cpap and colds

My get better strategy if I had going on what you do.

I would clean the mask, hose, humidifier chamber out after each use with a 50/50 or stronger vinegar and water 15 to 30 minute soak. To help kill of any blow back of gunk or condensation running back into the humidifier and possibly letting bugs grow. If possible I would order fresh supplies during this time to use after I got over these ills I could start with fresh clean gear, if I have spare gear I would clean and rest 1 set and alternate nightly. I would change my filters out in the unit both before and after getting better.

I would drink plenty of fresh juices (unless the meds have a warning) and liquids during the time I was taking the meds and take the meds till gone. Once all the meds are gone and your feeling totally better or have been checked by your doc replace all gear with the new supplies.

Humidity I would reduce to as dry as I could stand to help clear out extra gunk but not enough to get sore or have bleeding. I see you have a Full Face Mask so the sinuses might not dry out all that much but the mouth will. I would use a toothpaste / mouthwash combo for dry mouth nightly to keep the mouth clean as possible and to keep away dry mouth as best as I could during the time of reduced humidity.

If I really had no other choice and HAD to stop Pap treatment I would sleep in a recliner or other well cushioned chair, in an upright position.

Pneumonia sucks to get and sucks even more if you keep getting it.

hades161 wrote:Humidity I would reduce to as dry as I could stand to help clear out extra gunk but not enough to get sore or have bleeding <snip>....

Hmmm...I have yet to have a cold or get sick since starting with xPAP (so have no experience) but this seems counter-intuitive to me. Why would you not want to crank UP the humidity to loosen everything up. Dry air and sick don't mix well...we live in a dry environment and it sucks to get sick...like having glue in your sinuses.

G

Because all that warm moisture can be a breeding ground in the gear. I didn't say to turn it all off just reduce it. Also to much humidity can add to your congestion. If this was a simple cold no biggy make it as humid as you want but he posted "i have a upper respiratory and pneumonia" that's beyond a simple cold.

GrantT wrote:

hades161 wrote:Humidity I would reduce to as dry as I could stand to help clear out extra gunk but not enough to get sore or have bleeding <snip>....

Hmmm...I have yet to have a cold or get sick since starting with xPAP (so have no experience) but this seems counter-intuitive to me. Why would you not want to crank UP the humidity to loosen everything up. Dry air and sick don't mix well...we live in a dry environment and it sucks to get sick...like having glue in your sinuses.

G

Correct you need to turn it UP to humidify and soften the gunk. Every book tells you to use a steam humidifier in a room with sick kids.

I have had pneumonia both before and after I started cpap and the after with the humidity turned up was sooo much better that I even wore it during the day while working from home. There is nothing like warm, humid, clean air to help the lungs along.

BlackSpinner wrote:

GrantT wrote:

hades161 wrote:Humidity I would reduce to as dry as I could stand to help clear out extra gunk but not enough to get sore or have bleeding <snip>....

Hmmm...I have yet to have a cold or get sick since starting with xPAP (so have no experience) but this seems counter-intuitive to me. Why would you not want to crank UP the humidity to loosen everything up. Dry air and sick don't mix well...we live in a dry environment and it sucks to get sick...like having glue in your sinuses.

G

Correct you need to turn it UP to humidify and soften the gunk. Every book tells you to use a steam humidifier in a room with sick kids.

I have had pneumonia both before and after I started cpap and the after with the humidity turned up was sooo much better that I even wore it during the day while working from home. There is nothing like warm, humid, clean air to help the lungs along.

That would be room humidity( IE Steam humidifier and I use one in my room at times as well) not humidity pumped directly into you. Again I said reduce to as dry I could stand, IE be comfortable with. Our Pap units can put out a lot of Direct moisture and you could over do it. I too have had pneumonia while paping and like room humidity. But in the end YMMV