How often to replace supplies

Fropa · Post by **Fropa** » Fri Aug 03, 2012 8:36 pm

I just hit the 3 month point with my S9. My DME says to replace filters and nasal pillows every 2 weeks and the ClimateLine heated tube and the Swift FX tube every 3 months. They sent me 6 filters and pillows and both new tubes. I can see maybe changing the filters every 2 weeks but do the pillows need to be replaced every 2 weeks? My tubes all look fine and I clean everything at least once a week. How often do supplies need to be replaced realistically in the real world?

Julie · Post by **Julie** » Fri Aug 03, 2012 9:10 pm

Easy answer - when they need it. When they no longer do the job.

Some of the insce. co's are mad hatters as far as I can see...

There are people using the same masks, if not their cushions or pillows, for years, and only replace those parts twice a year if that!

chunkyfrog · Post by **chunkyfrog** » Fri Aug 03, 2012 9:27 pm

If OP is getting close to Medicare, it might be a good idea to 'stock up',
as the new regulations might take awhile to shake out. They are vague, at best.

archangle · Post by **archangle** » Fri Aug 03, 2012 9:31 pm

The DME is probably sending them to you as fast as the insurance will pay for them. If insurance is paying for it, go along until you get a good supply of spares.

ResMed says to inspect the filter every month and replace at 6 months in normal conditions.

Replace the pillows when you need to. Either when they get grungy or when they start to leak. Sometimes, pillows start to leak for no obvious reason as they get old. Once you have spares, clean one set, and set them aside for a week or so to dry thoroughly. I wash my mask parts in the dishwasher, so experiment with that. (Not headgear.)

Some people find they need to change pillows twice a month. Some go basically forever. Some people boil their old pillows with a little baking soda and rejuvenate them. Some have even baked them in an oven. Once you have spares, experiment with the old ones.

ResMed says 6 months on the hose. I doubt it's necessary unless one gets damaged or grungy. Get a spare, and alternate thorough washing cycles. Hoses aren't easy to wash in the dishwasher since the inside doesn't get washed and dirty water will tend to sit inside.

ResMed says 6 months on the water tub. If you don't have the cleanable tub, see if you can get the cleanable tub as a spare. Personally, I'd buy the cleanable tub out of pocket if insurance wouldn't pay. Once you get a spare, you can open up the non-cleanable tub with a little effort. I dishwash and swap out my tubs, too.

Find out when your insurance will swap out the entire mask with headgear. That's usually 6 months. Get a spare mask or two.

greg-g · Post by **greg-g** » Sat Aug 04, 2012 1:28 am

I've had my S9 for a bit over two years, I have spares for everything except the machine, and may even get one of those sometime. I was waiting for the S10, but the S8 was current for 5 years.
The nasal pillows lasted 18 months with a bit of boiling until the pillows started to deform. The second set of pillows are washed every week or so and have been boiled twice in 6 months. They actually fit better now than when new. The short tube is washed with the pillows but not boiled.
I changed the filter to a non genuine Hypoallergenic and wash it every 6 months or so. A slightly dirty filter works better than a clean one. I have spares but there's no reason to change it.
The hose is heated and hence there's no condensation. It gets washed occasionally and will be changed when it fails.
The tank is washed every week when the water is discarded. Its topped up every second day with boiled tap water.
I can only think that someone's making money by changing at their recommended frequency.

RogerSC · Post by **RogerSC** » Sat Aug 04, 2012 2:19 am

Fropa wrote:I just hit the 3 month point with my S9. My DME says to replace filters and nasal pillows every 2 weeks and the ClimateLine heated tube and the Swift FX tube every 3 months. They sent me 6 filters and pillows and both new tubes. I can see maybe changing the filters every 2 weeks but do the pillows need to be replaced every 2 weeks? My tubes all look fine and I clean everything at least once a week. How often do supplies need to be replaced realistically in the real world?

I've had my ResMed S9 for 6 months. During this time, I've had one filter (inspected monthly*smile*), one set of headgear and tubing, two sets of nasal pillows (not counting the one that vanished into thin air the day that I washed it), one climateline tubing. And I have a spare filter and nose pillows.

I go along with the "as long as it lasts", I don't see any reason to throw something away just because it's a little used as long as it's doing its job. My DME was a prize-winner for this one (otherwise did a pretty good job). They told me to replace the filter and nose pillows every month, and to wash everything once a week in a 50% vinegar solution. Not quite what the manufacturer suggests, but they are working on planned obsolecense by wearing things out by recommended cleaning with a strong vinegar solution. The S9 documentation says to wash everything with warm soapy water, and if there are hard water deposits, then use a 10% vinegar solution. I think that they make a bit of money by replacing things as fast as insurance will pay for them, and that's why they do what they do. They also may not have read the manual for the S9, they may be used to machines that require that accelerated maintenance schedule (to give them the benefit of the doubt).

Anyways, use your own sense about how things are working, since when it's time to replace things, you'll know. You'll be tightening your mask, or seeing gray on the filter, etc. You can also keep an eye on your data to make sure that things are working as well as they should. The manual gives you a pretty good description of required maintenance, I'd take a look at that, too, if you haven't already.

Fropa · Post by **Fropa** » Sat Aug 11, 2012 8:30 pm

Thanks for the advice everybody. I couldn't imagine things needed to be changed as often as suggested. I have a low co-pay so will probably build up a few of everything. My local DME rep told me not to worry about telling the main office I didn't need supplies when they called. Not too close to Medicare but with the economy you never know when your income could go away so it will be nice to have a supply of replacements on hand.

JeffL · Post by **JeffL** » Sat Aug 11, 2012 9:16 pm

In 4 days I'll be on CPAP for one year. I'm still using all the original parts (except for the filter, which I might have replaced 3 times). I've got a spare set of everything, but except for the cloth part of the FX headgear getting a little frayed, and the silicon strap being a little discolored, everything works as good as when I got it.

How often to replace supplies

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