Need help with disinfecting equipment

[beanfruit]

Hi all - over 3 months on the hose now and things are great! Unfortunately, I came down with the flu in late September, developed bronchitis as a result and thought I had gotten rid of things up until last week when my cough started again. Just saw my family doc yesterday and he said my lungs sound great, chest X-ray is clear and it seems like I just have an unfortunate cough that just needs time to go away.

However, part of me wonders of there are some lingering bugs in my equipment. I wash my pillows daily, short hose and tank weekly, long hose every 3 weeks and use only distilled water in my tank. Now that I have another 10 foot hose, I'll be able to wash weekly and use my backup while that hose dries.

What I'd like some help with is using the Control III disinfectant. Honestly, seeing all the warnings on it freaked me out a bit. If you use this stuff, can you tell me if you use special gloves? Also, what size of container do you use? I have a 10 foot hose and want to make sure it all fits and has enough room to get thoroughly disinfected.

Thanks for any helpful advice you can give. This forum has been a big reason I've been able to be successful with my therapy thus far.

[RandyJ]

I'm not familiar with that product, but if you think bacteria are a concern, get rid of any hoses that you were using during your illness. Even the manufacturers recommend hose replacement after 6 months; no matter how well you clean or try to disinfect, hoses have all those pleats and crevices at the ring sections that are impossible to reach, even with submersion cleaning.

Normal hoses (not including ClimateLine) are quite inexpensive. Most people keep them longer than 6 months, but if I had any concerns about bacteria or re-infection like you do, I wouldn't hesitate to replace them.

That said, bronchitis is stubborn and can take up to 12 weeks to get rid of cough completely.

[archangle]

If you have a spare hose, you can try this. I've done it on several parts I was willing to risk losing with no damaged parts yet.

Take a big pot of water. Bring to a full boil on the stove. Turn off the heat for about a minute with the pot covered. Stick the hose or other part into the water. In the case of the hose, be sure to maneuver it around such that it fills with water and swish the water around a bit to make it circulate. Be sure to get the water to touch every part of the inside of the hose.

I usually try to get about 5 minutes of immersion. I've done hoses, humidifier tanks, and mask parts. I have NOT done any foam mask parts. One member here reported melting her short hose, but she left it in the water for a while with the stove turned on.

I have only done this with used equipment I've gotten. I've done hoses, and a few masks. Hot water might damage certain equipment.

Note that even boiling water will not kill ALL germs, but it gets most of them.

I've also used drinking alcohol. Either "Everclear," which is 95% or so pure drinking ethanol or even vodka. I rinse it thoroughly afterwards. I figure something you can drink is not going to be too irritating if a tiny bit of residue is left behind. I'd be careful to be sure the fumes have evaporated before using it the first time after.

Note that Everclear or even vodka may be flammable until you rinse it off and dilute it.

Note that even 100% alcohol won't kill every germ or virus.

Alcohol might damage some types of plastic, too.

[GumbyCT]

If you have a spare hose, you can try this. I've done it on several parts I was willing to risk losing with no damaged parts yet.

Take a big pot of water. Bring to a full boil on the stove. Turn off the heat for about a minute with the pot covered. Stick the hose or other part into the water. In the case of the hose, be sure to maneuver it around such that it fills with water and swish the water around a bit to make it circulate. Be sure to get the water to touch every part of the inside of the hose.

I usually try to get about 5 minutes of immersion. I've done hoses, humidifier tanks, and mask parts. I have NOT done any foam mask parts. One member here reported melting her short hose, but she left it in the water for a while with the stove turned on.

I have only done this with used equipment I've gotten. I've done hoses, and a few masks. Hot water might damage certain equipment.

Note that even boiling water will not kill ALL germs, but it gets most of them.

I've also used drinking alcohol. Either "Everclear," which is 95% or so pure drinking ethanol or even vodka. I rinse it thoroughly afterwards. I figure something you can drink is not going to be too irritating if a tiny bit of residue is left behind. I'd be careful to be sure the fumes have evaporated before using it the first time after.

