Learning to use a new mask – Opus 360

Learning to use a new mask – Opus 360

As many of you know, I've been using the Aeiomed for almost three years – about 2 of those in the deconstructed version. Once I deconstructed, I found myself retiring the Breeze.
When I started cpap therapy anything touching my face was a major annoyance – so at first the Breeze and then the Headrest (called Aura at its inception) were godsends.
Switching to the deconstructed version meant learning to tolerate the touch of stabilizing straps on my temples and cheeks – and it worked. By the time the deconstructed Headrest is used there's something touching your forehead too – cotton wool pads to keep that clammy seal from touching you – a necessary isolating measure once the headgear is removed.
There are many wonderful things about the deconstructed Headrest – the aim of its exhaust being the best of them.

As time went by, Aeiomed added a piece of hard plastic to its previously very thin very pliant nasal seal. And it's this piece of plastic, touching and irritating a sensitive part on the side of my nose, that finally sent me on a new mask quest. Having adapted to the feeling of something on my face, I though of the Opus (but it had a seal stabilizing on your upper lip , a no no for me, or the Swift LT – but I'm not rich enough to replace the pillows at the rate that seems necessary.

Enter the new design for the Opus 360 – the third version of its nasal pillows.
The good parts:
The nasal seals really touch only my nostrils – the Breeze sat there, plumped heavily on my upper lip, and there were always some extra's in the Headrest as well – sometime the seal's rim was real bother.
The Opus pillows are wonderful in shape – very fitting for my nose – and have a great combination of softness and resilience. Their touch is like fine silk, when contrasted to the Headrest's "wool".
The Opus is also, as had been mentioned, far far quieter – than either Breeze or Headrest, and that's very nice.
It is also very light, and measured in centimeters (or inches) touches less real estate on my face than does the deconstructed Headrest.

Alas, there's nothing perfect:
I'm a side sleeper, and I haven’t found a solution to that forward blowing exhaust – which bothered me in the Breeze too. The contortions I have to get into to keep my lower arms from getting cold blasts are no fun at all…. Somebody once mentioned using towel for arm protection – I'm thinking of cotton diapers - which is what I used as a blankie till I was 5 or so…(gulp).
The stabilizing tube is much too short, the swivel on its far end sluggish – so it doesn’t function well, when I connect it to the top headgear and then to my dangling heated hose.
Dreamstalker's stringing together of the Opus's narrow tube with the Breeze's is brilliant – but my machine has a mask pressure sensor, and I wonder if the sensor can do its job when it's at the far end of a bi-diameter loooong tube with the far part (the Opus's) being wider than the nearer part (the Breeze's). (Would love to hear people's opinion on that).
Presently, I leave the Opus tube connected to nothing, floating in the air in front of me: that 360 degree mask side swivel is superb – but my rudimentary hose hanging contraption isn't up to the task yet – it needs some improvement. I tried a few hours of bringing the hose from behind the pillow – I think the seals may have been the wrong size, I'm planning to check this again.
The other issue is of course those markings on my cheeks – grrrr. And it is not only a cosmetic issue. I'm still searching for the right tension, and I'm waiting for padacheek's pads, and will update you on that.

The feeling of those anatomically shaped seals is worth the present struggle – but struggle it is – as is every change for me.

Now… if only the Headrest's nasal seal /pillows had the shape and texture of the Opus's… if only they had found another way of stabilizing the seal to "save me achin' nose"… if only someone made a diffusing, silent upward pointing vent… that would have been supercalifragilisticexpialidocious….

I bought an Opus 360 on cpapauction. I have had some difficulty getting the pillows to sit right for my nose. They actually sat better when I SEEMED to have the headgear the wrong way round (according to the diagram in the guide).

It could be that it is not right for me but I am going to put the headgear back on the wrong way round and try again. I find that the foam on the headgear gets a little damp as well. Padacheeks will probably help that. I have some around from other masks that will work so I will try that.

