(Changed titled) Grease in CPAP saga, continued with Airsense 10

[palerider]

This situation has been so intractable that I was willing to consider the possibility that it was a coincidence. If you felt the seams of the chamber, you might have thought the same.

The problem, you see, is your history and the utter lack of other people complaining about similar problems.

[ChicagoGranny]

I bought an Airsense 10 from Second Wind CPAP last year, and I am very convinced that they sent me a very old or somehow ruined water chamber.

This wasn't happening at my previous place so I have to assume it's something about this house, maybe the wall paint or floor finish, or something weird about the ventilation.

Nice about-face.

[Miss Emerita]

If you can manage it, try sleeping for a couple of nights somewhere other than your home.

If you still feel crummy, try not using the humidifier, still sleeping someplace other than home. For that experiment, I’d recommend using a side panel in place of the humidifier unit, to take the chamber completely out of the equation.

[jdm5]

On a more constructive note - is it possible for you to stay at another location with your cpap gear? See if the problem follows you?

[roger84]

If you can manage it, try sleeping for a couple of nights somewhere other than your home.

If you still feel crummy, try not using the humidifier, still sleeping someplace other than home. For that experiment, I’d recommend using a side panel in place of the humidifier unit, to take the chamber completely out of the equation.

I might try that. So if I have a good night, then it's coming directly from the air in the house. If not, it's something that's either been accumulating from the air, or something originating from the unit. I still think it's important to factor in that it was bought used.

I just disassembled the Airsense and this is what the pump looks like (https://drive.google.com/file/d/10Y7Ljm ... sp=sharing). Throughout the operation my fingers got some of the greasy stubborn stuff on them. I wiped areas where it deposited, sometimes visibly. Should have taken photos. (I used no chemicals, just elbow grease.) There is something white in the pump, around the seam. If anyone can tell me if that's normal I'd appreciate it.

Current theories are this visible white stuff in the pump, marijuana smoke (I smoke once or twice a day and not a ton, but I didn't use to smoke in my bedroom in my previous place so I'm about to stop doing that), and air coming from the kitchen, which is close-ish to the ventilation intake. I'm heavily leaning towards the pump being the origination point since it seems like a filter would catch this and the air in the room seems fine and nothing else has greasy deposits on it as far as I know. All the same I've been replacing the filter every week I think, out of paranoia.

The fact that I was having a similar issue with the Dreamstation makes me worry that there's something really strange about this house that causes certain compounds for lubrication or adhesion to degrade/offgas. Unlike the Dreamstation, I haven't done anything to the Airsense besides replacing the water chamber and this disassembly.

Edit: This stuff is awful. Not even soap and water gets it off.

Edit 2: It's really hard to say but the intake pipe (just after the filter) might have had deposit inside it. Hard to check because I can only get my pinky in it about a centimeter and twist a little bit and I'm not sure if I'm feeling the deposit or moisture or something else and it's hard to get this stuff ofs my fingers. Because there's a possibility that it comes in from the outside, I'm going to not smoke in the bedroom and after a few nights see if things improve. I can't get into the pump to see what's going on in there.

[roger84]

I bought an Airsense 10 from Second Wind CPAP last year, and I am very convinced that they sent me a very old or somehow ruined water chamber.

This wasn't happening at my previous place so I have to assume it's something about this house, maybe the wall paint or floor finish, or something weird about the ventilation.

Nice about-face.

That's really unnecessary. I changed my theory after replacing the chamber. This isn't a popularity contest, I'm trying to figure this out. I'm never going to apologize for ruffling people's feathers by thinking that their hallowed used CPAP purveyor made a mistake, because they're not the forum and people identifying so strongly with them is their choice. I request all who are being so critical of that, that if they only want to conduct a witch hunt, please disengage from the thread. After disassembling the unit I found that there's still a possibility they did something weird to the unit and it's a coincidence, either way I just have to either figure this out or be forced to move.

