29-09-2010, 09:45
airlock experiences?
November 27 2007 at 9:12 PM jodi (no login)
hi girls,
me again. i must have a million and one questions today. just got the system. have been wondering about your experiences with airlock. how do u know how much suction to get? what would happen if you had too much suction? could this cause scar tissue or something? also, can't one just use the tubing that came with the brava system for airlock? any advice/suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
thanks!
jodi
Author Reply
Louise
(Login Louise1982)
SENIOR MEMBER
Sorry....another novel! November 27 2007, 10:46 PM
How much suction - start similar to what the box gives i.e. you should feel a pull but not be in pain. I didn't really airlock for the first few weeks but dropped the box after about 5 weeks and although it does work I didn't trust it so only used an airlock since then and not lost a seal once. I suck until just before it's uncomfortable, or until it's uncomfortable then let a little out. Then after about 10 mins can take some more out, then again every half-one hour. This way it should never feel painful like if you tried to suck this much at once, you'll just be keeping the pressure constant as the swelling gets more. Don't be discouraged if you don't get much swelling to start. I was small 32B to start and didn't really get much past a full C for a few weeks but DD every morning now.
Too much suction - it hurts! Boobs may go purple and when you take the domes off you have a bruised ring like a hickey where they rested, takes a few days to go away (no need to stop wearing). No matter how hard I suck now I don't get the hickey so I guess the skin adapts somehow. You'd have to really overdo it regularly to injure yourself so as long as you're not sitting there thinking they're so tight they hurt don't worry. (You shouldn't be taking painkillers to get to sleep).
If you want to use the brava tubing as an airlock you'll need to fold it double twice then put a rubber band / clothes peg / bull dog clip etc on. Don't use the smartbox as the extra suction damages it (and if you're not going to use it you could sell it!). If you buy the fish tank tubing and check valve to make your own it takes about 2 minutes to make and is all so cheap you can make a spare one too. Put airlock into the search on this forum to get boring detailed instructions or if you can't find I can copy and paste.
Make sure you build up your wear time slowly, like first week 3,5,7,9,11 hours then do a couple of weeks at 11-12 hours before doing longer. It takes a while for the skin to adjust and you'll be really itchy. I had to leave them off for about 5 days after overdoing it the first week and then you've lost the whole week anyway. The first week is horrible but the whole sleeing thing does get better and you'll get used to a pattern of wear time around other stuff you do. I'm actually so used to it now that after my 30 week initial session I'll have 2 weeks off for all the swelling to go, retake the measurements then do another 3 months before having a proper 3-4 month break over summer then probably one last 6 month session. Good luck, keep us posted and try to start a program page with your start/finish height, weight, bust, underbust, bra size and weekly hours.
Alcest
(Login Alcest)
Re: airlock experiences? November 27 2007, 11:56 PM
Eek--- last night I used the airlock and it hurt so badly I kept waking up throughout the night. Then this morning they were purple with the hickey mark around them-----Will not be sucking out that much again.
However they were swollen larger than what they've been since I started so that was lovely!
I also have developed a rash completely around one breast and partly around the other... And I want to see my lover I haven't seenn in 3 months this weekend. =(
Trying hard to make it go away.
Sorry this doesn't really answer your questions jodi =P----- I agree with Louise though--Don't overdo the suction!
jodi
(no login)
thanks louise! November 28 2007, 1:08 AM
thanks louise for the tips! that was so helpful....i will let you all know how i get on. the only thing i was worried about tho is the bone growth a few of you are mentioning on here. that kinda scares me. could this be from causing too much suction with airlock?
