Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by RD on October 18, 2009 at 1:44am

I tend to use the heater at a 1.2 to 2.0 setting and the reservoir tends to evaporate itself every 2 or 3 days or so. Besides wouldn't one think that rinsing the reservoir in tap water would in some part defeat the purpose of using distilled water to wet our snouts??

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Permalink Reply by sleepycarol on October 18, 2009 at 11:56am

To answer Jan's question:

I joined www.cpaptalk.com the day I received my first machine. I am usually pretty anal on learning as much as I can about things and wanted to learn from others that had been in the trenches before me. I joined many of the sleep apnea forums that were around at that time (August of 2007). I found that www.cpaptalk.com was the most liberal of the forums, in my opinion. This forum was not around at this time.

I liked being able to take charge of my own therapy. Many of the regular posters on cpaptalk have been "around the block" for years and are motivated to "take charge" of their therapy, if their own doctors and professionals they deal with fall down on the job.

These suggestions were things I learned from that particular forum. After much reading and mulling things over, I decided I needed a little bag that would contain things that I may need. I didn't want to have to worry that during the night I might have a problem and not be able to "fix it".

Here is a link to "Lab Rat Awards" created by RestedGal (a cpaptalk forum member). http://www.cpaptalk.com/viewtopic.php?t=15104

**Pantyhose tights can be used in place of headgear on select masks, help stablize certain masks, etc. They can be used as home made chin straps. I purchased a couple of pair to throw in my bag in case I need them.

**Blue painter's tape can be used to tape your mouth. If you have problems with mouth breathing and want to use a nasal pillow or nasal mask, taping maybe for you. The blue painter's tape is gentle on skin, easy to remove, and comes in various widths. Pull enough off the roll it cover your mouth, plus extra to extend aways past your mouth. Fold over the ends so you have a handy pull. The tape should help keep your lips together and prevent any of your treatment from escaping from your mouth, yet is easily removed. Others find surgical grade tape works best for them.

Please do not lecture me about the dangers of mouth taping. The FDA has approved a mouth device called the Oracle that plugs your nose and the mask is designed so that it uses your mouth in place of your nose. It appears from the pictures I have seen, the Oracle would be more difficult to remove than a piece of tape in an emergency.

**Poligrip tape works in the same manner as the tape. Poligrip strips are made for use in the mouth and so maybe a better choice for many. Slightly moisten the strips and put corner to corner (many find that they can cut the strip into lengths). Now if you need to open your mouth, you should be able to do so easily, and when you want to "seal" it again simply moisten the strips with your tongue and press your lips together.

** Tube of lanolin comes in handy when you are just beginning to use a nasal pillow mask. Many swear that it helps them create a better seal. Typically when starting to use a nasal pillow mask, your nares (the nostril openings) may become sore or irritated. The lanolin helps soothe and protect your nose. A tube of lanolin can be found in most drugstores and sells for a couple of bucks OR you can purchase a lanolin product meant for nursing mothers over in the baby aisle (this option is more expensive).

**Tube of Ayr gel works in much the same way as the lanolin. It comes in a tube and can be found in most drug stores for less than $5.00. I used the Ayr gel and found it really helped during my transition time adjusting to the nasal pillows.

**Teflon tape is found in the hardware department and is used for plumbing purposes. If you find that you have a squeeky elbow on your mask (especially the Quattro if I remember correctly) the teflon tape may help. It can also help with leaks at the joints of some masks. It is cheap at around a $1.00 a roll.

**Snuggle hose covers help with rain out and make the hose more user friendly. I hate the feel of the plastic next to my skin, especially in the winter. Also, during the colder months moisture can collect inside the hose, especially if you use the humidifier. A snuggle hose cover can help prevent this build-up. You can make one yourself or purchase one on-line at a reasonable cost. To save money I made my own. I purchased a heavy baby blanket at our local Dollar Tree and there was enough material to make one fleece cover.

**Pad-a-cheeks strap covers are great for reducing irritation and the annoying red marks from your mask straps. When I use my full face mask I use her covers to help my cheeks from becoming so irritated. She has many wonderful products that help users. Her website is www.padacheeks.com. If you have a particular problem she will work with you to try to solve it. She is also a member of this forum.

**Extra filters so that I can easily locate them when I want to change them out.

**Pur-sleep essential oils are great for reducing your stress level and to help relax. I don't use the essential oils every night any more, but in the beginning they were very useful in helping me acclimate to therapy. I tend to use the oils more in the winter months and so keep a supply on hand. Bret is another forum member here that is dedicated to helping us with our pap therapy. www.pur-sleep.com

**Chap stick to help with lip dryness in the winter months. In the beginning of my therapy, my lips would dry out during the night and feel yucky in the morning. I found that by using some chapstick before masking up helped with this, especially when using a full face mask.

**Velcro straps (can be found at the Dollar Tree) and are useful for cord management and hose management.

**Moleskin is usually found in the foot department. It can help relieve pressure points caused by mask pressure on your skin.

I don't know how many times I have found my bag to come in handy. No worries about if I have a particular item, or where it might be. For me this is very useful and keeps things in one place.

