Opus first impressions

svh · Post by **svh** » Thu Feb 15, 2007 10:12 am

Edited next day:

NEVER MIND--they sent me the wrong mask (an infinity 481) and stupidly I failed to notice.....So, the review is moot--at least as regards the Opus.

So, my opus (NOT) arrived in today's mail (from my DME). I've played around with it a bit in bed (less fun than it sounds) and thought I'd post my first impressions. Note, I have been using a Swift, successfully, though I find it loud.

Pros:
1. You can snuggle down into the pillow much more with the Opus--without it moving out of place. This is big for me, since I sleep on my side primarily, with a down pillow, and missed really sinking down into the pillow. This is one of the primary reasons I bought this mask, and I am not disappointed so far.

2. The ball joint/swivel thing works pretty well, though seems as though it could use a touch of lubrication. What would be safe to use? I was able to switch from side to side pretty easily, without noticeable leaks. Obviously I'll need some nights of actual data to confirm this. I'm running the hose loose above my head, on the pillow. I have a lovely ComfortSleeve hose cover, so if I bump into it, it is soft. I've tried routing hoses over the headboard and have always (not just with the Opus) found I run into more tension that way, not less. However, there's no reason you couldn't, if that's what works for you.

3. Quieter than the Swift, definitely. Air exhausts out in the same direction as it did with the Swift.

4. The headgear is very similar to the Swift, but I didn't (in my brief testing) have the trouble with the lower strap slipping (as I had with the Swift). We'll see how the night goes....

5. The pillow part is very easy to remove and wash--easier than the Swift, even.

Cons/Other facts:
1. I may be between sizes for the pillow cushions. I use a M Swift, and have settled on an XS Opus, but I think I'm really in between a S and XS. The pillows have a nice wide outer flange, but the part that goes in your nose seems to go slightly further in than with the Swift. I may only be noticing it because it's a different shape and is hitting me in a new place--we'll see. When I move around, I can feel the inner pillow parts move, but the seal seems unbroken. The pillows seem about the same softness as those of the Swift.

2. The amount of hose included with the mask is somewhat shorter than the Swift, so you might want an extension if you're hanging it from above. It's not a major difference, but I did notice it. I'm fine the way I route my hose.

3. You can't route the hose down your chest (as I had been doing with Swift), due to the right angle turn built into the ball joint. It has to go to either side or above. Not a problem, just a factoid.

4. There seems to be more pressure on my upper lip than with the Swift. Not a problem for me, as I push my tongue onto my upper teeth anyway, and am glad to counter that! I did find that this problem was worse when I had the straps too tight. I had to consciously go against my urge to tighten--the mask seems to work better (as I often hear) when the straps are looser.

ufo13 · Post by **ufo13** » Thu Feb 15, 2007 11:22 am

Sarah:

Thanks for the GREAT review! Very helpful information! Looking forward to your report and observations after using it tonight. Looks like it will be a positive experience, much like what was reported by willsucceed and others.

All the best,

Steve,
ufo13

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Feb 15, 2007 12:06 pm

sarah

thanks so much for posting your review....i, too, use the swift and like it better than the nasal mask type, but have still found side sleeping to be a challenge...i'm looking forward to scoring an opus from my RT next week...

thanks again!

Sharon

WillSucceed · Post by **WillSucceed** » Thu Feb 15, 2007 12:11 pm

While I still like my Opus, I have noticed that when I use it, I don't feel as rested in the morning as I do when I use Breeze. I've checked my overnight data and find that I am sleeping the same amount of hours and the leak rate is similarily low for both Opus and Breeze. Number of events is also similarily low for both -->usually under 2 events per hour, BUT, I just don't feel quite as rested with Opus as I do with Breeze.

I do think that Opus is a good interface, and it is certainly more tolerant of side-sleeping than Swift. I also find it lighter and more comfortable than Swift.

I absolutely agree with SVH's comment about the hose needing to be a bit longer. My swivel does NOT leak at all and moves about without friction; I really think that R&P did a good job with the swivel in Opus.

_________________

CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): breeze, hose, swift

DreamStalker · Post by **DreamStalker** » Thu Feb 15, 2007 12:33 pm

Great info .... many thanks. I hope to try one out next month maybe.

onecoknower · Post by **onecoknower** » Thu Feb 15, 2007 6:39 pm

Please post what your thoughts are after a full night with the opus. I currently use the swift and my big complaint with it is that it's not comfortable on the side the hose comes out of. Being a side sleeper who tosses and turns, I really notice that and would love a mask with a hose that goes over the head instead of out the side. I was thinking about the aura, but now I wonder if the opus would be as good?

