Opus 360 nasal pillows

How firm are the pillows and how often do you have to replace your pillows on the Opus 360? Are the straps a hard plastic and do you find it comfortable? I currently use the Swift LT, but am looking for something with a longer pillow life and stiffer pillows. I think the soft pillows are increasing my leak rate. I tried the O-rings, to no avail. Thanks!

Bumping this up in hopes of getting some responses.

I have been using the Opus 360 for 50 days now and the pillows are still OK.

I've been using mine for a little over 3 months and they are still fine. I think the straps have become a little stretched and that is a problem, but nothing I would call a deal breaker. The straps are soft, the only hard part is the part on the cheeks, but they are covered with foam on the inside so the plastic doesn't touch your face.

I gave the Opus a trial long ago. I put extra fleece around the side strap touching cheek, even with the little padding that comes on it, because it left indentations on cheek, (side sleeper a lot with face into bed pillow). I was using Swift LT at the time. Nasal pillow firmness felt about the same when comparing it to the Swift LT. I had a little trouble getting headgear to stabilize so I didn't use it very long. So no idea how long the pillows would have lasted but then I would get months of use out of the Swift LT pillows. So I probably wouldn't be a good comparison there anyway.

It was quite comfortable. I just had more luck managing stability of the headgear with the LT. I was early on in therapy, I probably could better manage it now but see no need as the Swift FX is more comfortable even than the Opus was.

Kimberly,

I went to the Opus 360 hoping it would work and that pillows would be better than the Swift LT.
The pillows are definately firmer and I immediately got the impression they should last longer than Swift LT pillows.

Unfortunately for me i found that i got some leaks with this mask unless i had the pillows up tighter against my nose.
I came to the conclusion that the pillows on the Swift LT are plumper and adapt to my oval shaped nares with less pressure required.

You mentioned you have already tried the O ring fix. Have you tried boiling LT pillows, there have been some reports here that people are having some luck with that.

Good luck.
UB

Thank you for your responses. I may have to reconsider buying the Opus 360 with the idea the pillows will last any longer. I appreciate everyone's insight!

Kimberly, I think we are birds of a feather...

I'm supposed to look at the Opus 360 and I think the OptiLife on Friday... Will report back.

I have been using a Opus 380 for two years. For me the pillows last about a year. I use two of them and alternate them every 2 or three days washing them out with mild hand soap and let them dry on a towel in my bedroom. They still appear to be good but I find that my leak rate goes up with the older ones

Nigh unto 7 months here. I was originally fit with one at the sleep lab, liked it, and got one when I got my APAP. Recently got a Swift FX to see why it was so much preferred at cpap.com, vs. the Opus 360, even though it's more expensive. Don't like the Swift. It's leaky, noisy and pillows are too smooshy, and evidently they don't last long. My Opus pillows are original and they haven't deteriorated at all. No reason (so far as I see) to replace them.

I think I might have washed them once. Usually just wipe them off with a tissue and plug them in again.

I started with the Opus 360 and didn't like it at all.
I've been using a Swift FX for 8 months and I'm still on my original pillows, I find it much softer and more comfortable than the Opus 360.
I have resorted the pillows by boiling several times, the last time with sodium bicarbonate. I still haven't had any reply's of others using this method.

Since the OP seems satisfied with the answer, let me highjack the thread and ask if any of you Opus 360 users want to trade your Medium for my Small or my Large pillows. Thanks.

ladyhen wrote:Kimberly, I think we are birds of a feather...

I'm supposed to look at the Opus 360 and I think the OptiLife on Friday... Will report back.

Please do!

greg-g wrote:I started with the Opus 360 and didn't like it at all.
I've been using a Swift FX for 8 months and I'm still on my original pillows, I find it much softer and more comfortable than the Opus 360.
I have resorted the pillows by boiling several times, the last time with sodium bicarbonate. I still haven't had any reply's of others using this method.

I did try boiling the pillows, but not with baking soda. I will try that too. Thanks!

Okay, I looked at the Optilife, Opus 350 and I think the Swift II?

I decided against the Optilife because of the strap under the chin and the lack of covering on the plastic pieces of the headgear. My face totally keeps imprints for 3+ hours and I get weird looks at church when I walk in with stripes all over my cheeks! LOL

The Swift II has a nasal pillow that rests against your upper lip. That annoys me greatly. If it doesn't touch my lip, I can forget it is there.

I went with the Opus 360 because it doesn't touch my lip at all and fits my head well. The straps are minimal and cushioned (and I can pull the fleece covers of my FX to use on it I think.) The tubing can be velcroed over your head if desired. And the pillows do not have that inner pillow like the Resmed masks have - which is what I think is collapsing and causing me to not be able to breathe.

The RT said it is slightly quieter than the Optilife.

Will report back after actually using it!