditional nasal mask and a chinstrap I improved the air leak problem a lot. See the following data attesting to the unbelievable improvement in the Leak avoidance and the AHI reduction that I gained.


Using mostly HC 431 but some HC 432:

(Using CPAP)



(Using APAP)





Using my present nasal mask and chinstrap:

(Using APAP)

[squid13]

I use the F&P Forma and it has a chin cup and my leak average is Zero. My AHI is 1.3 for those 56 days.

[avi123]

Do you think that it's possible that you have zero leaks on your machine over 27 days? To me it looks that something is fishy with it.

Notice that the words LEAK AVERAGE that you use do not exist!

Most likely it's with your VPAP machine, similarly to what Papit has with his S9 VPAP Adapt.

Check the last two pages here:


viewtopic.php?f=1&t=91643&st=0&sk=t&sd=a&start=60

[squid13]

There is nothing wrong with the machine. I have a good fitting mask the Forma, I also use a leak strap and I sometimes have a minor leak. Here is one for the 27th of August.

[Pugsy]

There is nothing wrong with the machine. I have a good fitting mask the Forma, I also use a leak strap and I sometimes have a minor leak. Here is one for the 27th of

OMG Some people would kill for a max leak of 1.2
Or if I was a man I would offer my left you know what.

You simply don't have any leaks to speak of...congratulations.
I might could do that if I didn't open my mouth sometimes (and I know I do) but I don't do it hugely or for long periods of time so I just prefer to not add anything to my face. It just isn't that important to me to see perfect 0.0 because adding something to my face would cause me sleep disturbances (been there ...done that) and good sleep trumps perfect numbers for me in my situation.

When Jerry used to post his nice perfect 0.0 leak lines I used to threaten him to sneak over to this house and poke pin holes in his mask....

[avi123]

squid13, I am not talking now of the importance of reducing the leak (as Ms P. stupidly assumes), but about getting data for 56 nights of zero leaks as Medians. If you look at a few leak graphs from your machine, then you will see that the leaks were not zero every night. So why your VPAP shows zero Median leaks for the 56 nights? Therefore, I am saying that your VPAP miscalculates the leak data as other S9 VPAP Adapt machines miscalculate the Flow Limitation values.

[Pugsy]

(as Ms P. stupidly assumes)

Actually I think I know exactly what you were saying and I am not nearly as stupid as you want to think I am.

Sounds like you are saying something is wrong with the machine and it's not possible to have 0.0 median average long term.
Well it sure is possible....if everyone of those individual nights has 0.0 median leak number...guess what the long term average median leak number is going to be.
Maybe RobySue could give you a math lesson sometime.

[Julie]

+1 !!!

[avi123]

(as Ms P. stupidly assumes)

Actually I think I know exactly what you were saying and I am not nearly as stupid as you want to think I am.

Sounds like you are saying something is wrong with the machine and it's not possible to have 0.0 median average long term.
Well it sure is possible....if everyone of those individual nights has 0.0 median leak number...guess what the long term average median leak number is going to be.
Maybe RobySue could give you a math lesson sometime.

Comment,

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:



So why have you posted OMG and those silly faces?

Comment #2,

I don't know why I got stuck AGAIN in a post about those F&P 431 and 432 FF masks. The fact that those masks don't utilize the advanced technology of the double flaps silicone cushions, as Resmed and Respironocs do, should have been enough to mention, and nothing else. So I plan to remove the above data of my and keep it in a Document for a future reference on a more appropriate subject. BTW, I have about four # 431 and two #432 (mediums) in a drawer to give them one more try in the future. I am against giving away medical devices.

[squid13]

Very seldom do I have any leaks and when I do they are very small. Avi I know you don't like the Forma mask but the mask fits my face like a glove. As they say in Hollywood we were meant for each other, so you believe what you want, your going to anyway cause I'm not using your mask and a chin strap. If you did the math my leak rate would probably be 0.0642857.

[avi123]

Very seldom do I have any leaks and when I do they are very small. Avi I know you don't like the Forma mask but the mask fits my face like a glove. As they say in Hollywood we were meant for each other, so you believe what you want, your going to anyway cause I'm not using your mask and a chin strap.

CONGRATULATIONS!

BTW, today I visited a Spinal Orthopedic Surgeon, b/c of Sciatica pain in the lower spine and pain radiating into the knees, he explained to me that if the pain is in the front of the hips including the front of the legs, down to the knees, then the cause is probably the Neuropathy that I and you suffer from. If the pain is in the back of the hips and going down the back of the legs then it's b/c of the spine (spinal stenosis, osteophytes {bone spurs}, discs, etc.). So we decided that I do another Steroid Injection into the spine as I did a year ago. If it will work then OK. If not, then we will discuss some minimal surgical endoscopic procedures (from the back), such as Foraminotomy, Laminectomy, etc. About the neuropathy and the numbness creeping up from the soles of the feet, NOTHING COULD BE DONE ABOUT IT!

p.s. I hear that http://www.laserspineinstitute.com/abou ... addresses/ that have a branch near you, are after more surgeries instead of Epidural steroid injections in order to make more money!