Sleep Apnea Support/Questions Thread

[BigCat]

Originally Posted by hotreds

Day 2 using the device. I have a Res Med pillow system. Didn't sleep as well yesterday as my first night. I guess it takes some getting used to. Seems I keep getting water in the pillows, even tho I have dialed down the humidity meter quite low. Maybe I just expirate lotsa humid air?

Hey y'all- do I really need to change the distilled water daily?( Could get a bit expensive!) Do I really need to use distilled water? I imagine when I travel getting distilled water might not be so easy. Do you all clean the device as often as they say- daily/weekly? Do you replace the stuff every three months? I know that the seller needs a lot of CYA, wondering if you really need to be as careful/strict as they say?

TIA!

Yes! If you don't, bacteria grows in the tank really quickly and it gets bad for your health. When I first started out using it, I used tap water a couple times when I ran out of distilled water. Stuff started growing in the tank like crazy. I kept running a q-tip over it and pink stuff kept coming out. You can get distilled water for less than a dollar a gallon where I live. I get 2 weeks or so out of one gallon. It is way worth it. When I run out, I don't use any water in it anymore - a couple nights without the humidifier going hasn't hurt me yet.

As far as cleaning the equipment, I can be a little lax there. I dump the water in the humidifier every morning and open it up so that it air dries during the day. Considering I use only distilled water and allow it to completely dry, I haven't had any problems with it. I tend to get new equipment every 6 months because that is how frequently my insurance pays for a new mask. I figure I might as well get it. I'd do it every three if I could remember, but wouldn't worry about it if you don't.

Just my , but definitely use distilled water only.

[kelmac07]

Originally Posted by BigCat

Yes! If you don't, bacteria grows in the tank really quickly and it gets bad for your health. When I first started out using it, I used tap water a couple times when I ran out of distilled water. Stuff started growing in the tank like crazy. I kept running a q-tip over it and pink stuff kept coming out. You can get distilled water for less than a dollar a gallon where I live. I get 2 weeks or so out of one gallon. It is way worth it. When I run out, I don't use any water in it anymore - a couple nights without the humidifier going hasn't hurt me yet.

As far as cleaning the equipment, I can be a little lax there. I dump the water in the humidifier every morning and open it up so that it air dries during the day. Considering I use only distilled water and allow it to completely dry, I haven't had any problems with it. I tend to get new equipment every 6 months because that is how frequently my insurance pays for a new mask. I figure I might as well get it. I'd do it every three if I could remember, but wouldn't worry about it if you don't.

Just my , but definitely use distilled water only.

Distilled water only Hugh!! I use soap and water and clean mine every few weeks...let it air dry. My insurance sends me a new mask, hose and filter every three months...I usually only change it every 5-6 though.

[PeteSB75]

I get new hose/mask/filters every three months, when the DME supplier calls me to ask if I need it. I use only distilled water, but I don't dump the existing water every night - bit of a waste IMO. I clean the mask and tank about once a week. I will use tap water when I am traveling, but it tends to build up mineral deposits on the sides and bottom of the tank pretty quickly, so I always use distilled at home - I keep it around anyway for Cigar Oasis refills.

[hotreds]

Thanks, guys. Distilled water it is!

[tsolomon]

Just got back from seeing an ENT about a sinus issue and he wants me to do sleep study. He looked down my throat and started asking questions about snoring and if I stopped breathing while I sleep. The answer is yes to the snoring, but I don't know about the breathing part. I did tell him that I wake frequently and have not slept consistently well for years, although I have often mentioned this fact to my primary doctor(s) over the years, but they never addressed the issue. I'm now waiting for the sleep center to call so I can setup an appointment to get this checked out. I don't normally sleep well when I'm in a new place, so I'm not sure how well this will work.