Aloha vs Opus 360 Mask?

[ems]

Nate you can take poor Bella out of the drawer for a one night fling every now and then, just don't let it go to her head.

LOL!

For all who commented on the Aloha... thanks! One more question - someone (Nate, I think ??) said that the Aloha is a full headgear mask as opposed to the FX for Her with Bella Loops, which means very little on your face. Any comments on this would be appreciated.

[nanwilson]

Okay..I caved I know I said I wouldn't but I had to have it......I ordered it from our hosts and I should have it in 2 to 3 weeks. My big mistake was to go to the Respcare website and look up the Aloha, no amount of smacking myself worked...I HAD to have it. I'll give my review when I get it in a couple of weeks time. I will allow you all to smack me now.....
Cheers
Nan

[ems]

I was just on their website also... and I didn't cave...at least not yet. It looks really interesting, stable and comfortable. But, those side straps look a bit much, especially for the summer months. We do have AC, but from the look of it reminds me of fleece and I don't like fleece on my face. What I really like about the Bella Loops is having so little on my face. I don't like the occasional hissing but will put up with that to have less on my face.

Awhile back Pugsy and Nate ordered covers for the Bella Loops. Would be appreciated if you could point me in that direction again. Also, Pugsy, are you still working with Karen on covers for the BL?

[the_nap_ster]

One more question - someone (Nate, I think ??) said that the Aloha is a full headgear mask as opposed to the FX for Her with Bella Loops, which means very little on your face. Any comments on this would be appreciated.

This might have been me! I meant that the Aloha still has two straps going over the back of your head, and that sometimes feels a little more "mask-like" to me than just the little Bella side straps that go around your ears. It's personal preference, but I'm someone who gets easily annoyed with stuff on my head. The over-the-head straps on the Aloha aren't troublesome, but they are *something*, compared to Bella's *nothing*.

And yay Nan!!! I'm so happy to join the enablers' side, instead of merely being one of the enabled. I hope you love it as much as I do!

[NateS]

…Awhile back Pugsy and Nate ordered covers for the Bella Loops. Would be appreciated if you could point me in that direction again.…

These are the ones I got:

SnuggleCover Set for Swift FX Bella Headgears

https://www.cpap.com/productpage/snuggl ... dgear.html

Nate

[ems]

Thanks so much, Nate!

[Issac]

I'm still waiting for one, as well. I'm just thankful every time some innovation comes along and raises the bar. What do they say about a rising tide lifting all the boats ?

[Pugsy]

Awhile back Pugsy and Nate ordered covers for the Bella Loops. Would be appreciated if you could point me in that direction again. Also, Pugsy, are you still working with Karen on covers for the BL?

I didn't like the SnuggleCovers at all. Too much bulk and it wouldn't stay in the groove behind my ear.
I have small ears. From the top of my ear down to the top part of the groove is a very short distance.
I gave one of the long pieces to Karen to see what it was like. I used the 2 short pieces for loop covers unlike what the directions say. That would have been way too much bulk for me. If you want what I have ...you can have them.

Yes, I am still testing Karen's ideas. Both the side covers and the loop covers. Trying to find the right density of material...just enough fluffiness to be comfortable but not add much bulk. The loops slide around too easily if there is much bulk. I think she has the velcro sorted out though. We want it so we don't have to disassemble the loops..just want to velro it in place...so velcro strip needs to be tiny or it becomes a problem. I think she has solved that issue though.

For anyone following this thread and not the Aloha replacement pillow thread where I posted my review of the Aloha.. short version..it's a keeper. Reminds me an awful lot of the Swift LT but more comfortable.

[Starlette]

I have a question: It never dawned on me till now to put on my chinstrap first then mask.
What kind of chinstrap are you using to do this? Since day one, I've used the Respironic Deluxe Chinstraps.
This is what I was given after diagnosed with sleep apnea.
Website: https://www.cpap.com/productpage/respir ... strap.html
I tried to put chinstrap on first last night, it wasn't going to happen.

Thanks.
Starlette

[lagasan]

I'm an Opus 360 switched to Aloha! I loved the 360 over the Swift Fx. I've had the Aloha a few weeks. Love it more than all others!

Excellent seal at a pressure of 12. I use lansinoh lanolin on my nostrils. Have tried with and without the lanolin and still prefer "with". The headgear leaves no marks on my cheeks like the 360 did. I used 360 over my head. I don't like the Aloha over my head. I am adjusting to the hose laying flat on the bed (when on my side or stomach) and on my chest when on my back with no pillow. Since beginning CPAP this stomach sleeper is learning to like back sleeping. I set my pillow aside and sleep with my arms over my head. Strange, but comfortable.

