Anyone have success with the Aura without modifications?

msr986 · Post by **msr986** » Thu Oct 20, 2005 12:42 am

I've been doing a lot of forum reading about the Breeze and Aura interfaces (my head is swirling).

I'd like to try one or the other.

A lot of people seem to like the Aura only after adding some makeshift straps and such (well, pantyhose for instance).

My question is, how many of you out there have had good success with the Aura without any modifications?

Sleepless on LI · Post by **Sleepless on LI** » Thu Oct 20, 2005 5:22 am

Most of my nights I use the Aura without modification. What pressure are you on? I think some have problems with it on higher pressures, although seamaiden doesn't. There are always simple tricks, like the pantyhose leg and the twister seal, that can fix it, too. It all depends on how it will work for you. There is no way to know unless you try it. Unless your pressure is a straight 20, and then I wouldn't recommend it or very many other masks out of the box. But it is definitely one of the most, if not the most, comfortable interfaces to wear/sleep in.

wading thru the muck! · Post by **wading thru the muck!** » Thu Oct 20, 2005 5:55 am

For me... aura without modifications = 100% success

msr986 · Post by **msr986** » Thu Oct 20, 2005 11:30 am

My pressure is 10, which should be no big deal.

I've been using the Swift with good results, however when I move from side to side, I seem to have to wake up to re-adjust the thing.

I've been on cpap for about a month, so far so good (once I got past the firat week or so).

Thought I'd try something different to see if it can stay put for me!

ozij · Post by **ozij** » Thu Oct 20, 2005 11:37 am

I can't keep it from leaking without supporting straps...
O.

BP · Post by BP » Thu Oct 20, 2005 12:11 pm

I have to use 1 support strap around the lower part of the cannula and around the back of the head just under the ears. But it's NO BIG DEAL! With the extra strap it is vritually leak proof for me.

Don't get caught up in things having to be perfect, i.e using an interface without mods, to consider an interface as an option. With cpap therapy, the users, us, are constantly having to tweak this and that to get things right. Just accept that you're going to have to do some tweaking to get it right for you, things go smoother after that. Very few people can just grab a machine and an interface an be happy with no tweaking.

Good luck,
BP

WillSucceed · Post by **WillSucceed** » Thu Oct 20, 2005 1:23 pm

Don't get caught up in things having to be perfect, i.e using an interface without mods, to consider an interface as an option

I think that BP is right about this in that each of us has a very different face; tweaking the mask is, in many cases, just the way it is.
I've been lucky with Breeze -it fits me perfectly right out of the box. It does require some patience to get it correctly adjusted, but for me, once it is adjusted, it is great.

Sleepless on LI · Post by **Sleepless on LI** » Thu Oct 20, 2005 2:45 pm

BP,

On the mark with the comment about not worrying about it not being perfect. So true. If you can get it to work, period, out of the box or not, it's a beautiful thing.

rested gal · Post by **rested gal** » Fri Oct 21, 2005 3:40 am

Just accept that you're going to have to do some tweaking to get it right for you, things go smoother after that. Very few people can just grab a machine and an interface an be happy with no tweaking.

Amen, BP.

Mask designers are human. What they get "right" in a design is "right" (straight out of the box) only for some people. They hope they are getting it right for a big percentage, but there are always going to be a lot of people for whom any mask needs some customization. Otherwise known as lab-ratting. LOL!

A long time ago I stopped thinking of these masks as (hushed, reverent tones) "medical" devices, and started thinking of them as being a piece of clothing I was going to make fit me and be comfortable. Even if it meant cutting it to pieces and reworking all the headgear to suit ME.

Most of the time it doesn't take anything as drastic as what I've done to some of my masks. If a person has a leaky mask and finds that holding the mask lightly in place with one's fingertips stops the leak...heck, just wrap a piece of soft cloth (a leg from a pair of pantyhose tights comes to mind...I have no idea why! heheh) around it right there. A few pennies worth of any soft cloth as an extra strap works miracles sometimes.

Born Tired · Post by **Born Tired** » Fri Oct 21, 2005 5:40 am

I've had my Aura for 3 nights now.
Night 1 Med nasal pillows. Pantyhose fix at eyebrow level & chin strap over the top. Absolutely no leaks that i'm aware of (don't have the ability to keep track--yet--software on the way ). Very comfortable.
Night 2 Same fix but maybe a couple of tiny leaks.
Night 3 After seeing your question, I decided to try it with no fixes. Used L pillows. Didn't even use the chinstrap--just taped the mouth. Never had any other interface even come close to the comfort of the Aura with no extras! I did have a huge problem with aerophagia --woke up in pain around 3 AM. In the past whenever this would happen, I would just pitch the mask for the rest of the night. The Aura is soooo comfy, I waited for a little while, put the chin strap on and climbed back into the Aura. But if I didn't have a need for a chin strap, I could easily have made it with NO fixes!
I should say that I really snug down the strap that goes at the nape of the neck--they do say you should do that. And I had to shorten that strap by folding a portion of it and then pinning it with a safety pin--it was way too long for my head. The following link will take you to help on fitting. Ozij had posted it earlier.
http://www.aeiomed.com/press/perfect_poster.pdf
Esther
Rested Gal,
Good to have you back!! Hope you had a great vacation. We missed you, but Lori has been keeping in line while your were gone.
I have an Auto on order. Thanks for your advice and encouragement in that area!
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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): Aura, Nasal Pillows, auto, aerophagia

Sleepless on LI · Post by **Sleepless on LI** » Fri Oct 21, 2005 6:15 am

Esther,

I am so happy you are getting the Aura to work so well for you. Aren't the pillows just the softest, squishiest pillows you could use? Very comfly.

Also, no matter how many posts I made, I will never know as much as RG knows. She is a truly amazing woman who has learned so much on her own about this condition. I may have volume, but I think she has far more quality in her posts. I bow down to her knowledge and incredible ability to impart it in such a clear and straightforward manner.

But thanks for the nice words, anyway.

msr986 · Post by **msr986** » Fri Oct 21, 2005 6:31 pm

Thanks everyone for the input!

I took the plunge and ordered the Aura (or Headrest, whatever).

We'll see what happens in a few days when it gets here; although I do have visions of breaking out the blow-torch and rivet gun so I can properly modify it!

-Marty

Born Tired,

Great news about the Aura. I hope my experience is just as good!