humidifier additives?

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Mar 18, 2005 5:40 pm

I'm new to all this, and I recently started using a heated humidifier with my cpap.

Other than the distilled water, is there anything that can be added for beneficial purposes, like to help with congestion or a cold? Just wondering. Thanks.

unclebob · Post by **unclebob** » Fri Mar 18, 2005 7:19 pm

Hi Guest,

There was good thread on this subject a month or so ago that you should refer to. Seemed to be varied opinions on the subject of additives. The one I liked was adding Scotch.

I did try adding Eucalyptus oil, not sure I would do it again. Seemed to smell OK to me but wife says stunk up the whole house. The oil was past the expiry date and I may have put too much in the tank. Cannot say I got any real relief and it left a hard to get off residue in the tank interior. I have a Resp auto/c-flex with heated humidifer.

Unless there is a proven sure fire additive, it may be best to just stick with the distilled water. Do read the other thread as it may answer some ?'s.

All the best.

Bob, who likes to keep his weekend additives in a tall glass with ice and diet Pepsi. Damn hard to get Liam out of your mind, isn't it!!!!

airguest · Post by **airguest** » Sat Mar 19, 2005 9:57 am

dis. water + salt+ lemon flavored alka seltzer. The tablet type. 1/3 of a tablet works well for me and smells great. Might help gerd 2. Ask your Doc. I dont want another...LOL...dead body around.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sat Mar 19, 2005 10:08 am

airguest wrote:dis. water + salt+ lemon flavored alka seltzer. The tablet type. 1/3 of a tablet works well for me and smells great. Might help gerd 2. Ask your Doc. I dont want another...LOL...dead body around.

This sounds interesting. Might try it.

Unclebob......you're funny.
Do we have to drink ourselves silly to alleviate Liam-itis?
I'm thinking of a cool marguarita.
Humidifier additive.....how about Scotch AND a lemon flavored additive?
I'm more of a rum lover. But the good stuff, none of that crap.
Hmmm. ....I foresee an enjoyable Saturday.......

airguest · Post by **airguest** » Sat Mar 19, 2005 10:23 am

Good Rum...Scotch...whatever....I do indulge more than I should the old fashioned way, in a glass, but I would ask, BEFORE getting into the booze in the humidifier thingy, (a doc) if inhaleing the stuff thru our cpaps might raise our liver enxymes (spelled wrong i think} faster and higher than drinking it....But if all else fails....Mickey Mantle once said "I would rather be a good liver, Than have one" ........And ya probably know where he wound up...In the hall of Fame....and dead....But all this reminds me of The late Billy Martins last words....."I said Bud Lite!!! Not turn right STUPID"

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sat Mar 19, 2005 10:49 am

airguest wrote:Good Rum...Scotch...whatever....I do indulge more than I should the old fashioned way, in a glass, but I would ask, BEFORE getting into the booze in the humidifier thingy, (a doc) if inhaleing the stuff thru our cpaps might raise our liver enxymes (spelled wrong i think} faster and higher than drinking it....But if all else fails....Mickey Mantle once said "I would rather be a good liver, Than have one" ........And ya probably know where he wound up...In the hall of Fame....and dead....But all this reminds me of The late Billy Martins last words....."I said Bud Lite!!! Not turn right STUPID"

Ha! funny.
No worries. I don't intend to imbide from anything other than a glass. And actually, I don't drink at all anymore, once in a blue moon, and not even that often. Not trying to be healthy or anything. It's just that my face turns flaming red even with just one tiny sip of anything alcoholic. But you know, the way I've been feeling the past several weeks (incredibly down and feeling sorry for myself), I just might treat myself and not give a damn about the red face. I don't believe in drinking when you're feeling down. But when you're on the upswing, why not? One marguarite here I come!

SleepyTimeGal · Post by **SleepyTimeGal** » Sat Mar 19, 2005 11:29 am

Come On folks-if you read the user manual that comes with cpaps and humdifiers, I don't think you will find anything about additives in the humidifier. If it was ok, the manufacturer would make mention of what is ok and what is not. So, never a good idea to add anything to humdifier, passover or heated. Why "gum up" the works. A 50/50 solution of vinegar and water will clean it
out, maybe once every2 weeks or so, and of course rinse well and let air dry. And NEVER, NEVER let water stand in your chamber during the day-always empty any remaining water in the morning, let the chamber dry during the day, and then refill before bedtime. This will be healthier for you, and will make your humidifier's life much longer!!

SleepyTimeGal

airguest · Post by **airguest** » Sat Mar 19, 2005 11:52 am

If the manual suggested additives they would be liable for any thing from soup to nuts....Like a 98 year oldcpap user that put a drop of lemon juice in their cpap and then passed while sleeping. Sometimes ya have to think "out of the box". Would you rather see someone...you perhaps take antihistimines or whatever 4 ever? Thats ok with you .....But OMG....salt...and baking soda...OMG....Lemon alka seltzer....OMG....and someone even mentioned booze...OMG.....Just take ya 6 xanaxs 2 antidepressants...3 inhalers.....and percacet....Then call me in the morning and write me a check for$75. BUT DONT DARE PUT SALT IN THAT MACHINE....Its addicting...it can cause the worst thing in the world...the thing DOCTORS fear the most.....and the big RX companys......ITS known as ....as.....as.....a CHEAP cure....OMG ......NO.....

