Chemical Sensitivity

Okay, the DME guy finally showed up at 4, after postponing the appointment twice. He was here for maybe 20 minutes. Apparently I can only get the straight CPAP because that's what the doctor ordered. If he changes the order they'll bring me an APAP, but nothing they can do. They'll bill insurance for second one if it's determined that's what I need.

He wasn't incredibly helpful with my questions about cleaning, what to use, how often, etc. When I asked about the out-gassing, he had absolutely no idea what I was talking about. He said that the smell will eventually go away. I told him the concern is that the plastic is out-gassing chemicals. I have chemical sensitivities and get a migraine from it. I actually already have a headache from using the machine for maybe 2 minutes.

So...I've washed everything (hose, humidifier, mask, filter) in soapy water (7th Generation Free & Clear); rinsed well; soaking in 3:1 water:vinegar solution. How long should I let this stuff soak? I was so looking forward to sleeping with the machine tonight but I don't know if I can handle the out-gassing.

Anything else I should be doing?

Put everything back together and turn the machine on. Let it run for 4 hours, or longer, or as long as you can. Put the mask on and see if you notice any chemical smell. If none, use normally. If you still notice an odor, put the machine in the other room, hook up the hose and mask and let it run overnight. The odor should be gone after some hours of running.

Ah nuts! I just want to sleep! I soaked it for about 2 hours. It's all back together, connected to the machine and running. I really, really, really want to use it tonight. I'm ready to go to bed now at 7:00, but DH is bowling and DS18 (special needs) and DS10 are still up. No school tomorrow so they want to stay up till 9:30 or 10. I don't think I can last that long, but I'll let everything air out and see how it smells at 9:00. Wish me luck.

my out-gassing experiences - I also have MCS - I started using 3 months guidelines as that was what I had needed for O2 tubing

machine - a month - might be less

I would soak everything feasible for 24 hours in vinegar or baking soda solution, air for a week, then soak again before use and air some more - masks, hoses, headgear etc. --

hoses - 3 months to outgas- get a new one (buy online if you have to) and have one in reserve already aired out

masks - varies - some I could use out of the package - others were 6 months or more - the optilife from Respironics was forever - it was really bad - Resmeds haven't been as bad

fine filters - 2 days of use would make them tolerable -

you are probably not going to be able to use anything new for a month - you need to get your doctor to be aware of this and work with your insurance if you have a compliance requirement to meet -

Personally, I'd pack up the entire machine and take it back to the DME because IT'S NOT THE MACHINE YOU WANT.

Apparently I can only get the straight CPAP because that's what the doctor ordered.

Baloney! You can have an APAP if you want and they can set it in CPAP mode. They make a better profit margin on CPAP, that's why they are trying to give you that one. If you want an APAP, you can ask your doctor (or any licensed medical doctor) to write the script specifically for an APAP, but it's not really required that the script secify this. The DME is lying to you.

If he changes the order they'll bring me an APAP, but nothing they can do. They'll bill insurance for second one if it's determined that's what I need.

If they bill you for a second one, your insurance won't pay. That's why you need to get an APAP NOW.

I have mild chemical sensitivity, and just dealt with it with oral antihistamines and a good cleaning regimen. It took about 3 or 4 days for things to get tolerable for me. But my sensitivity is mild.

MSC is not an allergic condition so antihisimines won't help everyone. I do have traditional allergies too as many with MCS have, but antihistimines won't help any chemical sensitivity reactions I get and in fact I react adversely to some antihistamines because of the fillers / dyes in them.

Anybody with MCS tried boiling the silicon parts (just the silicon) after washing and soaking? Seems to me that might help.

Muse-Inc wrote:Anybody with MCS tried boiling the silicon parts (just the silicon) after washing and soaking? Seems to me that might help.

And I thought exposing it to sunlight would help, BUT I don't know for sure. I think the biggest part of the problem is the time it takes.

I'll try to reach the doctor today to see if we can resolve the CPAP vs. APAP issue.

I did use the machine last night after a 2 hour vinegar soak and 2 hours drying on the machine. There was still some odor that was more bothersome than a problem. Just the usual headache this morning.

Sunlight does help with the out-gassing, although I couldn't do that yesterday as it was very cloudy and snowing!

I think sunnlight degrades the silicon! Check the manual that came with the mask; mine says to dry out of sunlight (both masks' manual says dry out of sunlight).