CPAP Class Action for causing eye/sinus infections

[purple]

hi all

[Goofproof]

Stop sharing your sisters makeup, and other things. Jim

[jencat824]

I have been on CPAP for over 10 years. Over the years I have had numerous sinus and eye infections caused by using CPAP machines and masks. I wash my hose and mask every day yet I still get infections from the machine and mask on a regular basis. The Resmed S9 is the latest machine I have and it still does not provide any method of sterilization of the equipment or masks from the manufacturer other than old fashion wash & rinse. My sister who also uses the S9 has also gotten serious eye infections and Pink eye from using CPAP. The manufacturer is aware of the problem but insists washing your mask and hose daily will prevent these problems. I also replace my CPAP mask with a new one frequently and at great expense. Insurance and Medicare will tell you that you can only have one new CPAP mask every 3 months which is a bunch of bull. "Reasonable and Medically neccessary" is usually the deciding factor on how often to replace your durable medical equipment (cpap mask) so don't let a provider tell you otherwise. I have also been made aware that there is a sterilization machine for CPAP machine and masks on the market now called SoClean2 around $300.00. Ironically Insurance and Medicare will deny any claim for this device because it is considered a "convenience or cleaning item".

Since change only seems to occur after the threat of a lawsuit, I wanted to see if any other CPAP users are experiencing the same problems? Just the mention of the potential lawsuit and a placing a bullseye on a target sometimes gets results.

This is HOGWASH! I've been on CPAP over 14 years & my sinus infections decreased after I started CPAP. I'm not an 'over cleaner' and by that I mean I don't wash my mask & hose as often as I should (try almost never). The only time I've had eye problems related to CPAP was when I first started & had a mask that was poorly fitted by a really dumb DME & I got corneal abrasions from air blowing into my eyes. My fault, because I should have taken the mask off & not let the air blow in my eyes that long. I'm a big girl & can make certain basic decisions for myself. Do I blame CPAP therapy for having a little eye trouble --- NO, I blame myself for not insisting to that dumb a$$ DME that the mask absolutely did not fit right!

People who do what you are doing - blame CPAP & try to extort money with bogus lawsuits - are hindering the progress for millions of people who actually want to get well from their CPAP therapy. You should be ashamed of yourself! Go haunt someone else & leave actual serious CPAPers & the newbies who come here for help alone.

Jen

[VikingGnome]

The Hans Rudolph 7600 V2 FF mask is considered a "multiuser" mask and can be autoclaved (thoroughly sterilized.) But I doubt your infections are from CPAP equipment. Sinus infections are usually caused by allergies. Pink eye is caused by a virus which would not survive the CPAP environment. You have to come in contact with some who in infected to get it. Is pink eye occurring in BOTH eyes simultaneously. Pink eye occur with sinus infection simultaneously. If not, your CPAP equipment is not the cause of your problem.

Do you sterilize all your linen (towels, pillows, bedding)? Any one of those could be spreading infection. I don't think you will find any sleep expert that would testify that CPAP is linked to sinus and eye infections.

[redFishBlueFish]

I've also been on CPAP/APAP for ten years, several different machines, several different masks, both nasal and full face.....never once have I ever had any hint of infection of any kind and I am pretty lax when it comes to cleaning or replacing my equipment. I have been using my current mask and cushion for a year and maybe washed the mask four times and hose maybe twice over the last year. I never dump unused water from my humidifier, I always leave it in the machine and just add to it before going to sleep.....I only clean the humidifier tub about once every two months, and because I use "real distilled water" I have never seen anything in the humidifier tub, no scale, no nothing....still confounds me that people say they use distilled water but somehow still get scale in the chamber -- I'd say to them your distilled water is not properly distilled....maybe do a test on that so called distilled water!

If anything I have fewer colds and far less sinus issues being on CPAP than before being on CPAP, and my dentist can't believe how clean my teeth and gums are as a direct result of my CPAP keeping me from mouth breathing and keeping me well humidified as I breath at night.

In all I am far healthier in many respects due to my CPAP use than I was before CPAP!!

Same here bud. Two things that come to mind. Improper humidity levels and using tap water. Unless you live in the country, I would recommend bottled water. You can get a 5 gallon jug of reverse osmosis water for $1 from one of those water shops. Or you can buy your own system, either way, avoid tap, it will screw you up.

This is from my own experience. Improper humidity levels will royally mess you up. If it isn't humid enough, you'll dry up, the nose will close up, eyes will start watering and you'll get all kinds of messed up. If it's too humid, it's hard to breathe and you'll eventually wake up to a puddle on your face, leading to a welcoming environment for bacteria.

[archangle]

I'm tempted to recommend you immediately stop using CPAP.

