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jimnsc wrote: 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.

Doesn't everyone wash the pillows daily? I wash the humidifier tank daily as well.

lagasan wrote: Doesn't everyone wash the pillows daily?

Nope...maybe once a week or so. I did wash nasal pillows daily when I first started therapy but that got old real quick.
I don't have allergy problems so I don't have a snotty nose and so not really much way to get horribly dirty.
Skin not particularly oily either.
I don't do the humidifier daily either. Cleaning it is less often than the nasal pillows.

Each to their own preference though but I get months of use out of a single set of pillows with my way.
Works for me. YMMV.

Pugsy wrote:

lagasan wrote: Doesn't everyone wash the pillows daily?

Nope...maybe once a week or so. I did wash nasal pillows daily when I first started therapy but that got old real quick.
I don't have allergy problems so I don't have a snotty nose and so not really much way to get horribly dirty.
Skin not particularly oily either.
I don't do the humidifier daily either. Cleaning it is less often than the nasal pillows.

Each to their own preference though but I get months of use out of a single set of pillows with my way.
Works for me. YMMV.

Me too, I don't wash the pillows daily either, they seem to work better when they are gummy with lansinoh. But I understand that the Aloha doesn't need lansinoh......I am anxiously waiting for mine to arrive

I am a back sleeper exclusively and I am totally unaware of the buckle on the back of the Aloha when I use it.

OMG!!! I just received my new SleepWeaver on Monday, and already I'm counting the days down six months until I can have an Aloha as well! Sheesh!!!

Cheers,
xena

For those of you that have used both the 360 and now the Aloha- how different is the fit for the nose?

After a week on the 360 and i've loosened it almost as much as I can and not have it fall off. The edge of my nostrils are still raw, bleeding and sore. I spend at least an hour after I lay down at night trying to get the mask adjusted so it's not leaking and not killing my nose. I sleep on my side. The mask fits perfect when I'm sitting but but laying down changes the entire feel of the nose piece. Even the lanolin isn't helping much.

I'm still within the return period for my mask and I want to find something out there that I can sleep with comfortably.

Ooooh, sorry about the sore nose and fit issues! I've not used the 360, only the Aloha and recommend it highly. You've probably already done this but I found that when I do the final fitting, I get a better result of I do it laying down as the shape of our face changes markedly from it's shape in an upright position. Thank you gravity.

Suz

Make that another vote for the Aloha. I have both.

diamethia wrote:The edge of my nostrils are still raw, bleeding and sore. I spend at least an hour after I lay down at night trying to get the mask adjusted so it's not leaking and not killing my nose.

This is not normal for any nasal pillow.
At most we should feel only minor tenderness from something touching virgin territory.
At most a minute or two for putting it on after initial fitting adjustments.
Anything else means something is wrong like pillow size or fitting.
I have tried the Opus 360 but it was long ago. I found it more difficult to keep the headgear from moving around. Not quite as stable as the other nasal pillow masks. If your nose is raw and bleeding that is not a normal thing and something isn't working as it should. No way should it cause that response.

If you have a different size nasal pillow give that a try otherwise
Try a different nasal pillow mask. If your DME has the Aloha...give it a try. It is remarkably stable and seals well even when straps are extremely loose.

When I started with nasal pillows (7 years ago) I got a sore nose after 3 days. The RT told me to take a 3 day break, since that was the beginning of a pressure sore, and we don't want that developing. I took only 2 days off, but that gave the sore place a chance to heal.

Call your RT, DME or doc, and ask them what to do. Your nose notshould be bleeding.

O.

Suzjohnson wrote: ". . . Who knows, maybe the the wide red mark at the bridge of my nose from the FFM will go away too. I use the mask fit portion of the program and am able to get a good seal without over tightening the straps so have been a bit befuddled with the nose bridge bruising. . . .
Suz

Like you, my sleep tech and I were also puzzled by the redness and sore on the bridge of my nose from using at least two different nasal masks and a ffm that had well-designed soft membrane seals. We didn't use excessive tightness either. After that, we just gave up, switched to the Swift FX and never looked back. I wonder how many others besides us two have seen this.

Swift is good, but you can't wear it as lose as the Aloha and an Aloha does not push up against your nose at all. Our dme had to order from the manufacturer, Respcare because Devilbliss was temporarily sold out.Nose bleeding from a pillow is totally inexcusable. This is why everyone needs a back-up mask. It's not like we can just go in the drugstore and buy one if ours breaks and most of us cannot sleep without out equipment once we're on it a few weeks. We don't have the hormones to keep us alive with the low co2 we had before. It's torture. Get back-up everything.I rented a machine once when mine broke and it cost me 100 bucks to have it shipped overnight. It was worth it. I was up for two days.

Papit wrote:

Suzjohnson wrote: ". . . Who knows, maybe the the wide red mark at the bridge of my nose from the FFM will go away too. I use the mask fit portion of the program and am able to get a good seal without over tightening the straps so have been a bit befuddled with the nose bridge bruising. . . .
Suz

Like you, my sleep tech and I were also puzzled by the redness and sore on the bridge of my nose from using at least two different nasal masks and a ffm that had well-designed soft membrane seals. We didn't use excessve tightness either. After that, we just gave up, switched to the Swift FX and never looked back. I wonder how many others besides us two have seen this.

Oh many, I'm certain! You must be very happy with the Swift FX! I will put it on my list of "must try" items. Although, I'm so happy with the Aloha, what I probably need to do is concentrate on more full face masks because sure as I'm sitting here, I'll have a bout of hay fever and have no way to breathe through my mouth. Isn't that what happens when you're not prepared?

Suz

Whoopie...just picked up mine from the post office. It looks awfully flimsy to me..how are you all finding it, do you think its going to stand up to daily use? I use a medium on my hybrid, so will probably need the same size on the aloha, that's where I am going to start anyway.....will let you know how it goes.
Cheers

nanwilson wrote:Whoopie...just picked up mine from the post office. It looks awfully flimsy to me..how are you all finding it, do you think its going to stand up to daily use? I use a medium on my hybrid, so will probably need the same size on the aloha, that's where I am going to start anyway.....will let you know how it goes.
Cheers

Nan, I believe it will but time will tell. I just love it!! Look forward to hearing from you tomorrow.

Suz