Talk Cancer

Question:

"AA" <a…@columbia.edu> wrote in message

news:bh8m62$pj8$1@newsmaster.cc.columbia.edu… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Hello all, > I have been recently diagnosed with Sleep Apnea having 49.5 episodes every > hour. So following my doctors suggestion, I started using CPAP couple of > weeks ago. Since I am new to this, I would like to get some maintenance tips > for the CPAP equipment: > Following are the recommendations made in the manual: > 1. Wash the mask and the plastic tube every day. > 2. Wash the sponge filter every two weeks. > 3. Replace the white filter every month. > 4. Use distilled water as oppose to tap water. > Should I strictly following the above recommendations? Can I use the mineral > water found in the supermarket? > Additionally, I would like to know which mask is most commonly used. The one > I have is a small mask the covers my nose. I am getting used to it but > sometimes it leaves a mark on my face in the morning. > Any feedback will be greatly appreciated. > Thanks

Welcome to the ranks of the Hoover Heads. I use a Breeze nasal pillow system (check cpapman.com for pics). I wash the pillows and the "plenum shell" that the pillows fit into (and that I exhale into) daily.  I also rinse the humidifier daily. I wash everything (humidifier, hoses) once a week in soapy water (no Lanoline — it eats silicone.  I use Sun Lite). Follow mfr recommendations for filters.  You really don’t want to get grit in your blower.  You also don’t want to create a restriction on the air intake (as would happen with dirty filters). Distilled water has been a big topic here (check archives).  I’m fortunate enough to live in an area with soft water (Lake Erie). I just use tap water. So far no problems.  (3 years).  If you have hard water, don’t use it.  I’m very leary of bottled water (not distilled).  Too many studies have indicated that some brands have real problems.  I’d trust tap or distilled water only. (But that’s just my opinion). Paul R

Response:

On Mon, 11 Aug 2003 14:10:09 -0400, AA wrote: >Following are the recommendations made in the manual: >1. Wash the mask and the plastic tube every day.

You can probably get by with less depending on your grunge tolerance. Don’t ask when I last washed mine. >2. Wash the sponge filter every two weeks. >3. Replace the white filter every month.

Your blower isn’t my blower, so I wouldn’t know. I do do mine per recommendations. >4. Use distilled water as oppose to tap water.

Definitely distilled water… NOT mineral water, spring water, etc.

Response:

"AA" <a…@columbia.edu> wrote in message

news:bh8m62$pj8$1@newsmaster.cc.columbia.edu… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Hello all, > I have been recently diagnosed with Sleep Apnea having 49.5 episodes every > hour. So following my doctors suggestion, I started using CPAP couple of > weeks ago. Since I am new to this, I would like to get some maintenance tips > for the CPAP equipment: > Following are the recommendations made in the manual: > 1. Wash the mask and the plastic tube every day. > 2. Wash the sponge filter every two weeks. > 3. Replace the white filter every month. > 4. Use distilled water as oppose to tap water. > Should I strictly following the above recommendations? Can I use the mineral > water found in the supermarket? > Additionally, I would like to know which mask is most commonly used. The one > I have is a small mask the covers my nose. I am getting used to it but > sometimes it leaves a mark on my face in the morning. > Any feedback will be greatly appreciated. > Thanks

Take that 4. refers to water for use in your humidifier? I wash my stuff with plain tap water, and I’m assuming most folks do too! HTH Kit — To reply replace nospam with kamuzz

Response:

Definitely follow the distilled water one. The filters are a good idea too. Dittio the mask, probably. Very few folks clean the hoses daily (or even weekly, for that matter!) regards, eric pearson db2e…@nospammindspring.com – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -On Mon, 11 Aug 2003 14:10:09 -0400, "AA" <a…@columbia.edu> wrote: >Hello all, >I have been recently diagnosed with Sleep Apnea having 49.5 episodes every >hour. So following my doctors suggestion, I started using CPAP couple of >weeks ago. Since I am new to this, I would like to get some maintenance tips >for the CPAP equipment: >Following are the recommendations made in the manual: >1. Wash the mask and the plastic tube every day. >2. Wash the sponge filter every two weeks. >3. Replace the white filter every month. >4. Use distilled water as oppose to tap water. >Should I strictly following the above recommendations? Can I use the mineral >water found in the supermarket? >Additionally, I would like to know which mask is most commonly used. The one >I have is a small mask the covers my nose. I am getting used to it but >sometimes it leaves a mark on my face in the morning. >Any feedback will be greatly appreciated. >Thanks

Response:

Thanks

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -AA wrote: > Hello all, > I have been recently diagnosed with Sleep Apnea having 49.5 episodes every > hour. So following my doctors suggestion, I started using CPAP couple of > weeks ago. Since I am new to this, I would like to get some maintenance tips > for the CPAP equipment: > Following are the recommendations made in the manual: > 1. Wash the mask and the plastic tube every day. > 2. Wash the sponge filter every two weeks. > 3. Replace the white filter every month. > 4. Use distilled water as oppose to tap water. > Should I strictly following the above recommendations? Can I use the mineral > water found in the supermarket? > Additionally, I would like to know which mask is most commonly used. The one > I have is a small mask the covers my nose. I am getting used to it but > sometimes it leaves a mark on my face in the morning. > Any feedback will be greatly appreciated. > Thanks

Check recent threads and archives.

