Pilairo!

Yes, I agree! I even got Pugsy to look at my data on my computer and give me advise, truly a blessing!

I'm not sure why there is such a curve back at the top of the frame? It was touching my big nose! (I really do have a big nose and nostrils!)

I was originally going to make a 1" loop out of wire (I don't have any string in my big truck) but was concerned with it staying hooked together, but when I found the piece of stiff springy stainless steel, well ... I just bent it to make the "S" and used the tape to cover it like a collar, so it can't slip off ...

I would think if F&P would make two small extensions about 3/4" long that would snap into the frame and the headgear, (like the hook on each end of the headgear, but the other end would have a fitting like the frame has) that us patients could choose to use 0,1, or 2 of the extensions, and still retrain the stretchyness, without ruining the headgear by over stretching it!

I hope they read this whole thread, I just sent them a link to this thread!

The strap snaps off at the nose pillow area. Not easy to do but it can be done. I think it would be nice if F & P simply offered a longer strap. Heck it is such a nice mask that I bet those that like it would be willing to pay for it.
As it is now it just isn't going to stretch enough for a lot of people's heads. My head isn't all that large and it was too tight for me if I wore it where the picture shows it.
Just an inch longer would be perfect or even something with a velcro end to one side that would allow for some adjustment.

It would be easy to cut the strap and sew or glue a little extension into the snipped ends though. The extension wouldn't even need to stretch..let the rest of the strap do the stretching. If I still had it I would cut it up to see what could be done.

And yes...the curved base of the nasal pillow holder thing does touch the end and top of Shawn's nose pretty good....he doesn't have a tiny nose. because of this the "too tight" thing is going to be even more of a problem because it wants to sort of "dig" in to the tip of his nose. With less tension it wouldn't tend to dig in so much.

I just ordered a pillow replacement, sadly not from our host, and they also showed the headgear available for purchase - like, when pigs fly! Hope your modification is successful, Shawn.

Suz

Suzjohnson wrote:I just ordered a pillow replacement, sadly not from our host, and they also showed the headgear available for purchase - like, when pigs fly! Hope your modification is successful, Shawn.

Suz

Seriously!

I just peeked at our host, and saw that return insurance on the Pilairo is $44! That's almost 50% of the mask price! I think a truly adjustable headgear would solve a lot of people's problems. Until then, I think this is going to be a love it or hate it mask.

Suzjohnson wrote: I just peeked at our host, and saw that return insurance on the Pilairo is $44!

If return insurance coast that much it means they are getting a lot of them back.

the_nap_ster wrote: I just peeked at our host, and saw that return insurance on the Pilairo is $44! That's almost 50% of the mask price! I think a truly adjustable headgear would solve a lot of people's problems. Until then, I think this is going to be a love it or hate it mask.

I don't think the return insurance was nearly that high when I ordered mine not all that long ago. I didn't buy it because I figured if I hated it I could find it a good home anyway.
Higher insurance seems to mean higher return rate...I bet that that strap is a bother to a lot of people.
There's no way that it would ever fit a head the size of my husband's without it being just too tight.

Pugsy wrote: I don't think the return insurance was nearly that high when I ordered mine not all that long ago.

When I ordered mine it was $17.69 and I returned mine so they are probably getting a high rate of returns.

Well I tried it again with my modification ... Better, but still no joy! After about two hours I had to switch back to the Swift FX, but it was not as bad as before!

I'll make a longer adapter, and try it again tonight ...

Part of the problem is the pressure on the end of my big nose, but the other part is my right nostril is VERY sensitive to anything up inside! (took me almost a week to get use to the Swift FX!)

123.Shawn T.W. wrote:Well I tried it again with my modification ... Better, but still no joy! After about two hours I had to switch back to the Swift FX, but it was not as bad as before!

I'll make a longer adapter, and try it again tonight ...

Part of the problem is the pressure on the end of my big nose, but the other part is my right nostril is VERY sensitive to anything up inside! (took me almost a week to get use to the Swift FX!)

Shawn,

Not to imply anything but what is your hat size? Or tape measure around your head?
-tino

7 3/8 - 7 1/2 hat size ... About average, but I got a huge honking' NOSE!

I will say that the two nights I did use it ... Even only 25% of the night ... That my AHI was down in the 8 range ... From 12+

I'd like to see if I can keep it on and get below 5 AHI!

Darn it Shawn, I'm sorry about the sore nostril part of the program. Here's hoping a longer extension will improve the situation even more. It's hard to imagine the little thingy going far enough up your nostril to make it sore, although they are a shade longer than the Aloha. Is just the nares area sore from the pressure or is the soreness inside, like, I have a sore inside my nose from the poke up part (technical talk:) rubbing on it? Really like the lower AHI though. Mine did the same and is what motivated me to continue trying.

Suz

gertrude wrote:I wish F&P would sponsor a "recall" of this Hummer and provide straps of varying sizes or one that can be adjusted with velcro in the middle of the back.

I did exactly that....I'll post a picture later today.

I removed the stitch holding the cover on the head-strap and slid the cover to the side. I cut the head-strap in the middle, and just sewed on a small strip of velcro to each side. I can now adjust the strap by around 1" in either direction. Once adjusted, I just slide the cover back over top of the velcro.

Has been great since...no more sore nose. I think the strap MAY loosen up a bit over time....but too much pain for me to put up with...was getting sores on my nose.

Grant

Suz,

It is up inside my nostril just a tad and on the inside divider between each nostril, hurts as soon as I put it on, same happened with Swift FX ... I do use Lansinoh HPA Lanolin too!

Shawn's nostrils are LONG and slotted...very narrow and very slotted. Not the ideal shape for most nasal pillows because of the nostril opening...it is just going to try to suck up the cones farther inside.
The typical round cones of the other nasal pillow masks even in a large size will end up with the inner cones going in farther than they should for comfort. I don't know of any XLarge nasal pillows.

The Pilairo cones are more slotted shape so they will have a greater chance of not sliding so far up into the nostril IF he can get some of the tension from that strap lessened. If they could just barely sit at his nostrils then they might just work but right now that strap is too tight and thus it pulls the cones farther up in his nose which already wants to suck them up anyway.

He needs to be able to significantly lessen the tension to have a chance with this mask.
Let's see what GrantT comes up with. It is an easy modification if someone has a sewing machine.
I could probably come up with something using velcro and gorilla glue too.
All it needs is some sort of extension so the overall tension is reduced at the tip of the nose.