washed tube days ago, still not dry, scared of legionaires..

bp4Christ · Post by **bp4Christ** » Thu Apr 26, 2007 11:17 pm

hey guys, i washed my cpap stuff about 5 days ago. well, all i did was run water through the tube, couldn't really figure out how to do soap with it, and i have been pretty sick this week, so it has been about 5 or 6 days since using the machine. i am going to use it tonight, but i have noticed that the water droplets inside are still there! from when i washed it. i have had it hanging up, it was in the bathroom for a day or so, my mom moved it and i couldn't find it, and it was definitely moist from people bathing, and i hope that isn't going to affect anything, but i am really afraid of this stupid legionaires disease. i am afraid that by it being in my bathroom while people bathed, the misty condensation from hot water, and those water droplets not drying and being in there so long, that this disease has formed, and when i use the machine tonight, i will get it and it will cause me harm. i know this sounds crazy, but can anyone off me some words of comfort?

tomjax · Post by **tomjax** » Fri Apr 27, 2007 4:31 am

If you have a concern for the wet hose, then plug it into the machine and turn it on.

You may have to disable the auto off to do this.

There is no danger of infection being spread from the water- the tank or the hose.

People will have this fear and obsessively sterilize their equipment, but it does not happen.

kteague · Post by **kteague** » Fri Apr 27, 2007 4:43 am

Hi. Just by virtue of moisture one doesn't get Legionnaires Disease. The bacteria that causes it has to be present. The risk in individual homes is not high, and the risk to an individual is not high either, especially in nonsmoking persons whose immune systems are not compromised.

To help you dismiss the thought, wash the hose by standard manufacturer's recommendation and either allow it to dry or maybe run your cpap briefly to aid it in drying.

Then use your cpap. By not using it, you are taking a known risk.

It can be challenging when one's mind works overtime - I can't help you with that piece. It's good that you seek out voices of reason when you have nagging concerns.

My advice is to use your cpap. Give your brain and body what they need. That can only be a good thing.

Kathy

Lyza · Post by **Lyza** » Fri Apr 27, 2007 9:46 am

Or if you aren't comfortable with having your 'contaminated' hose near your machine. Rewash it in the shower then get your mom's hairdryer and dry it out that way.

RichCMH · Post by **RichCMH** » Fri Apr 27, 2007 11:35 am

If you use dishsoap, hold the hose by the ends and just squeeze a little in the one end of the hose. Fill the hose with water from the tub or shower. I use my thumbs as corks to hold the water in as I shake and swish the hose.

Release one end and run water thru the hose to rinse.

To dry, I just hook it back up to cpap and go to bed!

tomjax · Post by **tomjax** » Fri Apr 27, 2007 4:45 pm

Many times a person will come asking how to do someting without first asking if it needs to be done at all.
This is one such case.
If you have cleaned and rinsed it out, then why would you even care if it is dry?
Any water in the hose would simply add to the humidity you are seeking anyway.
Since there is no risk of infection, why would anyone even care?
And how is it that it is still wet after several days? I assume you are using it.

Another of life's mysteries.
But there lots of things I do not understand anyway.

tom

WearyOne · Post by **WearyOne** » Fri Apr 27, 2007 5:16 pm

kteague wrote:Hi. Just by virtue of moisture one doesn't get Legionnaires Disease. The bacteria that causes it has to be present. The risk in individual homes is not high, and the risk to an individual is not high either, especially in nonsmoking persons whose immune systems are not compromised.

Hi, bp4Christ! Kathy is 100% correct on the above. I just researched this myself and found the same information.

First, I hope you're feeling better now. I noticed you said you were sick for a few days and that's why you hadn't been using your CPAP machine.