Dont be upset. Im still 1/2 loaded from 3-17-....and have a great Saint Josephs day. R there ant salt anon meetings....My uncle once used salt and bi card...Its ruined my life..... Salt de-tox..Has elizabeth taylor been in yet?

photogal · Post by **photogal** » Sat Mar 19, 2005 12:04 pm

The story was about inhaling alcohol using some kind of machine that puts it into steam. Seems that is the new cheap high that kids are getting into. It is going on on the West Coast, maybe east, but hasn't really got started here in Oklahoma. Our legislature is trying to head it off and just passed a bill making it illegal. I guess they say there is a real chance of dying doing that.
So in MHO, considering some of us are not young and healthy, and our bodies are challenged with OSA, I personally will never put alcohol in the humidifier. I'll drink mine, thank you very much.

rested gal · Post by **rested gal** » Sat Mar 19, 2005 3:01 pm

And NEVER, NEVER let water stand in your chamber during the day-always empty any remaining water in the morning, let the chamber dry during the day, and then refill before bedtime. This will be healthier for you, and will make your humidifier's life much longer!!

That's quite likely so, but I do let the distilled water stand in the chamber during the day. I never empty it for weeks and weeks at a time. I simply add more distilled water as needed. Staying healthy so far. The humidifier chamber is crystal clear with no problem to the metal bottom. Lucky, I guess.

LDuyer · Post by **LDuyer** » Sat Mar 19, 2005 3:08 pm

Gosh, I'm with you, rested gal.

I am the absolute worst at making sure everything is clean (my condo's a mess!!). And I procrastinate, I'm lazy, and the last thing I need to be remembering first thing in the morning (at that godforsaken early hour I rise for work) is cleaning out my humidifier. I'm on automatic pilot, and if it's not taking a shower, dressing myself or gathering my keys, it simply doesn't get done. I'm lucky to remember to turn the thing off every morning!!

I got to hand it to the ones who can do it, but there's no hope in me doing this. But I am envious. ......

Linda

Davidmcc · Post by **Davidmcc** » Sat Mar 19, 2005 5:24 pm

I'm with Rested Gal, on this. I believe it is important to only use distilled water, leave it in the chamber, attached to the machine, and top up as required. Although I drain the chamber weekly, I only wash it occassionally and have yet to dismantle it. With plastic parts I believe too much fiddling is simply inviting breakage of some small tab or catch that invariably makes the whole unit unusable. However, if due to travelling, I had to use tap water, which I suggest be avoided if possible, then I would certainly drain and flush the unit daily, and dismantle and clean it weekly to avoid any build up of scale or other sedimantary deposits.

littlebaddow · Post by **littlebaddow** » Sun Mar 20, 2005 9:45 am

Another vote for rested gal on this.
I fill the chamber with distilled water and refill when it gets low. Whilst it says in the instructions that came with the machine (remstar auto) that you can put the pieces of the heated humidifier in the top shelf of a dishwasher, I've never done this. 3 months constant use and the chamber looks good as new and I've not caught anything yet.

SleepyTimeGal · Post by **SleepyTimeGal** » Sun Mar 20, 2005 12:43 pm

How lucky you 4 are. But consider this-air is blowing from your cpap thru the humidifier, thru your hose and mask to you-and when you exhale "stuff" does go back thru the mask, tubing, and back to the humidifier chamber. Do you really think distilled water takes care of any baceiria or germs you send to it? Do you think the water in the heated humdifier heats enough to kill any germs or bacteria? And what about the passover humidifier? Yuck!!!

Also-if water is left in the chamber, and the chamber is knocked or pulled over, and water gets into your cpap-oops-malfunction of cpap.

Why take chances?? I pass on info I have heard from clinicians and resp. therapists about cpap care. As many horror stories I have heard of and read about, there are qualified, knowledgeable, and experienced clincians out there.

Hope you all stay rested and healty.

SleepyTimeGal

LDuyer · Post by **LDuyer** » Sun Mar 20, 2005 12:54 pm

SleepyTimeGal,

Well I do hope people will take your advice to heart. It is smart to do everything you can to keep things healthy.

But, for me, it's hard enough to remember to keep only distilled water in that chamber, let alone empty it out every day. Cleaning it out periodically is a chore in itself for me. Maybe not good, but I am what I am and what I am isn't likely to change much, I'm pretty sure. But I will try and do better.

My immune system must be alright. I keep drinking water out for hours on end and still drink it and not get sick (doesn't taste as great, but oh well). And the crap in my condo which I procrastinate in cleaning up, must certainly be a bacteria party ready to happen. Still, I've survived. I may be rationalizing (no doubt), but I can only try to do better, and hope for the best when I can't be perfect at it.

Linda, who REALLY needs to clean her condo!

humidifier additives?

humidifier additives?

additives

Re: additives

additives....

Re: additives....

Humidifier Additives

additive+ sleepygal

Just saw something on the news a couple of days ago.

Humifier Additives

Machine	Mask