Did I ruin my Swift FX pillows?

[lazer]

First off, I'm on day 50 with these original Swift FX (medium) pillows.

Two days ago I cleaned them a bit more extensively than in the past and instead of just cleaning them by hand with a little soap and warm water, I soaked them in warm/hot water with the hose attached for about an hour with some dish detergent.

The night before last, I didn't have so much leak problems BUT woke up with a pretty bad (red) on the end of my nose. Not really a sore as it cleared up during the day but nevertheless unusually red and tender when waking. I may have had the straps too tight because it seemed to fit a little different and had to tighten things down a bit.

Last night was horrible. I was constantly waking up in the wee hours this morning having to fiddle with the straps and pillows to regain a seal as I could feel and hear air leaking out constantly no matter what I would try. Loosen side straps, Re-tighten, Loosen top strap, ect...

Does it sound like they are worn out OR did I do something wrong cleaning them by soaking in the dish soap/detergent?

Any suggestions on how to revive them? I've read sporadic mentions of "Boiling" but not really sure if that would be of any help in my case and how best to go about it?

Thanks

[Pugsy]

Soaking shouldn't have harmed them. Probably just a coincidence and they are likely getting tired.
If you have another one...replace it but don't toss the old one just yet. Let it sit for a couple of weeks and then revisit its use to see if it is still a PITA..before tossing or trying the boil with baking soda thing..

Most likely the strap adjustment was off and that resulted in the nose problems. Sometimes just a teeny bit of off adjustment makes a big difference. That's why once I have it "perfect"...I don't mess with it. Nothing changes with straps even with months and months using same headgear. Slips on and off without ever adjusting the velcro.

[lazer]

Soaking shouldn't have harmed them. Probably just a coincidence and they are likely getting tired.
If you have another one...replace it but don't toss the old one just yet. Let it sit for a couple of weeks and then revisit its use to see if it is still a PITA..before tossing or trying the boil with baking soda thing..

Most likely the strap adjustment was off and that resulted in the nose problems. Sometimes just a teeny bit of off adjustment makes a big difference. That's why once I have it "perfect"...I don't mess with it. Nothing changes with straps even with months and months using same headgear. Slips on and off without ever adjusting the velcro.

Hi Pugsy, Thanks for the suggestions. One of the main reasons I've messed with the straps is because of that damn "Premium Respironics Chinstrap". It's come apart on me several times lately to. Mainly that side strap that loops around the one side and then attaches on the other (around back of head) with a strip of velcro. It keeps flying apart when I'm putting it on lately as I used to be able to just fit it on by undoing the "over the top of head" main velcro strap and slip into it. Now that goofy back strap keeps flying apart and everytime I try to get it fitted again it seems the headgear on the Swift FX fits differently. Just another reason I want to find another solution as opposed to this chinstrap..

My DME did slip me a brand new "medium" replacement pillow for the Swift FX during my visit to have my low pressure raised from the 6cm to 8cm. Guess I was just holding out using it yet but I will switch out to it tonight.

I'll have to do a search for the "Boil & baking soda" thing. Does that tend to revive them OR is it just another cleaning method? I remember seeing something posted in reference to boiling but don't remember about the baking soda

[Pugsy]

I have never tried the boiling baking soda thing. Don't know if it helps or not but others say that it seems to revive them a bit. I figure if it is going in the trash anyway...won't hurt to try. I don't remember the ratio of water and baking soda. The baking soda acts as a cleaning agent. Someone brought it up on the forum not long ago.

I have found that when I let a "tired" nasal pillow just sit for a couple of weeks that it seems to revive on its own. I don't know why...don't know if maybe it is real or a placebo effect but for 3 years now using nasal pillows...I routinely get months of use out of them.. My normal routine is to rotate 2 or 3 nasal pillows. Once a week or so..I give the nasal pillows a gentle hand washing with some liquid hand soap. Brief suds up, rub between hands, rinse and let air dry and rest for a week or two. I just don't see the need to do any more. I wash them like I wash my hands and that is it. No more, no less...very brief.
Works for me but if others want to go to elaborate measures and soaking in this or that....that's okay...whatever makes them comfortable.

Using this rotation method I get 3 or 4 months or more out of 2 pillows....they usually get tossed because of ugliness more than anything else. I had just tossed 3 nasal pillows when the baking soda/boil method was mentioned so I have not had the occasion to try to rescue any bound for the trash can nasal pillows yet. I plan to try it though but it will be a few months before it is needed.

