Aloha vs Opus 360 Mask?

[portiemom]

I tried that Pugsey, but then my head turned and the hose didn't landed on the short hose with my cheek ouch not a good feeling in the middle of the night. I'll fiddle with it tonight. Hope you like your new mask, Aloha and goodnight!

[NateS]

Thanks, Nat. Are the side straps more, the same, or less noticeable compared to the FX, for back or side sleeping?

Nat and Squid: What size O-rings (diameter) are you guys using on the pillows? I imagine the ring gives the pillows a little more stability than they would otherwise.

Sorry, I didn't notice your followup questions before.

The side "straps" by which I assume you mean the device that holds the nasal pillows up under the nose, are lower on the face on the Aloha than on the Swift FX. In addition, they are not really straps but are intentionally of a stiffer (padded) material which I think of as more of a suspension system, dropping down diagonally below the cheeks and then reaching horizontally towards each side of the nose, in order to keep the nasal pillows just under the nose. (Just to clarify my calling them "stiffer" I would say that they are rigid in the vertical plane but flexible in the horizontal plane, so they have no trouble following the contours of your face.)

As for the O-rings, I try to avoid introducing more than one new thing at a time, to try to avoid confusing myself as to what made things better or worse, so I have not yet moved the O-rings off the Swift onto the Aloha. And so far I am so pleased with my AHIs and so much less fussing over leaks with the Aloha that I haven't been motivated to make any changes or additions. Time will tell.

Best regards, Nate

[Papit]

Sounds like a nicely engineered little structure designed to hold those pillows firmly and exactly where you want them. Very good graphic description. Thanks, Nate, I'll probably order one the next time (3 months) I'm scheduled for a replacement mask. I understand the mask's advantage in holding the orientation of the pillows in place for repositioning the mask in the dark when it gets dislodged by you maybe rolling over. It is really more resistant to being dislodged by such head or body movement compared to the FX, or is it about the same in that respect?

[NateS]

Sounds like a nicely engineered little structure designed to hold those pillows firmly and exactly where you want them. Very good graphic description. Thanks, Nate, I'll probably order one the next time (3 months) I'm scheduled for a replacement mask. I understand the mask's advantage in holding the orientation of the pillows in place for repositioning the mask in the dark when it gets dislodged by you maybe rolling over. It is really more resistant to being dislodged by such head or body movement compared to the FX, or is it about the same in that respect?

I think it is both: more resistant to being dislodged and also easier to put back in exactly the right spot if dislodged.

Nate

[SleepyToo2]

Also, the flexibility in the pillows means that the mask is more tolerant to those little movements that break the seal with other pillows and masks. Because the pillows are so small, there is not enough mask for the flexibility to be a problem. The suspension system is really well designed for the real sleeper (rather than for people who lie in one position all night!). I just wonder why it has taken all those designers so long to come to this design?

[portiemom]

This mask for me it the total picture, Nate is on spot with both structure and flexibility. It has become apparent to me that I have found the perfect mask and now due to my spinal issues, I must work diligently on changing my sleeping position. My sincere appreciation to all that post on this wonderful Aloha mask.

[the_nap_ster]

Thought I'd jump in with my first-night Aloha report.

Through luck or providence, I ended up putting this mask through some serious paces last night. I have celiac disease, and I got exposed to gluten sometime yesterday. For me, this means general pain and misery, including serious tossing-and-turning sleep.

The good: this mask will not leak on me. Seriously. It will not leak on a plane, on a train, in a boat, on a moat. I was all but hanging from the ceiling last night, and the seal on the pillows never broke. It was truly remarkable. And the pillows are *comfortable* -- they don't keep the seal by applying massive pressure onto your nostrils. They are just really well designed and made of well-sealing material. IMHO, this pillow design should be the new standard for all masks.

The so-so: I was seduced by the flannel fuzziness of the covers and so put this mask on beneath my chin strap. That was a bad idea. I was on my side a lot last night, and the sides of this mask are very rigid, much firmer than the head gear of the Swift FX. Even with the flannel covers, the firm sides were uncomfortable directly against my cheeks when I was laying on my side. This might have been worsened by have my chin strap over the mask, increasing pressure. Half-way through the night I got up and rearranged myself, putting the chin strap on first as a barrier. This definitely helped. But I still had some serious marks in the morning.

The upshot: I like this mask approximately six million times more than the Swift FX. It's ability to keep a seal is ridiculous (in a good way). But it is still full headgear, and my Bella Loops have me used to very little stuff on my head. I think Aloha and Bella are going to be my two go-tos for a while.

[rosacer]

The_nap_ster: Thanks for that so well explained report, I love the way you make your repports allways with all the important details included.

You say

the pillows are *comfortable* -- they don't keep the seal by applying massive pressure onto your nostrils.

could you tell me how the pillows are stabilized ? What makes the pillows stay in place? Does it rest over your upper lip?

Thanks

[NateS]

The good: this mask will not leak on me. Seriously. It will not leak on a plane, on a train, in a boat, on a moat. I was all but hanging from the ceiling last night, and the seal on the pillows never broke. It was truly remarkable. And the pillows are *comfortable* -- they don't keep the seal by applying massive pressure onto your nostrils. They are just really well designed and made of well-sealing material. IMHO, this pillow design should be the new standard for all masks.