Oneco

WillSucceed · Post by **WillSucceed** » Thu Feb 15, 2007 8:31 pm

As I said, I find Opus to be more comfortable than Swift, particularly when side sleeping. You can route the Opus hose to either side of your face, or, straight up the center of your face.

greyhound · Post by **greyhound** » Thu Feb 15, 2007 9:12 pm

svh wrote: I use a M Swift, and have settled on an XS Opus, but I think I'm really in between a S and XS.

XS size? On cpap.com's site, the sizes are only S,M, and L.

svh · Post by **svh** » Fri Feb 16, 2007 5:20 am

I've got an early meeting this am, so will have to download data later today. Regarding sizes, my mask came with four. The packaging was designed for four, so I would be surprised if there's a separate one with three. The night went OK. I still feel the nasal pillows much more than I ever did with the Swift, so we'll have to see if that's just the novelty, or if they just don't really fit me right.

More later. I slept fine, especially considering it was a new mask, first night!

svh · Post by **svh** » Fri Feb 16, 2007 8:10 am

Well, the numbers are good. My AHI from last night is 0.7, and my leak rate (which will include a fair amount of initial tinkering at bedtime) was 32. These numbers are pretty comparable to my Swift numbers. I still feel that the Swift has more comfortable pillows, but I love the ability to side sleep more comfortably, without leaks. I'll need to go several more nights to see if I get used to feeling the pillows inside my nose. The Opus pillows do not taper to the tips as other pillows do--the bulge out a bit inside the nose--perhaps to hold them in?
Here's a link to two photos--top and side views of the new Opus XS pillow next to the old Swift M pillow (I hope it works):
http://picasaweb.google.com/s.hetherington/CPAP

deebatt · Post by **deebatt** » Fri Feb 16, 2007 8:24 am

thanks for posting the photos. i'm considering trying either the opus or the optilife. its good to see the pillows compared side by side. i have small nostrils and looking at the pics of the opus now im wondering if that would work for me.

im glad its going well with you, please keep us posted on how the pillows start to feel (if you get more used to them)

DreamStalker · Post by **DreamStalker** » Fri Feb 16, 2007 8:47 am

ditto re: the photos ... appears the opus uses pillows more like prongs relative to most other pillow systems.

Thanks

WillSucceed · Post by **WillSucceed** » Fri Feb 16, 2007 9:09 am

Opus pillows are NOT prongs. They don't have the same width as Swift, but they surely are not prongs. They don't (or shouldn't) enter the nostril any more than Swift does. The taper on Opus IS sharper than that of Swift which, I suspect, makes them look more like prongs.

I've used NasalAire, SNAAP (SNAPP?) and a couple other prong-type systems. Opus is not prong.

DreamStalker · Post by **DreamStalker** » Fri Feb 16, 2007 9:22 am

WillSucceed wrote:Opus pillows are NOT prongs. They don't have the same width as Swift, but they surely are not prongs. They don't (or shouldn't) enter the nostril any more than Swift does. The taper on Opus IS sharper than that of Swift which, I suspect, makes them look more like prongs.

I've used NasalAire, SNAAP (SNAPP?) and a couple other prong-type systems. Opus is not prong.

That is why I used the term "appears" and "realtive to" ... also made it clear to state that opus uses "pillows".

Nevertheless, thanks for adding stronger clarification that Opus pillows are NOT prongs ... they never should be and never will be.

svh · Post by **svh** » Fri Feb 16, 2007 1:02 pm

I have to say, having both the Swift and the Opus, that the Opus pillows are sort of halfway between "normal" pillows and prongs (I had a Nasal Aire II briefly). As you can see above in the photos, the Opus pillows bulge out a bit inside the nose, instead of having a smooth taper. I looked at all the replacement pillows available on CPAP.com to compare, and the Opus ones are different form all the other brands, as far as I can tell.

I'm not saying there's anything wrong with them, and I may well get used to them, but they *are* different from other pillows. It doesn't really matter what you call them, but people should know they are different.

Opus first impressions

Opus first impressions

Thanks!

Re: Opus first impressions