Pilairo!

I love my Pilairo! I know I've only had my CPAP a month however I started out with the Bella Swift Nasal Pillows for her which I didn't mind however I could not tolerate the straps going around my ears. Then my DME sent me the head strap for it instead well my night sleep with the CPAP went from 3 1/2 hours down to 1 with the head strap. He finally sent me the Pilairo and from the very first night I have been able to sleep 6 - 7 hours with it on and not get up in the middle of the night. I have a small nose and the pillows fit just fine. It took a little adjusting to the slightly larger pillow behind the nasal prongs as it does inflate when the air starts going through it. It tends to vibrate a little bit for lack of a better word, when you take a deep breath. Other than that I would not go back to the other headgear. In my case I couldn't anyway as I have Sjogrens, which causes chronic dry eye and mouth, so any other mask would cause me further problems. I know my DME said that we would double check the nasal pillows within 3 months to see if they are holding up as well as the strap. These are the things that would need to be changed to insure the fit remains stable. I'm a side and stomach sleeper and have not had any problems doing this either.

Deb

Up to three weeks ago I used PR True Blue Nasal Mask. Whilst it was OK I was looking for something better. I read a lot about the F&P Pilairo and decided to try it. I am really excited, in fact so much that I ordered another set to have on stand by. Absolutely no sore nose, excellent fit. My AHI is down to 0.9 using 8.0 cmH2O. I can highly recommend it.

Congrats! It's like the heavens open when you find a mask that works. I know I'm never lookin' back.

I've been using the Pilairo with mixed results. I like the minimal presence on my face and NO leaks. I'm an active sleeper and move from side to side a lot. It stays in place. The down side is that I'm getting sores in my left nostril after about three days of use. I have a small nose and nares.

Then I have to switch off to another mask while the sores heal. (Just got a tube of lanisoal. Hope that helps.) I'm switching off to one of three other masks. Sleep weaver advance is very comfy but it leaks a lot and the hose pulls it down over my mouth. The sleep weaver élan is better but I can't control the leaks. I just ordered bella loops to see if they will help with this. The third mask is the F&P zest. This is the mask that my DME started me with. No leaks but it has a big presence on my face. I hate the bar that goes up to a forehead support. The zest does terrible things to vision. I can't read in bed.

Has anyone trimmed the ends of the nostril cones? A couple people have mentioned it. I'm thinking about it....

Are you sure it's just not too tight? That dern strap can lead people to think the mask should be tight, which is totally not the case. It isn't hard to stretch it out a little and then it holds steady, unlike the deluxe-style chinstrap, which, I think, keeps stretching out, though I love that chinstrap too, as long as you don't have to have it ungodly tight. (too many "tights" in this para)

My DME just delivered my new Pilairo (and hose, humidifier, etc.) to my work. Going to test it out tonight!

Terrible. Not good.

No leaks but I don't feel like I'm getting enough pressure by a long shot. Many apneas; switched back to my Swift FX for the night. Strange.

Can't wait for my Aloha to arrive!

Eedkel, your nasal cartilage eventually does adjust to the pillow contours,but it took me 8 months. Even now, I switch to the nasal mask every few weeks for a night off. The lanolin will help, plus the Pad-A-Check pillow cozy seem to keep the pillow better positioned outside my nostril. I have asymmetrical nostrils that I was offered surgery so I could fit the FX pillows. Glad that I just waited for time to heal.

I sewed the 1/4 inch section of elastic in the back of mine and it still isn't comfortable to me. I haven't even slept in it, just tried it on and it is suffocating. My pressure is only at 7 though. I will sell it for $45.00 (includes shipping in US), if anyone is interested. I have some Control III disinfectant that I can wash it in before shipping. PM me if interested!

I love this mask but the only downfall is that its hot and sweaty underneath. I think its just a reaction from the silicone on my face?? Maybe humidity. Anyway that's my only complaint and I think if I could solve this it would be just perfect. I was trying to read some other posts here regarding others that had this issue. So how did you solve it? I spoke to Pad-A-Cheek but they do not have a cozy for this one yet. I'm not a very crafty person so any ideas would be welcome.

bucksbeek wrote:I love this mask but the only downfall is that its hot and sweaty underneath. I think its just a reaction from the silicone on my face?? Maybe humidity. Anyway that's my only complaint and I think if I could solve this it would be just perfect. I was trying to read some other posts here regarding others that had this issue. So how did you solve it? I spoke to Pad-A-Cheek but they do not have a cozy for this one yet. I'm not a very crafty person so any ideas would be welcome.

I love it too. More than anything, nearly. I keep my bedroom a bit cool--maybe between 60 and 65F. I don't really have a problem with it sweating. In case anyone wants to know, just stretch out the strap by wrapping it around something tightly for one day. I did this and the strap feels fine now.

Montreal, QC 2014.01.30

PILAIRO REVIEW

I’ve been on CPAP for 16 years, last 6 with Swift FX.

The way the nose connectors push up and back is accelerating the unfortunate ‘‘growing nose’’ syndrome that we will all face with age.

So the pilairo concept is perfect to counteract this phenomenon.

HOWEVER...

PROS:
• Feather lightweight although the few grams difference makes it a non-issue.
> Part of this weight loss comes from a very short front tube:
half the length (17,5 cm vs 34,5 cm) of the Swift FX
> this means that your main connecting tube, which is heavier,
has more leverage and tends to pull the pilairo down.

• Pillow is soft and prevents leaks
• Very quiet ++ I am asleep but my girlfriend is appreciative
• Stylish and sturdy frame

CONS:
• One size fits all head strap is a fallacy. it was so tight It irritated my nose and upper lip.
I created an ‘‘in-house’’ solution by cutting the strap and sewing in an elastic extension
and a velcro tensor.

• One size fits all nose connectors is another atrocity. By the fourth incomfortable night,
my nose bled and I was left with bleeding then scabs on each side of my central septum
To think that I paid good money for this !

If it works for you... excellent, but my personal discussion with ORL and sleep specialists has clearly shown that most people who require a CPAP, are on the upper third in weight and height. Somebody in market research dropped the ball with this absence of adaptable hardware.

• I contacted F&P and even offered to beta test their next upgrade... not even an ackowledgment

F&P is sitting on a gold mine with the ‘‘pillow concept’’. I am having a thought or two about creating a new well adapted product based on that ‘‘yet unpatented’’ concept...

If you are a real user (i.e. not a writer paid to spruce up blogs and reviews)
here is the person you need to send your grievances to:

Mr. Lewis Gradon, Director - Product development
Lewis.Gradon (at) fphcare.co.nz

HQ
Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Limited
15 Maurice Paykel Place East Tamaki, Auckland 2013
PO Box 14 348 Panmure, Auckland 1741 New Zealand
TEL +64 9 574 0100


Customer service !
Miss on the second.. and you’ll lose the first

I’m back on Swift FX.

Francois, in Montreal
187 cm 109 kg (for the market research people...)

The original thread is nearly 2 years old.
A newer model has been out for several months-- The Pilairo Q has adjustable headgear.
https://www.cpap.com/productpage/fp-pil ... -mask.html
Sorry your supplier did not provide the latest model.
The original, one size fit all, has been discontinued.

I am so disappointed that the original will no longer be available. I LOVE it! I just bought a replacement which I hope will last forever.