Louise
(Login Louise1982)
SENIOR MEMBER
Re: airlock experiences? November 28 2007, 9:44 AM
I would expect it to be worse if you have little-no breast tissue and the machine is therefore sucking at your ribs but this hasn't been the case for Lexy who has similar measurements to me so although not a DD there are boobs there. Guess some people respond more than others. I suck as hard as I can take it so that I'm not too uncomfortable to sleep and I think I have one small bony lump in the cleavage side of the right breast but I think I caused this either by airlocking the right harder than the left trying to even them up (and that wasonly for about 3 days!) or by wearing the bra a lot on hols so I could go out in them in a foreign country where the locals will just assume I'm fat and not think I've stuffed something up my shirt! If you can I'd advise you to wear the bra as little as possible, after the first few weeks when you can handle more suction you won't need it and the bra pushes the domes round to the front more putting pressure on the sternum. Having said that, I think Seri always / usually wears a giant sports bra over her domes and has no problems. I am willing to develop the odd small bony lump as long as it's nothing my husband would be aware of. Hope your husband keeps in good humour, mine really doesn't like my 'Dolly Parton gear' because if I move in the night it gives out a huge fart noise then there's me swearing while I try to fix it and he doesn't sleep well at the best of times. Luckily for him he works abroad so he only had to put up with it for 2 weeks wen I visited. Now I'm at home I don't have farting noises as I can get in a better position with more pillows. If you put pillow into the search function you'll get loads of advice on different sleeping positions - believe me after getting 1-2 hours per night for a week you'll just sleep regardless, so make sure the domes are well attached when you do!
Alcest - I would advise a witch hazel type drying lotion and a zinc based cream and maybe some EPO / borage oil to moisturise. Make sure you have a good wash when you take the domes off but don't wash the cream off before you put them back on. I had 60+ individual spots when I had the one rash I had and this method cleared it in about 4 days. The cream will build up on the domes but you can rub it off (although this will permanently remove the sticky). Hope it gets better, otherwise romantic low lighting and a lot of makeup.
jodi
(no login)
works with no sticky? November 28 2007, 4:56 PM
hi louise,
ok, i see what you mean about the whole bony growth issue. i guess i will just have to see for myself what it does.
but you mentioned to alcest about after using the cream for her rash, the sticky will come off the domes...do they still work once the sticky wears off? i guess you would just have to suck them on good, eh?
gokhil
(no login)
Re: airlock experiences? November 28 2007, 6:09 PM
some women have claimed that they received permanent scarring from using brava, so it seems like there is a risk.
jodi
(no login)
scarring? November 28 2007, 6:11 PM
scarring where? on the outside of the breast? like where the domes rest or what?
Louise
(no login)
Re: airlock experiences? November 29 2007, 12:22 AM
Not exactly scarring from Brava more like scarring from getting a rash and scratching etc until the skin is broken, then using Brava on broken skin then scratching more etc. If you have skin trouble look after your skin. If your skin is dry don't wash before you put the domes on, just wash and moisturise after you take them off, or wash and moisturise before you put them on and use lots of dome prep (although evening primrose oil and the normal body lotion I've used have been just as good).
Louise
(no login)
Re: airlock experiences? November 29 2007, 12:24 AM
Sorry, to answer your other question, they work fine when they're not sticky and they irritate the skin less so don't panic. You'll probably want to suck them on quite tight after a few weeks anyway especially if you intend to wear for long hours. Sucked on tight you can do pretty much anything (I work out in mine) without usually even needing the uncomfortable bra but just using the box for suction you'll be spending all your time on your back!
jodi
(no login)
slight rash this morning November 30 2007, 7:00 PM
hi louise,
thanks for the info about the scarring. that makes more sense to me. i did about 11 hours last night, but realized after about 3 hours that i had forgotten to use the skin prep, so i'm wondering if that's what caused it. i didn't wanna take them off the lose the 3 hours, so i just chanced it. i guess that's what i get. is there any other kind of oil i could use instead of evening primrose oil, as i'm doing homeopathy right now also and can't use strong scents as they can antidote the remedy. have any of you experimented with anything else? i mean, what is the purpose of the oil? to keep your skin lubricated and not break out? i don't have a bad rash, it's just like slight ring around boobs where outside of silicone laid. and it's broken, not complete circles. it might even go away by tonight, but if not, do you think i should take tonight off and wait for the rash to heal? i think i better be safe than sorry. then i might try some oil next time i use them.
that's also good to know that they still work without the sticky stuff on them. i actually slept well last night too. i think i'm getting used to them a little bit now. it's just the slight rash i'm concerned about now.
thanks everyone for all your help.
