MIRAGE SWIFT LT QUALITY POLL--THE RESMED CHARADE???

[plr66]

The magic tiny number was "6" on my best old pillow (attained in early 9/08). Give it a whirl. But be clear that you are not wanting a pillow attained by anyone less than a year ago, I would think.

plr, I have looked through all the pages of this thread and couldn't find where to look for the "magic" number. Is it actually on the pillow itself or on the packaging? Do you need a microscope to see it?

Wow, Kenny,--Could have sworn I put this pic on this thread, but I also couldn't find it! (Lo-o-o-ng Thread!!) Yes, the number is microscopic and I need a magnifier to see it. Be sure you are holding the pillow exactly as shown, so you don't confuse 6 with 9.

[tattooyu]

Thanks plr66 and twokatmew, I'm going to check mine tonight.

[DoninOrlando]

TwoKat,
FYI, I ordered a repalcement pillow for my Swift LT and got one with a 6 on it today.

[plr66]

TwoKat,
FYI, I ordered a repalcement pillow for my Swift LT and got one with a 6 on it today. I wouldn't have even looked but the material is much different from the original pillows that came with it when I purchased it from the DME 6 weeks ago. The originals are kind of milky and the new one is more clear. I cannot quite make out the number on the ones from my DME, as it is smaller than the 6 and less pronounced. If I had to guess it looks like a 12 but I have not heard that number tossed around so I may be wrong. I do not have a mag glass and my eyes are not perfect. But the 6 is pretty clear, as is the pillows.

DoninO, I would just remind you that the #6 is has for some time been defective in quality, as all the clearer ones seem to be, regardless of the number. They are all apparently being produced now to lower standards and extremely higher replacement schedules. Bigger bucks for ResMed and the DME's. I was referring to the #6 which was produced over a year ago, and was the high quality that one should expect from ResMed, lasting about 8-9 months with a very loose headgear. And just FYI, ResMed sent me a bag of #12 replacement pillows for my having sent them about 8 pillows that I had bought over about 6 months, trying to find the same quality as my original #6. All of the replacement 12's are inferior quality, leak unless cranked tightly against the nose, and then only last a month before leaking is over the top.

[peppi]

I have two with a 6 and 1 with a 3.
I can see a slight difference in the transparency but I really cant tell the difference in feel.

I think they both seal equally well.

The biggest problem with the SWIFT LT is the noise IMO, not the fit.

The noise comes from the exhale vent. Its a poor design with many small holes. The mask should have large holes twice the size with 1/2 the number. Too many small holes causes air turbulence and thus noise.

best,
Phil

[DoninOrlando]

PLR,
I thought I had a good one. From the threads I thought the clear ones were good and the milky ones bad. Oh well. I needed a new one regardless.

Phil,
Of the 6 masks I have, my Swift LT is probably the most quiet, as long as it is not leaking. Next quiet is probably the comfortgel. My noisiest by far is my Ultra Mirage FF. Quattro is probably my next noisiest, although not enough to bother me. Only the Ultra is enough to keep me awake. It has a whistling noise from the exhaust vent that is very annoying. When my Swift is working well, I almost forget it is on. I just hate buying pillows monthly as I pay for them, and I have sinus issues and mouth leaks, so I am trying to find a hybrid or FFM.

[DoninOrlando]

PLR,
I was just in contact with the online DME I got the recent clear pillows from with the 6. He says his are higher quality.
Don

[twokatmew]

PLR,
I was just in contact with the online DME I got the recent clear pillows from with the 6. He gets his direct from the manufacturer, in New Zealand, and are higher quality than the ones made in China, according to him. They have 7 extrusion machines in New Zealand and numbered 1-7. He said most made in China are stamped 8-14 but that does not mean they don't also produce any stamped 1-6. The biggest difference according to him is the New Zealand ones last much longer. I will see if this one lasts longer. If I can get at least 2 months instead of 1, I will stay with the Swift LT. He said if I order more, he cannot guarantee the number 6 but he can guarantee they come from the same manufacturer in New Zealand and not China. I don't know if it makes a difference or not yet, but if anyone wants his info, I will come back and post it or answer to PM's. I don't have it in front of me right now.
Don

Interesting info, Don. Who did you buy the New Zealand pillows from? I wonder how he can ensure he gets pillows from a particular source?

