Phantom? Chemical Smell

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scf
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Phantom? Chemical Smell

Post by scf » Mon Oct 18, 2021 9:21 am

I have found only one other person in 2019 who reported a chemical smell in the nose that lasts 24/7 after beginning APAP therapy. I know this sounds neurotic and I have never been accused of being neurotic, lol...a pretty calm person am I. Thanks be to God it is annoying but not nauseating, although food and drink have certainly lost their appeal.

Have any of you ever heard of this? I have soaked and scrubbed everything that could be soaked and scrubbed on the machine. I does smell stronger close to the ResMed Airsense Auto 10.

I purchased an aromatherapy kit and placing the disk next to the air intake gives some relief from this smell during therapy. Within five minutes after taking the mask off, it comes back.

It is probably a phantom smell that afflicts certain people, but I am curious.
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Pugsy
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Re: Phantom? Chemical Smell

Post by Pugsy » Mon Oct 18, 2021 9:29 am

How long has this been going on?

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scf
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Re: Phantom? Chemical Smell

Post by scf » Mon Oct 18, 2021 1:09 pm

It started last week after 3 weeks on APAP therapy. I have recently had a physical and all is well so far as we know. I have found several other people who have experienced something similar since I posted this. And it is encouraging that it went away after a while.

I recently learned that I can check the number of hour this machine has been used. I found that it had over 5000 hrs when I got it. I thought I was getting a new machiine??? Anyway, if the previous user had done something to make the machine have this smell it surely would have shown up before I used it for 3 weeks. It really is a puzzle.
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Pugsy
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Re: Phantom? Chemical Smell

Post by Pugsy » Mon Oct 18, 2021 4:11 pm

scf wrote:
Mon Oct 18, 2021 1:09 pm
I recently learned that I can check the number of hour this machine has been used. I found that it had over 5000 hrs when I got it. I thought I was getting a new machiine???
Where are you located? Is this a short term trial/rental and then you buy your machine or was this machine sold to you as new?

Short term trial and then you buy a real new machine is standard practice in some areas of the world.

If it was sold to you as your forever machine and you paid for brand new.....I would throw a screaming fit and take it back.
Probably learning some new bad words in the process.

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scf
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Re: Phantom? Chemical Smell

Post by scf » Mon Oct 18, 2021 4:32 pm

I paid nothing. Medicare and BC/BS paid. It is the usual Medicare procedure... after 13 months it is mine. But if Medicare makes me wait several years before they will pay for a new one, I hate that I got one that might be worn out before that time.
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Re: Phantom? Chemical Smell

Post by Pugsy » Mon Oct 18, 2021 4:37 pm

I would take it back.
Tell them it stinks and it wasn't new anyway.
There's a reason it was returned to them with 5K hours on it.
Don't let the DME succeed in pulling a fast one on you.
Way too many hours to be sold as new.
Medicare paid the "new machine" price....not the used machine price and it is way out of warranty (new machines have a 2 year warranty).

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Re: Phantom? Chemical Smell

Post by Pugsy » Mon Oct 18, 2021 4:53 pm

I know the odds are slim but I would get a Covid taste just as a precaution.
Weird sense of smell or loss of and/or taste....symptoms of Covid.

That said there are other health conditions that mess with the sense of smell and we all know that smell and taste are intertwined and if this continues I would suggest talking to your doctor.
To have this problem 24/7.....not normal at all and cpap use created issues wouldn't be lasting 24/7.

But do return the machine itself. It wouldn't be impossible for something inside the machine to be doing weird stuff.
Not likely I admit but not totally impossible either.

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Machine: AirCurve™ 10 VAuto BiLevel Machine with HumidAir™ Heated Humidifier
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I may have to RISE but I refuse to SHINE.

If you want to try the Eclipse mask and want a special promo code to get a little off the price...send me a private message.

scf
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Re: Phantom? Chemical Smell

Post by scf » Mon Oct 18, 2021 5:13 pm

Thanks Pugsy. I just emailed the DME company and asked if they were going to give me a new machine after the trial period for two reasons. This one has over 5000 hrs on it which is equivalent to 2 years usage! Plus it has a really weird smell. The RT who has been working with me has been great so far, so we will see what she has to say. The ResMed site says these machines have a 3-5 year life, so it is likely I will have to buy a new one before Medicare will buy one. I would not mind one that had a couple of hundred hrs on it, but 5000+.

This smell thing is totally weird and if it does not go away soon, I will contact my PCP.

You are so helpful. I appreciate it.
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chunkyfrog
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Re: Phantom? Chemical Smell

Post by chunkyfrog » Mon Oct 18, 2021 7:12 pm

Never trust a DME.
Never,
EVER!!!!!

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scf
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Re: Phantom? Chemical Smell

Post by scf » Tue Oct 19, 2021 5:45 pm

Pugsy, I hear you. I am asking for a new machine to replace this one with 5000+ hrs. We shall see how it goes.
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