NEW member

[ize]

Just got my Cpap yesterday after waiting since November...
After the wife stated I stop breathing in my sleep it hit me why im going down hill, so I went to the Dr to ask about apnea.
since im 302 and 42 and 5'11 he said, you are prime for having it.... Went to neurologist and he set up the sleep labs.
I didnt think I would have much problem sleeping, since I pretty much pass out when im horizontal, The lab guy said
I was pretty bad off.. the Dr didnt give me the full report of O2 levels and blood and everything else, other then I stop
breathing 100x and hour.. I can say it feels like it, so not a real shocker.
Anyway 1st night was last night I love this thing i love the feeling of it forcing air down my nose.. I have a full face mask
since i usually sleep mouth wide open and Sahara desert feeling when i wake up at night, no more of that.
Today was my first day in 3 months I didnt need a 5 hr energy drink at 9am.. I felt awake... not like I wanted to run
around the office , but I wasnt passing out at my desk. Seems to be a tonnnnn of info here im sure I will find lots of info.

only some quickie questions im sure have been asked 1000x but just some fresh opinions

putting some fragrants, oils, vaporub, potpouri or anything like that infront of the intake a problem? what works best?

instead of buying gallons of distilled water, are there any alternatives? I like the "zero water" filter it about the same as dist. and no hauling water all over

last would be cleaning, Dr said 1/week directions say daily.... I did scour Amazon for cleaners, lots of wipes with high reviews.. I orderd some there was some daily sanatizer a lil costly $250(high reviews) but for daily sanitation... I could swing it. any suggestions?

Thanks for reading

[Pugsy]

Regarding cleaning....viewtopic.php?p=567264#p567264
Lots of reading, some of it is a bit older but the discussions are the same no matter what year.
Mainly it all depends on just how much you want to do...need to do to feel okay...and will do.
Daily sanitizers for high dollars...some people sleep better doing that stuff but it really isn't needed.

Aromatherapy by putting something that smells nice or helps clear the nose at the air intake? Lots of us do that.

Distilled water is advised mainly due to mineral deposits that cling to the tank. How much accumulation depends on how hard your water is or how much the mineral content is. Using distilled water lessens cleaning time. Though mineral build up is normally easily removed with a good vinegar soak.

Since you are using a full face mask you will probably want something to wipe down the seal daily...not so much because germs but because of the facial oil accumulation on the cushion because the oils make it harder to keep a good seal.
Lots of members use plain old generic baby wipes in between soap and water washings..someone will come around and offer which ones might be best.

Welcome to the forum. You will find that a lot of this stuff we all have our own personal way of doing things. Do what you are most comfortable doing. Me? I wash my mask maybe once a week but it isn't a full face mask. I can't remember when I washed the hose. I do use distilled water because I don't like cleaning...big surprise
I wash my humidifier tank about once a month in hot soapy water when I think about it.
There's no need to spend a lot of money on cleaning stuff because it just isn't needed.
Unless you have a germaphobe issue there is no need to go to extraordinary measures in your cleaning.

[Madalot]

Welcome to the Forum!

Pugsy is right about using baby wipes. They work just as well (maybe better) than the expensive cpap wipes. I personally prefer Target Brand and buy them by the case (I use them as hand wipes too).

I wipe our masks (my husband is on cpap too) DAILY with a baby wipe. This removes the facial grease and grime that accumulates overnight. I use a spray mask cleaner on MINE daily (and wipe with the baby wipe), but for some reason, my husband has more leaks if I use that on his. Once a week, the masks get a good washing in Baby Shampoo (as well as the hoses and filters). I have two sets of hoses/filters so I can let one set dry. The weekly washing is done every Sunday morning - it's a schedule so we don't forget to do it.

I use aromatherapy. I like some of the scented oils from Bath & Body Works, but a forum member pointed me towards scented oils from Hobby Lobby and I like those a lot as well! Both Bath & Body Works & Hobby Lobby are less expensive than the scented oils designed for cpap aromatherapy -- but whatever works best and what you like best can be used.

[Sheriff Buford]

Make sure the baby wipes don't have alcohol (it will deteriorate the mask plastic) or aloe (it will leave a film). Check the label for ingredients. I use pampers thick wipes for sensitive skin, but there are many different brands for baby butts with sensitive skin. I scrub my mask with a toothbrush/baby shampoo on weekends and soak it in baby shampoo/water solution for a few hours... then rinse well. You may do a search for the aroma-thing. I would be hesitant on using Vicks vapor rub, but that's just me. In my mind, if the vicks were to condense... it would coat the inside of my machine. You might do a search as there has been discussions about such things here.

Looks as you are doing very well. A lot of newbies would kill to have your success! Keep up the good work and work all your issues here.