Note that Everclear or even vodka may be flammable until you rinse it off and dilute it.

Note that even 100% alcohol won't kill every germ or virus.

Alcohol might damage some types of plastic, too.

I can't believe I just read that AFTER reading this.

I'm not hollering "FIRE" in a crowded theater. I'm pointing out to people that the emergency exits are blocked.

Beanfruit, I'd be careful about following that advice.

Perhaps you should ask your doc if you have a post nasal drip or some other medical problem causing the cough and it's not related to the cpap or equipment.

I don't clean my hose often and have not had a cold more than once in 4yrs on cpap. And I know that cold came from an infected cashier in a store.

IF I wanted to clean my hose I would take it in the shower with me. Use any combination of products you know you are not allergic to - ie. dish soap, shampoo, etc. IF you feel the need to sterilize try running some mouthwash thru the hose. Rinse but don't be afraid to use the hose with water inside. Above all do NOT hang the hose in the bathroom to dry. Bathrooms are known to harbor bacteria.

[BlackSpinner]

Hi all - over 3 months on the hose now and things are great! Unfortunately, I came down with the flu in late September, developed bronchitis as a result and thought I had gotten rid of things up until last week when my cough started again. Just saw my family doc yesterday and he said my lungs sound great, chest X-ray is clear and it seems like I just have an unfortunate cough that just needs time to go away.

However, part of me wonders of there are some lingering bugs in my equipment. I wash my pillows daily, short hose and tank weekly, long hose every 3 weeks and use only distilled water in my tank. Now that I have another 10 foot hose, I'll be able to wash weekly and use my backup while that hose dries.
.

What is more likely is that bronchitis triggered a form of cough presenting asthma, everything is more sensitive to the slightest variation of air. This is what happens to me when I get bronchitis or pneumonia. You need medication for that. A puffer that reduces inflammation. If your family doctor is not capable of handling it ask for a referral.
Hunt up "Cough presenting asthma" on the net. It is not a common garden variety and your family doctor may be unfamiliar with it. The ER doctor called them "bronchial spasms" - I reacted the same way to injected Iodine - except a lot worse.

[HoseCrusher]

When mixing chemicals you need to protect yourself from the concentrated chemical. That means gloves and eye protection. A standard mix is 1 ounce per gallon of water. You should be able to find a bucket that will hold a gallon and still fit all of your hoses and mask parts.

It looks like they recommend rinsing afterward, so don't forget that step.

[JointPain]

I had a similar sounding history that turned out to be a bit of silent reflux. I was more careful about what I ate, and was extra careful not to eat within 3 hours of bedtime. The symptoms went away fairly quickly. I have not been so careful lately but the symptoms have not returned.

[BlackSpinner]

I had a similar sounding history that turned out to be a bit of silent reflux. I was more careful about what I ate, and was extra careful not to eat within 3 hours of bedtime. The symptoms went away fairly quickly. I have not been so careful lately but the symptoms have not returned.

Yes I was going to add that but I forgot. The amount of coughing one does with bronchitis can cause GERD ( silent acid reflux) After I have a cold or flu mine is always worse for a few weeks and it does cause me to cough which in turn makes the reflux worse..... I need both the puffer to reduce the irritation and stomach medication to control the reflux to break the cycle.

[Uncle_Bob]

I use Control III disinfectant after I have washed my equipment with mild soap solution. I certainly do not use gloves or any protection. I fill my sink pour in some control III and soak pillows/hoses for 10 mins, i put my hands in the solution but rinse them off after.

[beanfruit]

Thanks for the suggestions everyone. I may just try using the Control III as Uncle_Bob recommended...I had actually been thinking about trying to keep the solution around like the bottle says, but I'm just not sure I want a big old bucket of the stuff lurking in the closet for a couple of weeks!