Also, I found this on eBay that might be helpful for you. It's a brush made to clean CPAP hoses and it's not all that expensive, under $10. It's made for a 6-foot hose only, but I guess if you scrunched a 10-foot hose up you could clean that size as well. Here's a link to it on eBay. I tried to post the picture, but couldn't get this one to work for some reason.

http://search.ebay.com/cpap-hose-brush_W0QQfromZR41

After you clean the hose, I'd let it dry outside of the bathroom so it will dry faster. I saw a post where the person hangs it in their closet to dry while they're at work. You could also use a hair dryer, as someone else suggested. Or you could buy a long dowel at the hardware store, scrunch up a paper towel and shove it through the hose with the dowel. I don't clean my hose that often so I've never tried any of these, but they seem to work for others.

Take care and keep us posted on how you're doing.

Pam

wog · Post by **wog** » Fri Apr 27, 2007 5:35 pm

You know... I've never really understood why anyone would wash the hose. I don't believe it accomplishes anything. 1st, I don't believe there's anything in there needing to be cleaned. Second, if there were, the methods typically employed wouldn't be terribly effective. I don't think swishing around soapy water does much.

Anyways, seems like a lot of hassle for no real reason.

Wog

Elle · Post by **Elle** » Fri Apr 27, 2007 5:44 pm

I would worry that lint from a paper towel would get blown into my lungs. i don't wash my hose. It is blowing moist (distilled water) air all the time so I don't worry. i hang it up every morning to let the nights moisture dry a bit.

bgalb · Post by **bgalb** » Fri Apr 27, 2007 6:04 pm

There are an almost infinite number of things to be worried and fearful about. If you tend to be fearful, just sit on your throne (toilet stool) with the sunlight streaming thru that little window and look at all of the dust floating in the air in that sunbeam when you pull the toilet paper roll! If you have allergies you will automatically start sneezing just out of apprehension!

What are we worried about? The human body is a miracle! A self-repairing machine that cures and repairs itself 99.99 percent of the time. All the medical profession does is take care of that one-hundredth of one percent of problems that the body needs help with. Even then your doctor just helps arrange things so that your body can heal itself more easily.

WearyOne · Post by **WearyOne** » Fri Apr 27, 2007 6:39 pm

Hey, I hadn't thought about the lint from the paper towel, but you're right. I guess you could cut off a portion of a wash cloth and use that, if you felt you needed to.

According to my mother-in-law, I don't clean things well enough; according to me, she's too particular! (I've been married 29 years!) Guess we're all different in stuff like that.

Pam

bdp522 · Post by **bdp522** » Fri Apr 27, 2007 7:42 pm

When I first started treatment, I washed the mask daily. Took it all apart washed and rinsed each pc. then soaked it in vinegar and water for 15 mins. The humidifier and hose too. Now I use BZK wipes to wipe down the mask daily, top off the HH with distilled water daily, wash out he HH(without disassebling it)every couple of months and clean the hose evry couple of months. I don't dry the hose, it's a little extra humidity. I do use padacheeks and a hose cover, these get laundered weekly(just throw them in with everything else).

Brenda

jrfoster · Post by **jrfoster** » Fri Apr 27, 2007 8:01 pm

Would any kind of wipes do? I found some baby wipes with aloe, no scent. I don't know about those that have antiseptic or moisturizers. What's the common thought on wipes for masks, without having to wash it every day with soap and water?

Jeff in TN

krousseau · Post by **krousseau** » Fri Apr 27, 2007 8:13 pm

If you are still concerned, can't sleep, and you want it clean & dry.
Wash it again & soak in vinegar water. while it is soaking.
Tie a weight that will fit through the hose to one end of a long string (longer than the hose)-to the other end tie some strips of a lint free synthetic/disposable type washcloth. Drop the weight through the hose and pull the strips through the tube.

bdp522 · Post by **bdp522** » Fri Apr 27, 2007 8:25 pm

Jeff, from what I've read any cleansing wipe the doesn't contain alcohol or lotion(moisturizer) should work fine. You are mostly trying to clean off any dirt or facial oils that may compromise the seal.

Brenda

washed tube days ago, still not dry, scared of legionaires..

washed tube days ago, still not dry, scared of legionaires..

wet hose

Fear of Legionnaires

why dry

Re: Fear of Legionnaires

Mask