Yep, because I have COPD I've had two pneumonia shots 5 years apart at the strong recommendation of my family doctor. And a flu shot every year. I don't know what he is going to recommend about this new swine flu shot. I'm not even sure how "I" feel about getting this new swine flu shot!!! I'm not real keen on the idea. The older I get the less I trust my government - and I sure don't have much faith or trust in big business and most certainly the pharmaceutical business is one of the largest and most prosperous.


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Some people are like Slinkies... Not really good for anything, but they still bring a smile to your face when you push them down a flight of stairs.
Resmed VPAP Auto. Humidaire 3i, Simplicity mask, ResScan 3.7, S8 ResLink, Embla oximeter.

Pheumonia and getting sick more often?  It probably is your C-Pap.  
First, you have to  make sure you are cleaning your C-Pap often enough and drying it well enough.  What works best for me:

About every 3 or 4 days, or more often, if you have contaminated your equipment.
Fill a plastic deep dish pan with hot water.
Add about 1/2 cup of liquid Pine Sol.
Rinse out all your hoses, masks, etc, then soak all of them in the Pine Sol for about 15 minutes  or so.  Then, rinse everyout extremely welll with warm water.
To dry:  Lay out a heavy bath towel and put everything on it.  Set up a small metal fan to dry - it doesn't take long this way.  To dry your hoses, find a heavy container with an open handle, such as a milk carton (filled with water) and hook your hose thru the handle so the air from the fan goes through the hose.  Works great!

As for your sickness, I was getting sick all the time with my apnea machine as well.  Try this, it stopped all problems for me:  You have to have a hot water heater and tank on your C-Pap.The moment you are ready for bed, put the hottest tap water you have in your tank.  (Make sure the heat is turned on to about #3 or #4 to keep the water hot), then put about 1 Tsp of Vicks-Vapo-Steam in your tank.  This stopped all the sinus problems, allergy problems, and congestion problems I ever had.  It works so well so me, that I actually look forward going to bed and getting respiratory therapy - it feels great!  Hopes this helps!

Absolutely do NOT put anything in your CPAP humidifier!  If you read the directions on your humidifier, not only does it degrade your humidifier and decrease the humidification output, it is a health hazard since these compounds are never meant to be administered directly to the lungs in that way.

Likewise, use the manufacturer's recommendation for cleaning your equipment.  Most recommend mild dishwashing liquid and vinegar.

Vicki


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Being defeated is often a temporary condition. Giving up is what makes it permanent.
Marilyn Von Savant

That which does not kill you makes you stronger-Friedrich Nietzsche
Friedrich must of had apnea.

There is no way I would use Pine-Sol on any piece of my CPAP equipment.  See the Material Safety Data Sheet at http://www.thecloroxcompany.com/products/msds/pinesol/originalpine-solbrandcleaner1.pdf.

The warnings for Vicks-Vaposteam at this site http://www.vicks.com/products/vaposteam include the following:

Quote:

For external use only.
Flammable. Keep away from fire or flame.

When using this product, do not:
Heat
Direct steam from the vaporizer too close to the face
Add to hot water or any container where heating water except when adding to cold water only in a hot steam vaporizer. May cause splattering and result in burns.

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Marie
Newbie with Severe OSA
ResMed S8 Elite II CPAP with EPR and H4i humidifier
ResMed Mirage Quattro full face mask
Contec CMS 50-E Pulse Oximeter