I think my CPAP is making me sick

palerider wrote: ↑

Sat Mar 23, 2019 12:38 pm

PaulKTF wrote: ↑

Sat Mar 23, 2019 9:49 am

palerider wrote: ↑

Thu Mar 21, 2019 6:42 pm

PaulKTF wrote: ↑

Thu Mar 21, 2019 6:18 pm

Yeah, try distilled water in the water chamber, cranking up the humidity setting, and using a heated hose (for comfort).

Or, just tap water.

No, never tap water- distilled water only.

No, Any water that's safe to drink, not just distilled.

Distilled water is a *convenience* (debatable one, since you have to buy extra water and carry it around, or buy a distiller), but if that is less trouble than having to descale your water tank now and then, then it's a convenience.

But it's not *necessary*

Darn right its convenience is debatable.

Some water systems water is so soft even mineral build up is negligible.

When I first started CPAP, I used only distilled because I ignorantly believed it was medically necessary. I then learned it wasn't many of the sources were Palerider's links to studies demonstrating that bacteria is simply not transferred through humidity.

I then kept using distilled water, so I wouldn't have to waste time descaling. Without even determining for myself how necessary it was.

Finally, I decided to actually see how quickly and how prevalent the built up scale was.

It's been months since I've used distilled and I haven't had to descale. Not once. I'd also like to add that I only clean my tank one a month give or take.

I live in an area with soft water, of course others who have harder water may prefer distilled. It's worth it to them.

But cripes people, try it yourself. Draw your own conclusions, based on your experience with your water.

Firstly, my apologies for posting a message, one of frustration, and then leaving town. I thank all who have responded and I have started using the humidifier again and will try/test different nasal "cleaners". I have kept up with the replies, but I hate replying on the tablet I use in my travels. I guess I discontinued using the humidifier because when I travel I usually don't bring it along - that cuts the bulk in half and I never noticed any difference. I do suspect allergies are to blame.

Distilled water eliminates having to descale my tank.
"Somebody" still needs to descale the distiller.

as to the distilled water debate... Some people just have strange water. It may be safe to drink but "YUCK!"

I stayed at a friends house who was on city water, I forgot to bring distilled water from home with me and I knew it wouldn't hurt me to use water from the tap so I filled up and went to bed... The smell was akin to laying on my belly on a pool deck with my nose inches away from the pool water. Stank of chemicals and minerals and who knows what, was like breathing essence of liquid dirt.

When I was traveling 8 years ago, we stayed in a huge cabin in the mountains for a ski trip and their water was supposed to be really good for you, but it stank of sulfur and when you took a shower you never did feel like you had gotten the soap off your body no mater how long you rinsed. I was not about to put that stuff in my CPAP machine.

I guess my take on whether to use distilled or not, as others have said, comes down to personal experience. If your not sure, try it. If it's gross then make sure you have a stock pile of distilled water for your machine. If you try it and it's fine then, good for you, one less thing to lug around and buy.

Overall tap water, provided it's safe to drink (I feel this is debatable in some parts of the country/world) won't hurt you and isn't going to damage your machine. You may just have a mess to clean up now and then.

Rest well,

Gryphon

chunkyfrog wrote: ↑

Tue Mar 26, 2019 11:03 am

Distilled water eliminates having to descale my tank.
"Somebody" still needs to descale the distiller.

It's good to have minions, isn't it?

Gryphon wrote: ↑

Tue Mar 26, 2019 2:28 pm

when you took a shower you never did feel like you had gotten the soap off your body no mater how long you rinsed.

That's the sign of soft water, it's not that you've still got soap on you, it's that the soap has all rinsed off, leaving no residue, unlike with hard water.

Or so went the demonstration that was provided for us before my grandparents bought a whole house water softener system.

Best tasting water I ever drank was from an artesian well in the Sandhills.
I could wash my hair with bar soap--and it lathered like crazy.
The well head was under four feet, so we had to move the sprinkler a lot.
It was so awesome--pick up the end of the hose far enough--the water stopped.

Gryphon wrote: ↑

Tue Mar 26, 2019 2:28 pm

as to the distilled water debate... Some people just have strange water. It may be safe to drink but "YUCK!"

