Question about Aura

Snoozie · Post by **Snoozie** » Sun Nov 06, 2005 8:02 pm

After much consideration and reading all the reviews trying to decide if I wanted to purchase the Activa or the Aura, I have settled on the Aura for a change from the Swift. I love my Swift a lot, but am fed up with the stiff straps digging into my skin. My question is whether the nasal pillows are similar. Are they slotted or round? The CPap sizing guide does not include the Aura in their measurements. Thanks.

ProfessorSleep · Post by **ProfessorSleep** » Sun Nov 06, 2005 8:06 pm

Snoozie, the "Interface formerly known as Aura" comes with two pillow sizes. I use a medium on the Swift, and found the medium on the Aura to be comparable, only much softer. They are round, similar to the Swift, but protrude a bit more. As for the straps on the swift digging in to your face, I got some PadACheeks recently that solved that. I now like my Swift so much better and find it quite comfy to wear. You can find a lot of recent discussion on PadACheek strap cushions on this site or find the pads at Yahoo auctions. They make a world of difference in the comfort of the Swift - for me, anyway.

I also liked the aura, however, but had trouble with condensation in the nasal loop portion. Some nights it just wouldn't stay in place no matter what. So I'm back to the Swift - with the padded straps. Good luck to you!

Snoozie · Post by **Snoozie** » Sun Nov 06, 2005 8:23 pm

Thanks! I have the padacheeks and used 1 set last night. They helped a little. I absolutely have nothing against them and think they are a wonderful product, I think it is just that the Swift straps have that hard plastic on the outside, and I am such a weird sleeper, digging my face into my pillow that I need more. Tonight I am going to double them as someone else suggested (I purchased 2 sets) and will try them that way. I think they will work. I was just looking for something to rotate with at least on work days so I didn't have to have marks for several hours. Now that you mention the condensation problem, not so sure that I want to try the Aura for that much money. I don't get the rainout with my swift. Decisions...Decisions. Also, I wear a small pillow in the Swift - when I wear the medium, it tends to leak when I sleep in certain positions, so I don't know if the Aura will be too large for me.

ProfessorSleep · Post by **ProfessorSleep** » Sun Nov 06, 2005 8:28 pm

There are quite a few Aura users here - hopefully someone else can help out with that. I do think that the Mediums and the headgear itself are a tad on the large side. I recall some of the women saying the Aura headgear would not adjust small enough to fit them. I liked the feel of the pillows and not having any straps at all was very, very appealing. But it took extra straps made out of pantyhose (at the suggestion of Rested Gal) to make it work. Hopefully there will be a Swift 2 some day that will use the soft silicone pillows of the aura and, I agree with you, without the stiff plastic of the current Swift. We can always dream, right? (assuming we sleep, that is)

Beth

Sleepless on LI · Post by **Sleepless on LI** » Mon Nov 07, 2005 6:16 am

Snoozie,

As far as the Aura, it works great for some, not for others. The nasal pillows will not be your problem, I don't think. Funny how cpap.com never listed the XL pillows that Aeiomed told me were ready for sale before the Hurricane Katrina. But I might suggest, if you like your Swift but the straps are a problem, I read where Jere bought TWO sets of PadACheek straps and that made it leave NO marks on his face. Maybe since it is a lot cheaper to buy the PAC's than to buy an Aura, you might go that route first.

Just a thought...

Snoozie · Post by **Snoozie** » Mon Nov 07, 2005 4:02 pm

Thanks, I had already ordered 2 sets of the padacheek and tried them last night. It helped somewhat, but still some marks. I think it is just the way I sleep. Definitely an improvement with 2 sets though. I sleep with my face off the corner of my pillow and I think the top portion of the strap just digs in my face no matter what I use. Definitely nothing against the padacheek, though - I love them!

Anyway, I went ahead and already ordered the Aura last night. Expensive gamble, but I thought I should have 2 systems to use anyway in case something happens to the swift or a piece would happen to break. Anyway, we'll see. I may as well join the CPap collectors club.

