Comparing pillow sizes with Optilife and Twilight NP Aura.

djdixie · Post by **djdixie** » Tue Apr 10, 2007 6:56 pm

I am currently using a Optilife with the small nasal pillows. I'd like to try the Twilight NP Aura but I've noticed it only comes with two sizes of pillows--medium and large. Does anyone have experience with both of them? What do you think my chances of success are in switching from the Optilife small to Twilight medium? I've already tried the Opus and those pillows don't work for me at all.

blarg · Post by **blarg** » Tue Apr 10, 2007 7:59 pm

The Twilight NP's pillows are very soft. I haven't tried the Optilife, but I bet you'd have good luck with them. I'm biased though.

SleepingBeauty · Post by **SleepingBeauty** » Tue Apr 10, 2007 8:39 pm

I am currently using the Optilife and just ordered the Aura last night! I've had a love/hate relationship with the Optilife. It is secure, but sometimes I wake up with so much pain from it jamming up under my nose. I'm looking forward to trying the Aura.

Blarg, have you had to modify yours? I've seen some comments about the nylon stabilizer, and I think it was for the Aura

tangents · Post by **tangents** » Wed Apr 11, 2007 8:02 am

Sleeping Beauty,
I've been using the Aura for about two weeks now. I couldn't keep a seal without stabilizing it. I use 4-way stretch material, but others have posted T-shirt material or women's tights as good materials.

Here's some suggestions from Rested Gal:

viewtopic.php?t=3098

Good luck with your Aura, I like mine.

blarg · Post by **blarg** » Wed Apr 11, 2007 3:17 pm

SleepingBeauty wrote:Blarg, have you had to modify yours? I've seen some comments about the nylon stabilizer, and I think it was for the Aura.

Well, I didn't "have" to modify mine really, but I did anyway. Many people just tie a leg from pantyhose tights (think lycra, not pantyhose material) around the pillows portion and back around their head to stabilize the Aura, because of its baseball cap design and insistance on "no straps on the face."

I just went all the way, sliced the headgear off, covered the hose with fleece, covered the pillows section with fleece, and now I use two pantyhose tights straps to hold it on. I find it more comfortable than the original headgear because I don't feel the pantyhose straps at all, they're so gentle. One thing about decapitating an Aura is that they then become more susceptable to twisting on your face, since the lycra straps aren't exactly rigid. So, now I hang my hose over my head. Nirvana.

Linda3032 · Post by **Linda3032** » Wed Apr 11, 2007 3:44 pm

I went to double check the pillow sizes at cpap.com because I distinctly remember that the pillows came in med/large or small/med. (Please tell me I'm not going nuts). But you are right, they are only offered in the med/large packaging now.

I also de-cap-itated my Aura (cut off the headgear). And find it much more comfortable. In fact, my second Aura that I bought used, even had the grey pillow holder/adjuster removed and it's even more comfortable.

The big thing about a decapitated Aura is that you need a good foam cushion under where it sits on the forehead. And then I tape it to the forehead piece to hold it in place.

I've tried 3 different pillow interfaces after I got my Aura -- and hated them. So, good luck if you get the Aura. But be brave and be prepared to remove the headgear if necessary.

Any stretchy material will make good straps.

blarg · Post by **blarg** » Wed Apr 11, 2007 3:49 pm

When I bought mine it was only Medium/Large. Of course that doesn't say much because I'm not exactly the most seasoned hosehead here.

Linda3032 · Post by **Linda3032** » Wed Apr 11, 2007 4:01 pm

Rested Gal will remember and will tell me if I'm going nuts.

But if there was never a small, then why is there a size called a medium? (arguing with myself). Otherwise, it would be sized as Standard/Large.

blarg · Post by **blarg** » Wed Apr 11, 2007 4:07 pm

Well, could be like why there are no small drinks at fast food restaurants anymore. lol.

Linda3032 · Post by **Linda3032** » Wed Apr 11, 2007 4:37 pm

And, in my opinion, anyone that wants to use the Aura needs to buy an Aussie heated hose. The Aura gets rainout (with a few exceptions). Mine gets rain droplets with the heated hose plus three hose covers on it.

djdixie · Post by **djdixie** » Wed Apr 11, 2007 7:39 pm

Sleeping Beauty: I will be very interested in hearing from you about the Aura/Optilife comparison because I think that is exactly where I'm headed. With the Optilife, some mornings I wake up with my nose sore just inside, where the pillows seem to rub and some mornings I wake up having slept very well and not sore at all. What size pillows are you using with the Optilife?

jcranmer · Post by **jcranmer** » Wed Apr 11, 2007 8:54 pm

Linda3032 wrote:And, in my opinion, anyone that wants to use the Aura needs to buy an Aussie heated hose. The Aura gets rainout (with a few exceptions). Mine gets rain droplets with the heated hose plus three hose covers on it.

I must be an exception, because I never get rainout with the Aura. I used to always get it with my old mask. Of course I only use my HH on 1, most of the time I don't even turn it on anymore.

djdixie · Post by **djdixie** » Fri Apr 13, 2007 9:04 am

Sleeping Beauty--have you received/tried your Aura yet?

SleepingBeauty · Post by **SleepingBeauty** » Fri Apr 13, 2007 10:16 am

I received the Aura in yesterday's mail! Funny how something like a piece of medical equipment can make you giddy and anxious to get home. I have been sleeping so crummy the last few nights that I was really hopeful about the Aura.

I must have a really small head, because I will need to cut and shorten the back velcro strap to make it stay on my head. I wish they would provide more adjustablility with that. After altering the strap length, I put it on and it was very comfortable. I can see why people tie it to stabilize it. I decided to just try it as it was. After tightening the nose piece upward, I lay down on my side and scrunched the pillow up like I normally do. It didn't move it at all. I thought the silicone material on the headpiece would get sweaty, but I didn't notice anything.

What I really like about the Aura over the Optilife is the fact that there is nothing hanging downward. I like to scrunch the blankets up under my chin and couldn't do that with the Optilife without jamming the hose up my nose. I got so tired of my nose being really sore for hours after the Optilife.

Also, the Aura vents upwards toward the headboard. I LOVE that part. With the Optilife, it always blew on my arm or hands.

I slept fine all night long and had a lower leak rate than the Optilife too! I'm happy so far. If I find it moving too much, I will try the stabilizing tricks posted here.

I would recommend trying the Aura!

djdixie · Post by **djdixie** » Fri Apr 13, 2007 1:09 pm

Sleeping Beauty--I know just what you mean about getting excitied to try something new. I recently got a PAPillow and wanted night time to hurry up so I could try it.

I am SO glad you had a good night with the Aura. If the first night went that well, I bet that mask is going to work great for you.

One of my biggest concerns about ordering an Aura is what I've read about it being on the large side and possibily not a good fit for people with a small head/face. I was very interested in your remarks about that because have a small head too. Since you were able to make it fit, maybe I could too.

What about the pillow sizes--which pillows did you use with the Optilife? And which ones with the Aura? I'm afraid the medium Aura pillows will be too large for me and I understand they don't offer a small size.

The Optilife actually seals really well for me, but I have some other problems with it just as you do. It would be WONDERFUL not to have straps going up my face!

Mask