I think my CPAP is making me sick

[Charlie_Boy]

Using a Respironics ASV Advanced machine. It has an attached humidifier and while I stopped using that a year ago, it is still attached. Over the past 3-4 months I have had nasal issues - sneezing, runny nose, a lot of mucus in the morning and often later in the day. I think the machine has been causing it. So, how do folks clean these machines?

I soak the tubing and pillow every few days in soapy water but I wonder if there is a better way. How are the different cleaners like Respify CPAP Cleaner and Sanitize, SoClean, etc? Do any of these work?

[jnk...]

CPAP makes you well, not sick.

No sanitizing machine actually cleans your CPAP. Those machines do about as much as a pet rock would do. Maybe less.

Follow manufacturers' instructions, and you'll be fine.

Ignore the scare tactics of the TV-commercial rip off artists who want you to believe you need a machine.

If you have developed allergies, you may need to get them treated.

[Julie]

Or you may need a lower (if any at all) humidifier setting if local conditions are humid enough.

[LSAT]

Or you may need a lower (if any at all) humidifier setting if local conditions are humid enough.

He said he was not using the humidifier

[chunkyfrog]

Maybe it's time to try a bit of humidity.
Your symptoms are the same as mine when my tank runs dry.
Stuff changes over time--we adjust when it does.

[ChicagoGranny]

How are the different cleaners like Respify CPAP Cleaner and Sanitize, SoClean, etc? Do any of these work?

No.

Maybe it's time to try a bit of humidity.
Your symptoms are the same as mine when my tank runs dry.
Stuff changes over time--we adjust when it does.

Yup. Experiment to find the best level for yourself. It may change as seasons change.

[Jay Aitchsee]

I soak the tubing and pillow every few days in soapy water but I wonder if there is a better way

I think a better way might be don't. Many of us never wash the tubing. It is unlikely that in normal use it will get dirty. Remember, air is always flowing out from the machine, through the tubing, into you. No air flows from you through the tubing back to the machine.

By washing the tubing, you could be introducing contaminants. Certainly, it is very hard to properly rinse and dry the tubing after washing.

My bet would be on allergies, rather than something from the machine.

My two cents.

Edit: In re-reading your post, I think you were probably talking about the "tube" that attaches to the mask and my comments above were in reference to the 'hose" that attaches to the machine. With that in mind, many people probably wash their pillows and tubing as you do, every few days, or so, while I wash my pillows, "once in a while" and the tubing "every so often".

I'm still betting on allergies.

[chunkyfrog]

Cleanliness is not always what it's cracked up to be.
When unnecessary, it wears out stuff and wastes water, etc.
OCD is a DISEASE.
"Madison Avenue" is the carrier, infecting scores of people for profit.

[palerider]

Using a Respironics ASV Advanced machine. It has an attached humidifier and while I stopped using that a year ago, it is still attached. Over the past 3-4 months I have had nasal issues - sneezing, runny nose, a lot of mucus in the morning and often later in the day. I think the machine has been causing it.

Highly unlikely.

So, how do folks clean these machines?

Soap and water, just like the manual says.

I soak the tubing and pillow every few days in soapy water but I wonder if there is a better way. How are the different cleaners like Respify CPAP Cleaner and Sanitize, SoClean, etc? Do any of these work?

None of the 'ozone' ones clean anything, and some people have said they do more harm to the masks and hoses than they do good.

Now, i have recently seen someone selling a hugely overpriced ultrasonic cleaner... and that could very well actually clean a mask, but do yourself a favor, and get a 70$ one from harbor freight instead of the 200$ 'cpap' version.

[palerider]

Or you may need a lower (if any at all) humidifier setting if local conditions are humid enough.

Since he's not using the humidifier, he may need MORE humidity.

[PaulKTF]

Yeah, try distilled water in the water chamber, cranking up the humidity setting, and using a heated hose (for comfort).

[kismet210]

Hi there,

My own experience is that if my humidifier runs dry in the night I will wake up with a stuffy nose, sore throat. All the symptoms of of a cold or allergies.
I would try using the humidifier again.

[palerider]

Yeah, try distilled water in the water chamber, cranking up the humidity setting, and using a heated hose (for comfort).

Or, just tap water.

[chunkyfrog]

Rinse-schminse!
I just pick up a tissue, and blow my nose.
One side at a time works best.
Once the machine starts pushing nice, moist air into my snoot--happy, happy.

[Sleepy tech 1235]

I am a sleep technologist. We always suggest you use heated humidity with your machine it does help. ASV is a hard treatment and can build pressure. Sinus spray yes is good but if you over use it then it can have an opposite effect. I have seen patients were fluid builds up behind the ears for using to much sinus sprays.