Swift fx pillows

[bavinck]

I am finding my swift fx pillows are getting "floppy" and the holes are suddenly enlarging (because of their looseness?), and therefore unusable due to uncontrollable leaks. I have gone through 2 pairs like this, about 2 weeks of use for one and 4 for the second. My DME says these things usually last 6 weeks. Does this sound normal? Any suggestion of what I am doing, or not doing, that could be causing this problem? How long do you long time users find these pillows last?

[sleeplessinaz]

I had no luck with the Swift FX due to leaks constantly. You might have to look at a different nasal mask. I went with the Aloha and got a better fit. Way better fit.

[Pugsy]

Not normal.
I used the Swift FX for a couple of years before my change to the Tap Pap and I routinely got months and months of use out of my nasal pillows.

What is your usual cleaning routine for your nasal pillows?

[chunkyfrog]

Cleaning techniques make a lot of difference, as does your skin chemistry.
I found that frequent washing (as per mfr. directions) was detrimental to the silicone.
On vacation, I wiped them daily with an unscented baby wipe, instead, which nearly doubled their life.
Soaking was a disaster! --especially with hard water;
but boiling them gently with a tablespoon of baking soda in distilled water for a couple minutes or so
stripped out oil deposits and left them feeling like new and looking clear again.
Remember that Medicare allows 2 sets of pillows per month, but we don't have to accept that as normal.

[bavinck]

Cleaning routine is once a week with baby shampoo in hard water. Daily wipes? No cleaning in hard water?

[DaveMich]

I will confess that I don't clean my mask or pillows at all. I got 6 months off my first set of pillows and only changed them because I 'should'. Floppy doesn't really matter, since the nasal openings are supposed to 'fit' to the inside of your nostrils. The main thing with the FX is to get the mask tension "just right" by adjusting the velcro straps in small increments until you're tight enough to not leak, but not so tight that your nose hurts. I found myself adjusting in 1/16" increments over a series of days until I hit that sweet spot.

[bavinck]

Cleaning techniques make a lot of difference, as does your skin chemistry.
I found that frequent washing (as per mfr. directions) was detrimental to the silicone.
On vacation, I wiped them daily with an unscented baby wipe, instead, which nearly doubled their life.
Soaking was a disaster! --especially with hard water;
but boiling them gently with a tablespoon of baking soda in distilled water for a couple minutes or so
stripped out oil deposits and left them feeling like new and looking clear again.
Remember that Medicare allows 2 sets of pillows per month, but we don't have to accept that as normal.

You think the hard water could be my problem? Do you find the pillows get softer over time, or maintain the same firmness as when new using your regime?

[Pugsy]

Once a week isn't excessive...so I doubt your cleaning routine is any issue.
I doubt the hard water is an issue....where I live the water is extremely "hard" and I always just used the tap water for cleaning.

While I have heard of the pillows getting "floppy"....I have never heard or seen the opening at the cone become enlarged. That is something totally new. I can't see how the opening would change or why.

In the past there have been some people who can't seem to get as much "life" out of their nasal pillows (any brand really) than other people can seem to get. We don't know why but suspect that some people just have more facial oils that might tend to break down the silicone more quickly.

Here in the US most insurance (including the tight wad Medicare) will allow 2 sets of nasal pillow replacements a month...so in general they aren't expected to last. I have used various nasal pillow masks over the years and I have always got a lot of "life" from a set of pillows but then I only clean maybe once a week and my skin is rather dry (so not oily).

For "floppy" you might try the O ring fix...
viewtopic.php?f=1&t=76193&p=696113&hili ... gs#p696113

The cone opening getting stretched out....doesn't compute....it shouldn't happen at all so I have no idea what is going on there or what to do about it.

You might try washing the pillows a little more often...maybe it is the facial oil thing.
You might also try rotating a set or two so that after washing a set gets to "rest" until next rotation.

If it's too annoying...you may need to try a different nasal pillow mask.
There's always compromises though with any mask out there though.

[nanwilson]

Bravinck, I probably have the same "hard water" that you do and have not had any problems with pillows. When they do start to get floppy I do the backing soda and hot water bit and that does help to make them last a few weeks longer. I usually wash my stuff once a week in regular tap water using unscented baby shampoo and rinse in distilled water. I get my distilled water at shoppers and have never had a problem. Never use any product with a petroleum base near the silicone as that will degrade it quickly.... do you use a petroleum base after shave ... just a thought.

[bavinck]

Bravinck, I probably have the same "hard water" that you do and have not had any problems with pillows. When they do start to get floppy I do the backing soda and hot water bit and that does help to make them last a few weeks longer. I usually wash my stuff once a week in regular tap water using unscented baby shampoo and rinse in distilled water. I get my distilled water at shoppers and have never had a problem. Never use any product with a petroleum base near the silicone as that will degrade it quickly.... do you use a petroleum base after shave ... just a thought.

What's the baking soda and hot water thing?
I have a beard, so no aftershave (good thought though). My skin has always been somewhat oily, so I bet (as Pugsy point out) that I am one of the lucky one's who's chemistry is harder on the silicon. Does the baking soda trick help firm the pillows up?

[Pugsy]

Some people have had good luck with the backing soda trick.
I tried it...couldn't tell it did much. but then I didn't really have a problem to start with.
Make sure you have a working spare just in case you boil too much. Never, ever put all your eggs in one basket just in case you drop the basket.
Originally used for other types of mask cushions but quickly spread to all silicone mask parts.
viewtopic/t75749/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=74 ... il#p685240

[bavinck]

To be honest, the swift fx pillows are working so well for me right now, that even if I am one of the lucky ones that needs to change my pillows every 3-4 weeks I think I will just suck up the cost and do it. Thanks for your help everyone.

[Kitatonic]

Now I am struggling to extend my pillows past two weeks, after having them last a month. I do clean them daily, but with my oily/acne prone skin, I think it's necessary. Due to our hard water, I rinse with the leftover distilled water daily after this wash with non-scented, Seventh Generation dish soap. My husband has the exact same procedure with his cushions, but his Mirage FX cushions lasts him almost years. Since I still use a dab of lanolin on the nares, I will try the boiling distilled water, with the baking soda, and see if this cleans off that lanolin built-up.

[surf_rower]

I used one pair for many months, no problem. And I washed them every day (warm water and soap) because I was using a bit of lanolin under and around nostrils and didn't want the lanolin to build up. By the way the lanolin is fantastic for helping keep the pillows from shifting, to get a better seating and reduce abrasion.

[RogerSC]

I find changing pillows every couple of months is necessary for me, but this does vary. I've been able to go longer (up to about 4 months) on one set, or sometimes after a month I'll get a lot of leaking. I also have oily skin, but apparently different people's skin oils affect silicone differently, mine doesn't seem to break down the silicone. I do wipe the pillows off every night before using with just tap water and a soft cloth, then dry them with the soft cloth. This gives me enough traction to start the night with no leaks.

Slightly OT, I find myself gazing at Martin Luther King in the cpaptalk.com logo at the moment. Kudos to the operators of the web site for recognizing MLK.