When to replace Swift LT pillow?

I've been using my Swift LT for 2 months and I keep reading about how the pillows wear out in 1-2 months. What are the signs/symptoms of a worn out pillow? My numbers have gone up the last 3 nights and I'm wondering if that's the cause.

Hi,

A worn out pillow could be the cause of numbers going up. The only way to be sure is to try a new one, and see what happens. If it doesn't make any difference, you might still get some life out of the old one. The signs I see is having more leaks and a hard time getting them to seal. I find I can extend their life a bit by using some Lansinoh, which helps make a better seal.

-john-

Cajun, check both your AHI as well as your leak rate. If both numbers have increased over a number of nights and all other factors seem to remain equal, then you are probably a victim of the ResMed Swift LT quality control problem. Swift LT used to be an incredible mask with pillows lasting 6-9 months...now down to 1-2 months! A huge money-maker for ResMed & DME's since Medicare and many insurance companies cover such ridiculously frequent replacements, and folks with such coverage just usually don't care as long as it isn't coming out of their pocket! As has been noted above, you might try Lanishoe or Ayr gel to help your seal. Also might try tightening your straps very slightly. I never found these fixes to help, but several here have.

I pursued this issue some time ago, and was actually put in direct phone contact with ResMed's product engineers about the sudden and marked decrease in LT pillow quality. After they acknowledged there was indeed a quality control probem wth these pillows, ResMed pushed suddenly away from the table, not working with any of us directly, and instead referring everyone to their DME (who 90% of the time don't know or care...much less miss an opportunity to push monthly replacements rather than 6-9 month replacements!).
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hello,One of the many tips learned here was on using o-rings on the pillows to sturdy them up.I did not put them on the pillows till my leak numbers went up, then my numbers went down when using them. They are cheap if they dont work ,good luck.


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I have a rotation of several pillows, and although I haven't used them for even two months, one was starting to leak a bit more than the others (or so I thought). I washed the offending pillow and put it in its zip lock baggie to separate it from the rotation expecting to try it again later. (I wanted to make sure it was really dead before I tossed it out.) Well.... Do you think I can find that pillow? I guess I should have just tossed it, since it's lost in the house now!

Anyway, I use the small pillows and will have to see what size O rings fit. I hope that will help extend the now woefully short life of Swift LT pillows.

or just get rid of the swift headgear and pillows (I gave mine to my neghbor who was using a nose mask) and use the opus 360 headgear and nasal pillows I got both at the same time, tried each for a few nights and found the opus to be more comfortable, and after reading about the quality control issues with the swift, do not want to give em my business.
I got 3 months off my pillows and still had life, but figured if insurance would foot the bill might as well get a few more...

Thanks for the replies. I will try the o-rings and look into the Opus. I used a new pillow for the last two nights and my AHI dropped back to 1.1-1.3. I was mostly staying in that range the first 6 or so weeks after I got the Swift. In the last two weeks I had 3-4 day stretches where I'd be up in the 3.0-4.0 AHI range. I guess this somewhat confirms that my original pillow "wore out" in a little under 2 months. I can't think of anything else that changed, other than the nights getting colder.

I'm happy to see good numbers, but I'm pretty chafed that I bought such a defective product. I researched the Swift LT on here and other sites and somehow missed any complaints about the quality of the pillows. My goof. I like the Swift LT and will try to come up with a solution, but I'm also going to at least start looking at reviews for diff masks.

Any site where you can buy the pillows in bulk?

Don't know what kind of insurance you have but even Medicare allows for 2 nasal pillow replacements a month.
With my insurance which mimics medicare my co pay is just $5 and change. You might check with your DME and insurance, if you use them, to see if you might could stock pile before the first of the year and deductibles roll over again.

Don't know of any bulk suppliers but some of the suppliers at the cpapauction might offer discounted bulk.
Sometimes the nasal pillows are also offered at amazon.

Pugsy wrote:Don't know what kind of insurance you have but even Medicare allows for 2 nasal pillow replacements a month.

I'll have to check with my ins (Federal BC/BS) and my DME. The DME gave me a Comfortgel Nasal back in May. I bought the Swift LT on my own, so I don't know how that would work.

cajun wrote:
I'll have to check with my ins (Federal BC/BS) and my DME. The DME gave me a Comfortgel Nasal back in May. I bought the Swift LT on my own, so I don't know how that would work.

Pugsy wrote:Don't know what kind of insurance you have but even Medicare allows for 2 nasal pillow replacements a month.

I'll have to check with my ins (Federal BC/BS) and my DME. The DME gave me a Comfortgel Nasal back in May. I bought the Swift LT on my own, so I don't know how that would work.

Probably will depend on DME stock. My DME pushes ResMed machines so they stock pretty much ResMed masks and parts. If I wanted a replacement pillow for my Optilife they don't stock it. But if you don't ask, the answer is always no. It shouldn't matter where you got the mask. It is a chance for them to make some money.....

If you can't get some from them because they don't stock them let me know what size you use. Maybe I could get a couple in your size and you just pay me my out of pocket costs. I can get a new one every 2 weeks. Stupid rules won't let me get 2 at one time. I don't use 2 a month. Like you I seem to be able to get a couple of months or more out of them.

Be sure to check with your BC/BS. I know a couple of people whose DME told them replace every 3 months but their insurance allowed replacements like the Medicare schedule.

Pugsy,

Thanks! I'll check with the DME. I use size "Small" pillows.