catching cold from humidifier? Would like help...

chdurie2 · Post by **chdurie2** » Tue Mar 07, 2006 5:19 pm

Hi all--

i'm returning to cpap this week after a long time away. i had my humidifier set on high, but it seemed like it was using an awful lot of water. not that i'm stingy with distilled water, but i wondered if maybe it might run out and self-destruct if slept for a really long time. so last night i turned it down. before i turned it down, my nose was a bit sore. now it's very sore but trying to be sniffly, and i'm starting to get a sore throat and am running a fever. i feel like my body is either starting to get or is fighting a bad cold. i can't help but think that my return to cpap, and more specifically, the humidifier, is the problem. i don't know whether i should be setting my humidifier on high or low or medium. i want to hang in there but don't want to get sick. can someone please help? does this sound familiar? thanks.

krousseau · Post by **krousseau** » Tue Mar 07, 2006 8:55 pm

Sounds like coincidence. With the fever probably is a cold but you wouldn't catch it from your humidifier. Try turning your humidifier to mid range rather than full on. The heated humidity should actually help. If you don't already do it-clean your humidifier every day while you have the cold-do the full routine mild soap wash, rinse, soak in vinegar & water. Think about the possibility of sinusitis. I believe in chicken soup and garlic. Drink lots, rest and get well.

chdurie2 · Post by **chdurie2** » Tue Mar 07, 2006 9:01 pm

thanks.

yardbird · Post by **yardbird** » Tue Mar 07, 2006 9:57 pm

you can't catch a cold from your humidifier. You can't catch a cold by going outside with wet hair when it's cold. You catch a cold from cold germs. Period.

Now you COULD possibly make yourself more SUSCEPTIBLE to catchiing a cold by lowering your resistance OR by coming into contact repeatedly with cold germs.

Goofproof · Post by **Goofproof** » Tue Mar 07, 2006 10:07 pm

That is one smart CPAP, being able to make viruses from only distilled water and air. In a few years it may produce human life.

I do know the feeling, I came down with a duzzy last night. I am really feeling it, the worst one in years.

_________________

CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): CPAP

chdurie2 · Post by **chdurie2** » Tue Mar 07, 2006 10:18 pm

goofproof and yardbird:

you're both right, and goofproof, i found your comment pretty funny.

but i think cpap can do something that feels like a cold.

krousseau · Post by **krousseau** » Tue Mar 07, 2006 10:29 pm

A friend sent me a link to a web site report on a European study. It showed a bunch of college students soaking their feet in water-for some it was warm-others had ice water. The ones with ice water got a lot more colds. Haven't really changed my mind too much-it is still a virus that gives you a cold but maybe there is something about getting wet and cold that decreases immunity.
The virus that causes colds is mostly passed around by touching something that someone with a cold has touched. I don't know if one can reinfect oneself-to be on the safe side things like toothbrushes and CPAP equipment will get disinfected more often when I have a cold or sinus infection.

Who knows what might develop in your humidifier if you let it sit long enough-come to think of it the water might just evaporate_________________

CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): humidifier, CPAP

chdurie2 · Post by **chdurie2** » Tue Mar 07, 2006 11:17 pm

yes, i read about that study a while ago. i thought it was that the students with cold water self-described more colds, that the cold made them more likely to feel as if they had a cold. but i could be wrong.

it's not even, as i understand it, that you touch something that someone else with a cold as touched. it's that your resistance is low, so you catch their germs. if your resistance is high, you won't get their cold. so if a lot of junk is in your humidifier, and you have high resistance, you won't get a cold.

i think that being zonked from bad cpap just made me feel like i had a cold and made me forget these scientifically proven facts. since i put nasal gel with aloe in my nose (see other post) i feel a lot better.

Mask

Additional Comments: Large mask collection

Mask

Additional Comments: Large mask collection

Mask

Additional Comments: Large mask collection

Mask

Additional Comments: Large mask collection