How to sterlize mask without Control III

sleepycarol · Post by **sleepycarol** » Thu Feb 14, 2008 8:18 pm

I have been really sick with the flu since last Saturday night. I spent Sunday night, Monday, Monday night, Tuesday, and Tuesday night mostly in bed as I was feeling so poorly. Since I am not really congested much just a dry hacking cough I have been able to use my cpap albeit with screwed up data (imagine why?? ) due to all the coughing, spending so much time in bed, etc.

I haven't had the fore thought to buy some Controll III. I don't know if the DME would have it and even if they did I don't feel like getting out to get it. I am wanting to clean my masks good that I have been using and was wondering if just a good soaking is sufficient or if I could put them in some extremely hot water. I don't want to ruin them but would like them to be cleaned of the majority of the "yuckies" I have had.

Since I am still feeling like crud I have decided a trip to the doctor tomorrow is in order to make sure it does not go into something more serious.

Ashkat · Post by **Ashkat** » Thu Feb 14, 2008 8:40 pm

Maybe a warm water and vinegar soak? Follow it up with a thorough dry time and that should clear up the worst of the ookyness.

My DME told me to use 1 part vinegar to 3 parts water for a soak.

Hope you feel better soon!

~Ashkat

socknitster · Post by **socknitster** » Fri Feb 15, 2008 8:48 am

You really don't need to sterilize per se because you are now immune to that virus--you shouldn't be able to get it again.

That said, a throrough cleaning is definitely in order. Soapy water, running your fingers over all the parts--the soap and abrasion will take away nearly everything of the parts you can reach with fingers that is. Then following up with vinegar and water is not a bad idea. There are few bugs that can survive an acidic bath. Then, thoroughly drying everything is another important step since most bugs can't survive drying out either. I like to hook my mask up to the machine and turn it on and walk away for a half hour to hour with the humidifier off. That way you know it is dry.

That should eliminate 99% of everything that could be on your stuff. Don't worry about it, you don't need sterile, just clean/disinfected. I would be less worried about any virus from the flu being present in your mask and more worried about any secondary bacteria or virus that could be attracted to the warm, moist environment and any mucous that could be present in the mask from the coughing. Right now you are vulnerable to secondary infection.

This is exactly like when you have a cold go on for a long, long time. It starts out as a virus and your body kicks it, but in the meantime all the mucous is a breeding ground for a secondary bacteria to come in which is how people get sinus infections and bronchitis and pneumonia after a common cold. The original virus they had is long gone and the new bug is simply taking advantage of the conditions it created. They are very opportunistic. So a lot of people blame the original cold for lingering forever when what they actually have is a secondary infection.

I used to get sinus infections year round due to allergies--the secretions make secondary infection a natural progression. Now I control that by controlling my allergies first of all, but also by doing neti pot rinses whenever I think there is too much mucous in there. Haven't had a sinus infection in a long time.

Too bad you can't rinse your lungs with saline. Hope you beat the cough and feel better soon.

Jen

Ashkat · Post by **Ashkat** » Fri Feb 15, 2008 12:00 pm

Hey Jen!

Another knitter here! I'm thinking of knitting myself a hose cover, should be easy enough, just like a really really long sock, maybe I could even knit a heel to cover the elbow joint to my mask

I also used to be a sinus infection magnet. Recently I purchase the NeilMed nasal rinse system after having read about it here. So far so good. Do you use your neti pot on certain schedule, or just whenever you feel it's needed?

~Ashkat

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Feb 15, 2008 1:12 pm

I'm so sorry Carol!!! Big hug!!!

I did a thorough cleaning after my last sickness - I washed thoroughly with soap and hot water, then did a 50/50 hottest tap water and white vinegar soak for about 6 hours. Then re-wash (to get rid of vinegar smell), and air dry. Did that to everything washable - put the snugglies and the chinstrap in lingerie bags in the washer, and air dried them.

That should be sufficient for most purposes.

Cheers,
Babs

socknitster · Post by **socknitster** » Fri Feb 15, 2008 1:59 pm

[quote="Ashkat"]Hey Jen!

Another knitter here! I'm thinking of knitting myself a hose cover, should be easy enough, just like a really really long sock, maybe I could even knit a heel to cover the elbow joint to my mask

I also used to be a sinus infection magnet. Recently I purchase the NeilMed nasal rinse system after having read about it here. So far so good. Do you use your neti pot on certain schedule, or just whenever you feel it's needed?

~Ashkat

RipVW · Post by **RipVW** » Fri Feb 15, 2008 1:59 pm

ResMed masks actually include directions to sterilize their masks using hot water. I've used this method before--free, too, no products to buy! You just need some tongs and a thermometer. Here's the website address: http://www.resmed.com/en-us/assets/docu ... -multi.pdf

"You are getting sleepy . . ."

