Aura temptation

[neversleeps]

oh.... well.... umm.... oops... Really? Are you sure? I just assumed... my bad!

My apologies Johnny, to you and your slotted nares.

And now, back now to my question:

I think we need to get some slotted-nared individuals who actually have OSA and use CPAP nightly with a nasal pillow mask to weigh in here and tell us like it is.

When you put something in your nostril, the tissue conforms to what's in it, doesn't it? For instance, your finger. (Not to be gross, but just bear with me for a minute while I try to make my point.) If you follow the theory that slotted nares cannot accommodate roundish nasal pillows, then you must believe a finger can't fit into a nose with slotted nares because the fingertip is roundish. Heck, I would think slotted nares might have an advantage with roundish nasal pillows due less potential gapping.

So what's the truth about slotted nares?

[Sleepless on LI]

Neversleeps,

First off, RG is right about Johnny's nares being "the girl's in the photo."

Second, I am your living proof that you don't have to have round nares to get a nasal pillow to work. Although mine are not as slotted as the photo, either, the Swift is my best interface yet. No problem with it at all. I use either the small or medium pillows, too. I don't like the larges and don't need them to get a great seal.

So, as RG said, they should change that line about nasal pillow interfaces not working for people with slotted nares. It could scare off some people from trying what might otherwise be a great interface for them.

The truth about slotted nares? I would think if they're very long, longer than could be sealed with a comfortable size for the width, then you couldn't use the pillows without being leaky. Otherwise, go for it (IMHO).

[FMichael4]

I don't think that would matter much. After all, the PB 420E with its extra sensor line was designed to read PB's Breeze well. Both the Breeze and Aura's narrow connector hoses are about the same distance from snout to where the sensor line that's inside the main air hose for the 420E ends -- at the connection of mask hose with main air hose. Shouldn't be a problem, imho.

Thanks, RG. That makes sense. I thought more about it and figured the hose itself probably carries the vibrations or whatever the tube reads since there is nowhere for it to go anyway.

The truth about slotted nares? I would think if they're very long, longer than could be sealed with a comfortable size for the width, then you couldn't use the pillows without being leaky. Otherwise, go for it (IMHO).

I think you've hit on something there!

[neversleeps]

Neversleeps,

First off, RG is right about Johnny's nares being "the girl's in the photo."

Second, I am your living proof that you don't have to have round nares to get a nasal pillow to work. Although mine are not as slotted as the photo, either, the Swift is my best interface yet.

Thanks so much for your input, Lori! I'm putting this question on a new thread to get more responses. R.G. is right, steering some individuals away from nasal pillows because of their nares would be robbing them of one of the most comfortable interfaces out there. (An interface -- in my case the Swift -- I wouldn't ever have even tried if not for your excellent review! Thank you so much!) And you have slotted nares, so that is very telling!!!

[Sleepless on LI]

Neversleeps,

I think a separate post is a great idea regarding slotted nares until the "warning" against using nasal pillow interfaces with them is removed. I can't see it being a problem unless, as I said, the length of the nares is so long that you compromise the comfort width-wise in order to obtain an adequate seal. Otherwise, it works perfectly for me. Why not for other?

Maybe that is the angle to use on the thread: How many people with "slotted" nares are using a nasal pillow interface with success? Go get 'em, NS!!! I will be your first reply when it's up and running, unless someone beats me to it.

[FMichael4]

Here's an update on my second night with the Aura.

Overall, the results were similar to the previous nights. My AHI improved a bit, down to about 4.8 and there was some improvement in the accoustical vibrations and flow runs, too.

It seems like the seal holds pretty well most of the night but I did wake up with a bit more leak. Still, the worst leak with the aura stayed under the "maximum leak" line for the associated pressure.

I did wake up again with a stuffy nose. I guess the next step is to try the humifier.

[Sleepless on LI]

Michael,
Thanks for your update. I would definitely try the hh if you are waking up stuffed. Some people actually say it clears their nose, I guess like breathing in steam when you had a cold when you were little. But, then again, I don't know how old you are and if they did that when you were small, too. There I go again, dating myself. Doing a lot of that lately. Is that a sign of getting old???

I will let you know how I do once they deliver mine Tuesday. UPS shows it made it to Secaucus NJ on Saturday, so I would think it would be out for delivery tomorrow in LI, NY. But they are still setting the 13th as the delivery date. Hopefully it comes early...

By the way, you haven't needed to do any reconstruction to yours yet, have you?

[WAFlowers]

I would definitely try the hh if you are waking up stuffed. Some people actually say it clears their nose, I guess like breathing in steam when you had a cold when you were little.

I just came through my first cold in a couple of years, and the first since starting xPAP. I have to say that the heated humidifier really did help; I never closed down completely (forcing me to mouth breathe) like I always have done in the past.

