Use and cleaning CPAP post transplant (BMT)
I’m concerned about my husband using CPAP post BMT. does anyone out there have this concern and what advice can you give? Thank you.
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I would love to know if they give you a different protocol for cleaning. Prior to my husband’s BMT he stopped using his CPAP because he thought it might have made him sick in the first place. But with that being said I really feel he needs his CPAP again and he refuses to use the old machine so we are set up for a home study. My big question for the sleep lab will be about the cleaning and if it will make the fungus he already has in his lungs post transplant worse with the pressure.
I had a Heart transplant and I was taught as for cleaning that once a week I use 1 part vinegar 4 parts water and soak my hose and tank once a week. I use a full mask and wipe out the mask with a baby wipe every day. I've used it now for over 12 years and had the transplant 6 years ago. I see it this way the basic function of the device is Appling pressure to your mouth so really the only germs that leave us don't go past the mask. I always use distilled water in the tank to keep it cleaner. I have not had any lung issues with my cpap. I keep my humidity at level 5 so that also keeps the humidity pretty high but my tank can almost handle 2 nights of about 8 hours each. I hope that helps. I know the book says a mild soap but the technician who did my sleep study does it that way on his own cpap. Vinegar being a more natural cleaner and without residue like soap could leave on the items.
I also replace my tank, hose, mask and filters according to what the Insurance company allows. Which is a mask every 2 weeks, it has 2 filters one is washable and the other i replace every 2 weeks. Hose is every 6 months along with a tank. The only exception was I replace the mask a bit early once when I had covid.
So thats what works for me
Blessings
Thanks, I’ll keep this note. He always I felt did a good job at cleaning but when he got sick he just felt the machine was at fault.
No, they didn’t give us a protocol. I told them I would try alcohol and rinse.
DH swore he could still taste it, same with vinegar and rinse. I went back to mild soap and rinse. We had no issues.
I bet you could taste it.
Thanks
one thing I found with the rinse of espically the hose is to hang it up straight so it can air out vertically. I used a close pin on a hanger on a high closet rail was high enough. Then when I put it on the machine, I would do a final blow it out using the machine with no mask attached. I would usually still get a few drops of water. I never have tasted anything afterwards. Remember it was 1 part vinegar to 4 parts waters. I use about a cup of vinegar so the bowl I use has a total of 5 cups of solution. I use a small plate to hold down the hose under water. Most salad dressings have a higher concentration of vinegar than that. I would think rinsing out soap would be harder. Too each there own I guess.