Sleepless on LI · Post by **Sleepless on LI** » Mon Nov 07, 2005 4:14 pm

Snoozie,

I wish you the best of luck with the Aura. It really is a great interface. It is definitely the most comfortable one I ever used. The material that the nasal pillows are made from is the softest of any of them, I think. Be alerted to the fact that you MAY have to fadiddle a little with it to get it right. Some people use it ROOTB (that's my new acronym for "right out of the box") but others have to bend the wires, adjust the positioning bars, put pantyhose around one part or another, etc. But once you get it to work right for you, you fall in love with it.

Beth/Professor Sleep is right about it, for some reason, retaining condensation. But if you're like me and don't use the hh, it won't matter. If you do, you may wind up investing in the Aussie hose.

I was of the belief that my sleep and feeling rested was of the utmost importance so I would spend any last change I had to fine-tune a mask with whatever I had to buy or do to make it work the best it could. Don't go running scared if you need to do some lab ratting to get it right.

Let us know how it turns out for you. I'm keeping my fingers crossed you'll like it.

rock and roll · Post by **rock and roll** » Mon Nov 07, 2005 4:52 pm

Snoozie,

it depends on where you live as far as condensation, I live in Texas and it is never an issue. I was a confirmed Swift user and still am on the road but after finding "my adjustment" as there are many, I love the Aura. Don't judge it by the first night, it took me two weeks to fall in love with it and now it's my favorite. I also alternate with the nActiva sometimes, it is a good one as well and the best of the masks.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Nov 07, 2005 5:54 pm

R&R,

Music to my ears...my ears are dancing to the tune!

Sleepless on LI · Post by **Sleepless on LI** » Mon Nov 07, 2005 5:55 pm

Anonymous wrote:R&R,

Music to my ears...my ears are dancing to the tune!

(that was me-getting guested a lot again tonight)

Snoozie · Post by **Snoozie** » Mon Nov 07, 2005 6:55 pm

Lori and R&R,

Thank You! I received an email that it has been shipped already. I will give a testimonial after I receive it.

As for condensation, R&R, I live in Ohio and like to sleep in a cool bedroom buried in my down comforter, and yes, Lori, comfort is #1 now that after all these years I am finally sleeping through the night. It is just the best thing that has happened to me in a long time! I love feeling awake and more energetic during the day without the need for a nap when I get home most days. Now, instead of dragging until bedtime, I am actually prosperous after work.

I do use my humidifier, but set on only 2. Actually, one night I forgot to turn it on and didn't even miss it. If condensation is a problem, the heated hose might be my next investment. I have been contemplating it anyway, but with the swift, I haven't really needed it.

ProfessorSleep · Post by **ProfessorSleep** » Mon Nov 07, 2005 9:03 pm

Before spending the $ for the heated hose, you might try wrapping the exposed areas of the Aura with a good insulating material. I chopped up an old sweatshirt and wrapped several layers of that around the base of the nasal loop (where it attaches to the rest of the system) and also made a cover for the short tube. That did help quite a bit, but then the temp. dropped (Wisconsin, ya know!). Heated hose probably would have done the trick.

Teej813 · Post by **Teej813** » Tue Nov 15, 2005 12:13 pm

I'm following this conversation closely, and want to thank everyone for taking time to post helpful info like this. I've been using the Activa since i started CPAP almost 6 months ago. It's a great mask, and i'm sleeping pretty well. But the bulk and weight of the thing has always bothered me. I'm hoping the Aura will be an improvement.

tj

Colorado Jan · Post by **Colorado Jan** » Tue Nov 15, 2005 3:06 pm

Is it just me or does the Aura really do a job on your hair? I think I recall someone even thinking it broke their hair....I don't think it is causing permanent damage or anything, but man, you wake up and it is like you've had mice nesting in your hair all night long or something. Of course none of the headgear really IMPROVES your hairdo, but the Aura definitely stands out from the crowd in that respect.

Jan in Colo.

Sleepless on LI · Post by **Sleepless on LI** » Tue Nov 15, 2005 4:43 pm

Jan,

I liked to think of the Aura as "crimping" that part on the top of my hair ever so DEEPLY!!! Nothing that a blow dryer and a minute couldn't fix. Janelle used to say it broker her hair, I believe, but I didn't experience that, thank goodness. So I guess you're still using the Aura after all???