09-10-2010, 11:06
Manual airlock question
November 11 2008 at 6:30 AM roakie (Login roakie)
SENIOR MEMBER
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I have taken the advice of Stacy, Louise, and others and decided I had better learn how to create my own airlock by sucking out the air on my own in case the smartbox breaks. Tonight, I put on the skin protector, tried to hold the two domes in place on my chest, and attempted to suck out the air through the brava tubing on my own. There was no way I could create enough suction to create a tight seal and hold the domes in place on my chest. I can suck more air out once the smartbox has done its initial job, but not before. The domes just fall off. I think this is because I need both arms to hold them tightly underneath the armpits where they gap quite a bit until the smartbox sucks all the air out.
If my smartbox breaks, how in the heck do I do this initial suction by mouth? Any advice? Am I doing something wrong? Should I be doing one at a time?
Author Reply
StacyEllen
(no login) Re: Manual airlock question November 11 2008, 3:19 PM
Roakie, I did not have any trouble sucking the air out myself. I place the domes where I want them, and hold them in place (pushing on them) while I hold the tube (mine is long enough to reach my mouth, is yours?) with my teeth. Then I suck, bite down (just enough to clamp the air) while I get more air, and do this over and over until I can let go of the domes (they stay on by themselves after I have sucked 4 or 5 times) then I squeeze the tubing with my finger once I am comfortable with the amount of suction and bend it over and secure it with an elastic. I am trying to visualize why you would have trouble sucking the air out while holding on the domes and I am not sure why it isn't working, unless you aren't relying on your teeth to keep air pressure between taking breaths.
Hope this helps.
I get better swelling and suction from this method than I ever did from the smartbox, and I never have to worry about this method dying on me! I wish I had done this the other years when I used Brava. With the smartbox, for whatever reason, the pressure was good somedays and stinky others. Some days I had great swelling and other days they were barely swollen, it was like a wasted night! Sucking the air out myself gives me much better control over everything.3
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roakie
(Login roakie)
SENIOR MEMBER Re: Manual airlock question November 11 2008, 3:37 PM
Thanks, Stacy. I will try again tonight. The problem I think I am having is that there is such a big gap on each side of the dome where my pectoral muscle transitions into my armpit that I have to squeeze the domes inward tightly from either side while I try to get suction. When I have the smartbox working on creating suction, I have my fingers over the top of the domes and my thumbs pushing the gummy rims into the hollows at my armpits until the suction is created. My arms and hands get SO tired. Last night when I tried sucking the air out through the tubing (yes, it is long enough to reach my mouth), I just could not get enough suction to pull that hollow area under my armpits tight enough to hold. But, I will try again and see if I can do it. I agree - I am afraid the smartbox will give out and I will be left with nothing. So far, after just one week, it is still going strong but I have a long way to go.
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roakie
(Login roakie)
SENIOR MEMBER Re: Manual airlock question November 11 2008, 7:27 PM
Stacey,
Do you use anything on your skin to help hold the domes in place while you do the manual suction? Do you use those no-sting skin preps that sort of create a glue? I just tried doing it again when I took the domes off this morning and I can't get any suction at all, even when trying to press all the way around.
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StacyEllen
(no login) Re: Manual airlock question November 13 2008, 12:34 PM
yes, I always use the prep wipes.
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Tina
(no login) Re: Manual airlock question November 13 2008, 3:38 PM
Do you wash your chest area before using no-sting wipes? Make sure it is completely dry and with no lotion. Use baby shampoo, not a moisturing body wash.
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Louise
(Login Louise1982)
SENIOR MEMBER Re: Manual airlock question November 15 2008, 7:40 PM
Please please please girls make sure you moisturise properly - leaving your skin dry is how you get a rash!
Use whatever skin products you normally use for your skin and wash the domes in baby shampoo (although I've used showergel a few times and don't think it matters really). Changing your skin products at the same time as giving your skin the stress of Brava will give a lot of unnecessary itching. I gave up on the expensive Brava dome prep after a while and just used liquid evening primrose oil or cheap body lotion and it was fine - you just need to clean it off the domes in the morning.
What I want to know is what idiot thought it was a good idea to make the domes sticky?!?!? They need suction to hold them on anyway and the sticky just irritates the skin - obviously a man!
