life span of a Pillow mask?

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Permalink Reply by 99 on March 16, 2015 at 22:27

It is good to renew your mask at least once a twelve month every year even if it is good and keep as a spare for emergency as it, your current mask may break anytime

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Permalink Reply by Kath Hope on March 17, 2015 at 1:52

It's interesting you ask this question Steve and our cash-strapped NHS will not like my answer Pillows of the masks are supposed to last us for a year, but the reality is (depending on the mask) they would be better replaced more frequently - I would say at least every 6 months.  A lot depends too though on how a person cleans them.  If they're using detergents like Fairy Liquid or anything containing alcohol + other additives, then they're going to need replacing sooner.  Same goes if people aren't cleaning them everyday, as facial oils will build up which stops them sealing (which is what products like Fairy Liquid do too, as a residue builds up gradually.  Fairy may be 'kind to our hands' but it's not kind to our masks!  I only ever use the CPAP Cleaning Wipes and Sprays on mine, as at my previous clinic I used to have to buy my own masks so needed them to last as long as possible!

Here's an interesting link for you from Resmed aimed at the USA market which states pillows should be changed very ONE month http://www.resmed.eu/us/products/replenishment/replenishment.html?n... and another link from the same company stating every FIFTEEN days http://www.resmed.com/us/en/healthcare-professional/support/replace...  Yet, here in the UK the same company says that "With care your mask should last at least 12 months."  Well somebody is telling porkies then - either the UK or the USA

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Permalink Reply by 99 on March 17, 2015 at 6:38

Kath is absolutely correct it is about the money, but your health is more important than the money

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Permalink Reply by Bill Thomson on June 9, 2015 at 12:03

I do hope you can persist and get what you want. Normally I would 100% agree with Kath as that has been my experience with previous sleep clinics, but my current one, at Worthing Hospital, seems to have a totally different attitude.

When I first went last year I related the problems I had with the 'standard' nasal mask that I had previously been given, as the only available option, by previous sleep clinics and they gave me a Fisher & Paykel Pilairo (nasal pillows) which transformed things for me. I had bought myself a ResMed Mirage Swift nasal pillow at great expense some 12 years or more back, which I hated. The headgear was not comfortable, particularly as the hose was on one side rather than centrally, but worst, the things which go inside the nostrils meant I woke with a sore nose every time after just a few hours.

The Pilairo has a far less cumbersome nasal interface and just a single elasticised strap to keep it in place and really offered freedom of movement. However, the F&P product seems far less durable than the ResMed and one of the strap hooks broke after quite a short time, meaning I had to use the alternative headgear supplied. After 11 months the pillow developed a leak so I spoke to the Worthing clinic. They were very helpful, it turned out I could have had a replacement complete mask much earlier, and they made an appointment for a review which I had this morning. As they didn't have a spare Pilairo available immediately they posted me a ResMed Mirage FX mask - which didn't leak and was a better design than my original - but still made my nostrils very sore. At my review today they gave me a new Pilairo, let me keep the FX, and gave me a F&P Eson pillows mask to try as well. I could have taken more if I had wanted...

Anyway, back to the point, my Pilairo didn't quite make one year, but my original ResMed pillows is still functional after about 12, albeit discoloured and the headgear starting to perish. So there doesn't seem to be a standard lifetime for pillows. I have had normal nasal masks that have lasted 8-9 years before getting a replacement.

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Permalink Reply by 99 on June 9, 2015 at 13:53

Try change often monthly if possible

At least annually minimum

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