Back to the Aloha! The vent faces slightly up (towards top of head) when hose is on my chest. When hose overhead, vent faces down and blows on blanket. No good. Also, when hose is overhead, the Velcro holder holds it so that the rigid end of the squiggly tube hits the pillow, bed, etc... Not good. Also, when hose overhead, the squiggly tube collapses onto my face and falls from one side to the other. The 360 was more rigid and went unnoticed during the night. Do not expect that with Aloha. I loved overhead hose on 360 and don't miss it on Aloha. To reiterate, if you like overhead hose, Aloha may not work for you.

But no leaks and no cheek marks! And the headgear is very comfortable. I use the forward slot for the top strap. The back strap doesn't slide up the back of my head as much as the 360 did. I played with the tightness of the straps and am surprised they do not need to be tight. The cheek pads that come with it are very soft and cozy!!

I liked 360 because it did not rest on my upper lip like Swift Fx. With the adjustment on Aloha all the way out (against flat part) the Aloha is "in between" Swift Fx and 360. The 360 was giving me a piggy nose at night. Aloha doesn't do that. It fits better and doesn't push my nose up! No more Miss Piggy.

I hope this helps with the 360-Aloha comparison. I am an Aloha convert.

Anne

[lagasan]

Stomach sleeping... The Aloha is pretty good! With my head to the side, the vents do blow on the mattress a bit but are fully venting. So no CO2 concerns.

Side sleeping... Also good! No hose concerns.

Both... The key is the plastic "prongs" that attach the pillows to the headgear. They flex and do not push the pillows the way the 360 does. The flexibility is great! This is one of the big wins over the 360!

Washing the thing... It is a bit of a pain removing the prongs each morning and reinserting each night. But I have to to was the thing without getting the headgear wet. Other than that, easy to keep clean. The pillows are sturdy like 360. They are not the "double layer" like the FX.

Anne

[jimnsc]

I've used the Mirage Swift II, the Swift LT, the Swift FX, the Opus 360 and now the Aloha and the winner is...... the Aloha! In the post above I didn't quite understand why one would remove the prongs from the pillows every day unless they are washed daily. Listed below are some highlights of the Aloha for me.

- Gentle and soft
- Pillows are nicer and seal better (I use Large).
- They stay put (restless side to side sleeper)
- I still feed mine overhead like all the rest using the Hose Buddy - no problem.
- My prongs adjusted them selves to the 4th mark (perfect for me).
- No longer have a need for Lansinoh
- Can't beat the price!
- I own two now.
- Being a side sleeper I do get marks on my cheeks but they're hard to find among all my other facial wrinkles!
- Tip for not disturbing the prongs when removing the mask - reach behind your head and pull up on back strap to remove.
- I thankfully do not have to use tape or a chin strap! I was a mouth breather but I have learned to sleep with my mouth shut.
- My AHI's have averaged 1.8 for April. My best ever was 0.3 with the Aloha.
- We shouldn't have bragged so much on the pillows - now they're $25 a pop.
- I predict the head gear will outlast the one on the 360.

Note: I read somewhere in some very early information before the mask was introduced that the head gear would come in sizes (S-M-L). I could be wrong but I don't think so. If they introduce sizes later on it will be better that everyone tried the standard and would have a better idea of which size would be best for them (having this size to compare to). Any one else run across that info ? it was not on this forum. I love the Aloha in case you didn't pick up on that!

[NateS]

I have a question: It never dawned on me till now to put on my chinstrap first then mask.
What kind of chinstrap are you using to do this? Since day one, I've used the Respironic Deluxe Chinstraps.
This is what I was given after diagnosed with sleep apnea.
Website: https://www.cpap.com/productpage/respir ... strap.html
I tried to put chinstrap on first last night, it wasn't going to happen.

Thanks.
Starlette

I use the Ruby (Fixed size/non-adjustable: https://www.cpap.com/productpage/tiara- ... strap.html

As you mentioned, I find it works best to put it on first before the Aloha.

Works great. Drop my chin into it and then pull it over my head from front to back. Nothing to adjust or move around or shift. Drops into place perfectly, unlike my prior, simpler ResMed chinstrap, which would loosen up everytime the top strap shifted a little forward or backward on the top of my head.

Regards, Nate

[ozze_dollar]

I was looking at the Aloha mask on CPAP.com and it doesnt seem to include the small hose that joins the main hose(just like the swift FX). When I look at a photo of the aloha it seems to need such a hose,or am I wrong?.

[Elle]

It does include the small hose. It shows in the group of pictures on cpap.com