However, if you want to actually do something about germs, get some Control III disinfectant from our host, cpap.com.

Be SURE to actually READ and FOLLOW the directions for the disinfectant, especially the part about diluting the solution before using it.

There are "professional" guidelines for sanitizing ResMed masks, hoses, and water tanks in the links in my signature line. You can't fully use the processes listed because you don't have the professional equipment mentioned, but it may give you some ideas.

Unless you're sharing CPAP equipment, I wouldn't worry too much about germs being spread by your CPAP equipment. Any germs on your equipment probably came from you anyway. The germs you're breathing out aren't that likely to have a big effect on you if you bring them back in.

However, keeping your equipment clean is a good idea.

[AlabamaAl]

I want to start a class action lawsuit against pencil manufactures... They have been misspelling words for me all my life...

[Sludge]

My sister ...

How old is your sister?

Is she doable?

[Sludge]

I want to start a class action lawsuit against pencil manufactures... They have been misspelling words for me all my life...

May as well include the keyboard people too.

[RestedRebel]

I have been on CPAP for over 10 years. Over the years I have had numerous sinus and eye infections caused by using CPAP machines and masks. I wash my hose and mask every day yet I still get infections from the machine and mask on a regular basis. The Resmed S9 is the latest machine I have and it still does not provide any method of sterilization of the equipment or masks from the manufacturer other than old fashion wash & rinse. My sister who also uses the S9 has also gotten serious eye infections and Pink eye from using CPAP. The manufacturer is aware of the problem but insists washing your mask and hose daily will prevent these problems. I also replace my CPAP mask with a new one frequently and at great expense. Insurance and Medicare will tell you that you can only have one new CPAP mask every 3 months which is a bunch of bull. "Reasonable and Medically neccessary" is usually the deciding factor on how often to replace your durable medical equipment (cpap mask) so don't let a provider tell you otherwise. I have also been made aware that there is a sterilization machine for CPAP machine and masks on the market now called SoClean2 around $300.00. Ironically Insurance and Medicare will deny any claim for this device because it is considered a "convenience or cleaning item".

Since change only seems to occur after the threat of a lawsuit, I wanted to see if any other CPAP users are experiencing the same problems? Just the mention of the potential lawsuit and a placing a bullseye on a target sometimes gets results.

I have been using my cpap machine for almost two years, and I can honestly say that using the cpap therapy has eliminated any and all of the sinus infections I used to get. I always got sick around the Christmas holidays and then again in the spring and would be on antibiotics during those times of the year. Since therapy, not one sinus infection and no need for antibiotics. I also don't overclean my equipment but do regular cleaning. As such, I don't believe the machine is causing your problem. If anything, based on my experience, it should eradicate the problem.

[Janknitz]

I think your class action might better be directed to the manufacturers of the multiple antibiotics you and your sister take or the doctors who over prescribe. Most cases of pink eye are viral, and antibiotics will do nothing more than encourage the growth of superbugs like MRSA. Taking them repeatedly interferes with your bodies own good flora which are your body's natural defense against such infections.

Research is beginning to connect diabetes and obesity to the disruption of the human microbiome as well. All those antibiotics wipe out your good gut bacteria and disrupt metabolism and resistance to infections. Diet plays a crucial role, and if you eat processed foods or follow the prescribed diabetic diet with 6 servings or more of carbohydrates you might as well include food manufacturers and the ADA in your class action suit because these are major disrupters of your metabolism and health which cause your susceptibility to infection as well.

Trying to sue the world won't stop your infections. Neither will refraining from CPAP. Time to take a little personal responsibility. Eat real food not processed crap, including real, natural fats not processed oils, avoid sugar in all forms (natural or not), eat fermented foods, get some exercise, and stop taking antibiotics chronically unless you have an acute life threatening bacterial infection.

[palerider]

My sister ...

How old is your sister?

Is she doable?

probably shouldn't, sounds like her face is all messed up... you might catch something icky.

[0ldie]

What else in your environment may be causing your problem infections? Why have you blamed them on CPAP?

[Goofproof]

I want to start a class action lawsuit against pencil manufactures... They have been misspelling words for me all my life...

Count me in, I fell on one and it almost poked my eye out, the manufacturer should be forced to put tennisballs on both ends, and the pencil neds to be made from nurf. Jim

I also am suing the public school system for allowing the kids in class to tie my shoe strings together, while I slept in class. Causing my fall on the pencil.

[knothead]

Been on cpap for 4 years now, don't follow cleaning procedures per factory, but do clean equipment, never had a sinus or eye infection. I have noticed that when I have a small leak blowing in my eyes I fix the problem right away...just saying...it may be something around where you live causing problems.