Stomach virus and cpap

I can’t find a definitive answer. I have a terrible stomach bug. If I use the cpap to try and sleep does the virus get in the cpap and then just keep passing back to me? Sorry if this is a dumb question. Relatively new and just don’t want to use it if it traps the virus but also can’t sleep a wink without it. Thanks.

Breckerd wrote: ↑

Sun Dec 23, 2018 2:26 pm

I can’t find a definitive answer. I have a terrible stomach bug. If I use the cpap to try and sleep does the virus get in the cpap and then just keep passing back to me? Sorry if this is a dumb question. Relatively new and just don’t want to use it if it traps the virus but also can’t sleep a wink without it. Thanks.

Hi Breckerd

Short answer is no, it will not re-infect you.

1. Your body is creating antibodies specifically for the stomach bug you're suffering from. Once you're over the stomach bug, your body will have the defenses to fight against it again if it shows up.

2. Think of your air tube (and blower) as a solid column of air, forcing air out of your mask. There is more air being blown into the mask than what you're inhaling, and the excess is blown out of the exhaust vents. When you exhale, the column of positive pressure air is blowing your exhalation out of the exhaust vents as well.

3. I would suggest cleaning your mask daily while you're not feeling well. Wash out the spittle, mucous that you might be coughing into the mask. No need to have them lingering in the mask. Once you're feeling better, you can go ahead and wash the tank and hose just to clean up any remnants remaining.

Hope this helps, and you feel (and sleep) better!

-Bill

Breckerd wrote: ↑

Sun Dec 23, 2018 2:26 pm

I can’t find a definitive answer. I have a terrible stomach bug.

Stomach 'bugs' are caused by something you *ate*, not something you breathed in, and they're not communicable by something you breathed out, or in.

So, it's really not applicable to anything cpap related.

Now, if you were talking about a respiratory infection, then your concern would be more applicable... but, typically, with those, the only reason you get over them, is that your body knows how to fight it, so you can't 're-infect' yourself.

palerider wrote: ↑

Sun Dec 23, 2018 9:27 pm

Stomach 'bugs' are caused by something you *ate*, not something you breathed in, and they're not communicable by something you breathed out, or in.

So, it's really not applicable to anything cpap related.

Now, if you were talking about a respiratory infection, then your concern would be more applicable... but, typically, with those, the only reason you get over them, is that your body knows how to fight it, so you can't 're-infect' yourself.

The idea that respiratory infections can be spread by air while gastroenteritis is spread only by eating is simply not correct. Both can easily be spread by hand to mouth/eye/nose. There are even be a few of the gastro viruses believed to be able to be directly transmitted via breathing when aerosolized.

While you develop an immunity, the immunity does not last forever (at least for noro). Studies suggest anything from roughly six months to five or so years. And, the virus is very hardy...it can last a very long time in water.

So, if it were me, I would:
a) Use something like control III (as directed) on the water tank, hose, mask frame, cushion, and headgear a few days after I was symptom free (that should take care of the moist harder surfaces).
b) I would repeat it in one or two months.
c) I would also be very thorough on all hard surfaces using hospital grade wipes (the ones that kill 99.9% of germs don't do noro).

The probability of being reinfected by a stomach bug is near zero. I raised a bunch of kids who experienced a good number of stomach bugs. You know how kids are - not always so careful about cleanliness. During all those years, there was never a kid who got reinfected by a stomach bug.

BTW, for some reason, I never get stomach bugs. Wonder why that is?

Thank you all for taking the time to respond!