I stayed at a friends house who was on city water, I forgot to bring distilled water from home with me and I knew it wouldn't hurt me to use water from the tap so I filled up and went to bed... The smell was akin to laying on my belly on a pool deck with my nose inches away from the pool water. Stank of chemicals and minerals and who knows what, was like breathing essence of liquid dirt.

Gryphon

Any chance you were near Seattle? I live in Seatac, and the tap water is nasty. Even with a water filter in the fridge, the ice has an icky smell. I learned that if I use the ice in my cooler, I need to put it in ziplock bags, or my bottles of pop smell like it.

I have also noticed that when I travel with my cats, they usually won't drink the tap water. If I fill their bowl from the sink, they will continue to beg for water but not touch it. No problem with bottled water. I always carry enough water (or buy along the way) for me, the cats, and the cpap.

Gryphon wrote: ↑

Tue Mar 26, 2019 2:28 pm

as to the distilled water debate... Some people just have strange water. It may be safe to drink but "YUCK!"

I stayed at a friends house who was on city water, I forgot to bring distilled water from home with me and I knew it wouldn't hurt me to use water from the tap so I filled up and went to bed... The smell was akin to laying on my belly on a pool deck with my nose inches away from the pool water. Stank of chemicals and minerals and who knows what, was like breathing essence of liquid dirt.

Arizona ?

When I was traveling 8 years ago, we stayed in a huge cabin in the mountains for a ski trip and their water was supposed to be really good for you, but it stank of sulfur and when you took a shower you never did feel like you had gotten the soap off your body no mater how long you rinsed. I was not about to put that stuff in my CPAP machine.

Northern Nevada ?

I guess my take on whether to use distilled or not, as others have said, comes down to personal experience. If your not sure, try it. If it's gross then make sure you have a stock pile of distilled water for your machine. If you try it and it's fine then, good for you, one less thing to lug around and buy.

Overall tap water, provided it's safe to drink (I feel this is debatable in some parts of the country/world) won't hurt you and isn't going to damage your machine. You may just have a mess to clean up now and then.

Rest well,

Gryphon

+1

jamesboone wrote: ↑

Wed Mar 27, 2019 1:02 am

CPAP is projected to treat apnea not to make you sick.

And that is what it does and does not do.

jamesboone wrote: ↑

Wed Mar 27, 2019 1:02 am

Proper sanitation is necessary while using this machine.

Which does not require, or benefit in any significant way from, ozone. I am unaware of any manufacturer who suggests that.

chunkyfrog wrote: ↑

Tue Mar 26, 2019 10:54 pm

Best tasting water I ever drank was ...

A man was hunting. He was tracking some game up a creek for a long time. He got hot, sweaty and thirsty in the afternoon and took a few big drinks of water from the stream. He thought to himself, "That's the sweetest, most refreshing water I ever drank."

Reinvigorated, he continued up the stream. He immediately came to a bend in the stream, and there in the stream lay the rotting carcass of a large cow.

Moral of the story: Take your ozone cleaner on every hunting trip.

ChicagoGranny wrote: ↑

Wed Mar 27, 2019 11:24 am

. . . your ozone cleaner . . .

The best tasting ozone I ever had was . . .

ChicagoGranny wrote: ↑

Wed Mar 27, 2019 11:24 am

chunkyfrog wrote: ↑

Tue Mar 26, 2019 10:54 pm

Best tasting water I ever drank was ...

A man was hunting. He was tracking some game up a creek for a long time. He got hot, sweaty and thirsty in the afternoon and took a few big drinks of water from the stream. He thought to himself, "That's the sweetest, most refreshing water I ever drank."

Reinvigorated, he continued up the stream. He immediately came to a bend in the stream, and there in the stream lay the rotting carcass of a large cow.

Moral of the story: Take your ozone cleaner on every hunting trip.

I usually run my humidifier chamber dry because my dumb old PRS1 had a defect and the humidifier didn't work the last 3 years I had it. I'm comfortable with no humidification, except when I'm not. Sometimes I really need it. Then I just make sure my humidifier chamber is clean and fill it up.

You very likely may have seasonal allergies. Try the humidifier first and see if that helps. If not, time to see your doctor.