November 11 2008 at 6:30 AM roakie (Login roakie)
SENIOR MEMBER
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I have taken the advice of Stacy, Louise, and others and decided I had better learn how to create my own airlock by sucking out the air on my own in case the smartbox breaks. Tonight, I put on the skin protector, tried to hold the two domes in place on my chest, and attempted to suck out the air through the brava tubing on my own. There was no way I could create enough suction to create a tight seal and hold the domes in place on my chest. I can suck more air out once the smartbox has done its initial job, but not before. The domes just fall off. I think this is because I need both arms to hold them tightly underneath the armpits where they gap quite a bit until the smartbox sucks all the air out.
If my smartbox breaks, how in the heck do I do this initial suction by mouth? Any advice? Am I doing something wrong? Should I be doing one at a time?
Author Reply
StacyEllen
(no login) Re: Manual airlock question November 11 2008, 3:19 PM
Roakie, I did not have any trouble sucking the air out myself. I place the domes where I want them, and hold them in place (pushing on them) while I hold the tube (mine is long enough to reach my mouth, is yours?) with my teeth. Then I suck, bite down (just enough to clamp the air) while I get more air, and do this over and over until I can let go of the domes (they stay on by themselves after I have sucked 4 or 5 times) then I squeeze the tubing with my finger once I am comfortable with the amount of suction and bend it over and secure it with an elastic. I am trying to visualize why you would have trouble sucking the air out while holding on the domes and I am not sure why it isn't working, unless you aren't relying on your teeth to keep air pressure between taking breaths.
Hope this helps.
I get better swelling and suction from this method than I ever did from the smartbox, and I never have to worry about this method dying on me! I wish I had done this the other years when I used Brava. With the smartbox, for whatever reason, the pressure was good somedays and stinky others. Some days I had great swelling and other days they were barely swollen, it was like a wasted night! Sucking the air out myself gives me much better control over everything.3
Edit Message Delete Message
roakie
(Login roakie)
SENIOR MEMBER Re: Manual airlock question November 11 2008, 3:37 PM
Thanks, Stacy. I will try again tonight. The problem I think I am having is that there is such a big gap on each side of the dome where my pectoral muscle transitions into my armpit that I have to squeeze the domes inward tightly from either side while I try to get suction. When I have the smartbox working on creating suction, I have my fingers over the top of the domes and my thumbs pushing the gummy rims into the hollows at my armpits until the suction is created. My arms and hands get SO tired. Last night when I tried sucking the air out through the tubing (yes, it is long enough to reach my mouth), I just could not get enough suction to pull that hollow area under my armpits tight enough to hold. But, I will try again and see if I can do it. I agree - I am afraid the smartbox will give out and I will be left with nothing. So far, after just one week, it is still going strong but I have a long way to go.
Edit Message Delete Message
roakie
(Login roakie)
SENIOR MEMBER Re: Manual airlock question November 11 2008, 7:27 PM
Stacey,
Do you use anything on your skin to help hold the domes in place while you do the manual suction? Do you use those no-sting skin preps that sort of create a glue? I just tried doing it again when I took the domes off this morning and I can't get any suction at all, even when trying to press all the way around.
Edit Message Delete Message
StacyEllen
(no login) Re: Manual airlock question November 13 2008, 12:34 PM
yes, I always use the prep wipes.
Edit Message Delete Message
Tina
(no login) Re: Manual airlock question November 13 2008, 3:38 PM
Do you wash your chest area before using no-sting wipes? Make sure it is completely dry and with no lotion. Use baby shampoo, not a moisturing body wash.
Edit Message Delete Message
Louise
(Login Louise1982)
SENIOR MEMBER Re: Manual airlock question November 15 2008, 7:40 PM
Please please please girls make sure you moisturise properly - leaving your skin dry is how you get a rash!
Use whatever skin products you normally use for your skin and wash the domes in baby shampoo (although I've used showergel a few times and don't think it matters really). Changing your skin products at the same time as giving your skin the stress of Brava will give a lot of unnecessary itching. I gave up on the expensive Brava dome prep after a while and just used liquid evening primrose oil or cheap body lotion and it was fine - you just need to clean it off the domes in the morning.
What I want to know is what idiot thought it was a good idea to make the domes sticky?!?!? They need suction to hold them on anyway and the sticky just irritates the skin - obviously a man!