Also, thanks for the thoughts about the cough. I did get a steroid inhaler after the first couple of weeks w/ bronchitis left me with a nagging cough. My doc described it similar to what you guys mentioned - he said my lungs were "twitchy". It was effective for about a week and a half and then the cough came back, but deeper so it may be related to some post-nasal drip. Anyway, doc said if it didn't clear up in a week to go back on the inhaler until it runs about (about 2 weeks left). I'm seeing my sleep doc at the end of next week so I'll get his thoughts on it too.

[Izabela]

Everyone seems to have a method that works best for them.

Aside from the fact that some disinfectants can deteriorate the plastics in your mask, there's one other thing to remember. Some plastics and silicone may be porous and so... if you aren't discerning about what you use to clean your equipment, it could come back to bite you. As an example, this is why it's not recommended to use any kind of soaps with a lot of fragrance. And similarly, any disinfectant/soap residue can also irritate the skin, not just the lungs. No fun, that's for sure.

As far as your illness goes, though... it sounds like you take really good care of your equipment. Just a suggestion... but could be that the respiratory problems you've been having don't have anything to do with your CPAP machine.

[Slartybartfast]

If you're taking stains for lowering serum cholersterol, they can cause a persistent dry, nonproductive cough.

[M.D.Hosehead]

People have forgotten how good a disinfectant hydrogen peroxide is.

Fill a container with 1% h.p. (one part hydrogen peroxide from the bottle + 2 parts water.) Immerse the mask/hose/tank completely and soak for 20 minutes.

Hydrogen peroxide turns into water plus oxygen:
no chemical residue left behind
no need for protective gear, and no need to rinse.

[archangle]

If you're taking stains for lowering serum cholersterol, they can cause a persistent dry, nonproductive cough.

And they change the color of everything they touch, too. I presume you mean "statins."

I developed a cough just like you talk about after starting Zestril BP med. Two different doctors insisted that the Zestril didn't cause my cough. I stopped taking the pill for a while and the cough went away. (My BP wasn't that bad even without pills.) I told the doctor I wasn't going to take that and he reluctantly changed my meds. A few years later, he said that a lot of his patients had that problem. The "Zestril cough" is now a common medical term.

[avi123]

Check Dr Steve Park (an ENT) , post on his blog :

Read it here:

http://doctorstevenpark.com/cpap-and-sinus-infections

Excerpt:

CPAP And Sinus Infections
November 12, 2010

One of the more common complaints from CPAP users is that they are prone to sinus infections. Typically, they deal with it using saline irrigation, decongestants, and sometimes even go to their doctor for antibiotics. As a result, people suspect contamination or infection from their equipment, especially the mask, tubing or even the machine itself. Other suspects include molds, allergies or even sensitivity to their masks.

I had an experience today with a patient that makes me rethink how CPAP may aggravate nasal or sinus infections. This patient was unable to use CPAP after 4-5 days because his nose and sinuses would burn. He interpreted this as an infection. His numbers and other compliance parameters were perfect. While performing nasal endoscopy (placing a thin flexible camera in his nose) he commented that the sensation was identical to the feeling that he experienced when he used CPAP.

That got me thinking about how most cases of sinus headaches and pain have been shown to be a variation of a migraine. This is a neurologic reaction to any sort of irritation or stimulation. If you were to undergo a CAT scan during an episode, you’ll see that in most cases, it’ll be completely normal. Unfortunately, too many people end up being given oral antibiotics.

What can you do about this if you’re susceptible to these problems? Unfortunately, it’s a catch-22. In theory, the best way of handling this is to treat the underlying obstructive sleep apnea, but in this case, the treatment itself can cause nasal inflammation that can worsen sleep apnea. Many people benefit significantly by using CPAP, but there will always be a few people who absolutely can’t tolerate CPAP, no matter how hard they try to use it (different machines, settings, masks, medications, or other gadgets.)

Do you get recurrent sinus “infections” when you use your CPAP?



Written by Steven Park · Filed Under Blog
Tagged: ,CPAP, sinus migraine, sinus-infection, sleep