First off, thank you to all of you, even though I'm new here. I'd been putting off my CPAP titration for over a year because when I tried on the headgear after my first study, it terrified me. But I finally got to a point where I was so tired that I knew I was going to have to do it, and while I waited for my appointment to arrive, I found this site. What a relief it was to know there were people I could talk to, and post after post I could read to see what everyone else was going through. I don't think I would have made it to that appointment without having found you!
Now, to the question. I've been using my Respironics Remstar Pro 2 with C-Flex and the heated humidifer for about a week now. For what it's worth, I'm using a Profile Lite Gel Mask. Is there any way to make the air feel less stale?
I've completely turned off the heating element in the humidifier, then thought maybe my problem was that it wasn't on, so tried both a 1 and a 2 setting. My hose is clean, I clean my mask regularly, and I always put fresh, cool filtered water in the humidifier each night. But the air - it's like I can smell it for an hour after I get up, just this unpleasant and vaguely stale/stodgy smell. If I take the mask off at night, the air in the room seems so much cleaner and fresher.
Obviously, I'm still in the adjustment period - and still sleepy - but I am noticing that I can sleep longer periods of time in the mask (and that I'm not thrilled with the mask itself - considering the Comfort Lite since I already tried and rejected Nasal Aire during my titration). Just wish I could do something about the air quality.
Suggestions?
Stale Air?
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Respironics said that they are putting more insulation in the Respironics Auto w/cflex to make it quieter. Not sure if they are also doing that with your machine. Are you sure it's not a chemical smell?
In order to remove smells, put the whole unit under a blanket including the hose and the mask. Check it periodically because it will shut itself off. Preferably do this in a room you are not using.
Don't forget to check the filters - there are 2 - a white one (temporary) & a black one (permanent). Wash the black one once a week in soapy water (like Ivory or Dreft mixed with water). You can sometimes knock the dirt off of the white one but do not wash. Replace when it gets dirty. If you are under Medicare, you are allowed 1 white filter per month & 1 black one every 6 months.
I would also call Respironics and let them know about your problem and see what they suggest. They said they run their machines for a couple of hours to get rid of odors. I told them they need to run them for a longer period of time. If enough of us complain, perhaps they will do so.
In order to remove smells, put the whole unit under a blanket including the hose and the mask. Check it periodically because it will shut itself off. Preferably do this in a room you are not using.
Don't forget to check the filters - there are 2 - a white one (temporary) & a black one (permanent). Wash the black one once a week in soapy water (like Ivory or Dreft mixed with water). You can sometimes knock the dirt off of the white one but do not wash. Replace when it gets dirty. If you are under Medicare, you are allowed 1 white filter per month & 1 black one every 6 months.
I would also call Respironics and let them know about your problem and see what they suggest. They said they run their machines for a couple of hours to get rid of odors. I told them they need to run them for a longer period of time. If enough of us complain, perhaps they will do so.
I had that problem, and when I paid attention to it, it wasn't stale air at all: After a certain period, during my first week or so on the machine, I was finding that I was just stopping breathing. I believe these were "central apneas", but suddenly I'd find I had to breathe through my mouth (around the machine) because it just felt like I wasn't getting much through my nose.
It seems to me CFLEX helped a bit, as did having a Full Face mask for when my nose was too clogged.
And be aware, the heated humidifier (for me, anyway) is a boon when wearing a nasal mask, and absolutely stifling when wearing a full face mask.
Good luck!
Liam, still giving advice to those doing better than he did.
It seems to me CFLEX helped a bit, as did having a Full Face mask for when my nose was too clogged.
And be aware, the heated humidifier (for me, anyway) is a boon when wearing a nasal mask, and absolutely stifling when wearing a full face mask.
Good luck!
Liam, still giving advice to those doing better than he did.
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| Machine | Mask | |
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The filter, now there's a thought! That's something I hadn't fiddled with yet, and it would make a lot of sense that it could change how the room air smells seeing as how the room air goes through it! It is a brand new machine, so maybe that's the case as well - I suppose you could say the smell is a chemical smell, just not particularly pronounced.
Thanks, everyone, for such a quick response. And, Liam? I sent your blog link to my husband so he could read your Sleep Study Trilogy. It was a riot!
Tina
Thanks, everyone, for such a quick response. And, Liam? I sent your blog link to my husband so he could read your Sleep Study Trilogy. It was a riot!
Tina
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WillSucceed
- Posts: 1031
- Joined: Sun Nov 07, 2004 7:52 am
- Location: Toronto, Ontario
Odor
You did not mention whether or not your REm
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WillSucceed
- Posts: 1031
- Joined: Sun Nov 07, 2004 7:52 am
- Location: Toronto, Ontario
Oror
Sorry about that last post --> hit the wrong button.
So, is your RemStar new or is it a loaner that has been loaned out to other users?
If it is a loaner, or has been stored in a stinky/smokey environment, it could have picked up some stale smell. Also, changing the filter is a good idea. Keeping the space around the unit really clean (so that it is not sucking in crap) is a good idea.
If the unit is brand new, I'd be talking to Respironics about it.
