Swift versus Breeze versus Aura?

Artwood · Post by **Artwood** » Tue May 10, 2005 4:06 pm

Forgive me if this question has been answered before. What are the benefits of each? I'm thinking mainly three different areas: 1)comfort 2) leaks and 3) how well each works with auto pap? I'm using Breeze awith C-FLEX Auto PAP and it's working OK--would it be worth trying anything else?

WillSucceed · Post by **WillSucceed** » Tue May 10, 2005 7:26 pm

I use the Breeze and Swift; I like them both. Some people on this forum complain about noise from Swift but I find it to be no problem.

For me, the Aura is a huge bust. I think it has lots of design flaws.

lynn · Post by **lynn** » Tue May 10, 2005 7:33 pm

I started out with the Activa and now almost exclusively use the Swift. I really like it a lot. If it's noisy, I don't hear it (but I wear ear plugs as I am so used to wearing them to drown out hubby's snoring - even though he doesn't snore anymore as he's ALSO on CPAP now....)

I agree with Will wholeheartedly. The Aura is a big let down. I had nothing but leaks with it after many attempts at adding straps and adjusting and bending. Not my favorite subject....

lynn

wading thru the muck! · Post by **wading thru the muck!** » Tue May 10, 2005 8:04 pm

For me, the aura is the best. I've used it everynight since I got it.

To answer your questions:

1) higher level of comfort than any of the other interfaces.

2) Zero leaks

3) Works great with my two auto-paps

IMO there are no design flaws, as with any interface, it may not work for everyone.

Artwood · Post by **Artwood** » Tue May 10, 2005 8:45 pm

This might be a dumb question but alot of times around here I hear of people saying they use tape to cut down on leaks. Are they talking about taping the mask or headgear somehow or are they talking about taping their mouth shut?

I have a Respironics Auto with C-FLEX and a smart card--will I be able to tell from the smart card if I'm leaking and how will I know if my seal isn't good around the Breeze pillows or if my chin strap doesn't work and I'm mouth breathing? While I would like a little bit more comfort than the Breeze I wouldn't want it if it meant more leaks. I guess you never know until you try different masks--I just hope I'll be able to track down what is wrong, try all these masks, and then buy the one that is most comfortable without leaking. I once heard Rested Gal say she had a "deconstructed" Aura? I wonder if that is an Aura with different head gear.

Anyone who is familiar with any of these three masks I'd love to hear from--I've learned more about CPAP and CPAP equipment here than I've learned anywhere else--Respiratory Therapists and Sleep Doctors could better treat their patients if they would lurk here and find out what the real deal is.

wading thru the muck! · Post by **wading thru the muck!** » Tue May 10, 2005 8:53 pm

This might be a dumb question but alot of times around here I hear of people saying they use tape to cut down on leaks. Are they talking about taping the mask or headgear somehow or are they talking about taping their mouth shut?

Taping their mouth

I have a Respironics Auto with C-FLEX and a smart card--will I be able to tell from the smart card if I'm leaking and how will I know if my seal isn't good around the Breeze pillows or if my chin strap doesn't work and I'm mouth breathing? While I would like a little bit more comfort than the Breeze I wouldn't want it if it meant more leaks. I guess you never know until you try different masks--I just hope I'll be able to track down what is wrong, try all these masks, and then buy the one that is most comfortable without leaking.

The data will tell you if you have excessive leaks

I once heard Rested Gal say she had a "deconstructed" Aura? I wonder if that is an Aura with different head gear.

It's the aura without the headgear

Anyone who is familiar with any of these three masks I'd love to hear from--

I have and have used all three of these interfaces and prefer the aura.

Liam1965 · Post by **Liam1965** » Tue May 10, 2005 9:08 pm

Well, I've not used the Breeze or the Aura. Tonight, one of those will change. (I received my Aura today).

I'll let you know how it compares to the swift. I like the swift a lot, except that I roll around a lot at night, and it tends to pull and shift and keep me awake.

I'm hoping the Aura will work better for me.

Liam, glad when he opened the box that he didn't need kiryllean (sp?) photography to see his aura.

rock and roll · Post by **rock and roll** » Tue May 10, 2005 9:47 pm

I am impressed Liam that you know about Aura viewing with this special photography. The correct spelling is Kirlian. Great analigy. I studied this years ago.

Anyway, just to add my two cents worth and that's all it is really as it's all so subjective. I love my Swift. It for me is great for tossing and turning, rock and rolling if you will, IF YOU connect the hose up to the ear line with the velcro loop supplied. It leaks less than any interface I have tried. I have not tried the Aura, I am uneasy about going to such an expensive interface from an unproven manufacturer and there have been so many that are not happy with it. Of course there are a die hard few that absolutely love it like Wader. The Breeze is also a good interface but has a history of breaking and it is clumsy where the Swift is not. I also do not find the Swift any more noisy than my Activa which is next to nothing.

