Got My Cpap Machine and So Confused, Please Help!

[txdave42]

Hey guys,

Glad I found this forum because I am just so confused about the cpap device that I've had it for almost 2 weeks and haven't used it yet. I was diagnosed last month after two sleep studies with moderate sleep apnea. My doctor set me up on a Phillips Respironics Dreamstation. I had a 30 minute consult with the provider who showed me the device, but by the time I got home, I was completely confused. The manual hasn't been much help.

My main confusion has to do with the cleaning. Am I suppose to hand wash the water tank and tubing every morning? How do I clean the inside of the tubing though or get it dry? The manual says use a light detergent but the girl told me to use vingear so that just adds to my confusion. Also, how the heck do you make sure the inside of the tubing can completely dry? I also don't have a clue when to wash the mask part. I have just a nasal mask with the pillows. How careful should I be with this mask? Should I seal it up in a ziplock bag after use, or can I just leave it in the travel bag or on my table? This thing is so expensive that I don't want touch it until I know exactly what I'm doing.

With that said ,I did a mini test with it yesterday. I removed the humidifer portion and just plugged in the hose and tried to take a 30 minute nap. When the pressure ramped up to 14, I woke up pretty uncomfortable and felt a burning sensation up my nose. Is this normal? Also, since I can't breathe through my mouth with this device, how can I use it when my sinuses are all clogged up? I'm really afraid I won't be able to breathe with this cpap.

My last issue is that since my night stand is about a foot shorter than my bed, the hose droops down across my side which I don't like. Do I have to go buy a higher night stand? Also, I've always slept with a box fan blowing on me. Can I still do this with cpap? I would appreciate any help. I need to get started on this asap as my doctor's office is already calling to schedule a follow up visit.

[LSAT]

It would be helpful if you told us what machine (exact model) and what mask you are using. As far as cleaning you will find many thoughts. Personally if you use distilled water, you should be able to go AT LEAST a week or more without cleaning. Wipe your mask with a non alcoholic baby wipe each day. I personally wash my mask once a month with hand soap and I never wash my hose. Nothing goes through the hose but filtered air.I throw my mask in a drawer each AM.

[Julie]

Most people don't do the hose... waste of time.

Do nothing but wipe/dust the machine itself.

Use baby wipes and/or mild baby soap on the mask as often as you like - daily, weekly (at least wipes wkly) etc.

And if even the inner corners of the humidifier look clean (no pinkishness) you would only use a little vinegar and water, all depends on your water, how often you use the machine, etc. etc. Some places tell you to empty it daily, but unless you have very hard water and/or see problems, there's no need either - just a waste of it.

Keep your nightstand lower than your head because otherwise you could end up with 'rainout', when the hum. water can't drain back to the machine but ends up in the mask.

[garagelogician]

For cleaning my mask, hose and humidifier tank...I use a product called Mask Bright (you can buy it on Amazon or from http://www.MaskBright.com). It has a great orange scent and is easy to use. Just spray it on, let it sit a couple minutes, then rinse off and dry with a microfiber towel (you can buy value packs of them on Amazon for cheap). I rotate a clean microfiber towel out weekly, they really help you dry everything fast. For cleaning the fabric headgear, any gentle soap will do. Make sure you use distilled water in your humidifier, your nose and sinuses will thank you, and you won't get deposits in your tank/hose. My mask usually sits on the bathroom counter or on my nightstand during the day, nothing special needed other than keeping it out of direct sunlight.

Here is my cleaning schedule:
Daily: Spray silicone mask parts, rinse and dry with microfiber cloth. You may be able to get by with doing this every couple days, depending on how oily your skin is. Your skin oils break down the silicone over time, and if it is oily it is more likely to slip around and not seal as well.

Every other day: Humidifier tank. I know a lot of people around here are pretty lazy about this...but if I go more than a couple days without cleaning it...it gets a funky odor even though I use distilled water. It is warm, moist and dark in there. Perfect breeding ground for all kinds of microbes/bacteria/etc. Clean it regularly.

Weekly: Hose and fabric headgear. I do this on the weekend, first thing when I wake up. The hose is hard to get dry, so you will want to hang it over a door or your shower rod. Wring out the headgear well, then lay it flat to dry on a towel.

As for the machine height, it is good to have it below the level of your bed. Get a hose clip https://www.cpap.com/productpage/cpap-hose-clip.html and clip it to the corner of your fitted bed sheet. Try running the hose along the head of the bed and leave yourself some slack so you can move around. This will keep the hose from pulling down.

Regarding your mini-test: I wouldn't recommend using the machine without the humidifier. I've been on CPAP for over 10 years and I can't tolerate not having warm and humid air to keep me from drying out. Check this video out (this guy has a ton of helpful and informative videos and mask reviews) for more info: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ebOvRK6BPb0

There are a ton of different mask styles and varieties out there. You may have a trial and error period to find the right mask...but don't give up. For me personally, I can't handle a pillows type mask...too irritating on my nose. Nasal masks are best in my opinion, and I'm always able to use it even when I have a cold. If you can get your nose cleared out before bed, the pressure from the CPAP generally helps to keep to keep things open and clear.

Good luck and stick with it. Before you know it...you'll feel great and will look forward to putting on your mask every night and you won't be able to sleep without it.

[dvejr]

I rarely clean anything.
I also use nasal pillows, and I will give them a tiny bit of soap and water with a Q-tip right inside the "pillow" parts. Hoses I don't worry about.
The humidifier tank can get moldy if you don't clean it maybe once a week. Any "never-empty" container of water would get moldy.
No problem running most machines with an empty humidifier tank. Depending an a variety of factors, you may or may not need humidification.
I'm constantly surprised how little problems I've had when I have a cold. Laying on my back, with the hose stuffing air up my nostrils, any mucous stays inside my body. In fact, if I take a decongestant, the CPAP will seem to have dried up my sinuses by the time I wake up the next morning! Can't remember how many mornings I've gotten up and,, for a few happy minutes, thought "Hey, I'm over that cold!" Then gravity and reality take over and my nose starts running again....

[Thatgirl]

I wipe my mask down with a mask wipe about twice a week, and hand wash my humidifier tank once a week or so. I dust my machine when I dust my bedroom and wipe the exterior with a Lysol wipe if I'm in a deep cleaning sorta mood. I change the filter every other month, on the first- I have a reminder on my phone. I change the hose when I get a new one. I've cleaned my hose once, then decided never again. And there is no way to get the hose totally dry, those drops will just dissipate as you use the machine and are harmless- just rinse it well.