How long does a N20 cushion last?

How long does the N20 cushion last, usually? I know Medicare allows two per month, but that seems to me like an excessive replacement rate.

Thanks.

I used mine for maybe 7 months, then the leaks started getting too high.

Everybody's mileage may vary.
For some, it is a challenge to get one to last as long as possible.
Like hypermiling your mask.

BlueDragon wrote: ↑

Tue Jul 17, 2018 6:03 pm

How long does the N20 cushion last, usually? I know Medicare allows two per month, but that seems to me like an excessive replacement rate.

Thanks.

Yeah, the replacement minimum times from medicare are ridiculous. most 'cushions' are on that 2 a month... but no matter what the DME says, that doesn't mean you SHOULD change them...

I've gotten a couple years out of a p10 cushion, (partly, maybe, because I just wipe the outside off and don't vigorously clean them.

I've got spares, but wanted to see how long the cushion would last... now and then I'd swap a new one in just to see if there was a difference, and there wasn't... Have a spare, or two, and replace them when you think you need to.

palerider wrote: ↑

Tue Jul 17, 2018 10:07 pm

I've got spares, but wanted to see how long the cushion would last... now and then I'd swap a new one in just to see if there was a difference, and there wasn't... Have a spare, or two, and replace them when you think you need to.

That's my plan. I just wondered what other's experience was.

BlueDragon wrote: ↑

Wed Jul 18, 2018 9:13 am

palerider wrote: ↑

Tue Jul 17, 2018 10:07 pm

I've got spares, but wanted to see how long the cushion would last... now and then I'd swap a new one in just to see if there was a difference, and there wasn't... Have a spare, or two, and replace them when you think you need to.

That's my plan. I just wondered what other's experience was.

If it's anything like other people's experience with both the mirage quattro cushion and the p10 cushion, "weeks to years"... I think that the amount of time the cushions last is largely dependent on how people treat them.

2018 thread bump. I was going to come and post my N20 replacement experience.

Every quarter, my DME provider sends me 6 replacement cushions (for the 2x/month replacement cycle). I order the max each time because I have 90% benefit and only pay 10% of the replacement costs, and I don't know how long I'll have this kind of coverage. So I am basically stock piling some supplies in case I lose my coverage (or have worse coverage in the future).

As far as how long I keep mine before replacing, it has been anywhere between 2-3 months. It's usually when I start having either comfort or leakage issues. Funny thing, usually I replace my cushion thinking that I will gain improvements in both and it ends up not improving either! LOL.

But I think every 2-3 months is a reasonable replacement cadence, but I could argue for even longer stretches between replacements.

One other comment. I wash my N20 cushion daily to get the facial oils off of it, but have used warm/hot water in the past simply because it is more comfortable for my hands and the dish soap I use lathers up really nicely in warm/hot water.

I have since switched to cold water to prevent unintended stretching and wear on the silicone/rubber cushion material. I used to rinse my dental night guard with warm/hot water and the shape "drifted" because of the water temperatures.

My hope is that using cold water for my daily washes will also make my N20 cushion last longer.