h.sanders

Hello all... sure is good to have experts to go to. Many thanks to everyone
who takes the time to offer good advice or comments...

Can anyone tell me why my CPAP seems to be causing me to have an allergic
reaction every time I use it?

This has been happening for about the last 3 or 4 months, and I am at the
point of giving the thing up. Can't stand a lot more of this sneezing and
nose running like a faucet. None of this happens when I do NOT use the CPAP.
I clean the ****ens out of the hose and mask often... every week or
less...but I have not yet tried to open up this old Respironics Tranquility
Quest (Version BF) to see if I can clean something inside the machine.
Should I do that?
I have been using this thing for about 4 years now, formerly with no
problems.
Lately I have been not using it... intermittently... to see if the machine
actually was the problem. I think it is.
When I sleep without it (being single and alone, I have no one to tell me
what happens) I seem not to sleep well, waking up every few hours, and have
noticed I seem to thrash about in the bed to some degree. Naturally, I tire
out early the next day.
So.. I guess I am doomed without the machine that is starting to cause more
problems than it should.
Any input will be appreciated, as I am sure someone out there must know
something about this problem.

This is my first post, so if I didn't do it right, f****ve me, but feel free
to tell me about it.
Buddy T
Jax, FL
PS Have never used a humidifier. but I know it would be better to use one...
if I don't have a bacteria problem! And if I could afford one... which I
can't.

------------------------------------------

I'd be reluctant to open up the maching. I'm not familitar with that
particular Repironics model. But does it have a pollen (sponge) filter as
do more recent Respironics machines? If so, that should be washed out every
two weeks. Does it also have a paper filter that needs periodic changing?
You also might want to give your hose a soaking in a water/vinegar mix. You
say you can't afford a humidifier; do you have insurance so your doctor
could prescribe one? You can also find some humidifiers on eBay. I hope
things work out for you so you can get back on your xPAP and derive the
benefit you need.

Cheers,
Hal S.

buddyt

"BuddyT" <h.tillery@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:fqmdnQDXPZilp0iiRVn-ig@comcast.com...
Hello all... sure is good to have experts to go to. Many thanks to everyone
who takes the time to offer good advice or comments...

Can anyone tell me why my CPAP seems to be causing me to have an allergic
reaction every time I use it?

This has been happening for about the last 3 or 4 months, and I am at the
point of giving the thing up. Can't stand a lot more of this sneezing and
nose running like a faucet. None of this happens when I do NOT use the CPAP.
I clean the ****ens out of the hose and mask often... every week or
less...but I have not yet tried to open up this old Respironics Tranquility
Quest (Version BF) to see if I can clean something inside the machine.
Should I do that?
I have been using this thing for about 4 years now, formerly with no
problems.
Lately I have been not using it... intermittently... to see if the machine
actually was the problem. I think it is.
When I sleep without it (being single and alone, I have no one to tell me
what happens) I seem not to sleep well, waking up every few hours, and have
noticed I seem to thrash about in the bed to some degree. Naturally, I tire
out early the next day.
So.. I guess I am doomed without the machine that is starting to cause more
problems than it should.
Any input will be appreciated, as I am sure someone out there must know
something about this problem.

This is my first post, so if I didn't do it right, f****ve me, but feel free
to tell me about it.
Buddy T
Jax, FL
PS Have never used a humidifier. but I know it would be better to use one...
if I don't have a bacteria problem! And if I could afford one... which I
can't.

------------------------------------------

I'd be reluctant to open up the maching. I'm not familitar with that
particular Repironics model. But does it have a pollen (sponge) filter as
do more recent Respironics machines? If so, that should be washed out every
two weeks. Does it also have a paper filter that needs periodic changing?
You also might want to give your hose a soaking in a water/vinegar mix. You
say you can't afford a humidifier; do you have insurance so your doctor
could prescribe one? You can also find some humidifiers on eBay. I hope
things work out for you so you can get back on your xPAP and derive the
benefit you need.

Cheers,
Hal S.


Hal, thanks for the thoughts on this hoary problem.
I AM reluctant to open up this old CPAP, for sure, but I am in need of the thing to work w/out the allergy that seems to always come with using it. Got to find the answer.. can't afford a new CPAP!
Yes, it does have the sponge filter, which I clean every few days. No paper filter that I can find.
I will definitely try the water/vinegar mix on the old hose and mask. I have always used just soap and water before, altho I have changed hoses about once per year, and cleaned the hose and mask regularly.

Nope... no insurance until I get to next year and Medicare...(now 64... but a healthy, young 64.... until this allergy thing started). So, since I didn't buy a humidifier when I could afford one, now I am just s.o.l, (out of luck),
I guess. But thanks for the idea of buying one on Ebay, if I ever am able to afford one.

I appreciate your thoughts about my getting back on the CPAP, too. I know I still need the thing, and it did give me 4 years of comfort and health. I do hate to give it up.

Still, I must find out what there is about this CPAP that can be giving me this allergy reaction. It is a bad one and virtually takes me out of circulation for 2 or 3 days at a clip. It may be about to cause me to miss an appointment to have my old left eye lens replaced! Now that would hack me off. I may just take a chance and open this machine up... right down to it's innermost guts... and try to see what can be cleaned. If I never get it put back together, I would be no worse off than now.
Best regards to you,
Buddy T
Jax, FL, USA