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My husband and I do not smoke.  But his mother smokes like a chimney. Let me say that again - like a CHIMNEY.

Before, when we've gone to see her, I've just left the machine at home. We only go for one or two days at a time. But I have some additional health issues crop up since the last time we've seen her and when my surgeon found out I have sleep apnea  & used CPAP, he drilled down on my CPAP use. Evidently he has patients that don't use the machine because they're not comfortable with it or whatever. I do use the machine every night. My only exceptions are when I fall asleep on the sofa,watching TV or I'm visiting my MIL. 

He warned me that I should be 100% compliant with the CPAP therapy with no exceptions. The long term success of the surgery and my health depend on it. He told me not to even take a day off for overnight visits (he's discouraged the couch naps, too - told me if felt sleepy to go lay on the bed and put the machine on).

I've researched sleep apnea so I know the serious risks to my health if I leave it untreated. I think that I had it for years before I finally got a sleep study (have 2 hospital stays in less than a year) and is the root cause of some of the health issues I'm facing now.

And I'm using the machine 99% of the time but I do hesitant to take this machine to my MIL's home. I'm afraid the smoke smell will be hard to get out. We immediately fumigate everything when we get home.I despise the smell of smoke and don't want to stuck with a machine and gear that stinks.

Has anyone else had to de-smoke a machine before? I just do not want to bring the smoke smell back home with the machine.

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This is a terrific question. I would be just as reluctant as you to take the machine into a smoker's home.

Jackie, I don't have an answer for the smoke, but it's good your 99% compliant and your Dr is right about the other 1%, keep going.

Recently came across this, but not heard of anyone using it CPAP Disinfection Unit and there's also this other one CPAP Guardian which I've got a sample of here, but not got round to trying it yet.

Would it be feasible to spend a couple of nights in a hotel?  You could stress that the doctor (or you) wants you in a smoke free environment because of your health issues (wouldn't he?) and you have to use the CPAP and CPAP and smoke don't mix.

Otherwise take old tubing and an old mask and change the filter.  Can you afford an inexpensive used machine just for these visits?

Wish I had a better solution.  

     These are good suggestions, Jackie.

     Thinking about Mary's suggestion, how about this possibility: Looking into CPAP rental?  That might be cheaper (if you don't visit MIL very often) than buying one.

      If you buy a CPAP for traveling purposes, you might buy a "gently used" CPAP. Here's a site that might help:  http://secondwindcpap.com/

      Note: Buying a gently used CPAP may, in the long run, be cheaper than a hotel room or rental.

GREAT suggestion!

ZolliStar said:

     These are good suggestions, Jackie.

     Thinking about Mary's suggestion, how about this possibility: Looking into CPAP rental?  That might be cheaper (if you don't visit MIL very often) than buying one.

      If you buy a CPAP for traveling purposes, you might buy a "gently used" CPAP. Here's a site that might help:  http://secondwindcpap.com/

      Note: Buying a gently used CPAP may, in the long run, be cheaper than a hotel room or rental.

I would not sleep in a place where people are smoking. Period!

Even before I was diagnosed and started using CPAP I would not do it.

It has been many years since I sat in a meeting or a restaurant where people were smoking.

I don't allow smoking on my property. Not in the house. Not on the patio. Not in the woods behind the house.

It has not been a problem and no one has been offended.

If you absolutely must stay, take a tent and an extension cord.

Depending on the time of year and the physical arrangements - can you put your CPAP machine with its intake at a window?

Do everything that you can to get to 100%. I would choose to stay at a hotel rather than contaminate my CPAP, but that's not always possible. My MIL lives more than 20 miles from the nearest hotel - fortunately, she stopped smoking years ago, and only smoked outside before that. I am allergic to tobacco - I've never smoked myself, but have had to endure a lot of second-hand smoke in my life. Fortunately, I now live in California, where smoking is *almost* illegal. Well, tobacco, anyway. :-)

With whichever machine you use, do get 'microfilters' rather than a standard filter, it will help keep the contaminants out of the machine (and your lungs).

If you use a humidifier, and aren't in the (good) habit of changing the water every night, this is a time where you absolutely want to do so!

I wear mine 100% of my sleep and sometimes during the day because I have nasal obstruction and  unable to breathe sometimes without and cannot sleep without.

 

I am a non smoker but really do not understand the big deal of this question.  You do clean your machine, right?  If it bothers you that much and depending how much time you spend there, yeah just rent one this would be much cheaper than a hotel, actually being maybe a little smarter would be purchase a second one that will become your "travel" CPAP.  I bought a second on years ago for the smart card data.

That was one of the best things in the world back in like 96 when there was no more smoking in bars, lol.

Richard said:

Depending on the time of year and the physical arrangements - can you put your CPAP machine with its intake at a window?

Do everything that you can to get to 100%. I would choose to stay at a hotel rather than contaminate my CPAP, but that's not always possible. My MIL lives more than 20 miles from the nearest hotel - fortunately, she stopped smoking years ago, and only smoked outside before that. I am allergic to tobacco - I've never smoked myself, but have had to endure a lot of second-hand smoke in my life. Fortunately, I now live in California, where smoking is *almost* illegal. Well, tobacco, anyway. :-)

With whichever machine you use, do get 'microfilters' rather than a standard filter, it will help keep the contaminants out of the machine (and your lungs).

If you use a humidifier, and aren't in the (good) habit of changing the water every night, this is a time where you absolutely want to do so!

I do not think you can just rent or get used CPAP machines, they have to be set up by your tech.  Getting a hotel room is probably the best solution and your MIL will just have to understand, Your health is more important.  Otherwise, if you are sleeping in guest beedroom at your MIL, keep the door shut at all times.  Buy one of those room filters and for your CPAP machne, besure to use one of those fine white filters and not just the foam filter.  You can even get a super fine filter that goes inline with the tubing.  Taking a spare tubing and mask just for those vist is a good idea to.  When not using the machine, keep the room door close, do not allow smoking in that room and I'd even suggest covering and /or wraping the machine, tubing, mask and all up in a plastic bag or keep everything in th travel case when not in use and place the travel case in a plastic bag.  When you get home thoroughly cleaing everything with white vinegar according to eguipment guidleines.

Do not let her smoking dictate how you live.  See if you can even get her to smoke outside when you visit.  But the best idea would be to get a hotel/motel room since her smoking is that bad.  Sleeping in that environment is not good for your health..

Most everyone out here has good suggestions. I can understand. I have stayed in hotel rooms that have had smokers in them in the past and when I put my mask on the next night at home, I can smell the room and the stail smoke smell all over again. Last year I went on a weeks vacation to a carribbean island that had a strong odor of the ocean and surrounding vegetation. When I returned, I thoroughly washed my mask, tubing and headgear. I changed the filters and that smell was still there for a couple of weeks after. The only sure way is to not stay in that house at all. Your health is more important than hers.

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