Nasal Pillow Cleaning

[AndrewB]

I've been using my Resmed S9 with nasal pillows for about a month now and quite like it - although it's the first machine I've ever tried.

My AHI during the sleep study was in the mid 70's (checks to see if still living again) and with the machine at it's current pressure setting of 8 have occasional good days where that goes down under 40. I'm going for another study WITH the machine next week and hope that they can adjust things so that that number goes even lower.

My question - somewhat unrelated to the above notes but I thought I'd introduce myself - is to do with cleaning products.

My supplier here in Canada provided me with Citrus II wipes to use with the nasal pillows and cautioned me to not use anything that contains alchohol, oils or fragrance. I am completely unable to find any alternative products. I've read the labels on every brand of household or baby wipe out there and they all have something that disqualifies them. The wipes work well for me - when I get up, I take the mask into the bathroom, wipe it down and hang it up and I'm done in moments.

Any suggestions?

Thanks.

[echo]

Instead of wipes you might try: mild dish detergent or Dr. Bronner's soap. Others might have suggestions on wipes you can use.

If your AHI is still in the 40s sounds like your pressure support isn't high enough. If you regularly sleep on your back, that can make a difference too. Back sleeping makes apnea's more likely (while good for a sleep study, bad at home).

Welcome the Forum and good luck at your titration study! Keep us posted.

[Janknitz]

You don't say what mask you are using, but I don't think you can get away with just wiping down a nasal pillow on the outside because it's got a lot of contact with your nose and nasal mucosa. I really think you have to wash the nasal pillows.

I squirt a little 7th Generation dish soap (expensive at Whole Foods, reasonable at Target) into my palm, and then wash and rinse my pillows with warm water. The 7th Generation stuff is fragrance and color free--so if any residue is left behind I'm not breathing it in. I'm very sensitive to fragrances in particular, so this stuff works well for me, and a standard-sized bottle of dish soap is going to last me a LONG time!

I towel the pillows dry with a microfiber cloth and leave them upside down to drain and air dry. I wash the rest of the masks plastic parts once a week, and don't bother washing the headgear unless it gets grungy.

[patdart]

I just use a vinegar and water and it seems to work fine for me.

Good luck. Tonight's gonna be the first for me on my NEW S9 Elite.

[manas]

ResMed's web site has these cleaning instructions:
http://www.resmed.com/us/service_and_su ... c=patients

The video shows how they recommend you fit and wash your FX (assuming your nasal pillow is FX), so best to try it out first:
http://www.resmed.com/us/products/swift ... s&sec=true

[Janknitz]

I just use a vinegar and water and it seems to work fine for me.

I was doing that, too, until someone pointed out to me that Resmed's brochure warns not to use vinegar on the pillows--I guess it can degrade the material, which seems somewhat delicate to begin with. That is also the reason that I don't invert my inner pillows to dry them (but I do cop to getting in between the pillows with a Q-tip occasionally to chase a stubborn drop of water).

[patdart]

OOPS! Still they are in fine shape after a month and I've been shipped two more.

Hmmm,

I just use a vinegar and water and it seems to work fine for me.

I was doing that, too, until someone pointed out to me that Resmed's brochure warns not to use vinegar on the pillows--I guess it can degrade the material, which seems somewhat delicate to begin with. That is also the reason that I don't invert my inner pillows to dry them (but I do cop to getting in between the pillows with a Q-tip occasionally to chase a stubborn drop of water).

[oscar98]

I've been using baby wipes on my pillows. Is there a reason I should not be using them? This is what the RT from the DME said to do (they are alcohol free baby wipes but not fragrance free)

[AndrewB]

Wow - so many prompt responses.

I have the ResMed Swift FX pillows. The lady (a registered nurse working for the distributor) who sold them to me - and sold me the wipes said to wipe the mask and pillows down daily and wash them once a week in alcohol/vinegar/fragrance/lotion free soap.

My routine is that in the morning when I get up I remove the hose from the pillows, wipe down the inside, run the wipe out from the inside of the pillows out each outlet hole and then wipe down the outside of the pillows and the silicone (I think that's what it is) strap. I then wipe the outside and inside of the top of the hose, and hang everything up to dry. When I come back from the shower I dump out the humidifier reservior and leave it to dry.

