Aloha mask issues

Papit; wonderful idea, and images!
I now know what to use for prototyping on pillow support for my Hybrid.
If I can make something that works, Hubby can print copies on his 3D printer.
The Aloha doesn't look like it will work for my little face.
I could only leave it on for an hour last night.
Nice design, but not at all adaptable for my size.
Hubby had all kinds of suggestions for rebuilding the headgear, but I'm like--why?
For $99, I did not buy a DIY project!

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.

Probably has a cute, skinny litle septum.

Neverbetter, Check out this thread.

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=76155&st=0&sk=t&sd=a

user from Singapore wrote:

portiemom wrote: ""Hey Papitt, that is soooooooooo way cool...........now we have exactly the opposite problems with this, so please help me widen the pillows on the Swift Lt..... It seems to me you are trying to narrow the gap between the 2 pillows on the Aloha, and I need to widen the 2 pillows on the Swift Lt. this just proves to me that not every mask nasal pillow mask will work for everyone. . . ."

"Turn the grommets by 180 degrees?"

That's right, I'm trying to make them slightly closer together and a bit more upward in angle too. Singapore has his thinking cap on just right for your purpose of spreading them apart a bit. Just turn the grommets until the pillows spacing and seal is customized just right for you. Here's another way. You can try using just one grommet, properly sized by trial and error and placed in between the pillows to spread them the way you want. Here's a picture before and after spreading using that approach.

Thanks - that only seemed logical to me. Maybe because I am also an engineer

Talking about engineers... that reminds me a joke. I will post it in the proper thread.

Suzjohnson wrote:That is so clever!! I really believe you should patent this idea because sure as shootin' someone like our dear mask manufacturers will pick it up and run with it. It's a cheap, quick fix to solve a persistent dilemma for a lot of folks and adds immeasurably to the adjustability factor that will allow the mfgrs. to up the cost of their product. How many other nasal pillow masks do you think this would work on by varying the height of the little tube? Suz

Thank you for the kind words, Suz. Patents or no patents the big companies have the financial resources to play the game their way. If they are a more enlightened now after trying to reap all the rewards for themselves and none for the first ordinary private innovator who developed windshield wipers for cars now used by all the auto manufacturers, they will get in touch and invite me to work and share with them. If one doesn't, maybe another will -- or maybe none of them will. The one who does will garner the good will from all the rest of us ordinary patients trying to help each other out when such a company becomes known for it's ethical distinction and sense of fairness with it's own customer(s) who help them improve their products. The marketing advantage for such a company would be major. I heard a rumor that ResMed actually teamed and shared with the private individual who conceived and helped develop the Swift FX Bella Loop concept, a hair stylist who picked up on frequent complaints he heard from his female xpap using clients. If true, good on them. Of course in the current outrageously exploitive commercial world, I won't hold my breath waiting for such an exceptionally led company to step out on this. There may be none. I'll simply be happy and grateful and won't hesitate to cue in the rest of us, just as I and others here do with regard to the kind hosting of this forum by cpap.com, if that should occur. Anyway, thanks for the thought and support. Hope Singapore's or my ideas work for you in making the pillows adjustment you need. Sleep well.

ps. Another approach you might consider is to use my compression clip (discussed in other threads) and attach its ends to the outer channels in which the prongs are inserted. By spreading the clip (using trial and error), you'll find a "setting" for the outward spreading force of the 'springy' clip that will spread the pillows just right for you. And you can readjust the amount of the spread, from time to time, quickly and easily.

user from Singapore wrote:Thanks - that only seemed logical to me. Maybe because I am also an engineer

Talking about engineers... that reminds me a joke. I will post it in the proper thread.

I love your picture. Now that's what I call a HOSE! Your avatar clearly gets the prize for humor, a sentiment we all can benefit from. : )

Papit wrote:

user from Singapore wrote:Thanks - that only seemed logical to me. Maybe because I am also an engineer

Talking about engineers... that reminds me a joke. I will post it in the proper thread.

I love your picture. Now that's what I call a HOSE! Your avatar clearly gets the prize for humor, a sentiment we all can benefit from. : )

I always knew I have a big hose

Thanks for the compliments, that's not me though I found this on the net, I guess you also read what is written in the newspaper on that picture

Papit, Singapore:
You guys are the are hilarious and very innovative to say the least!! I love it!! I hope you find what works!!

The best to you!

Janice

jwerley wrote:Papit, Singapore:
You guys are the are hilarious and very innovative to say the least!! I love it!! I hope you find what works!!

The best to you!

Janice

Thanks Janice... What I don't understand is that my last reply to Papit was deleted???
That is strange... I still can see it while I reply though

FWIW:

Nap on left with nasal pillows in use since April 5th.

Night's sleep on right with new replacement nasal pillows and tube threaded overhead to try to maintain "lift"



Nate

NateS wrote:FWIW:

Nap on left with nasal pillows in use since April 5th.

Night's sleep on right with new replacement nasal pillows and tube threaded overhead to try to maintain "lift"

Nate

That is exactly why I attach my Swift LT hose to the crown of my head -- to maintain the "lift" or proper angle of the pillows onto my nares.

DreamStalker wrote:

NateS wrote:FWIW:

Nap on left with nasal pillows in use since April 5th.

Night's sleep on right with new replacement nasal pillows and tube threaded overhead to try to maintain "lift"

Nate

That is exactly why I attach my Swift LT hose to the crown of my head -- to maintain the "lift" or proper angle of the pillows onto my nares.

Yep - only two problems are I hate having it in front of my face (and if I flip it to the side there is no lift) and the little square of velcro is so tiny it comes unhooked often.

Nate

Just remembered a third problem! When the velcro square stays attached to the top strap it pulls the top strap forward, defeating the lift!

But the good news I get from the graph is that a lot of the leak appears attributable to the need to replace the original pillows.

NateS wrote:

DreamStalker wrote:

NateS wrote:FWIW:

Nap on left with nasal pillows in use since April 5th.

Night's sleep on right with new replacement nasal pillows and tube threaded overhead to try to maintain "lift"

Nate

That is exactly why I attach my Swift LT hose to the crown of my head -- to maintain the "lift" or proper angle of the pillows onto my nares.

Yep - only two problems are I hate having it in front of my face (and if I flip it to the side there is no lift) and the little square of velcro is so tiny it comes unhooked often.

Nate

Just remembered a third problem! When the velcro square stays attached to the top strap it pulls the top strap forward, defeating the lift!

But the good news I get from the graph is that a lot of the leak appears attributable to the need to replace the original pillows.

I should note again, I also use Bret's PAPCap. It serves a multi-purpose as the primary platform to help stabilize the mask headgear, an optimal location to strap down the mask hose, and a firm chinstrap to keep the lower jaw from slacking open. You can get quality velcro straps for the mask hose at your local big box hardware store.



As for the hose in front of the face issue ... I just close my eyes when going to sleep and I don't even know it's there.