Could This Be Caused From My Cpap Machine?

Sherrill · Post by **Sherrill** » Thu Feb 08, 2007 11:44 am

I had 2 sleep studies done and the doctor said I had sleep apnea and I needed to use a cpap machine. I started using the cpap machine in July 2006. On my set up the doctor asked me if I have had had problems with bronchitis in the past and I told him that I have so he added a humidifier and prescribed a low setting of 1. I have been doing great until about a month ago. Because of the cold weather I felt that the air was just too cold into my lungs so I turned it up to 3. I started waking up congested and also noticed that I had water in my hose and that all the water had been going out of the humidifier. I can usually go 2 nights without refilling the container. Then I read that that was caused by rainout. So I turned the humidifier down to 2 and also turned up the heat in my bedroom and covered the hose with a hose cover. That has put the unit back into check and I'm not getting any more water in my hose. In the meantime I had got sicker and almost had full blown bronchitis. I self medicated myself so it wouldn't go that far. Now I am just really congested in lungs everyday and cough up clear mucous. Could my cpap machine be causing this? Could it be aggravating the situation? I do clean my machine all the time. Does using a cpap machine make your lungs weaker or stronger or does it not have an effect on your lungs. Thanks for your help for my questions. I haven't been to the doctor because my internal medicine doctor had set up my sleep study at the hospital and the hospital had sent the result to a sleep study doctor from another town. That doctor sent the results and instructions to my doctor of what to do. Now my internal medicine doctor has left town and I am in the process of finding a new doctor.

Nitro Dan · Post by **Nitro Dan** » Thu Feb 08, 2007 11:55 am

What are you cleaning your machine with? I rarely clean mine, just flush out the water chamber from time to time. I only use purified water in the chamber also....

Sherrill · Post by **Sherrill** » Thu Feb 08, 2007 12:01 pm

I run a solution of vinegar and water through my hose when I am taking a shower and then hang over the towel rack in the shower to dry. Once a week I put the same in my humidifier container and let it soak and then rinse. I use distilled water in my unit.

oldgearhead · Post by **oldgearhead** » Thu Feb 08, 2007 12:08 pm

The "Aussie" heated hose will stop the "rainout" in the hose, and
warm the air a bit.

http://www.sleepzone.com.au/

Nitro Dan · Post by **Nitro Dan** » Thu Feb 08, 2007 12:14 pm

You may have a low level infection. I used to have a lot of bronchial issues. Since starting CPAP, they have all vanished, even my allergies. I haven't had a cold since I can remember. In my experience, the CPAP did not make anything worse. I would be skeptical with distilled water, it may be "distilled", but who knows what else could be in it due to it's handling. Just my .02.

Sherrill · Post by **Sherrill** » Thu Feb 08, 2007 12:32 pm

Where can you get purified water?

TerryB · Post by **TerryB** » Thu Feb 08, 2007 12:36 pm

It is recommended that you use distilled water. That is water which has been boiled to steam and then condensed so there are no minerals left in it to build up in your equipment. The process should also leave any "bugs" behind.

TerryB

Nitro Dan · Post by **Nitro Dan** » Thu Feb 08, 2007 12:39 pm

Aqua Fina is a good brand out of the bottle. I have been making my own for years with a reverse osmosis filter unit. They will fit under your sink and make excellent drinking water as well.

muld00n · Post by **muld00n** » Thu Feb 08, 2007 2:13 pm

Where can you get purified water?

Wal-Mart. Distilled Water. 69 cents / GAL.

Julie · Post by **Julie** » Thu Feb 08, 2007 5:19 pm

Have you tried using your Cpap without the humidifier for 1-2 nights? I wonder if it's not causing congestion rather than helping (you said you were prone to bronchitis, but didn't necessarily have it now, and it struck me as a bit like spraying a lot of insecticide on a plant 'in case' it acquires some bugs . Might be worth a shot, anyhow.

SleepGuy · Post by **SleepGuy** » Thu Feb 08, 2007 5:30 pm

There's a study where some docs in Germany put radioactive water in the water chamber of a HH and found that under no settings did any radioactive material get out of the water chamber.

They were trying to find out how risky it was for cpaps to cause disease.

Basically they concluded that it is not very likely that a cpap is capable of delivering microbes into patients' lungs, subject to all of the normal caveats (this machine, this study etc.).

But based on that I'd say that the cpap likely didn't cause your condition though humidity and the extra physical effort of breathing against the back pressure may be making your condition worse.

Linda3032 · Post by **Linda3032** » Thu Feb 08, 2007 5:36 pm

I second the suggestion of the heated hose. It warms the air and reduces rainout.

So you can turn the humidifier up to 3 (if you want to). Or, you can turn the humidifier off and still get warm air instead of cold (if you want to).

The heated hose costs about $100 or a little more, insurance will not pay for it, but it is well worth the money. I have two, just in case one quits working.

WifeIsHappyNow · Post by **WifeIsHappyNow** » Thu Feb 08, 2007 7:00 pm

Sherrill wrote:he added a humidifier and prescribed a low setting of 1.

Just curious as to why he would prescribe a setting for the humidifier. Could it be due to past issues with bronchitis? Could the higher humidity be causing you problems?

blarg · Post by **blarg** » Thu Feb 08, 2007 9:25 pm

Yeah, if it's the temperature that's causing you issues, turning up the humidifier won't really warm the air, it'll just make it more moist. If you want warmer air, a heated hose is definitely the way to go.

Sherrill · Post by **Sherrill** » Thu Feb 08, 2007 9:48 pm

Thanks to all that have given posts to my questions! Where is the best place to get a heated hose?

Could This Be Caused From My Cpap Machine?

Could This Be Caused From My Cpap Machine?

Re: Could This Be Caused From My Cpap Machine?