Aura temptation

Sleepless on LI · Post by **Sleepless on LI** » Sun Sep 04, 2005 7:39 pm

I can't help myself. I like to try new things. I have been mulling this over and asking questions for awhile now, but I think I'm going to go for it. Even though insurance can't help me out with this one as it's not on their "list" of attainable masks through any of their approved DMEs, and I would have to pay for it myself, I have read the pros and cons, but I still think I may have luck with the Aura interface.
One last and final question (I promise... ). Does that lockbox on the top of the headgear have weight to it so that if you side sleep, it will pull over to whatever side you lay on thereby causing the headgear to be at all unstable? I have to try to find the link to RG's post about what she did to hers. That should give me a clue.
In the meantime, thanks for any last input you can provide, if any...

wading thru the muck! · Post by **wading thru the muck!** » Sun Sep 04, 2005 8:52 pm

L O R I

The lock box is very light weight hollow plastic. It will not cause the interface to shift. One concern would be regarding your head size. Some women and men (mostly men with little hair) find that their head is smaller than the interface can be adjusted to accommodate.

I know that for me my cpap experience would be MUCH less comfortable without the aura.

AEIOMed is a new company that is focusing on providing a better innovative product for us cpap users and not just another interface with a higher profit margin.

I can't say that it WILL work for you, but I can say that if it does...you will love it.

Sleepless on LI · Post by **Sleepless on LI** » Sun Sep 04, 2005 9:09 pm

I can't say that it WILL work for you, but I can say that if it does...you will love it.

WTTM,
I couldn't and wouldn't ask you to give me a guarantee. I know that someone's favorite mask might be my worst. That's a given. You did give me some further insight, though, into the weight of the headgear/lockbox and the fact that the headgear might be too large to adjust. But I think there are always ways around that.

It seems to me that when it works for someone, it works incredibly well. Most people either LOVE it or HATE it. I found the link to Rested Gal's deconstruction and reconstruction of it and I was hoping not to have to do that to it. I guess there's always that possibility and that option, though.

I thank you for your opinion. It helps to hear what others have to say. I am still leaning towards giving it a try. I do wear my Swift every night, but don't really have another mask I like enough to use as a trade off. I've heard the pillows are really soft on the Aura and it's great for side sleeping. And the price isn't too bad, either, on this site. So it looks like if someone doesn't post a really negatively pursuasive reason for me not to try it, I probably will order it in the morning.

Have a great night and thanks again.

rested gal · Post by **rested gal** » Sun Sep 04, 2005 11:22 pm

Lori, as Wader said, the "lockbox" is hollow plastic. Very lightweight. I never even felt it up there.

Even though the top straps of the headgear were too long, I was able to wear it fine without deconstructing it. An extra homemade strap (yeah, the infamous pantyhose tights leg) added up at eyebrow level like a sweatband kept it perfectly stable for me.

The only reason I went into the complete deconstruction (removing all the headgear) was as an experiment to see if that could be done and still leave a "wearable" interface. Was doing that experiment because a woman had felt like the headgear was breaking off her hair. It never broke my hair, but I did the deconstruction anyway just for the heck of it. I liked it before deconstruction, and liked it even better afterwards.

Even with the headgear intact and with the headgear top straps being too long for many women's heads, those top straps don't have to really do anything up there. Even if they just sit up there in a loose loop sticking up on top, the rest of the headgear keeps it on fine. If not, the addition of a "sweatband" position strap does the trick.

(Famous last words!! LOL!)

ozij · Post by **ozij** » Sun Sep 04, 2005 11:30 pm

(Famous last words!! LOL!)

Or maybe famous first ones?

O.

rested gal · Post by **rested gal** » Sun Sep 04, 2005 11:53 pm

ROTFL, ozij. Yep.

Memory like an elephant, you've got, I tell ya!!

Sleepless on LI · Post by **Sleepless on LI** » Mon Sep 05, 2005 6:28 am

Well, if THIS elephant didn't forget what she's read on these boards, it just seems that there isn't a middle ground when it comes to the Aura. People either put it in that infamous drawer or they swear by it. I want to be one of those "swear by it" users.
I am going to give it a try. Hey, why not? So it will be just another experieince if it doesn't work out. It just looks like a great interface, IF IT WORKS, for someone who is an exclusive side sleeper. And as much as I love my Swift, I can't wear it with the tube up. Just doesn't work for me. So I tend to be conscious all night of making sure I won't displace the barrel when I roll to that side.
So these pillows don't come loose, eh? No need to worry, when it works right, that rolling over will cause a leak? Boy, I sound certain, don't I? ~

ozij · Post by **ozij** » Mon Sep 05, 2005 8:35 am

Hmm. I thought you mentioned those famous first ones not so long ago - It must be your memory, rested gal not mine....