Ashkat · Post by **Ashkat** » Fri Feb 15, 2008 2:47 pm

I'm thinking a 12" circular would work, Jen... I'd be knitting it pretty loose, to allow for some air insulation. Maybe ribbed? I do most of my knitting at work these days, I'm on the phone all day and it gives me something to do with my hands!

Rip, thanks for that link! That's some handy info to have.

sleepycarol · Post by **sleepycarol** » Fri Feb 15, 2008 3:23 pm

I went to the doctor this morning and she stated I have the flu. I was told that the flu I have was unexpected and so wasn't covered in this years batch of flu vaccine. In fact if I understood her correctly the strain is so new that the "normal" flu indicator that they use for testing to see if you have the flu doesn't pick it up as being the flu but the CDC has confirmed that it is indeed a strain of the flu.

She stated that if you catch it early that the Tamflu (hope that is right I spelled it like she pronounced) seems to be helping to lessen the duration. Of course it is too late for it work for me.

Babs -- is this what you may have had? I am not congested really and am able to breathe without much difficulty -- just feel awful.

If you think you may be catching it -- it might be worth a trip to the doctor to see if the Tamflu would work for you.

socknitster · Post by **socknitster** » Fri Feb 15, 2008 3:40 pm

sleepycarol wrote:I went to the doctor this morning and she stated I have the flu. I was told that the flu I have was unexpected and so wasn't covered in this years batch of flu vaccine. In fact if I understood her correctly the strain is so new that the "normal" flu indicator that they use for testing to see if you have the flu doesn't pick it up as being the flu but the CDC has confirmed that it is indeed a strain of the flu.

She stated that if you catch it early that the Tamflu (hope that is right I spelled it like she pronounced) seems to be helping to lessen the duration. Of course it is too late for it work for me.

Babs -- is this what you may have had? I am not congested really and am able to breathe without much difficulty -- just feel awful.

If you think you may be catching it -- it might be worth a trip to the doctor to see if the Tamflu would work for you.

Yes, Carol you are absolutely right. There are several strains of the flu going around this year, one of which is not completely covered by the flu shot, the others are. You should have some cross-protection fromt the flu vaccine, meaning you might have suffered even MORE if you hadn'd had the shot because one of the strains they put in is similar enough to give you a little bit of protection without full protection. I began to suspect this was the case when Babette was telling her story and so many others piped in their experience and many of them had had the shot.

This is particularly scary for me, because the flu is very dangerous when you are pregnant and I have a preschooler who could so easily bring it home. I have heard of women who have delivered very sick babies or lost their babies after contracting the flu. Needless to say I am vigilant about hand washing and get freaked out when in public and I hear someone cough! I actually go out in public very little. My husband does most of the shopping these days. Though we do have a trip planned to go to Babies R Us this weekend, yipppeeee!

Tamiflu and a few other drugs like it can lessen the severity and duration of the flu if it is obtained withing the first 24 to 48 hours of onset of symptoms. I have no idea if it is ok for pregnant women to take. So, I'll keep washing my hands, stay home as much as possible and keep using the neti pot to keep any germs from settling into my nose/sinus.

So, I'm glad you have the answer, but I'm sorry you have the flu! I hope you get better soon. The flu can take a little longer to recover from than a bad cold. Keep hydrated and rest. I hope you feel better soon!

Jen

sleepycarol · Post by **sleepycarol** » Fri Feb 15, 2008 4:01 pm

Good luck Jen -- wishing you the best!!

I really hope everyone stays clear of this stuff as it is no fun!!

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Feb 15, 2008 4:17 pm

No, I really didn't have any flu-like symptoms. What I had was definitely respiratory in nature, and I was VERY congested, and couldn't breathe at all. I didn't sleep for 5 days between the coughing and the congestion. I was a little feverish on and off. But not flu. There's a real difference between a lung infection and the flu, but I can't seem to adequately describe it.

GOOD LUCK POOKIE!!!!!
Babs

socknitster · Post by **socknitster** » Fri Feb 15, 2008 4:20 pm

You didn't have sudden onset, body aches, fever? That is usually what characterizes the flu. Kids are the only one that get the flu in their tummies at the same time. Adults usually only get upper resp.

Jen

sleepycarol · Post by **sleepycarol** » Fri Feb 15, 2008 4:50 pm

Mine started last Saturday evening with a tickle in my throat and the beginnings of a cough. On Sunday the cough was in full force and I felt crummy -- not bad -- just under the weather of sorts and as the day progressed the fever, chills, body aches started coming at me. By Monday mine was so bad I was as sick as they come. Could barely get out of bed to go potty and then crawl back to bed to sleep some more.