Response:

"AA" <a…@columbia.edu> wrote in message

news:bh8m62$pj8$1@newsmaster.cc.columbia.edu… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Hello all, > I have been recently diagnosed with Sleep Apnea having 49.5 episodes every > hour. So following my doctors suggestion, I started using CPAP couple of > weeks ago. Since I am new to this, I would like to get some maintenance tips > for the CPAP equipment: > Following are the recommendations made in the manual: > 1. Wash the mask and the plastic tube every day. > 2. Wash the sponge filter every two weeks. > 3. Replace the white filter every month. > 4. Use distilled water as oppose to tap water. > Should I strictly following the above recommendations? Can I use the mineral > water found in the supermarket? > Additionally, I would like to know which mask is most commonly used. The one > I have is a small mask the covers my nose. I am getting used to it but > sometimes it leaves a mark on my face in the morning. > Any feedback will be greatly appreciated. > Thanks >—————————————————–

1.  I wash the mask everyday; skin oil makes it harder for masks to seal. I rarely clean the rubber tubing. 2 and 3. Do as the manual suggests. 4. This has been kicked around a lot but most would agree; follow the manual. Distilled water is probably on the same shelf as the mineral water and costs at my supermarket less than $1 U.S. gallon.  There is no reason to use mineral water and it isn’t pure. Hence, over time it will leave deposits in your equipment. You can check the archives for myriad discussions on this subject. Best wishes as you get used to the XPAP. Cheers, Hal S.

Response:

Hello all, I have been recently diagnosed with Sleep Apnea having 49.5 episodes every hour. So following my doctors suggestion, I started using CPAP couple of weeks ago. Since I am new to this, I would like to get some maintenance tips for the CPAP equipment: Following are the recommendations made in the manual: 1. Wash the mask and the plastic tube every day. 2. Wash the sponge filter every two weeks. 3. Replace the white filter every month. 4. Use distilled water as oppose to tap water. Should I strictly following the above recommendations? Can I use the mineral water found in the supermarket? Additionally, I would like to know which mask is most commonly used. The one I have is a small mask the covers my nose. I am getting used to it but sometimes it leaves a mark on my face in the morning. Any feedback will be greatly appreciated. Thanks

Response:

I used my CPAP last night for the first time. I had dreams for the first time in a very long time. I also went through today without a yawn. My problem… I used the humidifier … to keep from nasal blockage. I am using nasal pillows. After about 2 hours my nasal pillows start to leak water. If I turn the humidifier off … everything’s OK. What Am I doing wrong? How can I keep the pillows for collecting so much water? Suggestions? thanks Sweet dreams, jb

Response:

jb – Congratulations on dreaming again!  Isn’t it great?  I hope all your dreams are pleasant ones. The water is probably caused by condensation.  If your bedroom is cool enough and the humidifier is set up to a higher temperature, water will condense out of the humidified air. So try some of these things: 1. try turning your humidifier down until you no longer get condensation 2. insulate the hose; Conjo Distributing (www.cpapman.com) sells a sock-like tube that you run your hose through; you can also make your own. 3. make certain that the humidifier is lower than your head so that water drains towards it rather than towards your nose. 4. run your hose under the covers, although that is difficult with pillows because the hose comes from above your head Kent Taylor (Mongo) – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -jb wrote in message … >I used my CPAP last night for the first time. I had dreams for the first >time in a very long time. I also went through today without a yawn. >My problem… I used the humidifier … to keep from nasal blockage. I am >using nasal pillows. After about 2 hours my nasal pillows start to leak >water. If I turn the humidifier off … everything’s OK. >What Am I doing wrong? How can I keep the pillows for collecting so much >water? Suggestions? >thanks >Sweet dreams, >jb

Response:

Shucks!  I was going to add something, but Mongo went and covered all the ideas!  ;^) jb, give those ideas a try, and see how it does. Regards, =jbf= John B. Fisher

Response:

