Have a problem.

[famgeo]

Woke up this morning with a black ring around my nose. My little filter on my mask was completely black too. Has anybody else had this happen and if so what is the problem? I use a Goodnight 420 with a heated humidifier. I hope the machine can be fixed. It is still working and there was only the black stuff on my nose and filter. Any help would be appreciated.

[plr66]

Wow. Well this is a pretty stunning post, famgeo! Can you first explain what you mean by a
little filter" on your mask? Not familiar with any mask having one. Can you also give a little more info about your settings, and your setup? What kind of balck ring was on your face and filter? What about the filter on the back of your machine? Washable?

[DreamOn]

Woke up this morning with a black ring around my nose. My little filter on my mask was completely black too. Has anybody else had this happen and if so what is the problem? I use a Goodnight 420 with a heated humidifier. I hope the machine can be fixed. It is still working and there was only the black stuff on my nose and filter. Any help would be appreciated.

I've never heard of that problem, famgeo. I hope someone comes along that can help with this! How long have you had the machine? You may want to check the machine's filter, to see if that is also black. Which mask do you use? How long since you've disinfected your mask? And the humidifier too. I'm wondering if it could be mold, which would not be good -- especially if it's black!

~ DreamOn

[famgeo]

Well.......I use the Goodknight 420 with the heated humidifier and use this mask....https://www.cpap.com/viewImage.php?PNum ... -front.jpg. Guess it really isn't a filter on the mask because it doesn't filter any air comming into the mask itself. The filter on the back of the machine is disposable. This is my machine https://www.cpap.com/cpap-machine/purit ... -cpap.html. Machine is set at 14 and have never had a problem like this (using a CPAP for approx. 6 years). Glad I have another machine I can use.

[DreamOn]

Well.......I use the Goodknight 420 with the heated humidifier and use this mask....https://www.cpap.com/viewImage.php?PNum ... -front.jpg. Guess it really isn't a filter on the mask because it doesn't filter any air comming into the mask itself. The filter on the back of the machine is disposable. This is my machine https://www.cpap.com/cpap-machine/purit ... -cpap.html. Machine is set at 14 and have never had a problem like this (using a CPAP for approx. 6 years). Glad I have another machine I can use.

Okay then, I assume that you're talking about the carbon dioxide vent on the mask, where air is expelled while you're using the CPAP.

If you haven't already, check to make sure that the machine's air filter is clean. Make sure you don't have black mold in your bedroom (or anywhere else).

I have no idea what may be going on, but it may be a good idea to wash everything well in warm, soapy water and then disinfect everything in vinegar/water solution (three parts water to one part white vinegar) -- mask, tubing, humidifier -- just in case it is mold. Let it all soak for a half-hour or so and rinse well. You may want to use only distilled water in the humidifier to reduce the chance of contamination.

The only other thing I can think of is that the machine itself may have malfunctioned (overheated), or the humidifier tank ran dry. Make sure you have good air circulation around the machine, so it can draw in fresh air freely. Hopefully, someone else will come along who knows more. Please let us know what you find out! I'm glad you do have a backup machine.

~ DreamOn

[famgeo]

I thought the same things. I clean with vinegar at least once a week and more if I think I need to. It is definitely not mold. It is more like soot but I never smelled anything and nothing seemed overheated. The machine is approx. 2 years old but I do travel a lot and am kind of thinking with all the travel it might have gotten a bad bump or something and did something internally.

[plr66]

Since apparently this was an event out of the blue, and has not "built up" over time, I am more inclined to believe that this is not mold, but possibly a rubber part in the inside of the machine which has perhaps overheated and/or disintegrated. Either way, I would recommend that you not use this machine again until you call a DME on their 24 hour line (there should be an answering service) to get a machine to use while you get yours professionally checked. You do not want to chance breathing whatever that is into your lungs for another minute, much less all night. Someone here may be able to walk you through safely taking apart the outer box of the cpap to check inside, but you would still want to borrow a good machine right away, in any case, until you get to the bottom of this being diagnosed and absolutely fixed. Oh yes--UNPLUG that cpap right away.

[famgeo]

Thanks for all the quick replys. I will be using my other CPAP and will buy a new one for travel. Thanks again for the help.

[DreamOn]

Since apparently this was an event out of the blue, and has not "built up" over time, I am more inclined to believe that this is not mold, but possibly a rubber part in the inside of the machine which has perhaps overheated and/or disintegrated.

This does seem like the most likely explanation if it isn't mold. I had thought of rubber disintegration within the machine, but would think there would've been a foul odor. But if you'd been breathing that most of the night, I suppose you would be somewhat desensitized to any odd smell.

I hope you're feeling okay today, famgeo! It'll be interesting to see if anyone else reports this has happened to them.

~ DreamOn

[plr66]

So very glad to hear that you have a spare machine to use, famgeo. Whew!
Ozzij has been using (and helping some of the rest of us with) Puritan Bennett GoodKnight machines for a good while. Maybe she can chime in with any recall of such an experience.

[cv66er]

Is it kind of crusty? You may have had a nosebleed. The blood could have dried black where air was blowing.

[Lossos]

I woke up the past two days with black soot on my nose and filter. Is this a known problem, and known solution? I have a Philips Respironics CPAP Remstar PR PRO + C-FLEX, purchased 3/23/2010.

[OutaSync]

Is it possible that your black disposeable filter is disintegrating? They can be washed but are supposed to be replaced every 6 months.