Good accessories to have???

[DeeMax45]

I see the doctor tomorrow for the results of the titration study. I would imagine that I will be meeting with the respiratory therapy people to get the machine and mask sometime this week. I'm not sure what kind of supplies/accessories I should buy for cleaning and maintaining the equipment. I did find this item that looks like it would be a good thing to have <http://tinyurl.com/aozumkb>. Does anybody use this brush or is there something better?

[chunkyfrog]

I bought this brush, but it only works on standard size tubing:
https://www.cpap.com/productpage/monaco ... igodigital
I now use it for dust bunnies under the fridge.

[salton]

Tie a small cleaning rag onto a string and pull it through the hose.

[chunkyfrog]

Tie a fishing weight to the other end of the string and drop that end through the tubing.

[Sheriff Buford]

Use cpap wipes to wipe down the mask every morning. You can use baby wipes, but be sure it doesn't have alcohol (breaks down the mask plastic) or aloe (leaves a film). By a cheap toothbrush, some baby shampoo and a large plastic tub. Once a week, scrub the mask with the toothbrush and soak the mask for a few hours in the baby shampoo / water solution. Rinse real well. Also, consider a hose buddy or similar hose hanger. Getting used to cpap therapy is enough trouble without having a hose draped across you all night. If you can eliminate it... then why wouldn't you? Work all your issues here. Best of luck...

Sheriff

[DeeMax45]

I bought this brush, but it only works on standard size tubing:
https://www.cpap.com/productpage/monaco ... igodigital
I now use it for dust bunnies under the fridge.

I didn't realize that the tubing came in different sizes. Guess I'd best wait until I see what size I end up with. Thanks for the response.

Dee in FL

[quietmorning]

The first year is an explosion of trying stuff out - then you get luvs.

Seriously, though - your routine is probably going to differ quite a bit from everyone's on the planet, so you may try some things that work well, other things won't, other things will be a waste of money - and some things you'll stock up on to make SURE you have them.

In my stash, some of the things I will always keep in there, even though I don't use most of the time are:

(plumbers) Teflon tape (to wrap around tubing that gets loose to keep it from leaking)
Painter's tape (to tape mouth if I start sleeping with my mouth open)
Hose Cozy
Short Hose Cozy (Currently I use one big one that covers them both since I have a heated tube)
Barrel Cozy
Spare humidifier chamber
Spare mask with short hose
LOTS of spare nasal pillows
back up nasal gel and spray
back up mask wipes
back up hose
back up heated hose
2 back up data cards (got these from my dme)
Vicks Soothing Vapors Replacement Pads (to use when I have a cold)
Zeo headbands / sensors (12)
Zeo receiver
Zeo power cord
Zeo data cards and card readers (2ea)
Extra throw away filters
Extra washable filters
Plastic storage bin


Things I have that I use all the time or keep close by that are very helpful:
UPS
Ion Battery
Oximeter with data storage
Zeo
Hose and short hose covers (3)
Sleep hats
nasal gel and spray
Ivory dish liquid
Bent coat metal hanger (holds heated hose when I wash it)
Control II
Filters (throw away and washable)
The perfect pillow
CPAP Mask wipes (to wipe down mask daily)
Neutrogena Sensitive Skin wipes (to wipe down hoses daily)
A long wooden dowel to push the Wipes through the long and short hose.
Cpap scrub brush to wash my tubes once a week.
Storage (I use a three drawer plastic storage bin with wheels)
Wall hooks to hang my hose, mask and cpap scrub brush.
Scent stuff and Vicks pads for colds and irritable nights.
Cpap mask and hose dryer (not a needed accessory for most)

I hope that's it.

And believe it or not, I've downsized. **laughing**

[DeeMax45]

[quote="quietmorning"]The first year is an explosion of trying stuff out - then you get luvs.

Seriously, though - your routine is probably going to differ quite a bit from everyone's on the planet, so you may try some things that work well, other things won't, other things will be a waste of money - and some things you'll stock up on to make SURE you have them.

<snip>................

Oh my goodness!! That's a LOT of stuff!

I'll have to determine what I'll want to keep on hand and get it all organized fairly quickly since we're supposed to be leaving in about 6 weeks for our annual 6-month long motorhome trip around the country.

Thanks so much for providing me with such a comprehensive listing of possible supplies. I realize that yours has been tailored to meet you particular needs, but it certainly gives me a starting point.

Dee in FL

[DeeMax45]

Tie a fishing weight to the other end of the string and drop that end through the tubing.

Thanks for the idea of using a cleaning rag and string/fishing weight combo. I'm going to cut a strip off of the length of a fairly heavy terry-cloth towel and serge the edges. I can make it as long as I want and then just pull it back and forth thru the tube a couple of times.

Dee in FL

[quietmorning]

The first year is an explosion of trying stuff out - then you get luvs.

Seriously, though - your routine is probably going to differ quite a bit from everyone's on the planet, so you may try some things that work well, other things won't, other things will be a waste of money - and some things you'll stock up on to make SURE you have them.

<snip>................

Oh my goodness!! That's a LOT of stuff!

I'll have to determine what I'll want to keep on hand and get it all organized fairly quickly since we're supposed to be leaving in about 6 weeks for our annual 6-month long motorhome trip around the country.

Thanks so much for providing me with such a comprehensive listing of possible supplies. I realize that yours has been tailored to meet you particular needs, but it certainly gives me a starting point.

Dee in FL

You're welcome! As I said, this was a year in the making - and people differ. When I was traveling, I took the bare necessity - wipes, extra nasal pillows, and my machine and battery. The first year was different from month to month too, with season changes and such. What I need in the winter is very different from what I need to have around in the summer. Keep necessities or problems in the back of your mind - you'll come across problem solving solutions through out the year. By the time you are in the same place the next year, you'll know what type of action and accessories you need to make changes with.

Best wishes!

[LSAT]

Personally...Don't waste your money on any these items until you get your equipment and start to use it.... after a week or so you will see what you need. Even cleaning...many of us do virtually nothing. The hose only has distilled water vapor in it and if you use distilled water, your hose and humidifier will stay very clean. The only item I would suggest is CPAP wipes or Baby wipes to clean your mask......This is my personal opinion after 4+ years of using CPAP.

[Debijo]

I always keep an extra gallon of distilled water. Sounds unbelievable, but the day I got my Cpap, both Walmart and Walgreens were out of distilled water! Also, I got a soft fleece blanket to make a hose cozy with and have used it for mask strap covers and padding. I am jealous of your 6 month rv trip, enjoy!

[cosmo]

A Hozer hose holder is a good item to have. The price is on par with other holders.


http://www.patientsleepsupplies.com/The-Hozer.html

[Catalytic]

I ordered a rolling IV stand off eBay ($35) to use for hose management. We're moving in a few months, so the husband doesn't want to hang anything off the wall, and I don't sleep in a bed, so the hose management things that rely on mattress/boxspring won't work for me. I also think the IV stand will be a bit more portable than some of the other hose solutions I looked at, which will come in handy in our travel trailer, and in hotels.

[DreamStalker]

Best bang for your accessory buck is a PapCap regardless of what type of mask you use, the PapCap provides a very stable platform for the headgear and keeps your jaw from slacking out of position.

All the other stuff, you can make yourself with trips to Home Depot, etc. and as needed ... save your money unless you're trying to sustain the world economy like cosmo does.