For 2 night I had to give up using my Swift though. Drippy nose + Swift = UGLY!!!!

I'm also going to add my 2cents worth on the issue of slotted nares and nasal pillows. I have a fine, delicate nose with slotted nares (not a great big honker) and the Swift with the medium pillows is an excellent fit for me. The large pillows don't work; they really hurt my nose. I suppose I should try the small sometime for completeness; they might even work as the medium feel like they are on the large side of a "just fit".

[Sleepless on LI]

Bill,

May I suggest adding your comment about slotted nares to the thread Neversleeps posted? It would help those looking at it who want to make the plunge of a nasal pillow interface but have the same type of nares and may have been scared off.

Glad you're feeling better.

[WAFlowers]

May I suggest adding your comment about slotted nares to the thread Neversleeps posted? It would help those looking at it who want to make the plunge of a nasal pillow interface but have the same type of nares and may have been scared off.

I think I did, but if not I will.

Glad you're feeling better.

Thanks. I ended up not competing or even attending the racing event yesterday. Just as well as all I wanted to do was sleep.

[FMichael4]

Michael,
Thanks for your update. I would definitely try the hh if you are waking up stuffed. Some people actually say it clears their nose, I guess like breathing in steam when you had a cold when you were little. But, then again, I don't know how old you are and if they did that when you were small, too. There I go again, dating myself. Doing a lot of that lately. Is that a sign of getting old???

I will let you know how I do once they deliver mine Tuesday. UPS shows it made it to Secaucus NJ on Saturday, so I would think it would be out for delivery tomorrow in LI, NY. But they are still setting the 13th as the delivery date. Hopefully it comes early...

By the way, you haven't needed to do any reconstruction to yours yet, have you?

Last night was the first night I slept through the night without getting up. I did wake up in the middle of the night but managed to NOT get out of bed to go to the bathroom. I think I had one night like that with the UM but this is the first with the Aura. Another interesting development is that my AHI continued to go down. Silverlining shows 0 Apneas and an index of 2.8 for hypoapneas + hypoapneas with flow. My vibrations and runs (FL) were down, too. The numbers seem almost too good to be true to me but I felt awake all day long.

The stuffiness was not as bad this morning. I think I will hold off a while longer on the h/h. I DO remember the steam from a vaporizer when I was a kid. I don't think that is a sign of getting old or else I am dated as well. I will keep the recommendations in mind, though, and may try the h/h in the future.

I haven't made any modifications to the mask but I am thinking seriously about using something like RG did to keep the seal a little more secure.

Another positive development is that the soreness I experienced the first night or so is gone. I guess my nares have gotten used to the pillows.

I look forward to reading your report. Hope yours comes early!!!

[Sleepless on LI]

Michael,

All I can say is, YES!!! You are having great success with the Aura out of the box. You can try putting some type of attachment, whether it be pantyhose legs like RG did or something else, to the bottom corners of the piece that holds the pillows in place and maybe that will help you. I'm thinking, though, if you need to do that, I'm sure I'll have to do some lab ratting myself.

Great news on your nares not being sore anymore and your numbers coming down. How much better can you get than no apnea? I am so happy things are working so well for you. I think I've slept through the night twice since starting therapy in the beginning of June. But that's okay. Even with my seconds of waking during the night for whatever reasons, whether it be to check if my new position caused the mask to leak or to get comfortable, I still wake up so energetic compared to the sleep I used to get pre-therapy, when I was up so many times a night and couldn't explain why..

My Aura will be delivered tomorrow and I have to be at work at 1. So I will try it tomorrow night, barring any unforseen delays in delivery. If I have half as much luck as you did with Aura, I'm ahead of the game. Thanks for the update.

[Sleepless on LI]

Okay. Got the Aura delivered while I was at work today. Took it out of the box. Let me say, before I figured out that the piece that holds the nasal pillows was on wire to be bent to fit, I was really scared and upset. It was leaking out of the bottom like crazy. But THEN...I figured it out and so far, it seems rather nice.

My only concern right out of the box is how to make the headgear work the best. I felt as if the back strap was already riding up my skull, so I made a makeshift ponytail, pulled it over the back strap to keep in in place. Is that a problem for anyone who wears the Aura? Should the headgear be made tight or not necessary?

I would love some input before I venture into my first night with it. Thanks!

[rock and roll]

Oh sure, you can tell by my avatar that I use a ponytail all the time I hope that's not what makes it work, I won't be getting one.

[Sleepless on LI]

Come on, R&R. Where's that pony tail you used to have back in their 60's or 70's? You can regrow it again...
I'll give you a better update tomorrow, after I try it out tonight (if I make it through a night with it on...yes, it's me, Mrs. Optimistic).