O.

Sleepless on LI · Post by **Sleepless on LI** » Mon Sep 05, 2005 7:12 pm

Okay. As of 9:00 PM EST, I ordered the Aura interface from cpap.com. I will, or course, give you my opinion on it once I have received it and tried it. I promise in advance not to make this a six-page thread like what happened with the Breeze, or at least that is my intention not to. I am praying to be one of the fortunate ones who swears by it and not one of the ones that consider it a mistake and a memory.

In any event, I am looking forward to once again trying a new interface. This is the only spice I find I can add to my therapy, short of changing my settings, which doesn't always work out for the better. But, then again, neither do the new masks. But my last purchase of the Swift was the best one by far so far.

Wish me luck, please...hopefully I won't need it.

Fatigue Fighter · Post by **Fatigue Fighter** » Mon Sep 05, 2005 9:48 pm

Wish me luck, please

Lori,
I wish you much success with this mask. I'd like to know the details of how it works for you since I also sleep on my side. However, at this point, I am not so sure my nares will ever get used to 17cm so I am in the market for a decent full face mask. Still, I'd like to hold out on something less intrusive than a full face mask. Maybe the Aura is an acceptable alternative. Do let us know how it works for you. Thanks!
FF

rested gal · Post by **rested gal** » Mon Sep 05, 2005 10:42 pm

This is the only spice I find I can add to my therapy, short of changing my settings

ROTFL!! I love that!!!

Lori, you've ironed out so many wrinkles (in the therapy, I mean!! ) and are getting such beautifully low AHI's, no wonder your treatment has become so bland that you need to find ways to spice it up!!

Come to think of it, now that you mention it... I guess that's why I keep trying different machines and masks too -- and chopping masks to pieces. My sleep sessions sure have been peaceful for almost two years now.

Oh, be sure to save BOTH legs of the pantyhose tights.

You did run right out to buy a pair after you placed the order for the Aura, didn't you?!

You may need that extra leg to tie around your head like a loose sash over the pillows assembly down at the nostrils. I mention that just in case the pillow part needs a teensy, itsy-bitsy, miniscule, almost infinitesimal, minute tad of SUPPORT down there when you start tossin' 'n turnin' and the headgear starts FALLING OFF. heheh... just kidding.

errrr.. gosh, I hope "just kidding" doesn't have to be added to the list of famous last words!!

ozij, please keep track of the list for me. I'll forget where I put it!

ozij · Post by **ozij** » Tue Sep 06, 2005 2:47 am

ozij, please keep track of the list for me. I'll forget where I put it!

You, the master link collector lose track of anything? Go pull somebody else's leg... or is that a pantyhose leg loosing it's shape from all that pulling?

By the way, I'm thinking of an Aura too - haven't decided yet.
O.

Sleepless on LI · Post by **Sleepless on LI** » Tue Sep 06, 2005 7:00 am

Rested Gal writes: You may need that extra leg to tie around your head like a loose sash over the pillows assembly down at the nostrils. I mention that just in case the pillow part needs a teensy, itsy-bitsy, miniscule, almost infinitesimal, minute tad of SUPPORT down there when you start tossin' 'n turnin' and the headgear starts FALLING OFF. heheh... just kidding.

No, you didn't have to write "just kidding." Geesh, am I giving off that much of an airhead impression here? And to think I didn't think I did impressions...thanks for the warning. I'd rather go into this expecting some trouble and not get it rather than thinking it's going to be all smoothin sailing and have trouble. Truthfully? I am hopeful, but not allowing myself to be optimistic. It will be what it will be. But I have your picture of your reconstruction flagged on my computer just in case (how's the for optimism?).

And, yes, the therapy does need some spicing up now and then. Had to explain it to one of my closest friends last night because when I told her I ordered a new mask, her reaction was, "ANOTHER MASK??? WHY?" It's the only "fun" you can have if therapy has become very routine, NOT that I'm complaining about it.

Ozij,
You know me and my big mouth and I will be posting my experience with the Aura when I've had a chance to see how it works. Hopefully for both of us, it will be the type of post that will make you order one for yourself.

OldSeaRock · Post by **OldSeaRock** » Tue Sep 06, 2005 5:09 pm

I'll be interested in reading your review, Lori!

Sleepless on LI · Post by **Sleepless on LI** » Tue Sep 06, 2005 5:44 pm

I'll be interested in reading your review, Lori!

Like anyone could stop me... !