Mold Allergy

[katztoy]

I am having a horrible time this summer with my Cpap as I have a mold allergy and right now the mold is extremely high in my area. My AHI is all over the place last night it was 2.2 but has been up to 6.1 in the last week. I can't seem to get it settled down. I don't seem to have a stuffy nose (well no more stuffy than normal) but this allergy seems to be more of a breathing thing (like asthma) rather than a congestion.

Does anyone have any suggestios on how to deal with this. And how to tell if there is mold in my humidifier? I usually clean it and let it dry every day but missed doing it a few times recently. So if it is there, how do I get rid of it? also I am using the regular filter out of the back of the machine, and the allergy filter that goes from the tank to the hose.

I feel like I am going backward in my therapy and I am pretty sure it is all related to this darn allergy.

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated. The Dr says "anything below is 5 is fine and no need to re titrate.." but I have to say that anything above a 3.5 I feel horrible!

[BlackSpinner]

Yes mold is more of an asthma trigger then sinuses for me too.
Rinse your tank with vinegar. and your hose too. Make sure everything is dry. And change your filters often.

You may want to get a room air purifier too. I have one in my bedroom going 24/7

Also consider a room de humidifier but make sure to keep it clean.

[westozman]

Hi Katz, I disinfect my equipment with a steriliser that is used for sterilising babies bottles. I also have a mold allergy & find this is a very good way to keep my equipment clean. The product is called Milton steriliser & sells here in Australia for around $6.

Hope this is some help.

[archangle]

You might want to try the "hypoalergenic" filters for your machine.

Hoses are cheap. You might try just buying a new hose.

How old is your old hose? Do you clean it? Have you inspected it carefully?

I like to have two of everything, humidifiers, chambers, hoses, masks. I clean one set and let it sit out dry until I clean everything the next weekend. I dishwash almost everything, but I clean the hose by running hot water through it from the kitchen faucet and then dry it by hooking it to an old CPAP machine for half an hour or so.

Do you have the dishwasher safe humidifier tank for your machine?

I doubt your machine is actually the problem, but keep it clean, just in case.

[n0hardmask]

Yes mold is more of an asthma trigger then sinuses for me too.
Rinse your tank with vinegar. and your hose too. Make sure everything is dry. And change your filters often.

You may want to get a room air purifier too. I have one in my bedroom going 24/7

Also consider a room de humidifier but make sure to keep it clean.

Hi, I second BlackSpinner's recommendation of an air purifier. I have two of "Advanced Pure Air Newport 9000 Air Purifiers" and they replace a whole-house built-in unit. They have multiple stage purifying; best by my shopping. Amazon has it for less than $200; you can spend lots more for less.

A caution.. anything/any where that moisture can collect and sit may grow mold and other nasties. Cleaning humidifer, hoses, mask, even/especially a de-humidifier if you go that route, is essential.

Good luck on finding relief for mold allergies; I have yet to find any antihistamine other than Benadryl that does any good. Usually have to just wait it out when the atmospheric mold gets up. God bless and keep up the PMA. earl