Optilife Apology

[twillson]

I want to apologize to the author of the "Optilife Problems" thread from a few weeks ago who said he/she was having problems with sore nares even after extended use and adaptation time.

I just started having the same problem.

While I am am confident that rest and Ayr gel are the best solutions, I do want to make a note about the Optilife design that I think contributes to my problem, since I've never had the problem with my Swift.

What I think is happening is that the necks that support the pillows on the Optilife are collapsing so that the harder silicone underneath pushes against my nares.

On the Swift, the cylindrical shape of the "pillow sleeve" means that you have no edges digging into your nose or lip, whereas the more box-like Optilife pillow support can produce more hot spots depending on the angle of adjustment. I don't think that the problem is easily solved by loosening the headgear on the Optilife, because after a few months the neck of the pillow is so soft that it collapses under very little pressure.

The good news is that the design of the optilife pillows doesn't cause any more leaks for my than the design of the Swift pillows. When my nose isn't sore, I continue to get a consistent, all-night fit with the optilife. Of course that that doesn't matter much if I keep getting sores. Hopefully Ayr gel will make a difference.

As I have said before, you absolutely need to have a backup interface of a different type so that you can take a break when your face says, "No Mas!"