[Dog Slobber]

That's really unnecessary. I changed my theory after replacing the chamber. This isn't a popularity contest, I'm trying to figure this out. I'm never going to apologize for ruffling people's feathers by thinking that their hallowed used CPAP purveyor made a mistake, because they're not the forum and people identifying so strongly with them is their choice. I request all who are being so critical of that, that if they only want to conduct a witch hunt, please disengage from the thread. After disassembling the unit I found that there's still a possibility they did something weird to the unit and it's a coincidence, either way I just have to either figure this out or be forced to move.

At what point are you going to clue into the fact that since the same (unique) problem has happened on two different machines, it is likely not something that the Second Wind could have done.

This was obvious to everyone but you early in the thread.

[lazarus]

ruffling people's feathers

People do get defensive about SecondwindCPAP because many like the idea behind what they do.

Yes, some answers here have had some unneeded high snark content, but if you can filter that aspect out, ignoring tone, there is some scientific and practical info in this thread that can be helpful.

Be reasonable about cleaning your equipment and getting good sleep. May you find success as you eliminate possibilities one at a time as you make the best of any problem-solving you can do.

I tend to give SecondwindCPAP the benefit of the doubt. But then I tend to give you the benefit of the doubt, too.

Sorry about the problems and frustrations you are dealing with.

I wish you the best.

[chunkyfrog]

Invisible fungal growth in the water chamber can feel slimy--some might think "greasy".
I just clean the chamber when it occurs, and splash a capful of vodka around in the tank,
before refilling with distilled water. (Leave the vodka in--it smells fresh.)
[[[Vodka means "water of life".]]]

[roger84]

It was definitely gypsum
We found two sources of it in the house
Since getting the landlord to address them it gradually has gone away to the point where I am getting great sleep now, though I still have to be more conscious of cleaning. Not just the CPAP and accessories but the entire room. Daily emptying and wipe off water chamber. And filtering. There are two high quality filters in the intake. Then it's all wrapped in a pillow case. Yet a tiny bit of gypsum still gets in but not enough to affect me. I woke up with it in my eyes this morning. Forgot to do the ritual last night.
Get some drywall dust and combine it with water. That's what I was breathing. Even if you sleep well it affects your lungs or something and you have brain fog and no stamina
Ironically, we have to move out just as this is fully resolving

[Dog Slobber]

Good.

Now, why don't you review this and all the other topics you created. Focus on how badly you behaved towards the people who posted why your previous theories could not have been the cause. And then apologize to them.

[roger84]

I don't think I behaved in any way that demands an apology.

Your behavior on the other hand continues to vex.

You mostly just got mad whenever you couldn't immediately solve the mystery. If you felt offended by my reactions to your snarky passive aggression that's on you. Sorry you were stumped I guess? Or that I wasn't all smilies and positivity. I was suffering. And don't say "as if that makes it all okay". I think you're nuts. I don't know what "it" is.

I'm fine with interacting with reasonable, balanced people, and ignoring the rest.

Have a good day!

[roger84]

ruffling people's feathers

I tend to give SecondwindCPAP the benefit of the doubt. But then I tend to give you the benefit of the doubt, too.

Sorry about the problems and frustrations you are dealing with.

I wish you the best.

It turned out to not be the CPAP itself though it does have issues with heating the tube that's unrelated

I thank you sincerely for your kindness and understanding

What I went through was an ordeal I wouldn't wish on anyone

Any meanness that might have been attached to my original (non reacting to snarky individuals) posts wasn't intended. I was only able to muster neutrality and cold objectivity in this case

Glad it seems to be over...

[robbob2112]

Scrap my whole long winded post - apparently I didn't read the second page.


For hose heating issues it is one of a couple of things

Hose bad - try a new one
sensors at the end of the hose near the mouth - new hose

Bad connector ring on the back of the pap machine - use instructions to open it up and examine the ribbon cable/connections that go to the board. The are known to fray and need to be replaced. You can get a new part for about $20 online.

If the humidifier isn't heating - 4 screws and open the bottom - look for the thermal fuse - see if it is still in place - if so you can use a multi-meter to check it isn't blown. The thermal fuse blows if you exceed 5 amps or if the temp of the chamber exceeds 98c. If that is good you can check the plate with an ohm meter - it will read very low around 6 ohms or so, bad ones read open. Replacement plates cost about $30