It's on my schedule to call my DME next week for a new mask. It'll be interesting to see where this one is made and what number pilllow(s) I get. I'm not sure (yet) if my DME is one of those who removes the extra two pillows before issuing a mask....

Good luck with your mask!

[plr66]

PLR,
I was just in contact with the online DME I got the recent clear pillows from with the 6. He gets his direct from the manufacturer, in New Zealand, and are higher quality than the ones made in China, according to him. They have 7 extrusion machines in New Zealand and numbered 1-7. He said most made in China are stamped 8-14 but that does not mean they don't also produce any stamped 1-6. The biggest difference according to him is the New Zealand ones last much longer. I will see if this one lasts longer. If I can get at least 2 months instead of 1, I will stay with the Swift LT. He said if I order more, he cannot guarantee the number 6 but he can guarantee they come from the same manufacturer in New Zealand and not China. I don't know if it makes a difference or not yet, but if anyone wants his info, I will come back and post it or answer to PM's. I don't have it in front of me right now.
Don

Don, This is interesting. I think it would be a very good thing to run this by the ResMed customer service folks directly, to see whether there is truth to it. Unless this is a recent development, I am a little skeptical, since when I went through this whole process with the Sidney engineers, it would have definitely been to their benefit to have sent my replacement-pillows from those batches you describe. In any case, please do not use PM's for this, and please do keep the discussion here on the thread for continuity. Thanks for your input!

(Edited--Sidney, not NZ engineers).

[DoninOrlando]

PLR,
I was only trying to help others, if he was a legitimate supplier of a better quality product. I have no other agenda or axe to grind with Resmed. I understand your skepticism. You have far more information than I do.
Don

[plr66]

I recommend you do not contact Resmed to verify this as it can only make things worse if they listen to you. I doubt they would approve of him sharing info like this, assuming it is true. Don

Don, I didn't mean to freak you out! Believe me. ResMed will have no way of knowing which DME you use, much less the individual involved. And I agree with your well-made points here. Exception is that ResMed actually did acknowledge that different molds produced different quality pillows--which is why I was asked by them to identify the number on the one that worked most effectively.

[twokatmew]

Yesterday I called my DME and ordered a new Swift LT for Her. They didn't ask what size I wanted, so I hoped I'd get all three pillows. Amazingly the mask arrived in today's mail! Talk about fast.

Anyway, I did indeed get all three pillows in the sealed bag with the mask. The accompanying card says the mask is made in Singapore, and the bag, pillows tube retainer and soft wraps are made in China. I've only examined the small pillow (#9 BTW), but it looks the same as all the other pillows I have (with the exception of my good #6).

Pls see the Pillow Exchange thread if you're interested in trading S pillows for my new XS and M pillows.

Thx!

[peppi]

I felt the need to update my post and experience with the new Res-Med Swift LT II Pillows.
I have noted without a doubt the newer pillows are flimsier and after about 4-6 weeks of use will collapse causing Oxygen deprevation.

This recently caused me to have a grand-mal seizure and I would like to be the first to publicly warn everyone of the product liability issues with these nasal pillows.

I FEEL THE PROBLEM IS SERIOUS ENOUGH TO WARRANT A PRODUCT RECALL.

[dtsm]

This appears to be one of the more popular nasal pillows and it's sitting in my closet - thinking of trying it out. Any updates since last year on this very controversial topic? Has ResMed improved things for 2010?

[cpapernewbie]

swift LT is no more current. Swift FX is the current model and this is get rave reviews from members here