Replacing Nuance pillows

Now that I've been doing this for about three weeks, the delightful topic of supplies and replacements is rearing its head. Thus, more questions!

- Just when should I be replacing my pillows? Insurance allows 2 a month. Replace them like clockwork every two weeks or wait til they wear out? (And how would I tell when that is?)

- When I got the mask, it came with one each of small, medium, and large size. I started with the medium and they've worked very well so I haven't even tried the other two. I'm being told I can't reorder pillows until the 18th (one month from receiving the mask) even though I only got one of the size that I wear. By the time it's processed and shipped, I will have been on this set for at least 5 weeks. I'm not real happy about that. Other than dropping $40 at CPAP.com, any tips on that front?

Most use pillows until they allow too much leakage or look gross and washing won't help.
I have traded on "The great pillow exchange" with great success.

After reading other posts I was laboring under the assumption that most masks last for 6 months or longer. I thought that the only time you need to replace anything is when you start to experience problems like leaks.

Most people are able to get MUCH longer life out of their nasal pillows than 2 weeks. I routinely have gotten months of use out of just one.
While I have only tried the Nuance briefly and haven't used it for a long time and thus haven't had a chance to use it long enough for it to get tired...I have no doubt that I could probably get months of use out of one.

Now some people have found that they don't get much life out of nasal pillows...perhaps a combination of facial oils and whatever cleaning/washing they are doing.
How do we know when a nasal pillow needs to be retired? Usually they start leaking and we can't fix it or maybe they simply keep collapsing. There's no hard fast rule to determine when any mask needs to be retired.

I recently just changed my nasal pillow on my current mask...the Resmed P10 nasal pillow mask...I used the same nasal pillow from mid Jan to mid October before I retired it because I thought it was leaking badly but come to find out I think the real culprit was the headgear being tired.

If you are worried about not having a spare....check out EBay for a quick and less costly replacement.
I see some mediums for as little as $5 plus ($6 shipping which is a joke) so total around $11 or some with free shipping for about the same cost. Mediums are a little less numerous as it is the most popular size.
I usually just shop the "Buy it Now" listings because I don't like to sit on auctions...but it looks like several mediums are listed with total cost being around $11 to $13 depending on which seller.

Replaceable pillows or cushions is a very useful feature on most masks, extending mask life for most of us.
The hard parts can last for months, if not longer, and the headgear has varying durability,
depending largely on materials, soil, and amount of stretch used.
Silicone can absorb gases, cosmetics, and many other chemicals, degrading the strength,
flexibility, and appearance of the part.
Insurance, including Medicare, allows for monthly or more frequent replacement of these expendable parts.
This promotes economy and comfort at the same time--quite a trick, I must say!

Yeah, I've seen the Great Pillow Exchange go by, but my inner boy scout (be prepared!) would prefer to keep the small and large pillows just in case I wind up needing them in the future for some reason. I did go look on eBay and found a medium pillow for $9.49 with free shipping from a seller here in Ohio. Should be here pretty quick. Plus I have a 3-month supply coming from Apria (which I jumped at, if I can get it on this year's deductible so much the better!), so that'll hopefully last me a good long time.

I have been noticing that I've been getting some more leaks than I had when Pugsy was drooling over my leak lines but I think that's probably just the headgear stretching out a bit. Adjusting the straps has been helping, and I noticed it got quite a bit tighter when I washed it a few days ago.

JeffV wrote:I think that's probably just the headgear stretching out a bit. Adjusting the straps has been helping, and I noticed it got quite a bit tighter when I washed it a few days ago.

I finally got to the point with my headgear that washing didn't help and I looked closely and there was a "bump" of extra stretched out material where the end of the plastic semi rigid thing (that's inside the headgear and part of the frame) had poke sort of through.
Washing in hot water and even drying in the clothes dryer couldn't get rid of that bump so I officially retired the stretchy part of the headgear after a little over 10 months of continuous use. Not bad life considering I am far from gentle with any of my gear.
Being the hoarder that I am I probably will keep the headgear around for emergencies even though I already have a spare.
It would be useable on someone with a much larger head than mine.

I also bought a couple of spare nasal pillows from EBay..actually stumbled across a lot with 3 in the package for a really good price.
I could go to my DME and get them using insurance but what I paid using EBay was real close to my co pay if using my insurance...and it saved me effort of going to DME (which is a bit of a drive which uses gas) and some time. I figure my time is worth something too.
Plus the DME has limited hours and invariably I end up close by either then they are out to lunch or it is just after closing.