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Venty Issues…..
Not that sort of vent !
Had my CPAP machine about two and a half years now and after a difficult start
the TalkMD-ers advice got it all working smoothly.Now a bit of confusion. First item all my fault, about washing the facemask. Started off
washing it in soapy water every day, doing everything from the rulebook and maintaining it
to the Nth degree. Then I was washing it only two or three times a week and maybe an odd wipe.
Just realised I have not cleaned it since December. Well nothing has happened, not died of
infection or expired in the night. What is the logic, what do other people do?But at the back under the right ear suddenly a itchty, painful rashy type thing. Weird the straps there
are so soft and user friendly, nothing hard at all. The Velcro is neatly on the outside. Wash it with
PH negative gel stuff. Cannot find the logic and it has to be in thar position to maintain
the tension. Maybe that is problem but why now, why not on other identical side.Sorry for venting !
"Even if you are not paranoid, it does not mean they are not out to get you!".
Re: Venty Issues…..I don’t have a strict cleaning regime, certainly not as often as the mask manufactures suggest you wash it all. I go by the “when it looks dirty” rule. With the old school full soft cap headgear I would stick it in the washing machine with delicate whites. The actual gel/plastic mask bits get soak in soapy water.
I get quite a few strange, unexplainable occurrences as a result of using vents. At the moment I have a very painful nose from wearing the nasal pillow (goes up nostrils and sits underneath nose). I have been using this type for a few years now and never had this problem!! Why now? I have noticed it isn’t a great fit anymore so could be rubbing more than usual, especially if I keep nudging it into place. I asked Hospy for a new one and got a package this morning… It’s the wrong thing!! Another few nights of sore nose ahead
It is no consolation but I’ve had weird rashes too, I think it can be a ccombination of elements that co-incide at the wrong time e.g. Low immune system, restless night, change of cleaning product, getting hot at night? Trouble is that when we get these things it can hard to get rid or heal properly because we have to wear them. Hope yours clears up soon!
A learning experience is one of those things that say, “You know that thing you just did? Don’t do that.” - Douglas Adams
Re: Venty Issues…..taung its might just be a heat rash try using different headgear for a few nights to let it heal over…..is the rash/skin breakdown on the side you mostly rest all night on. I had cartridge damage on my ear caused by head gear(soft to touch) but ended up with a sore that took over 2 years to fix. ask your vent team or gp for spongy flat bed sore dressing the non sticky type is best for around hair. think its called mepilex dressing and comes in lots of sizes normally all square one side white to draw fluid the other cream/orange. the sticky versions grey. and simply slide under strap between hair to take pressure off.
washing — when I first started on vent everything was renewed once a month. then i got to adult services and I get them when they break. I used to wash daily but now just as and when its dirty or daily if I have a cold. the headgear I wear when eating gets washed after eating as it get icky faster. the soft headgear part get put in a sock and then into the washing machine monthly(ish)
I was told to use washing up liquid as if its safe to use on things you put in your mouth its safe to wear. material bits go in washer to make sure they get a good rinse.
Dont use baby bottle sterilising tablets or milton as it discolors the rubber and plastic parts.
Re: Venty Issues…..Excellent, finding a lot of good logic here (and stupidity from myself). Thank you ladies.
Yes have been getting restless nights and hot in bed as temperatures had been milder. Also had since
Xmas been wearing neckwarmers indoors to try and prevent chills and colds and it seemed to
be a success so carried on. Even been putting draught excluders in bed to brace sideways and ease the back. As
Cat suggest this throws me over onto the one side.As you say maybe a combination of factors. If I stop the extra heat and irritation factors and change
the straps. I have three spare masks but didn’t change straps for fear of losing exact tension. Can just
feel how these sores could get worse and be long lasting. So sorry you had a two year one. Remember them
saying about washing up liquid.Also been using it longer, staying in bed to justify using the vent (they only told me to stop using it
when I was out of bed). surprised I did not have these problems earlier.Thanks the sensible logic.
"Even if you are not paranoid, it does not mean they are not out to get you!".
Re: Venty Issues…..ebay sometimes has strap wraps to stop face marking. you could make them yourself if you are handy.
when i use a head gear with strap that cover face I wrap half a folded hanky around strap and secure with soft micrapore tape. and simply cahnge it every day. you will be shocked at the dirt,sweet missed make up etc on the clean white hanky from just an over night use. the hanky warp also stops the velcro caching on hair.
Re: Venty Issues…..has anyone else found it harder to breath once vent is heated up. Im good for the first 3 hours but vent gets really stuffy more so with humidifier. was using vent outside in the cold (
dont ask) and it was heaven. I was freezing but air was so sharp and fresh.Re: Venty Issues…..@catatude wrote:
ebay sometimes has strap wraps to stop face marking. you could make them yourself if you are handy.
when i use a head gear with strap that cover face I wrap half a folded hanky around strap and secure with soft micrapore tape. and simply cahnge it every day. you will be shocked at the dirt,sweet missed make up etc on the clean white hanky from just an over night use. the hanky warp also stops the velcro caching on hair.
Great minds Cat, I have been experimenting with a clean linen hanky inside the strap.
Will try the micro pore have plenty of that, thanks.
"Even if you are not paranoid, it does not mean they are not out to get you!".
Re: Venty Issues…..@catatude wrote:
has anyone else found it harder to breath once vent is heated up. Im good for the first 3 hours but vent gets really stuffy more so with humidifier. was using vent outside in the cold (
dont ask) and it was heaven. I was freezing but air was so sharp and fresh.Goodness, sorry you gave these problems!
Joy to come fir others of us!
"Even if you are not paranoid, it does not mean they are not out to get you!".
Re: Venty Issues…..eBay item number:221373643449 example of strap warp
Re: Venty Issues…..@catatude wrote:
eBay item number:221373643449 example of strap warp
Goodness different options, thanks.
Never thought if E Bay. Will certainly pay to solve a problem.
Just thought, that I am having big problems on my throat inside maybe that is related. SALT coming
for third time this week, will discuss it with him."Even if you are not paranoid, it does not mean they are not out to get you!".
Re: Venty Issues…..I get dry sore throat. when you use vent alot or in my case most of the time you dont swallow regular and get dry throat that leads to thrush of throat and tongue. try boiled sweats if you can and sip water constantly to keep throat wet. you dont want throat muscles forgetting what to do. think thats the risk of using vent most of the time you loose muscle memory but hey what can we do.
ps if you go to your GP about this beware of throat and nasal sprays that freeze the area or upset the mucus membrane. check with your vent team. I was giving a throat freezing spray and it made it near impossible to breath. it was s similar spray to the one they use when intubating and putting nasal gastric tubs in. not pleasant. GP thought it was a good alternative to an anti bio-tic a throat swab hadn’t a lot of infection.
Re: Venty Issues…..@catatude wrote:
has anyone else found it harder to breath once vent is heated up. Im good for the first 3 hours but vent gets really stuffy more so with humidifier. was using vent outside in the cold (
dont ask) and it was heaven. I was freezing but air was so sharp and fresh.I know exactly what you mean. I don’t use the humidifier that often be cause it makes breathing much more hard work. It’s a bit of balancing act eh? I really feel the cold so have rooms quite warm but a colder room does make for better breath in
A learning experience is one of those things that say, “You know that thing you just did? Don’t do that.” - Douglas Adams
Re: Venty Issues…..sar
my new invention. external wall mounted vent. do you think venty comes in waterproof plastic
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