"please keep me updated about oximeters "
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CPAP Sinus Infection?
This is from a correspondence I've been having with Susan McCord, who gave me permission to share it with all you on the forum. Italicized emphasis is my own... Will be interested to hear what you guys think she should do:
"I've been sicker than a dog with this CPAP/sinus stuff since the day after Christmas. Nobody, including my sleep doc will really discuss it with me or else they just dismiss it. This has been going on, off and on, since shortly after I started CPAP in July.
Today I was at my cardiologist for a checkup, and was telling him about all this ongoing. Usually it goes away spontaneously in 2-3 days--this time it's hung on for 10 days so far. Can't stand it.
Anyway, cardiologist, who's also an internist prior, told me it's not uncommon at ALL for pts. on CPAP to have this and that I have an infection. I asked him why the MDs don't tell us about it--he and I have a VERY open relationship and he knows I can't stand having smoke blown up my ass--he told me it's because the sleep docs are so worried about compliance that they don't tell pts. about the possibility of sinus complications AND that it's not uncommon for them to avoid talking about it even if pts. bring it up. They tend to assign the sinus problems to something else.
I was mildly horrified and, frankly, I think he is too. He told me to talk to my PCP and get started on an antibiotic and whatever else PCP recs. He also said people usually stay off CPAP for a week or so till the infection clears. THAT scares me to death. I don't think I'm gonna do it. Internet says to d/c too, but I don't think I can......what do you think I should do???"
"I've been sicker than a dog with this CPAP/sinus stuff since the day after Christmas. Nobody, including my sleep doc will really discuss it with me or else they just dismiss it. This has been going on, off and on, since shortly after I started CPAP in July.
Today I was at my cardiologist for a checkup, and was telling him about all this ongoing. Usually it goes away spontaneously in 2-3 days--this time it's hung on for 10 days so far. Can't stand it.
Anyway, cardiologist, who's also an internist prior, told me it's not uncommon at ALL for pts. on CPAP to have this and that I have an infection. I asked him why the MDs don't tell us about it--he and I have a VERY open relationship and he knows I can't stand having smoke blown up my ass--he told me it's because the sleep docs are so worried about compliance that they don't tell pts. about the possibility of sinus complications AND that it's not uncommon for them to avoid talking about it even if pts. bring it up. They tend to assign the sinus problems to something else.
I was mildly horrified and, frankly, I think he is too. He told me to talk to my PCP and get started on an antibiotic and whatever else PCP recs. He also said people usually stay off CPAP for a week or so till the infection clears. THAT scares me to death. I don't think I'm gonna do it. Internet says to d/c too, but I don't think I can......what do you think I should do???"
Views: 23942
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Ginny Edmundson on
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Hi Mike~ I would seem to me as long as the hoses are rinsed well after the soak it would be a good thing to use. I rinse my pillows under hot soapy water daily and then use a wipe. Rince the humidifier daily and also wipe but I was told by my DME could go on top shlep in dishwasher. I have not done that. Have used ild soap on it and wipes. To my way of thinking you can't get "too" clean as long as the cleaner does not have properties to destroy some of the parts. And rinsing well would be just as important as cleaning. Thanks for mailing the pillows. Hoping you start to feel better. Oh, do you take any RX for allergies?
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Just an FYI~frequently there is an allergy component to sinus infections. Speedy recovery. What antibiotic are you on?
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Permalink Reply by Mary Z on
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As I understand it controll III is for disinfecting after cleaning and is primarily for sleep lab use.
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So should I not use it for disinfecting the hoses weekly? As long as rinsed well would it be OK?
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Permalink Reply by dan on
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Mike C,
just a quick side note. Sulfa put me in the hospital - so i take amoxicillin!
dan
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I was on Amoxicillin for 10 days then Clindamycin for 3 weeks for sinus infection.
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Well, I guess if you really look at it flatly, Darwin's Theory would have eliminated all of us by now, saved a ton of torture and medical expenses! WHO KNEW! HA
Mike C (at the Beach!) said:Too funny! I'm starting to think they should just shoot ALL of us? :-)
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Bullets are too expensive. And any of us over 50 have some kind of health issues~So no one would be left. :)
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http://www.emedicinehealth.com/sinus_infection/article_em.htm has an extensive article on sinus conditions. Has some good info especially for those who have extensive sinus problems.
