Also, newbies....

Wash your face. Wash your mask.



Just saying what always comes to my mind when I see the words newbie and cpap in the same location.

How 'bout a newbie-advice thread?

Um - okay, here's another that I have said before, long ago (over the summer, the last time I was hanging out here) -

If you can't breathe through your nose

(a) see an allergist and an ENT - you might greatly benefit from having your septum straightened (okay, this isn't the part I always say, but it's true)

(b) if it's because you're congested and/or your sinuses are swollen - wash your nose! Get a plastic syringe (that holds about 25cc), get some distilled water. To one cup of distilled water, add 3/4 teaspoon of NON-IODIZED salt and a small pinch (1/8 teaspoon or so) of baking soda. Heat it to babybottle temperature in the microwave, stir well. Then squirt it up your nose and blow out your nose - lol - yes, I'm serious. Pretend you're surfing and the ocean is cleaning out your sinuses.


Okay, I've got another - if your humidifier leaks, make sure all the pieces are put together snugly and correctly. Seal the seals.


And when you're cleaning everything for the week - really take it all apart and just throw it in the sink with nice sudsy warm water and Neutrogena liquid soap http://www.neutrogena.com/ProductsDetails_10.asp Your gear comes apart more than you think - I have a remstar machine and a comfort gel mask - it was a few weeks before I realized I could take apart the humidier tank, and I *just* found out the mask comes all apart - not just the headgear, but the mask itself. I'm not going to take it all apart often, because I've heard concerns about breaking the seals too often, but I sure am going to at least once in a while now. Rinse well!

Anyone else?

momexp5 wrote:Then squirt it up your nose and blow out your nose - lol - yes, I'm serious. Pretend you're surfing and the ocean is cleaning out your sinuses.

Couldn't I just go down to the beach and dunk my head? I'm never more than a couple of miles from the water where I live.

Okay, I've got another - if your humidifier leaks, make sure all the pieces are put together snugly and correctly. Seal the seals.

I learned this one the hard way in my first month .

WAFlowers wrote:

momexp5 wrote:Then squirt it up your nose and blow out your nose - lol - yes, I'm serious. Pretend you're surfing and the ocean is cleaning out your sinuses.

Couldn't I just go down to the beach and dunk my head? I'm never more than a couple of miles from the water where I live.

I like your idea better. But be sure not to get a fish stuck up your nose!
(unless you're fishing)




Linda