Aloha mask issues

[chunkyfrog]

You wonderful, creative guys!
Last night, I tried the Aloha again, but with a finger sized Sili-band to pull the pillows closer together.
(shaped like a little ice cream cone-- )
I tightened up the straps a little more, and --I think it's going to work! Leak rate--13.2!
And I slept for 8.2 hours--pretty much straight through.
The previous night, I had to switch back to the FX after an hour, as the leaks on the Aloha were simply maddening.
The mask is still desperately in need of an smaller size of headgear,
and I expect to do some major alterations to improve stability on my head.
The long part of the 'hockey stick' is simply too long!

[Starlette]

Agrees with ChunkyFrog with the length of the "hockey stick".

Starlette

[Papit]

If interested, check out more details on how to find commonly available "compression clip" wire material per SleepyToo2's question on how to proceed with that approach.
Go to thread, viewtopic/t76155/A-3quot-length-of-dental-floss.html

[portiemom]

I agree, the headgear is way toooooooo big for some of us. The hockey stick thing is a real variable for this mask (IMHO), for me it works to keep the pillows just right in my nares, and off my top lip. Papit, I think those hockey sticks is where you have your problem with the Aloha, also it is apparent that if the Swift Lt. works for you Aloha pillows will be a tad to far apart from each other and vices versa for those who are having success with the Aloha pillows but not the Swift Lt. pillows. Just my experience and from what I'm reading here on the forum.

[BadBreath]

While I find the aloha pillows uncomfortable, otherwise it was the best "right out of the box" mask for me, light and relatively stable. On considering modifications (as usual) I realized that the top strap lifted the stiff side support pieces off of the top of my ears and actually reduced stability, allowing the mask to move when I would bury my face during side sleeping. So I just removed the top strap altogether. With the side supports resting on top of my ears, much like a pair of glasses, the increased stability eliminated the unseating of the pillows completely, while the back strap no longer rode up the back of my head during the night. It's counter-intuitive, but I suggest you try it.

[ems]

I found the nasal pillows to be a nice fit; however, I couldn't get comfortable with the stiff plastic side pieces. I guess in comparison to the Bella Loops, it felt like there was much more on my face and my head.

I've read that they have fixed the leak issues with the Sleep Weaver mask. That's the next mask I'll try (again) and will report back.

[Issac]

I saw someone with the Swift FX use a white support of some sort that seemed to make the pillows stand up like Aloha's . I don't know what he used, probably plastic to make rings. That, too could be a solution to the Swift FX if the pillows are too week. Papit, have your tried the Swift LT pillows? I found the LT to be the most similar to the Aloha, but the pillows might be closer together. I can even wear an LT (with Lanolish).

[Papit]

Papit,
I finally figured out what the heck that paper clip thing is on your avatar photo of you and the Swift FX (because you would never tell me...) Anyway. It's a paper clip that is bent to bend the pillows to the shape of your nostrils so you don't have leaks. Am I right? Am I right? I'm right. That's why you made those rings for the Aloha. I get it. I finally get it.Your angling the rings to tilt the pillow just like you probably used the wire to bring the pillows towards each other. The wire paper clip thing was driving me batty, but I see now that your an innovator who needs to innovate ways of managing your leaks so you can use pillow masks. You might have a deviated septum and need to aim your pillow toward the open part of your nostril (I'm no doctor, but I read on Sleepnet years ago that the nasal aire was the perfect mask for deviated septum because it opened their nostrils for them).Makes sense. I hope one of your "fixes" helps other people who have trouble enjoying pillow masks, too.I could never go through all that. When the Swift FX kept collapsing on me, I gave up. The Aloha works like a dream for most and I hope you get a mask for you that works like that. You are one heck of an engineer. Looks like if they don't make one that works for your nose, you will! I admire your good old fashioned American ingenuity.

You figured it right, Neverbetter, except for the paper clip. I used a better wire material. I've posted the details in a number of threads. See today's most recent at viewtopic.php?f=1&t=76155&p=712115#p712115 Didn't realize you wanted the details too or would have sent it to you sooner. I too hope one of my "fixes" helps other people who have trouble enjoying pillow masks.
And you're right, as well, about me having a deviated septum, but that didn't seem to be a problem with the Swift FX pillows. I think ResMed has their pillows better designed. Anyway, thanks for the kind words. Hope you're doing well with your xpap and sleeping well. Keep in touch.