After briefly reading the article, it tells me that a sinus infection could be caused by many things which leads me to conclude that what may be my problem is not someone else's.
Personally, I refrain from using chemicals to clean my CPAP equipment. Not sure if there are any remaining residues that could effect me.
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People, didn't anyone tell you about cleaning when you were put on your CPAP machine? I read a reply that said someone used a mixture with bleach in it for cleaning. NO WAY!!! Do you really want to breathe in bleach residue through your CPAP system?
You should clean your humidifier daily and only use distilled water in it. Once a week soak your tubing and mask(with head gear) in a mild soap(Palmolive liquid, etc.) and water for at least 20 min. and rinse well.
All this talk about sinus infections. It's from a dirty filter. What is collecting on your filter, you're breathing in. Check and clean it often as well. As I said earlier you can get a new disposable filter every month, non-disposable every 3 months. Do that and your infections should be minimal.
GOOD LUCK!
Ginny Edmundson said:So should I not use it for disinfecting the hoses weekly? As long as rinsed well would it be OK?
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I wash my filter several times a week, and have never used bleach in any part of the equipment. Use dishwashing liquid and did soak the hoses yesterday in the disinfectant 111. Clean the humidifier daily and always throw away any left over distilled water that is in it. The DME had told me to use the mild soap & water or dilute white vinegar & water. I don't like the odor of vinegar so opted not to use it.
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Permalink Reply by birdshell on
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Maureen:
I wrote that post and feel that you missed the main idea: what and how should we effectively clean our equipment?
I was saying that I have been told something different about cleaning by each of the sleep professionals I have asked. I DID NOT say that I have used bleach. I was only told about the practice. This came from a long-time (RPSGT) sleep tech, and I'm not certain it is all bad.
Further: Chlorine bleach is used in many applications. It is used to make water supplies safe around here (Great Lakes) and we actually drink water containing small amounts of it. Anyone using tap water in their humidifier tank around here is likely to have it in the mist. (This may be one reason for using distilled water.)
Most health departments recommend bleach for use as a cheap and effective disinfecting agent by food handlers and. leaves no harmful residue when used as recommended. If the proper concentrations are used, chlorine bleach effectively disinfects dishes and surfaces, and thus prevents diseases. The odor of it may not linger if the right concentration is used and the equipment is properly and thoroughly rinsed, and aired.
So, YES, I was trained in the beginning, but so was nearly everyone else. And, in asking every sleep professional whom I've encountered about cleaning methods, I've gotten at least as many suggested regimes as professionals suggesting them.
In fact, I use the original RRT's suggestion of cleaning with a fragrance free dishwashing liquid detergent with a hot water rinse, and soaking for a half hour in a 1 part vinegar to 10 parts water solution, followed by another thorough hot water rinse. When I do this, it is rare that a slight odor of vinegar lingers. It is not bothersome to me, while something with fragrances would be. (One sleep lab's equipment smelled like Tide to me...oooofff! sneezes and runny nose ensued.)
The point of that post was: what cleaning practices are effective and please tell us WHY!
REPEAT: I did not say I used bleach to clean my CPAP equipment. I said I'd been told it could be used.
Maureen Rechlicz said:
People, didn't anyone tell you about cleaning when you were put on your CPAP machine? I read a reply that said someone used a mixture with bleach in it for cleaning. NO WAY!!! Do you really want to breathe in bleach residue through your CPAP system?
You should clean your humidifier daily and only use distilled water in it. Once a week soak your tubing and mask(with head gear) in a mild soap(Palmolive liquid, etc.) and water for at least 20 min. and rinse well.
All this talk about sinus infections. It's from a dirty filter. What is collecting on your filter, you're breathing in. Check and clean it often as well. As I said earlier you can get a new disposable filter every month, non-disposable every 3 months. Do that and your infections should be minimal.
GOOD LUCK!
Ginny Edmundson said:So should I not use it for disinfecting the hoses weekly? As long as rinsed well would it be OK?
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