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Permalink Reply by RockRpsgt on October 19, 2009 at 1:56am

water that sits becomes a petry dish. Just my opinion.

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Permalink Reply by susan mccord on October 19, 2009 at 9:05am

So.......is there a concensus about this issue? I'm not clear now whether to empty the receptacle daily and clean it OR whether to just re-fill it.

I tend to be more comfortable with things clean but I'm not a fanatic by any means. It's just not clear to me in this Discussion what's probably the better option. I keep thinking about Rock's description of "petry dishes" !!!!

Susan McCord

(?)

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Permalink Reply by susan mccord on October 19, 2009 at 8:12pm

Mike, Rock Hinkle said the very same thing. Called it "a petry dish". EEeeeeeek!!, I'm gonna start emptying mine and vinegar/water rinsing it every day!!

McCord

Mike said:

i heard that emptying it out each day is the thing to do. believe the notion is that a heated humidifier that slowly cools during the day is the perfect environment for micro-organisms to grow. anyone with more science background have any further info on this?

susan mccord said:

Sleepy Carol, that's what I do too. I only wash that receptacle every now and then--I use white vinegar and warm water to either rinse it out or soak it if it needs soaking. This is probably the only thing my DME didn't talk about cleaning except before I started distilled water. I used to use bottled purified water, but it ended up leaving residue that had to be soaked off. He's the one who told me to soak it in vinegar and water. It worked like a charm. Rinsed well, there was no vinegar smell by the time I needed it again. I use mine every single night, turned up to 5--it's the only way I can keep my sinuses from getting cranky.

I ALWAYS use distilled water now.

Has anyone been told we should empty and air out or clean out that thing daily?? If so, I need to know that 'cause I don't.

Susan McCord

sleepycarol said:

I use distilled water and admit that I just top my water off when I do use the humidifer.

I have found that I don't need the humidifier in the summer and don't use it. Once the heat comes on, I use it in pass over mode.

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Permalink Reply by gordon on October 21, 2009 at 1:27pm

I only clean mine once a month or so. Many will say it's not enough, but every time I clean it there's no film whatsoever, and it's only distilled water, it's a pain. And it has a rounded pressure-type seal, and if I clean that every day, eventually from taking that on and off, it's going to wear out and leak. The air flows over the top, and I can use a bacterial filter from cpapplus giving me 3 total filters. I have had no sinus or lung problems from any bacteria, but I'm sure I should empty it every week, I think I read that's the recommendation somewhere, if your not at risk for bacterial sensitivity or complications due to other health problems.

susan mccord said:

Mike, Rock Hinkle said the very same thing. Called it "a petry dish". EEeeeeeek!!, I'm gonna start emptying mine and vinegar/water rinsing it every day!!

McCord

Mike said:

i heard that emptying it out each day is the thing to do. believe the notion is that a heated humidifier that slowly cools during the day is the perfect environment for micro-organisms to grow. anyone with more science background have any further info on this?

susan mccord said:

Sleepy Carol, that's what I do too. I only wash that receptacle every now and then--I use white vinegar and warm water to either rinse it out or soak it if it needs soaking. This is probably the only thing my DME didn't talk about cleaning except before I started distilled water. I used to use bottled purified water, but it ended up leaving residue that had to be soaked off. He's the one who told me to soak it in vinegar and water. It worked like a charm. Rinsed well, there was no vinegar smell by the time I needed it again. I use mine every single night, turned up to 5--it's the only way I can keep my sinuses from getting cranky.

I ALWAYS use distilled water now.

Has anyone been told we should empty and air out or clean out that thing daily?? If so, I need to know that 'cause I don't.

Susan McCord

sleepycarol said:

I use distilled water and admit that I just top my water off when I do use the humidifer.

I have found that I don't need the humidifier in the summer and don't use it. Once the heat comes on, I use it in pass over mode.

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Permalink Reply by Mike on October 22, 2009 at 1:46pm

is distilled water less hospitable an environment than tap water for bacteria to grow when the water is sitting around?

gordon nelson said:

I only clean mine once a month or so. Many will say it's not enough, but every time I clean it there's no film whatsoever, and it's only distilled water, it's a pain. And it has a rounded pressure-type seal, and if I clean that every day, eventually from taking that on and off, it's going to wear out and leak. The air flows over the top, and I can use a bacterial filter from cpapplus giving me 3 total filters. I have had no sinus or lung problems from any bacteria, but I'm sure I should empty it every week, I think I read that's the recommendation somewhere, if your not at risk for bacterial sensitivity or complications due to other health problems.

susan mccord said:

Mike, Rock Hinkle said the very same thing. Called it "a petry dish". EEeeeeeek!!, I'm gonna start emptying mine and vinegar/water rinsing it every day!!