    Just wanted to say welcome to our world, JB.  I don’t use nasal pillow so can’t help you with any suggestions on that one except to say that the condensation could mean that you need a heated humidifier as I’ve seen suggested in the past on this newsgroup. Jo

Response:

Make sure that you do not overfill the humidifier. I have a similar setup and do not have this problem.  I am wondering if it occurs in certain areas of the country. I live near Philadelphia. Bob Jo <can’tfin…@zoomnet.net> wrote in message

news:rsg6is1kj7193@corp.supernews.com… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->     Just wanted to say welcome to our world, JB.  I don’t use nasal > pillow so can’t help you with any suggestions on that one except to say > that the condensation could mean that you need a heated humidifier as > I’ve seen suggested in the past on this newsgroup. > Jo

Response:

Thanks for all the suggestions. I have tried many of them…   -I lowered the humidifier and lowered the temperature setting as far as I could. … this really cut down on the condensation … however I’m still getting some. I guess last night as I lie in the direction of my wife, the nasal pillow blew out water on her. This does not lead to marital bliss!   I have another question …  On my nasal pillow there is a hole just above where the pillow connects to the tubing. This hole allows the pressurized air out. Is this supposed to be there? Again, last night not only did I spray my wife but I continued to blow air on her every time I faced her. … ya know, it’s tough to move all the equiptment to the couch!   jb – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Bob Stern wrote in message <7qa3g3$ag…@autumn.news.rcn.net>… >Make sure that you do not overfill the humidifier. >I have a similar setup and do not have this problem.  I am wondering if it >occurs in certain areas of the country. >I live near Philadelphia. >Bob >Jo <can’tfin…@zoomnet.net> wrote in message >news:rsg6is1kj7193@corp.supernews.com… >>     Just wanted to say welcome to our world, JB.  I don’t use nasal >> pillow so can’t help you with any suggestions on that one except to say >> that the condensation could mean that you need a heated humidifier as >> I’ve seen suggested in the past on this newsgroup. >> Jo

Response:

jb wrote: > On my nasal pillow there is a hole just above where the > pillow connects to the tubing. This hole allows the pressurized > air out.  Is this supposed to be there?

Yes!  Do NOT obstruct this, since it flushes CO2 from the circuit. > Again, last night not only did I spray my wife but I continued to > blow air on her every time I faced her. … ya know, it’s tough to > move all the equiptment to the couch!

Yup.  Both of you will need to get adjusted to this.  You might want to try using some sort of cover for the tubing … to cut down on the condenstation.  This might help avoid spraying your wife. Regards, =jbf= John B. Fisher

Response:

> > Again, last night not only did I spray my wife but I continued to > > blow air on her every time I faced her. … ya know, it’s tough to > > move all the equiptment to the couch! > Yup.  Both of you will need to get adjusted to this.  You might want to try > using some sort of cover for the tubing … to cut down on the > condenstation.  This might help avoid spraying your wife.

My breather hole (I don’t know if that’s what it’s called, but that’s what I call it) never spits water or moisture.  I use a non-heated humidifier (which does seem to work for me).  As for spraying or blowing air, I make a point to sleep on my back.  If I want to face my boyfriend (yeah, I’m gay), I either take off the CPAP, or use it to torment him (though he doesn’t seem to mind).  I read this to him before I sent it and he just laughed.     Gary (then again, he can sleep through a tornado – runs in his family) Rimar

Response:

On Mon, 30 Aug 1999 00:58:05 -0400, "Gary Rimar" <dyna…@mail.com> wrote: > |  > > Again, last night not only did I spray my wife but I continued to > |  > > blow air on her every time I faced her. … ya know, it’s tough to > |  > > move all the equiptment to the couch! > |  > > |  > Yup.  Both of you will need to get adjusted to this.  You might want to > |  try > |  > using some sort of cover for the tubing … to cut down on the > |  > condenstation.  This might help avoid spraying your wife. > |   > |  My breather hole (I don’t know if that’s what it’s called, but that’s what I > |  call it) never spits water or moisture.  I use a non-heated humidifier > |  (which does seem to work for me).  

[snip] I use nasal pillows and my exhaust outlet sometimes sprays water a bit, especially early in the morning when condensation has built up. I keep the heated humidifier turned up pretty high to help me with chronic stuffy nose problems, however. What causes this water spray is the condensed vapor from the heated humidifier and probably some condensed vapor from your exhaled breath collecting in the nasal shell. The only way to stop it is to turn down the heat and/or insulate the hose. Insulating the hose helps a great deal. You could also drape a shielding piece of cloth or even stiff paper in front of the exhaust, I suppose. Just be careful you don’t block that outlet, to avoid CO2 build up. —————————————————- "Trudy is Beauth, Beauth, Trudy"