[Papit]

I saw someone with the Swift FX use a white support of some sort that seemed to make the pillows stand up like Aloha's . I don't know what he used, probably plastic to make rings. That, too could be a solution to the Swift FX if the pillows are too week. Papit, have your tried the Swift LT pillows? I found the LT to be the most similar to the Aloha, but the pillows might be closer together. I can even wear an LT (with Lanolish).

If you're no longer using it, want to sell or lend it to me to try? Would need medium or large pillow.

[Papit]

". . . Last night, I tried the Aloha again, but with a finger sized Sili-band to pull the pillows closer together. (shaped like a little ice cream cone-- ) I tightened up the straps a little more, and --I think it's going to work! Leak rate--13.2!
And I slept for 8.2 hours--pretty much straight through.
The previous night, I had to switch back to the FX after an hour, as the leaks on the Aloha were simply maddening.
. . .

"While I find the aloha pillows uncomfortable, otherwise it was the best "right out of the box" mask for me, light and relatively stable. On considering modifications (as usual) I realized that the top strap lifted the stiff side support pieces off of the top of my ears and actually reduced stability, allowing the mask to move when I would bury my face during side sleeping. So I just removed the top strap altogether. With the side supports resting on top of my ears, much like a pair of glasses, the increased stability eliminated the unseating of the pillows completely, while the back strap no longer rode up the back of my head during the night. It's counter-intuitive, but I suggest you try it.

Those are interesting ideas, chunkyfrog and badbreath. Thank you, I'll test them both and see how they do.
All the best.

[portiemom]

Nate, Nate, Nate, I'm surprised, don't you mean the Aloha Pillows are not superior for you, as oppose to saying they ARE inferior to the Swift Fx, for me and I would imagine others they are superior for US than the Swift. I find them to be spaced perfect for me where the Swift Pillows are too close together..........so in the interest of those that may be interested in either nasal pillow mask, don't you think you should clarify your conclusions to IMHO or just stick to the facts. Lovya posts Nate so don't get crazy, I'm just sayin

[portiemom]

BadBreath, I saw your post on this thread about your getting the Aloha to work for you so let's forget the trade, and I hope it works well for you. I will PM you so you get this message in two places. Not a problem for me, so don't give it a second thought my friend.

[NateS]

Nate, Nate, Nate, I'm surprised, don't you mean the Aloha Pillows are not superior for you, as oppose to saying they ARE inferior to the Swift Fx, for me and I would imagine others they are superior for US than the Swift. I find them to be spaced perfect for me where the Swift Pillows are too close together..........so in the interest of those that may be interested in either nasal pillow mask, don't you think you should clarify your conclusions to IMHO or just stick to the facts. Lovya posts Nate so don't get crazy, I'm just sayin

Where did I say that????????

Best wishes, Nate

PS - I don't believe that the Aloha pillows are inferior to the Swift pillows, but even if I did, you are right that I generally avoid phrasing my impressions in terms of absolutes and, if I did it, I would want to apologize and retract.

[portiemom]

Ooooooooooooo Nate, Nate, Nate FORGIVE ME PLEEEEEASE, I should have said PAPIT, PAPIT, PAPIT1 I am soooooooo SORRY NATE!!!! You know I'm your BUD!

[NateS]

Ooooooooooooo Nate, Nate, Nate FORGIVE ME PLEEEEEASE, I should have said PAPIT, PAPIT, PAPIT1 I am soooooooo SORRY NATE!!!! You know I'm your BUD!

Haha!

While you were typing this, I was searching for and finding the culprit myself



and caught him red-handed!: Our good friend :

[Updated on 5/27/12] The conclusion I've come to thus far is that the pillow design of the FX is clearly superior to that of Aloha's (even with its angular adjustment feature). The overhead short tube connection feature of the Aloha is completely lacking in the FX unless you rig it up as I did a few months back. I've been using that overhead tube routing along with the 'compression clip' that I designed for the FX for months now to optimize an already good pillows fit. The pillows seal of the FX has been super.

But in Papit's defense, he did qualify what he said with: The conclusion I've come to thus far …

Benjamin Franklin's Autobiography:

I even forbid myself … the use of every word or expression in the language that imported a fixed opinion, such as certainly, undoubtedly, &c., and I adopted, instead of them, I conceive, I apprehend, or I imagine a thing to be so or so; or it so appears to me at present.

Best wishes, Nate