jodi
Louise
(Login Louise1982)
SENIOR MEMBER
Re: airlock experiences? November 30 2007, 7:37 PM
I'd say only leave them off when you're actually worried what you have will never look right again! I had a sick rash just once due to wearing them almost constantly for 5 consecutive days, I cut back my hours to 11-12 hours per night, washed the area thoroughly in the morning, wiped with witch hazel lotion to clarify and put on a lot of zinc cream - it was gone in 4 days and I never missed a night - no scars as I didn't scratch at it. A certain amount of redness where the domes sit is normal - if you look at Manolobhal's pic page you will see she has a bit of a mark. I have redness where the domes sit in the morning which is gone in a few hours but if I then wear or even try on a few underwired bras it comes up red again so I wear a slightly padded, non-wired bra in a big size to accommodate the swelling, it's a sporty style with covered elastic round the bottom for support and I do the shoulder straps up as tight as possible. I actually use a 36D (although I was 32B before) and having the larger band size rests the skin a little. I phoned Brava and they advised to wear a big bra so you're not squashing the swelling but not to go braless. For the rash if you can then go braless and totally topless with the zinc cream on for a couple of days (if you can afford to stay in!) otherwise try to go braless and just wear smoething loose and cotton next to the skin.
In terms of experimenting, I've forgotton to use the skin prep a couple of time and skin was possibly a bit dry and itchy but nothing to get excited about. I've broken pretty much all the dome-care rules and have used a lot of various moisturisers, zinc cream and borage oil cream which have got on the domes. Rubbing them off takes the sticky off but I've found them more comfortable since. Personally I have very dry skin though so I think any irritation I am likely to get will be either allergy (which would have happened by now) or dryness so I just try to keep lubricated. Incidentally someone else found Corium21 cream to be a miracle cure for her rash but I was allergic to it and it made my skin worse - use whatever you normally use as you know your skin likes it.
Taking the domes off for a few minutes doesn't mean you lose the session, although I would avoid taking off for more than 5-10 mins if you can but the main thing is not to let the swelling go down as it works by sustained tension. You also can afford to do one 8.5 hour session per week as long as you get at least 11 hours either side of it. Less than 8.5 hours or more than one night in the week with less than 11 hours means you need to add 5 nights to your program. I would say do as much as you can and I've only done less than 11 hours about 3 times since June so try your best.
Glad to hear you're sleeping better
November 27 2007 at 9:12 PM jodi (no login)
hi girls,
me again. i must have a million and one questions today. just got the system. have been wondering about your experiences with airlock. how do u know how much suction to get? what would happen if you had too much suction? could this cause scar tissue or something? also, can't one just use the tubing that came with the brava system for airlock? any advice/suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
thanks!
jodi
Author Reply
Louise
(Login Louise1982)
SENIOR MEMBER
Sorry....another novel! November 27 2007, 10:46 PM
How much suction - start similar to what the box gives i.e. you should feel a pull but not be in pain. I didn't really airlock for the first few weeks but dropped the box after about 5 weeks and although it does work I didn't trust it so only used an airlock since then and not lost a seal once. I suck until just before it's uncomfortable, or until it's uncomfortable then let a little out. Then after about 10 mins can take some more out, then again every half-one hour. This way it should never feel painful like if you tried to suck this much at once, you'll just be keeping the pressure constant as the swelling gets more. Don't be discouraged if you don't get much swelling to start. I was small 32B to start and didn't really get much past a full C for a few weeks but DD every morning now.
Too much suction - it hurts! Boobs may go purple and when you take the domes off you have a bruised ring like a hickey where they rested, takes a few days to go away (no need to stop wearing). No matter how hard I suck now I don't get the hickey so I guess the skin adapts somehow. You'd have to really overdo it regularly to injure yourself so as long as you're not sitting there thinking they're so tight they hurt don't worry. (You shouldn't be taking painkillers to get to sleep).
If you want to use the brava tubing as an airlock you'll need to fold it double twice then put a rubber band / clothes peg / bull dog clip etc on. Don't use the smartbox as the extra suction damages it (and if you're not going to use it you could sell it!). If you buy the fish tank tubing and check valve to make your own it takes about 2 minutes to make and is all so cheap you can make a spare one too. Put airlock into the search on this forum to get boring detailed instructions or if you can't find I can copy and paste.
