used CPAP unsanitary?

[authentic]

Hi all, I'm newly diagnosed with SEVERE OSA. My Dr. ordered a CPAP machine for me...my Inusrance deductable is 5,000.00 and the machine supplier is charging around 1,100.00 for the whole set up with "support". I have a friend that has a CPAP machine, mask and all. He's going to GIVE it to me. Another friend say's I need to be careful using anothers machine, mask etc. He hardly used it because he couldn't tolerate the mask. What should I do? Thanks~T

[islandboy5150]

As long as you make sure it's cleaned good, I don't think there's much to worry about. Disinfect the hardware and I can't see how any harm could be done.

[Pugsy]

Lots of people have purchased used machines. I wouldn't be afraid to if it was what I wanted. His mask might not suit you but you can always get your own. Even his mask could be cleaned sufficiently to use. Some people cringe at using a less than new mask but they are easily cleaned.

Free machine, you bettcha. You will need to educate yourself on what it is, what it does and how to do it. Doubt that DME will be overly helpful in that regard but it can be done.

[Jaylee]

The machine used at your sleep study was probably used hundreds of times by different people. Clean what you can and be happy.

[Cindy Lou Who]

authentic, Welcome to the forum.

Run....don't walk to your friends place and take him up on his very kind offer. Call him right now He's an angel. Get all the information you can from your friend, such as the material your friend was given with the machine (and mask) and when he got it so we have an idea how old it is.
Then come back here and let us know what machine it is. I'm sure people here can help you set it up once you give them that information. Hopefully you have a copy of your sleep study so you have that information too... like what you were titrated at...for example.

Wishing you great success!
Cindy

[wolewyck]

Great about the machine. I don't see how that could be a problem, if it's in good working order... as for the mask, even if you cleaned it really well, there is a good chance that it won't happen to work well for you. Masks are very individual things-- the model that your friend has may not be right for you at all (wrong size, wrong for your particular facial structure, not comfortable, leaky-- whatever). There are a *ton* of masks out there, and especially if you're getting into this without a good DME to provide some advice, for some people, it can take a lot of trial-and-error to find a mask that works. Some mask vendors allow customers to buy "insurance" on newly purchased masks. With this insurance, you can buy a mask but be allowed to return/exchange it, if it doesn't work out for you. Main point - don't give up just because of initial mask issues.

[TooGroggy]

take him up on his very kind offer

While it's nice that your friend is offering you the machine, perhaps the kinder thing to do is for you to help him keep his machine and use it for the treatment he should be getting.

[nanwilson]

A friend was also given a free cpap with 150 hours on it---but the previous owner was a smoker.
My friend took out the filters, cleaned everything he could with wipes, then set it up in his garage and let it run for four 6 hour goes. Once he did that he put in new filters and was away to the races - no cigarette smell and it was as clean as a whistle. I have bought a spare machine that was used for 275 hours, did the same routine and I'm all set, works great.
N

[KimberlyM]

Authentic, CPAP.com (the host of this forum) sells a product called Control III disinfectant. I bought some to use on my hoses and stuff should I get a cold or the flu. I haven't tried it yet. It is a hospital grade disinfectant used to clean CPAP equipment. For only $16, this might give you the piece of mind you are looking for:

https://www.cpap.com/productpage/Contro ... ner.html[b]

Control III is a concentrated disinfectant and germicide formulated for use on pre-cleaned surfaces and is used extensively in sleep labs and hospitals.

Now you can have the same cleaning power at home for your CPAP mask and parts or other respiratory equipment.

Control III kills a broad-range of pathogens such as many gram positive or gram negative bacteria, AIDS Virus (HIV-1), fungi, and other micro-organisms such as Pseudomonas, Influenza A2 Virus, Staphylococcus, Salmonella Choleraesuis, E. Coli, and Herpes virus, in just 10 minutes.

The benzyl ammonium chloride blend found in Control III is an effective disinfectant against biological agents such as hepatitis, HIV, and Influenza. Maril Products is pursuing EPA approval for their label to include Control III as an active agent against H1N1 (Swine Flu Virus). Currently, the EPA will allow Maril to claim effectiveness against ALL influenza A viruses, including H1N1 and a formal notification of acceptance is expected before 2010.

Using the Non-Critical Disinfection solution (1 ounce per gallon of water), Control III can be applied to disinfect and clean CPAP equipment and accessories against H1N1 (Swine Flu).

This 16oz bottle is concentrated and will make up to 16 gallons once diluted.

You can store any diluted solution up to 14 days. [/b]

[LinkC]

"Food" for thought! OutaSync once said:

"I have no more problem wearing a cleaned, used mask than I have eating with a restaurant fork. And I have more control over how the mask has been cleaned than I do the fork."

Kinda sums things up...