Boy do I agree with you on that, Dr. Seuss er I mean nap_ster! Reading your assessment on the Aloha nasal pillows reassures me that I was not imagining or exaggerating the big difference I too am experiencing. I was worried that perhaps I was beginning to gush too much here.

To that I will just add something I stumbled on quite by accident about the nasal pillows. Usually when I do become aware of a slight leak, I move the pillow base up slightly and the audible leak beep on my machine stops. (With the Swift it took some wiggling because of their tendency to slip sideways which doesn't happen with the Aloha.) The night before last, however, before i had a chance to raise my hand up to the mask, I happened to "sniff" involuntarily and voila! the Aloha nasal pillows expanded by themselves and sealed the leak and the leak beep stopped! So last night, when I learned of a slight leak, I just deliberately sniffed and bang! the pillows did the same thing without me ever touching them!

I wonder if anyone else on cpaptalk has ever stopped a leak in a nasal pillow with a "sniff" instead of touching and re-adjusting them? Maybe it would work with the Swift FX/Bella too, or maybe it is something dependent upon the "well-sealing material" of the Aloha as described by nap_ster.

The so-so: I was seduced by the flannel fuzziness of the covers and so put this mask on beneath my chin strap. That was a bad idea. I was on my side a lot last night, and the sides of this mask are very rigid, much firmer than the head gear of the Swift FX. Even with the flannel covers, the firm sides were uncomfortable directly against my cheeks when I was laying on my side. This might have been worsened by have my chin strap over the mask, increasing pressure. Half-way through the night I got up and rearranged myself, putting the chin strap on first as a barrier. This definitely helped. But I still had some serious marks in the morning.

Yes, I too tried putting my chinstrap on top of the Aloha. Didn't work for me either. Found I have to put the chinstrap on first.

Regards, Nate

[the_nap_ster]

The_nap_ster: Thanks for that so well explained report, I love the way you make your repports allways with all the important details included.

You say

the pillows are *comfortable* -- they don't keep the seal by applying massive pressure onto your nostrils.

could you tell me how the pillows are stabilized ? What makes the pillows stay in place? Does it rest over your upper lip?

Thanks

Hi Rosacer!

Thanks for the sweet words!

The pillows, interestingly enough, do not rest on my upper lip. I was pleasantly surprised by this fact, since I didn't love the feel of stuff on my cupid's bow (for lack of better terminology) with the Swift FX. The Aloha pillows are stabilized by the rigid curved joints that attach to the head gear, and when you look at them, the bottom of the pillow apparatus juts out at an extreme angle under your nostril, with the bottom almost parallel to the bottom of your nose. The underside of the pillow apparatus is not squishy like the Swift FX -- it is not meant to rest on your face. In other words, they have their own support, they don't depend on your upper lip to stabilize them. In my experience, when the pillows are properly adjusted for optimal fit, they don't touch much of your face other than your nostrils. It took me a little while to get this perfect fit (my ideal setting is the third notch out), but once I did... they essentially support themselves. Very nice!

And Nate, I'm going to try the sniffing trick! Because the Aloha pillow of made of firmer material, it doesn't surprise me that a good sniff would restore them to their original/ideal position. I might mess around later with my Bella/Swift FX pillows to see if the floppier material will work the same way. Adjustments that require less sleep interruption=awesome.

All the best,

-- Tiffany, undersecretary to Dr. Seuss

[the_nap_ster]

PS:

I was worried that perhaps I was beginning to gush too much here.

Nope, any mask that resists leaking like this is gush-worthy! I just changed my equipment info to list it as my primary mask. This is like changing your relationship status on facebook: it's serious stuff.

[NateS]

PS:

I was worried that perhaps I was beginning to gush too much here.

Nope, any mask that resists leaking like this is gush-worthy! I just changed my equipment info to list it as my primary mask. This is like changing your relationship status on facebook: it's serious stuff.

Thanks for reminding me! I just changed my principal mask profile to Aloha. And yes, it did feel like a social announcement. Gush, gush.

After all, we've been together for two weeks now. (But I do still feel guilty about poor Bella in the nightstand drawer.)

Nate

[rosacer]

NateS, Portiemom, The_Nap_Ster, Squid13, Slartybartfast, Pugsy, Neverbetter, SllepyToo2, (my excuses if I forgot somebody), thanks very much guys, the information all of you provided about the Aloha makes all together a jewel for the analysis of this new mask.

Now I'm retaining myself from ordering one the problem is I have countless Headrest cushions (surely for the rest of my life + 2 spare masks and one Swift FX + several cushions I'll give the Headrest a short chance to behave, other way me too I'll order one Aloha

[nanwilson]

NateS, Portiemom, The_Nap_Ster, Squid13, Slartybartfast, Pugsy, Neverbetter, SllepyToo2, (my excuses if I forgot somebody), thanks very much guys, the information all of you provided about the Aloha makes all together a jewel for the analysis of this new mask.

Now I'm retaining myself from ordering one the problem is I have countless Headrest cushions (surely for the rest of my life + 2 spare masks and one Swift FX + several cushions I'll give the Headrest a short chance to behave, other way me too I'll order one Aloha

Rosie, I'm in the same boat as you I have 3 complete Hybrids and a couple of spare pillows and cushions.......but I want it........gotta slap myself from calling cpap.com and just ordering one. I'll try and wait to see if I can get one from one of the guys that find they don't like it.........soon I hope It's just not in the budget to buy new right now

[squid13]

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.