Make sure you build up your wear time slowly, like first week 3,5,7,9,11 hours then do a couple of weeks at 11-12 hours before doing longer. It takes a while for the skin to adjust and you'll be really itchy. I had to leave them off for about 5 days after overdoing it the first week and then you've lost the whole week anyway. The first week is horrible but the whole sleeing thing does get better and you'll get used to a pattern of wear time around other stuff you do. I'm actually so used to it now that after my 30 week initial session I'll have 2 weeks off for all the swelling to go, retake the measurements then do another 3 months before having a proper 3-4 month break over summer then probably one last 6 month session. Good luck, keep us posted and try to start a program page with your start/finish height, weight, bust, underbust, bra size and weekly hours.
Alcest
(Login Alcest)
Re: airlock experiences? November 27 2007, 11:56 PM
Eek--- last night I used the airlock and it hurt so badly I kept waking up throughout the night. Then this morning they were purple with the hickey mark around them-----Will not be sucking out that much again.
However they were swollen larger than what they've been since I started so that was lovely!
I also have developed a rash completely around one breast and partly around the other... And I want to see my lover I haven't seenn in 3 months this weekend. =(
Trying hard to make it go away.
Sorry this doesn't really answer your questions jodi =P----- I agree with Louise though--Don't overdo the suction!
jodi
(no login)
thanks louise! November 28 2007, 1:08 AM
thanks louise for the tips! that was so helpful....i will let you all know how i get on. the only thing i was worried about tho is the bone growth a few of you are mentioning on here. that kinda scares me. could this be from causing too much suction with airlock?
Louise
(Login Louise1982)
SENIOR MEMBER
Re: airlock experiences? November 28 2007, 9:44 AM
I would expect it to be worse if you have little-no breast tissue and the machine is therefore sucking at your ribs but this hasn't been the case for Lexy who has similar measurements to me so although not a DD there are boobs there. Guess some people respond more than others. I suck as hard as I can take it so that I'm not too uncomfortable to sleep and I think I have one small bony lump in the cleavage side of the right breast but I think I caused this either by airlocking the right harder than the left trying to even them up (and that wasonly for about 3 days!) or by wearing the bra a lot on hols so I could go out in them in a foreign country where the locals will just assume I'm fat and not think I've stuffed something up my shirt! If you can I'd advise you to wear the bra as little as possible, after the first few weeks when you can handle more suction you won't need it and the bra pushes the domes round to the front more putting pressure on the sternum. Having said that, I think Seri always / usually wears a giant sports bra over her domes and has no problems. I am willing to develop the odd small bony lump as long as it's nothing my husband would be aware of. Hope your husband keeps in good humour, mine really doesn't like my 'Dolly Parton gear' because if I move in the night it gives out a huge fart noise then there's me swearing while I try to fix it and he doesn't sleep well at the best of times. Luckily for him he works abroad so he only had to put up with it for 2 weeks wen I visited. Now I'm at home I don't have farting noises as I can get in a better position with more pillows. If you put pillow into the search function you'll get loads of advice on different sleeping positions - believe me after getting 1-2 hours per night for a week you'll just sleep regardless, so make sure the domes are well attached when you do!
Alcest - I would advise a witch hazel type drying lotion and a zinc based cream and maybe some EPO / borage oil to moisturise. Make sure you have a good wash when you take the domes off but don't wash the cream off before you put them back on. I had 60+ individual spots when I had the one rash I had and this method cleared it in about 4 days. The cream will build up on the domes but you can rub it off (although this will permanently remove the sticky). Hope it gets better, otherwise romantic low lighting and a lot of makeup.
jodi
(no login)
works with no sticky? November 28 2007, 4:56 PM
hi louise,
ok, i see what you mean about the whole bony growth issue. i guess i will just have to see for myself what it does.
but you mentioned to alcest about after using the cream for her rash, the sticky will come off the domes...do they still work once the sticky wears off? i guess you would just have to suck them on good, eh?
gokhil
(no login)
Re: airlock experiences? November 28 2007, 6:09 PM
some women have claimed that they received permanent scarring from using brava, so it seems like there is a risk.
jodi
(no login)
scarring? November 28 2007, 6:11 PM
scarring where? on the outside of the breast? like where the domes rest or what?