I change filters regularly and dump/rinse/air dry the humidifier chamber daily. I give it, and the hose, a soapy wash weekly. I sometimes smell a bit of a stale smell in the morning when I wake up AFTER I take the mask (Swift) off. I can't figure it out, but it does not bother me that much so I just keep going.
So, is your RemStar new or is it a loaner that has been loaned out to other users?
If it is a loaner, or has been stored in a stinky/smokey environment, it could have picked up some stale smell. Also, changing the filter is a good idea. Keeping the space around the unit really clean (so that it is not sucking in crap) is a good idea.
If the unit is brand new, I'd be talking to Respironics about it.
I change filters regularly and dump/rinse/air dry the humidifier chamber daily. I give it, and the hose, a soapy wash weekly. I sometimes smell a bit of a stale smell in the morning when I wake up AFTER I take the mask (Swift) off. I can't figure it out, but it does not bother me that much so I just keep going.
There, thanks for bringing up a topic I thought was unique to me.....in the morning, for about an hour, my nose detects a "smoky" odor. For a couple of months, I thought it was just my nose (and the fact that I smoke, but not in the house or around my APAP AT ALL!). My APAP has always had that result in the morning, ever since I started on it. I had a rental for a month or so from a DME, and replaced that one with a brand new one ordered online. Both of them resulted in the smokey smell.
I've just put it down to "one of those things".....and that maybe that's the way things really DO smell and since starting on APAP, my schnozz is finally working properly. For me, it's a very small thing.....not even an annoyance, compared to the benefits I've felt since starting on the therapy.
Anyway, it's nice to know I'm not alone in smelling this! I'm really NOT going crazy (course, for me, it's a REAL short trip!! )
This therapy WORKS!!
I've just put it down to "one of those things".....and that maybe that's the way things really DO smell and since starting on APAP, my schnozz is finally working properly. For me, it's a very small thing.....not even an annoyance, compared to the benefits I've felt since starting on the therapy.
Anyway, it's nice to know I'm not alone in smelling this! I'm really NOT going crazy (course, for me, it's a REAL short trip!! )
This therapy WORKS!!
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| Mask: Ultra Mirage™ Full Face CPAP Mask with Headgear |
| Additional Comments: APAP, 8-14 cm H2O. |
This therapy WORKS!!!
WillSucceed:
I'm pretty sure it's a new one because they were unwrapping it when they demo'd it to me - would really stink if they were making it look new when it really wasn't. It certainly looks new, still had the "Colorforms" like plastic peel off over the digital display.
TXKajun:
Hooray, we can smell strange things together Going crazy is nothing but a day trip for me!
Tina
I'm pretty sure it's a new one because they were unwrapping it when they demo'd it to me - would really stink if they were making it look new when it really wasn't. It certainly looks new, still had the "Colorforms" like plastic peel off over the digital display.
TXKajun:
Hooray, we can smell strange things together Going crazy is nothing but a day trip for me!
Tina
Yeah, I noticed that removing the mask after using it for several hours or all night, things smelled a bit off to me as well. I think it's probably just the result of having been breathing filtered air all night, and now suddenly I was smelling the dust and other filtered particulate in the air again.
It's like most smells. The people who live in Hershey PA report that in a relatively short period of time, they no longer smell the chocolate smell in the air, even though visistors report that it permeates every area of the city. My guess would be that a Hershey resident on a CPAP with a hepa filter would probably wake and suddenly smell the chocolate again.
(Put another way, what you're smelling is probably what your house smells like to visitors, you just don't normally smell it because you're so used to it).
That's my theory, anyway.
Liam, theoretical scientist, practical fool.
It's like most smells. The people who live in Hershey PA report that in a relatively short period of time, they no longer smell the chocolate smell in the air, even though visistors report that it permeates every area of the city. My guess would be that a Hershey resident on a CPAP with a hepa filter would probably wake and suddenly smell the chocolate again.
(Put another way, what you're smelling is probably what your house smells like to visitors, you just don't normally smell it because you're so used to it).
That's my theory, anyway.
Liam, theoretical scientist, practical fool.
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| Machine | Mask | |
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There,
I would suggest you try distilled water in your humidifier, and see if that changes anything. Filtered water is not as good as distilled for a humidifier.
Tom
I would suggest you try distilled water in your humidifier, and see if that changes anything. Filtered water is not as good as distilled for a humidifier.
Tom
It was the filter!
I took your advice and checked it out, and one sniff is all it took to confirm that it was the source of the "stale air" smell I get through my hose. I gave it a thorough rinsing, twice, and things were much better last night.
I'll try the distilled water, too.
Thanks again,
Tina
I took your advice and checked it out, and one sniff is all it took to confirm that it was the source of the "stale air" smell I get through my hose. I gave it a thorough rinsing, twice, and things were much better last night.
I'll try the distilled water, too.
Thanks again,
Tina
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IWannaSleep
- Posts: 245
- Joined: Sun Apr 10, 2005 1:34 am
- Location: Florida
- Contact:
I used my new remstar auto w/cflex for the first time last night. When I first tested it I noticed that new plastic smell that all new plastic products seem to have. Probably some out-gassing from the new plastic, a similar effect you get in a new car. The odor was not overly offensive and i quickly adjusted and totally forgot about it. Since yours is also new I suspect you're getting some of this too. It should fade with time.
9 cm h2o
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