Opus 360 - Lesson 1

I''ve been trying the Opus 360, viewtopic.php?p=361911#p361911; have been at it for 7 nights, and here's one important lesson:
When inserting the seal into the frame, you have to be very careful to insert it symmetrically. The seal material is so soft that despite it's disticnt oval shape, you can misplace it on the oval frame. And the the pillows are uncomfortable, they may poke, and on of them wont' seal.

When that happens, remove the mask, check the pillow position relative to the frame, and correct it.
With the seal placed properly symmetrically, the straps don't have to be tight.

I think I had this problem badly the first night - all night long - and have caught the seal misaligned another two times.

O.

Right Ozij. I, too, am also trying out the Opus 360, as you know. I find that getting the pillow into the groove to be a key factor for a good seal. I have actually been using the Opus 360 whenever I take a nap (a couple of days a week) to get a feel for it as compared to the Swift LT, which I have been using for several months now and find it to be a bit "iffy" in terms of seal, some nights as the pilllows age.

Last night I used the Opus 360 overnight for the first time and things went well. My data was good and leak line good. I will have to be careful about that groove. I thought it was just me not getting it in and that the arthritis in my hands was to blame but it does take careful insertion.

Compared to the pillow you use on the Headrest, what size are you using on the Opus 360?

Thanks for sharing that tip!

I can use the medium and large on the Headrest
I can use the medium and small on the Opus. I think the Opus medium is better for me than the small.

O.

Thanks Ozij. I have been using the medium with the Opus.

With the Swift LT, I have been using the small but feel I should try using the medium in this one also because of it's habit of an "iffy" seal some nights.

You both have me very curious about the Opus 360. For one thing, the Opus 360 is $21 cheaper than the LT at cpap.com, and the pillows are $5 cheaper. I believe in supporting the less expensive product if it is just as good.

I am happy with the Swift II and the LT. I found that the LT pillows went through a few weeks where they seemed to need replacing, but I stuck with the same pillows and they seem to be behaving themselves again now. I have used the LT about 95% of the time for the last 4 months, same pillows. But still . . .

Hawthorne, How do the two compare to you as far as seal, ease-of-use, noise, etc.? If I'm happy with the LT, would it still be worth my while, do you think, for me to consider trying the Opus 360?

Well, I am pretty happy with the Swift LT except for this "on again - off again" successful sealing problem that occurs randomly for me.

I find the Opus pillows are somewhat firmer than the Swift LT. I needed some lanolin because of that (I'll toughen up) but find the seal good and more "reliable" (note above) than the Swift LT. Both are equally quiet, to my ear. Both are easy to use (if you get the pillow in the grove correctly as Ozij noted).

I found, and Ozij did as well, that the foam on the sides of the plastic part that hold the mask part ( I hope you know what I mean) on the Opus makes my face damp, sticky and uncomfortable. Padacheeks solved that problem. I had a couple of sets around.

I like that the headgear seems to stay put and the top straps don't slip as they did for me with the SwiftLT, until I added a little Velcro.

I think I will probably use the both masks and change up once in a while. I keep both nearby at night now and, if I start the night with Swift LT and have a problem with the seal, the Opus 360 is right handy - just pop one off and pop the other on.

I just won another -"New - package unopened" Opus 360 on cpapauction.com for $34.99. If I like a mask, I like to have 2 of them for parts or for longer use. There are a couple for sale there still I think. Someone was selling the older model for awhile but I think he got rid of them.

Someday I may settle on one of them for sure! Right now they are a "toss up" for me.

Hope that helps!

Hawthorne wrote:Well, I am pretty happy with the Swift LT except for this "on again - off again" successful sealing problem that occurs randomly for me.

I find the Opus pillows are somewhat firmer than the Swift LT. I needed some lanolin because of that (I'll toughen up) but find the seal good and more "reliable" (note above) than the Swift LT. Both are equally quiet, to my ear. Both are easy to use (if you get the pillow in the grove correctly as Ozij noted).

I found, and Ozij did as well, that the foam on the sides of the plastic part that hold the mask part ( I hope you know what I mean) on the Opus makes my face damp, sticky and uncomfortable. Padacheeks solved that problem. I had a couple of sets around.

I like that the headgear seems to stay put and the top straps don't slip as they did for me with the SwiftLT, until I added a little Velcro.

I think I will probably use the both masks and change up once in a while. I keep both nearby at night now and, if I start the night with Swift LT and have a problem with the seal, the Opus 360 is right handy - just pop one off and pop the other on.

I just won another -"New - package unopened" Opus 360 on cpapauction.com for $34.99. If I like a mask, I like to have 2 of them for parts or for longer use. There are a couple for sale there still I think. Someone was selling the older model for awhile but I think he got rid of them.

Someday I may settle on one of them for sure! Right now they are a "toss up" for me.

Hope that helps!

Thank you VERY much! That helps.

I don't know why I care about cost, since my situation right now is that I will be reimbursed. But it's the principle of the thing, I guess. And my curiosity makes me want to try other masks.

Thanks again.

jeff