Louise
(no login)
Re: airlock experiences? November 29 2007, 12:22 AM
Not exactly scarring from Brava more like scarring from getting a rash and scratching etc until the skin is broken, then using Brava on broken skin then scratching more etc. If you have skin trouble look after your skin. If your skin is dry don't wash before you put the domes on, just wash and moisturise after you take them off, or wash and moisturise before you put them on and use lots of dome prep (although evening primrose oil and the normal body lotion I've used have been just as good).
Louise
(no login)
Re: airlock experiences? November 29 2007, 12:24 AM
Sorry, to answer your other question, they work fine when they're not sticky and they irritate the skin less so don't panic. You'll probably want to suck them on quite tight after a few weeks anyway especially if you intend to wear for long hours. Sucked on tight you can do pretty much anything (I work out in mine) without usually even needing the uncomfortable bra but just using the box for suction you'll be spending all your time on your back!
jodi
(no login)
slight rash this morning November 30 2007, 7:00 PM
hi louise,
thanks for the info about the scarring. that makes more sense to me. i did about 11 hours last night, but realized after about 3 hours that i had forgotten to use the skin prep, so i'm wondering if that's what caused it. i didn't wanna take them off the lose the 3 hours, so i just chanced it. i guess that's what i get. is there any other kind of oil i could use instead of evening primrose oil, as i'm doing homeopathy right now also and can't use strong scents as they can antidote the remedy. have any of you experimented with anything else? i mean, what is the purpose of the oil? to keep your skin lubricated and not break out? i don't have a bad rash, it's just like slight ring around boobs where outside of silicone laid. and it's broken, not complete circles. it might even go away by tonight, but if not, do you think i should take tonight off and wait for the rash to heal? i think i better be safe than sorry. then i might try some oil next time i use them.
that's also good to know that they still work without the sticky stuff on them. i actually slept well last night too. i think i'm getting used to them a little bit now. it's just the slight rash i'm concerned about now.
thanks everyone for all your help.
jodi
Louise
(Login Louise1982)
SENIOR MEMBER
Re: airlock experiences? November 30 2007, 7:37 PM
I'd say only leave them off when you're actually worried what you have will never look right again! I had a sick rash just once due to wearing them almost constantly for 5 consecutive days, I cut back my hours to 11-12 hours per night, washed the area thoroughly in the morning, wiped with witch hazel lotion to clarify and put on a lot of zinc cream - it was gone in 4 days and I never missed a night - no scars as I didn't scratch at it. A certain amount of redness where the domes sit is normal - if you look at Manolobhal's pic page you will see she has a bit of a mark. I have redness where the domes sit in the morning which is gone in a few hours but if I then wear or even try on a few underwired bras it comes up red again so I wear a slightly padded, non-wired bra in a big size to accommodate the swelling, it's a sporty style with covered elastic round the bottom for support and I do the shoulder straps up as tight as possible. I actually use a 36D (although I was 32B before) and having the larger band size rests the skin a little. I phoned Brava and they advised to wear a big bra so you're not squashing the swelling but not to go braless. For the rash if you can then go braless and totally topless with the zinc cream on for a couple of days (if you can afford to stay in!) otherwise try to go braless and just wear smoething loose and cotton next to the skin.
In terms of experimenting, I've forgotton to use the skin prep a couple of time and skin was possibly a bit dry and itchy but nothing to get excited about. I've broken pretty much all the dome-care rules and have used a lot of various moisturisers, zinc cream and borage oil cream which have got on the domes. Rubbing them off takes the sticky off but I've found them more comfortable since. Personally I have very dry skin though so I think any irritation I am likely to get will be either allergy (which would have happened by now) or dryness so I just try to keep lubricated. Incidentally someone else found Corium21 cream to be a miracle cure for her rash but I was allergic to it and it made my skin worse - use whatever you normally use as you know your skin likes it.
Taking the domes off for a few minutes doesn't mean you lose the session, although I would avoid taking off for more than 5-10 mins if you can but the main thing is not to let the swelling go down as it works by sustained tension. You also can afford to do one 8.5 hour session per week as long as you get at least 11 hours either side of it. Less than 8.5 hours or more than one night in the week with less than 11 hours means you need to add 5 nights to your program. I would say do as much as you can and I've only done less than 11 hours about 3 times since June so try your best.
Glad to hear you're sleeping better