McCord

Mike said:

i heard that emptying it out each day is the thing to do. believe the notion is that a heated humidifier that slowly cools during the day is the perfect environment for micro-organisms to grow. anyone with more science background have any further info on this?

susan mccord said:

Sleepy Carol, that's what I do too. I only wash that receptacle every now and then--I use white vinegar and warm water to either rinse it out or soak it if it needs soaking. This is probably the only thing my DME didn't talk about cleaning except before I started distilled water. I used to use bottled purified water, but it ended up leaving residue that had to be soaked off. He's the one who told me to soak it in vinegar and water. It worked like a charm. Rinsed well, there was no vinegar smell by the time I needed it again. I use mine every single night, turned up to 5--it's the only way I can keep my sinuses from getting cranky.

I ALWAYS use distilled water now.

Has anyone been told we should empty and air out or clean out that thing daily?? If so, I need to know that 'cause I don't.

Susan McCord

sleepycarol said:

I use distilled water and admit that I just top my water off when I do use the humidifer.

I have found that I don't need the humidifier in the summer and don't use it. Once the heat comes on, I use it in pass over mode.

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Permalink Reply by gordon on October 22, 2009 at 3:38pm

I think so, but I've got to clean mine more often, I admit to being a little embarrased and am going to go do it right now, and every 2 weeks I think I need to do. No longer. Then there's the question of how much condensation actually flows back in from the tubing, so I need to get more disciplined on this, everyone.
I just cleaned it, no film, nothing. Of course, it's microscopic, but I can tell you, any time I used bottled "drinking water" when I ran out of distilled, I got a film on the bottom aluminum part. It's not a pain to wash, really, it doesn't even need to be dried inside, it's NOTHING like cleaning the tubing with the tubing brush and all...

Mike said:

is distilled water less hospitable an environment than tap water for bacteria to grow when the water is sitting around?
gordon nelson said:

I only clean mine once a month or so. Many will say it's not enough, but every time I clean it there's no film whatsoever, and it's only distilled water, it's a pain. And it has a rounded pressure-type seal, and if I clean that every day, eventually from taking that on and off, it's going to wear out and leak. The air flows over the top, and I can use a bacterial filter from cpapplus giving me 3 total filters. I have had no sinus or lung problems from any bacteria, but I'm sure I should empty it every week, I think I read that's the recommendation somewhere, if your not at risk for bacterial sensitivity or complications due to other health problems.

susan mccord said:

Mike, Rock Hinkle said the very same thing. Called it "a petry dish". EEeeeeeek!!, I'm gonna start emptying mine and vinegar/water rinsing it every day!!

McCord
Mike said:

i heard that emptying it out each day is the thing to do. believe the notion is that a heated humidifier that slowly cools during the day is the perfect environment for micro-organisms to grow. anyone with more science background have any further info on this?

susan mccord said:

Sleepy Carol, that's what I do too. I only wash that receptacle every now and then--I use white vinegar and warm water to either rinse it out or soak it if it needs soaking. This is probably the only thing my DME didn't talk about cleaning except before I started distilled water. I used to use bottled purified water, but it ended up leaving residue that had to be soaked off. He's the one who told me to soak it in vinegar and water. It worked like a charm. Rinsed well, there was no vinegar smell by the time I needed it again. I use mine every single night, turned up to 5--it's the only way I can keep my sinuses from getting cranky.

I ALWAYS use distilled water now.

Has anyone been told we should empty and air out or clean out that thing daily?? If so, I need to know that 'cause I don't.

Susan McCord

sleepycarol said:

I use distilled water and admit that I just top my water off when I do use the humidifer.

I have found that I don't need the humidifier in the summer and don't use it. Once the heat comes on, I use it in pass over mode.

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Permalink Reply by 99 on October 22, 2009 at 5:40pm

i used to be a security guard for a company who made rubber products, chlorene gas was used and every week without fail they would clean a water chamber because of legionares disease,

salt has chloride and sodium in it milton has soduim hypochorite in it(baby bottle cleaner) and vinegar is an antibactarial

i reccommend where posible to do it every day and difinatly every severn days

first clean then steralize

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Permalink Reply by 99 on October 22, 2009 at 6:02pm

warning warning aluminium as a reactant to alkly vinegar is fine and no problem

washingup liquid is alkaline and should not be use

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Permalink Reply by gordon on October 22, 2009 at 7:36pm

I used my citrus cleaner for the mask I got from cpapplus, plus a little distilled white vinegar, it's just the bottom plate which looks like a brushed aluminum, the plastic top has a air diverter which comes out, but I don't take it out, I just put cleaner in and shake the darn thing up, and rinse. The plastic top seats down on the (what looks like) aluminum, maybe it's brushed stainless steel, I don't know, it has a bull-nosed plastic seal it pushes onto, when I cleaned it today, I noticed some kinda oxidation on the metal bottom, and wiped it, maybe vinegar isn't suitable for this, that's something to consider. I don't mind killing any bacteria but I do'n't want oxidation on the metal, I think my manual said to use hand soap, so if I don't post any more, you know what happened. :~)
I think it has to be brushed stainless steel, not aluminum, I'd have to look up the specs.

99 said:

warning warning aluminium as a reactant to alkly vinegar is fine and no problem
washingup liquid is alkaline and should not be use

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Permalink Reply by steveeas on October 22, 2009 at 8:29pm

daily.

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