I honestly like the Swift LT much better ( for me). I have not had that much trouble with the pillows. Lately I have found that a quick wash in a mild soap every day gives them a better seal. I was using the Citrus wipes but that's when the pillows seemed to collapse. I also put a bit of Velcro on the top strap. It tends to slip on me. So far these latest changes have been working well for me.

I am interested in your experiment with the Opus 360 though. I'm not sure my present success with the Swift LT will last and I may have to get into frequent changes of the pillows if I want to continue with it.

I found replacement pillows on Ebay for $10.00 each and bought 4. I aslo had the originals so, hopefully, I can use it for awhile. Not sure about the shipping costs on Ebay for you though Ozij.

Thanks for the info, Hawthorne.
Do you have the old style fram, or the new one? (Images here --> viewtopic.php?p=343118#p343118 )

My new style frame also tend to become humid/sticky.

O.

I too have recently purchased an Opus 360 and tried it for the first time last night. I have been using the Swift LT, but some nights it feels like I am not getting enough air even though my machine is set to start at 9cm with a Bi-Flex setting of 2. I have a Hybrid and I found that the nasal pillows on it have a much higher output of air than the Swift. So I tried the Opus last night and it also has a much higher output of air compared to the Swift. I noticed the tube on the Swift appears to be smaller than the Opus, and of course the Hybrid hooks straight into the CPAP tube. I am not sure of that is the cause of the difference or not. Anyway last night started out well but I am a side sleeper and the plastic on the mask took it's toll on my after a few hours and I had to switch back to the Swift during the night. I have some Pad-A-Cheek pads for anotehr mask around the house and I plan on putting them on my Opus tonight and giving it another try. The feeling of getting better airflow is worth the trouble of keeping on trying my Opus. The Opus would be great if the side plastic pieces were not so large. Hopefully the Pad-A-Cheeks will help with that.

I have the new style frame. I said the foam on the hedgear got damp after I had worn it awhile. I meant the foam on the plastic frame. It's that foam on the plastic frame that gets damp or "humid and sticky" as you describe it. I think a pair of Padacheeks will solve that problem. I will try it with Padacheeks when I try the Opus next. I have Padacheeks from other masks around.

Right now things are going well with the SwiftLT so am staying with it for until or unless I have any more trouble with it.

I used the Opus for a brief time then went to the Swift Lt that seemed to stay in place well. I did use the Opus on a couple nights camping lately and had one of the best night's sleep I can remember. I think I'll pull it out and try it again tonight! I use PadaCheeks on all masks.

Georgio

You can see Opus fitting videos on http://www.vigor8.com, which is Fisher and Paykel's user support site. I found it more helpful than the diagram. The video also specifically mentions adjusting the side straps - something the diagram ignores.

While ResMed expects you to have the writing on top, the F&P pillows are set properly in the frame when the large size indicator letter is at the bottom.

(If the video link above doesn't work, you can find the video on this page: http://www.vigor8.com/product-opus-482.html)
O.

Thanks Ozij! That video is a help. That tip about the side strap is one that will be helpful I think. I agree with you that the brochure is not as helpful as the video. I knew where the size indicator should be on the pillow. I need to check out that side strap!

I may use the Opus more often now! I like to alternate masks.

Well I put the Pad-A-Cheeks on last night and that really made a huge difference! The pressure from the side pieces and the face marks were totally eliminated. I still did not make it all the way through the night with teh Opus as I awoke after 2:00 A.M. with my nostrils burning, I apparently need to tunr the humidity up hiher compared to what I run it on with my Swift LT. I switched back to my Swft for the rest of the night after applying some sailine mist to my nostrils. I think this backs up my theory that I get better air flow with the Opus versus the Swift. I am going to turn my humidity setting up tonight and try the Opus again. With the Pad-A-Cheeks it is very comfortable and fits me very well, the air flow is excellent. I have been averaging an AHI of 12 with my Swift, I am hoping the Opus will help reduce that number.