Users of Swift FX Nasal - Advice on wear period of pillows

[OldSarge]

I recently got a new mask - the Resmed Swift FX Nasal. I had been using a Resmed Mirage Quattro and Repronics Amara Full Face due to chronic nasal congestion.

In early March I was given a Swift FX Nasal Pillows as I had surgery that involved the upper forehead over the eye area where the other masks have their supports.

Much to my amazement and joy, this mask worked very well. I've been able to keep it working for me, with the help of a Flonase generic to keep my nasal passages open. I find the nasal pillow and headgear very much to my liking. I've had very good AHI improvement, so I want to make this work.
(Titrated at 40 on my first mask study/ now down as low as 1.7 - 3.0 area.)

My issue: I've only had the Swift FX since March 6th. It seems that the pillow body has weakened and that allows it to collapse somewhat. My pressure is 15cm so it does not collapse all the way and close off the airflow to the pillows. But it has become harder to assure that the pillows are seated properly to assure no leaks. It seems like it adjusts and then moves out.

At first I thought it was the straps needing to be tighter, but that does not seem to be it. I wash the pillow everyday in warm water and dish liquid and have noticed a slight progressive weakening of the body of the pillow where the metal disc of the hose connects. In fact, this seems to be where I have gotten most of the problems as the pillow body collapses, the metal disc starts to fall against the nose and upper lip. Being metal it is hard to ignore it, even though it is covered by the pillow body. It is hard to position so the hose is always straight out and away from the nose and mouth.

I realize this is hard to describe unless you have this particular mask and was hoping for some advice.

I expected that the pillows needed to be replaced every six months at longest and perhaps three months at the shortest. But this has only been six weeks. Seem odd it would deteriorate so quickly.

Anyone know whether those pillows lose their resiliency in a short time? I will be seeing the VA Tech and pulmonologist in May. But I may need to address this with the tech by phone before that time.

Thanks for your input.

[Pugsy]

Nasal pillow life seems to vary greatly among individuals. I got months of use out of mine (I only wash once a week when I think about it..not sure if that helps but doesn't seem to hurt). Some people barely get a month. Insurance normally allows 2 per month so I suppose it isn't totally unexpected to see shorter life. What I did was sort of a rotation thing..had 2 or 3 of my size in rotation...take one set off and wash it and set aside to dry and at same time put one of the others on the mask and let the set recently washed rest for a week. Unless I have a cold or drippy nose for some reason I just don't see the need to wash daily but if you want to wash daily...nothing wrong with doing that.

You might benefit from the O ring trick...won't hurt to try
Check out this thread.
viewtopic.php?f=1&t=76193&p=696113&hili ... gs#p696113

Also the baking soda boiling trick...only do this when you have a spare though. Just in case something bad happens.
viewtopic.php?f=1&t=74686&st=0&sk=t&sd= ... il+cushion

[OldSarge]

Pugsy - I should have known you would be right there with help.

At first I could not imagine how the O-Rings would work when I read the one post. But when I scanned down I caught it. (And I was a Hydraulic Tech On Jet Aircraft in the Marines - used lots of O-Rings! Buckets full.).

But with mine it is the mask body that is sagging The pillows still are very firm and resilient, no doubt due to the two layer construction of the pillows. Good idea on the O-Rings though as the inside layer can drop down and cause all kinds of leaks. The O-Rings should keep that from happening. The VA tech told me that is the first thing to check on those nasal masks to be sure both layers are set correctly.

I will probably try the Baking Soda boil method and see if that helps. I have the small and large pillows in case something untoward happens. I was wondering if all silicone items have the same temperature tolerance when I read this before in the posts. For instance, the silicone spatulas you encounter in kitchen stores are very stiff and firm for obvious reasons. That indicates to me that there is some differences in silicone recipes, therefore the temperature tolerances may be different as well. After all the Apnea silicone products are made to be very pliant.

But it is certainly worth a good try while I wait for the VA to send me another pillow. I've used the small pillow in the bag a couple of nights and it worked - just the pillows dropped down too far into my nasal passages.

I try not to overbeg (is there such a word) from the VA. I've earned it with my service but there a lot of guys and gals who need their services more than I. I was one of those that walked away well intact. Lucky guy.

I did not expect the pillow body would break down that fast, but if Medicare says two per month -that's a pretty good indication it is common. And the VA can bill my Medicare advantage plan.

Thanks for your input. I expect you know that you are a lot of help to a lot of people. If not - you are.

[Pugsy]

Mask cushion/pillow life also depends on facial oils and detergent used for cleaning and sometimes just general luck.
I have heard of people getting a bad "batch" of nasal pillows in that the life is markedly different. So that's not impossible.
And some people just can't get much life out of them no matter what they do...it happens.

Most of the time the complaint has been with the cones or sealing...and not with the body of the nasal pillow itself getting tired. The baking soda trick might help. It sure helps with full face mask cushions from what I have read. I never bothered with it for my nasal pillows since I got so much life anyway...they were tossed for being ugly more than not sealing.

[Sir NoddinOff]

I haven't used them since early last year, but as I recall I got six months out of my last pair with zero degradation of quality. I eventually changed the pillows out because I had several new ones just hanging around... no long-term problems with that set either. On the other hand, I have heard that some of the production lots of Swift FX pillows can differ in quality, with several people reporting them wearing out very early. Your therapy pressures may be an issue too. The O-ring trick - that's an oldie but a goodie.

[OldSarge]

I boiled my pillows and can say there was an improvement. The pillow is clearer, And it is a little firmer.

It did not make it as "stiff" as when new, so I am going to ask for replacements when I am in the VA early May. The bottom of the pillow body is still "drooping" and then "cupping" at the centerline between the nasal cones. That makes it hard to secure a good seal.

I had better AHI the night after I boiled the pillow. Then it got higher last night. So I may have some other things.
I'm sure I will boil them in the future just to keep them working as long as possible.

We'll see.

[Tino2You]

I've been using the FX for a couple years now. Thanks to Pugsy, I have a rotation setup too (and now since it has been two years, I have three sets of headsets so I swap out the whole assembly. Last year, I had a bad batch of pillows, one lasted about three weeks, one the interior column went inverted and even when I corrected it, it would revert.

My pillows last months usually, I spot check my AHIs and when they creep up to 3 or 4, I know it is time for a change. My insurance gives me 3 new pillows every 3 months and a new mask every year.

What size are you using? There is a thread "The Great Pillow Exchange" where you can swap pillows for your size (mediums are the hardest to swap for cause most of us use that size).

-tino

[Janknitz]

Medicare covers two sets of pillows per MONTH, so you should be changing them out a lot more often. Is there any way you can find out what the VA schedule is or point out to your DME the Medicare schedule (which is usually followed by other insurers)? Can you use your Medicare benefits for this?