Sheriff

[ize]

I was told it would take a while, and alot of people have issues with masks... I was so ready for a good nights sleep, nothing was going to stop me.
Sounds like cleaning is a personal preference, and with a daily wipe and a weekly sanitize ( I have the Lotus system) I should be good to go.

The leaks everyone is talking about is between the mask and the face? I have some of that when im close to waking up, but my headgear is
not too tight, I still have plenty of pressure in the mask from what I can tell even though I feel it leaking out around my nose. I dont see where
to change the pressure, but im on 13 or 14 after it ramps up.

[Sheriff Buford]

I was told it would take a while, and alot of people have issues with masks... I was so ready for a good nights sleep, nothing was going to stop me.
Sounds like cleaning is a personal preference, and with a daily wipe and a weekly sanitize ( I have the Lotus system) I should be good to go.

The leaks everyone is talking about is between the mask and the face? I have some of that when im close to waking up, but my headgear is
not too tight, I still have plenty of pressure in the mask from what I can tell even though I feel it leaking out around my nose. I dont see where
to change the pressure, but im on 13 or 14 after it ramps up.

Yes.. the leaks are normally around the mask seal (around the face on full face masks and around the nose (honkers) on the nasal masks). Sometimes we kid about the "farting" noise when you get a good leak. If the leaks are bad enough, they can sometimes wake you up. Leaks are cpap air that do not get into your body, but leaks out the mask. It can reduce cpap therapy. For example, if you need a cpap pressure setting of 14 l/min and you have a sizeable leak, you would not get the 14 l/min air pressure, thus reducing therapy. Leaks can cause apneas to go untreated and increase the number of apneas that can occur at night. Your goal should be zero leaks. Machines will allow the mask to vent (to remove CO2 from your exhale breath) and compensate for the mask vent. I see you have a Resmed S9 Elite, so if your leak rates are less than 24 l/min, the machine is suppose to compensate for the leak. It's good to see that you commenting on not tightening the mask too tight.. Most folks will do that and the mask may leak more by over tightening it. Due to your face structure, there are some masks that will leak and there's nothing you can do about it. I can get zero leaks from my mask (and I do) while someone else may never be able to tame the leaks with the same mask. My mask will "float" on my face. I don't use the ramp feature. When I fire up my machine... the mask will slightly "lift" from my face. If it doesn't, I know I have it too tight. After you get accustomed to a mask, you will be able to tell immediately how tight the mask straps should be as soon as you put the mask on. Though less than 24 l/min is acceptable on the Resmed machine, I find that I feel much better during the day with a zero reading than I do with very small leak rates. Thats me though.

Sheriff

[jencat824]

Welcome to the Forum & Congratulations on your success!

Most newbies would LOVE to have the experience you are having. My hubby took to CPAP like a duck to water too, but even he didn't feel as good as you do. Leaks are tricky thinks, but Sheriff is right in his advice. I don't wear a full face mask, but my hubby does, alsthough he has only been on CPAP since late Dec 2012. I've been on CPAP since 2000 and I had more of the initial problems you usually see, my problem was getting the right mask, once I did that, things were fine. Sounds like you found the right mask on the first try, rare, but that does happen, seems to happen more with the Full Face mask when someone has a good fit AND knows not to overtighten the straps. You are doing GREAT!

Again, welcome & congrats!
Jen

[Tallnap]

Greetings! I too am new-ish to the site. I am learning a lot. I have a question: I have my first head cold since using CPAP. It's been a couple days with sore throat and stuffy nose. Should I clean my mask and hose etc. every day I am sick? Or wait til I'm well, like throwing out a toothbrush after having a cold. Suggestions?

[chunkyfrog]

When you have a cold, you are developing immunity to the particular virus responsible;
so if you didn't clean anything, it would be a "wash"--but disgusting!
Clean whatever and however makes you comfortable.
I insist on unscented products, because most of the fragrances are irritating to my tender nose.
Sneezing tends to mess with my mask.

[ize]

I have not sneezed in my mask, I think my eyes would pop out... It has a quick release, but im not quick with it at all yet.

Im seeing posts about software and data on these machines, what gives normal info? like your doing good, or your mask falls off at 3am.. rather then a bunch of letters and numbers AHI 99 BPI 33 OSD 12
or what is used most here?

[Muddpa]

Welcome to the hose nose club. Lots of good stuff here. Keep your mask clean (how much is too much, only you can answer that). I have a heated hose wash one a week with baby shampoo ( no tears ). Wash my face most nights. I have a beard with full face mask. No major leaks. Wash filter weekly. Higher pressure sleeping on side than back. Sent from baby shampoo not bad.

Good luck and keep reading.