Liam1965 · Post by **Liam1965** » Tue May 10, 2005 10:40 pm

I'm curious about a couple of things. First off, the docs for the Aura say "Not to be used with Auto Titrating machines". Does anyone know why? I know Wader uses his with his Auto machine.

Second, I'm having trouble getting it to stay in place, and I think I'd like to make Rested Gal's extra straps.

Does anyone happen to remember what thread it was she posted that on, so I can look it up?

It really feels like with a bit more stability, this could become my favorite interface.

Liam, unstable. Or maybe that's just the aura.

neversleeps · Post by **neversleeps** » Tue May 10, 2005 11:12 pm

Hi Liam. I found it:

viewtopic.php?t=2650&highlight=aura

Good Luck!

Niteair · Post by **Niteair** » Wed May 11, 2005 5:13 am

I also have been using the Aura since I got it, using the RG recommended addition of elastic strap, and my own addition of a couple of thin plastic inserts "stents to keep the soft verticle parts of the nasal interface from distorting and showing up as flow restrictions on Encorepro. Last night I found out that by placing a piece of fairly rigid packaging foam between the curved "guard" looking part and the rubber nasal piece that I was able to sleep thru the night without the aid of any additional strap. The nasal part was forced BACK toward the face quite a bit thereby stiffining the whoe assembly. If the manufacturer woud use a larger diameter wire inse, I believe the mask as sold would be Ok. I am very pleased with it otherwise, like it better than the Breeze, or my "comfort Gel" masks. Will probably try the "Comfort Curve" if I can be assured that the problem of leaks at the elbows has been corrected.

Remstar Auto,Heated Hose, Comfort Gel, Breeze, Aura, 8cmH20-15cm H20

lynn · Post by **lynn** » Wed May 11, 2005 6:59 am

Nightair, sure wish I could see a picture of what you did with the Aura as I have never been able to get it to stay in place, I'll see if I can figure out what you did....

On a separate note, I tried the headband thing for mouth leaks. It works! I would also say that for some reason my Swift was even more secure than normal, maybe because the straps were against the soft fabric of the headband rather than my squeaky clean face!

lynn

wading thru the muck! · Post by **wading thru the muck!** » Wed May 11, 2005 8:29 am

Lynn,

I think Niteair's fix is this:

Put something between the "Hoop" that curves around the outside of the straight part of the nasal seal and the nasal seal. This will push the nasal seal toward the face and thus seal better for people that are not able to bring the seal close enough to their face with the normal range of adjustment.

Liam1965 · Post by **Liam1965** » Wed May 11, 2005 10:41 am

First night update: I didn't sleep well at all. BUT...

That's not the fault of the Aura. Last night was a late night, and a very stressful one (just when I think I've got as much straw on my back as I can carry, the company I work for throws another one up on this camel's back).

I still have high hopes for the Aura, particularly when I get a chance to get some material and make the extra strap Rested Gal suggested.

(And I do have to join the legion of people who really wish they had an extra-large nasal cushion. I can work with the large, but it doesn't seal as nicely as a larger one would, IMO.)

I'll keep you apprised.

Liam, still trying!

Artwood · Post by **Artwood** » Wed May 11, 2005 11:20 am

Hopefully the Aura manufacturer or maybe another manufacturer will try Rested Gals' deconstruction and offer it for sale. My hair is already thinning so I'm not too concerned with the headgear as long as the interface stays in place. I like not having anything much touching my face.

I admit the Breeze feels rinky dink like it might come off any second, but so far I haven't had any porblems--I think maybe I don't toss and turn much since I've stared CPAP--I'm going to try the tennis sweat band mouth trick if I find out that I've been leaking. If my nose gets sore then I'll switch.

Maybe I should get more specific: How do the Swift, Aura, or Breeze nasal pillows feel on one's nose? Are the nostrils less sore on one versus the other? Nasal pillows are nice in eliminating facial pressure. Does anyone besides the aforementioned manufacturers make replacement pillows that might be more comfortable? I'm sure that the way any headgear or facial gear and interface are adjusted probably makes alot of difference on nasal comfort. How much difference does the nasal pillows themselves of the Swift, Aura, and Breeze make?

Mask	Humidifier

Additional Comments: i love resmed stuff!

Machine	Mask

Machine	Mask

Mask	Humidifier

Additional Comments: i love resmed stuff!

Swift versus Breeze versus Aura?

Swift versus Breeze versus Aura?

Mask choice