Once a week I put a couple of drops of liquid hand soap in the hose and run hot water through it, and do the same to the mask.

I agree, all the instructions I see on-line suggest washing but the instructions I was given said to wipe - if only I was awake enough to understand ....

[imtired]

i use the cirtis I wipes, only because i drive truck and cant wash them in the sink every day. looking at the excessive price differance, i need another trip into the states to buy some more. my dme charges $40 for them

[AndrewB]

After searching all over the place for weeks - bothering pharmacists and reading labels, I found that Shoppers carried the Citrus II wipes that I was given with the mask and are located around the corner from work.

Go figure.

[Nord]

I've been using my Resmed S9 with nasal pillows for about a month now and quite like it - although it's the first machine I've ever tried.

My AHI during the sleep study was in the mid 70's (checks to see if still living again) and with the machine at it's current pressure setting of 8 have occasional good days where that goes down under 40. I'm going for another study WITH the machine next week and hope that they can adjust things so that that number goes even lower.

My question - somewhat unrelated to the above notes but I thought I'd introduce myself - is to do with cleaning products.

My supplier here in Canada provided me with Citrus II wipes to use with the nasal pillows and cautioned me to not use anything that contains alchohol, oils or fragrance. I am completely unable to find any alternative products. I've read the labels on every brand of household or baby wipe out there and they all have something that disqualifies them. The wipes work well for me - when I get up, I take the mask into the bathroom, wipe it down and hang it up and I'm done in moments.

Any suggestions?

Thanks.

Hi Andrew

Mid 40's AHI is pretty high... while receiving CPAP therapy.
Since you already have a machine from your Dr. and likely had a half and half study... they already titrated you somewhat.
Are you sure that the pressure is set for that ??
Maybe you mean that the AHI was 40's before CPAP used ??? AHI at 5.0 or less is considered "treated"...

I am also from the GTA.

Nord

[DreamOn]

Andrew, I agree with Nord that an AHI of 40 while on CPAP therapy is very high. They should be able to learn more during your sleep study with the machine this week, but several possible explanations for the poor results come to mind immediately: your pressure may not be set properly (8 is quite low), you're experiencing massive air leaks from your mask, and/or you're losing therapy air from your mouth. Do you know if you had a large number of central apneas during your sleep study? That could be something to look into.

Be sure to get complete copies of your sleep studies, so you can learn more about your particular situation. Please let us know if we can answer any questions about your study results or help you as you adjust to therapy. Best wishes to you!

[AndrewB]

Thanks for the comments - yes - the 40s are when I'm under the hose. The best I've had was around 28 and I've had occasional 60s. During my first study in December it was in the 70's. "Of course" due to waiting lists etc I didn't actually get my diagnosis until April. The doctor at that time said that pretty much all of the apneas were obstructive. Since I have a neck the size of a small child's waist that's not too surprising.

I was back last night for another study - this time wearing my mask. I know the tech fiddled the pressure but they're not allowed to tell me anything but he did mention that he suspected a leak at one point and came in to check. He did say that he would put my sheet on the top of the pile so hopefully I'll get a new prescription soon. I'm reluctant to self-diagnose but suspect that my pressure will be increased quite a bit. I actually slept relatively well during the study considering the unfamiliar environment and the fact that I was wired up like something out of a sci-fi movie.

AndrewB

[Redeye]

Re: cleaning... I use Johnson's Baby Shampoo in a sink of warm water for my pillows and humidifier every morning; it just takes 5 minutes. I just kind of shake stuff around and then rinse/place on a towel for the day.

Once a week, I do the above for the hose, mini-hose, washable filter, and headgear once a week. The only place/time I use vinegar is once a week with water in the humidifier and leave for 30 minutes, then rinse it out. For the hoses, I dunk them in the soapy water and then hold both ends and move it up and down till water comes out the other end. I'm trying to figure out how to not make a big mess! That's it. I thought about wipes but the requirements were too stringent to justify the high prices and looking around endlessly for the right kind. I also think they need to be unscented.

Thanks.

Redeye