[mikewithe]

You might also want to check to make sure that the inside doohickey hasn't been squished down inside each of the little tower thingies.

LOL. I wish I could be more clear than that. What I mean is that inside each of the pillows that fits inside the nares there is a second layer of silicon. According to the manual, these can be inadvertently pressed down during cleaning. If that happens the pillow can't inflate properly and you will experience lots of leaks. If that's the case, you can fix it by removing the pillow from the headgear and inserting something through the large opening to gently lift the doohickey back into position.

I hope that makes sense...

[lazer]

You might also want to check to make sure that the inside doohickey hasn't been squished down inside each of the little tower thingies.

LOL. I wish I could be more clear than that. What I mean is that inside each of the pillows that fits inside the nares there is a second layer of silicon. According to the manual, these can be inadvertently pressed down during cleaning. If that happens the pillow can't inflate properly and you will experience lots of leaks. If that's the case, you can fix it by removing the pillow from the headgear and inserting something through the large opening to gently lift the doohickey back into position.

I hope that makes sense...

Thanks Mike. At work now but will check that when I get home. Makes sense.

[chunkyfrog]

I have noticed when the inner cone of the pillows insists on collapsing over and over,
(I pull it up with a clean interdental brush) the pillows either need a rest, boiling, or retirement.
A couple teaspoons in a couple of quarts of water is good--up to 20 minutes,
but don't let it touch the bottom of the pot. Maybe use a double boiler or a basket.
Some have used filtered water, I use distilled--ours is way hard.

[LSAT]

Boiling...
viewtopic/t75749/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=74 ... il#p685240

[Maxie]

I use the Opus360 and I wash my pillows with baby shampoo and cool water. I accidentally discovered that when mine start to leak, I switch to another set for a while and by changing the pillows back and forth, I seem to get a better seal. Maybe the pillows need a rest from time to time?

[Tino2You]

Hi Mike,
On Sunday I cleaned my gear and when I went to bed that night, I couldn't get a good seal or comfy fit (yes, pugsy, I too leave my straps alone!).

Anyway, I decided to swap out the medium for the small I have when I discovered the inner silicon tube was missing on one side. After I took it off, I saw the offender hiding inside out. I popped it back in place and all is good. Not sure why mine happened to go inverted but it did. I have a new medium coming in the mail (thanks ken).

-tino

[Sir NoddinOff]

I'm retired, so I have the time to spend on the stuff below... may not be too convenient for working folks!

I usually soak my FX pillows every day in a mild solution of Palmolive anti-germicidal dish soap, ie. for about an hour. I've logged two months on this pair and can't say I see any difference, plus my skin seems fine, even tho it's fairly sensitive. I always re-soak them in fresh water after their soap bath for maybe two hours, plus I usually change the fresh water a few times. That repeated rinse seems to remove most of the fragrance of the soap, which I find mildly annoying. Maybe it removes any residual soap film too? I certainly worth a try.

[user from Singapore]

First off, I'm on day 50 with these original Swift FX (medium) pillows.

If you get rid of your silly mask.... OK I'll stop here

[user from Singapore]

AVI, I am 200% sure you deleted my post here... Wow you are mean!

(by the way if I click on "Quote" I can see that this post is still there. That, you cannot delete sorry.)

Never mind, I will post it again (and again...)

First off, I'm on day 50 with these original Swift FX (medium) pillows.

If you get rid of your silly mask... OK I'll stop here

EDITED: The post above has been reinstalled. Thanks to the forum owners.

[lazer]

AVI, I am 200% sure you deleted my post here... Wow you are mean!

(by the way if I click on "Quote" I can see that this post is still there. That, you cannot delete sorry.)

Never mind, I will post it again (and again...)

First off, I'm on day 50 with these original Swift FX (medium) pillows.

If you get rid of your silly mask... OK I'll stop here

I was hoping Avi would chime in actually and explain to me about how I can be a man now that I've ruined my Swift FX...

Oh? He's on a roll now going around and deleting post's he doesn't like or agree with?

---------

Anyhoo, back on topic. My inner cones weren't inverted or anything. I have it soaking in some warm water and regular hand soap and am going to dry it and pack it away for a later date as suggested and revisit it then whilst trying that boil & baking soda thing then also.

Busting out my spare which the DME kindly gave me last visit. Of course I'll see how kind he was when/if he ads it to my supplies bill down the road.

[mlasham]

Mine started leaking lots, and I realised my nose hairs needed a trim