Lysol Disaster

So all my problems began when my friend advised me that I ought to be soaking the water chamber of my CPAP machine in warm water and vinegar every week in order to keep it clean. I had been using dish soap up until then, which he said was not enough. I looked around for some white vinegar in my house and found nothing, and he said that someone once told him that Lysol could disinfect it too, no problem. I did have Lysol under my sink, so I doused the water chamber in a thin coat of the chemical and then washed it down several times with soap and warm water, figuring that the smelly disinfectant spray would wash harmlessly away with repeated rinsing and I'd be left with a sparkling clean, bacteria-free water chamber. I was very wrong about this. Immediately after placing the water chamber back in my machine, putting on my CPAP mask, and throwing the switch, I was hit with a strong wave of chemical-tinged air, immediately making my throat sore and causing my eyes to water. I figured that this was just a little transition period that would pass in a few minutes, so I ignored it, and went to bed. The next morning I woke up with the worst headache I've ever had in my life, and was spitting up frightening amounts of blood with each cough. I couldn't figure out how the microscopic bits of cleaning agent still left lining the water chamber after multiple washings could lead to such a strong physical reaction on my part. Finally, I gave in and called my insurance company, which immediately saw fit to overnight me a new set of tubing, new filters, a new mask and a new water tank. They even threw in a new humidifier in case mine had been contaminated by the infected water tank, and all of this I hooked up as soon as I got it, only to find that the machine was still blowing a pungent-smelling air and leaving me rather dizzy after each use. Is it possible that the contaminating agent could have crept from the water tank/humidifier half of the machine (I use a RESMED S9, which does carry a solid stream of air across the breadth its inner works) over to the other side to infect insides of the computer half, so that now, even though all the other parts are new, there is still a deposit of the damning chemical left over in the computer half of the machine which is being funneled down my neck as I sleep? This very far-fetched idea is the only thing I've been able to come up with which could explain why the fumes are still present. I need to figure this out fast, since the last time I used it, I woke up with a sore throat and an almost complete inability to focus my eyes for several minutes - a far cry from the usual way I feel after a night of CPAP which is very lively and alert. Any ideas or guidance on this would be much appreciated.

Thanks,
Italo

Italo Svevo wrote:So all my problems began ... Lysol ... and throwing the switch, ... frightening amounts of blood with each cough... RESMED S9, ... computer half, ... funneled down my neck ... focus my eyes

pass the popcorn...

... I religiously cleaned my tubing, chamber and mask as advised in the schedules supplied by DME at first. Then I began wondering: if I use tap water for rinsing, do the frequent cleaning schedules really make sense?

Can you run the machine for a while just to air it out?

The volatile "fragrances" tend to permeate plastic. It takes time and air flow to get rid of them. Turn your machine on and let it run a few hours. If possible and safe, do it outside to get a good supply of "fresh" air. If not possible just turn it on. Check it after 6 hours, or so, to see if you have made progress.

Sort of reminds me of the bricklayer's accident report: " . . . Due to my surprise at being jerked off the ground so suddenly, I lost my presence of mind and forgot to let go of the rope. Needless to say, I proceeded at a rapid rate up the side of the building. In the vicinity of the third floor, I met the barrel containing the bricks which was now proceeding downward at an equally impressive speed. This explains the fractured skull, minor abrasions and the broken collarbone."

There are so many things wrong with using lysol to clean a device that supplies you with breathable air while you are asleep, it's difficult to know where to start. Cleaning toilets, sure, but in a CPAP? I mean, even using vinegar to clean my machine is redolent of a bordello on Monday morning, so I don't use it.

As Hosecrusher said, what you're smelling is the volatile oils in the product (not sure which one it is, but they often contain pine oil), which take a while to evaporate. Since you're got a new reservoir and tubing, the worst of the contamination has been dealt with. The blower unit should clear itself pretty quickly. Unless you used a spray and the spray contaminated it. I'd let it air out on a window sill for a day or so. It shouldn't take more than that.

And, for what it's worth, you really don't need to clean the chamber more than once or twice/month unless you have some other health problems that you haven't mentioned (compromised immune system, chronic condition, etc). I simply sluice out my tank maybe once a month in the sink. And in five years I have yet to clean the hose. The hose is blowing clean, filtered air, so no need.

That and use distilled water! You won't need to use vinegar to get rid of the minerals then.

Merghh ... (me biting my tongue)

I won't even have that stuff in my house.

BlackSpinner wrote:Merghh ... (me biting my tongue)

I won't even have that stuff in my house.

+infinity.
My momma didn't raise no fools.

Italo Svevo wrote:I use a RESMED S9, which does carry a solid stream of air across the breadth its inner works) over to the other side to infect insides of the computer half

NO it doesn't.

CPAP means - Continuous positive airway pressure

Air only flows in one direction (constantly)... Air enters into the filter, gets pumped by the pump, gets to the humidifies and flows out the hose to you. Air does not flow back into the machine, the pump or that side of the machine.

If it is real problem, remove the Humidifier and use the machine without it. Buy a new tank and hose and you might need to replace the mask.

IF you put lysol into the machine itself..... why?

Of course if you followed the MFG instructions in the first place you wouldn't have used Lysol, at best maybe some vinegar but really, if you are using Distilled water as recommended, normally you can just rinse it out whenever without any soap or chemicals.

Lysol:

Hazard to humans and domestic animals. Causes eye irritation. Do not spray in eyes, on skin or on clothing.

Fun thing to put into something you are going to breath from....

Oh, an unregistered user....

I don't know why I never thought of this. Glad I didn't.

Even when you think of an idea and realize it is a bad one, DO NOT SPEAK IT ALOUD--even in jest!
When Vicks was becoming popularized as a cure for toenail fungus, I mused aloud that the fungus must be the same
as that causing jock itch, (since the OTC meds were identical, but with different labels)
Not five minutes later, I heard loud cursing from the bathroom.
"Yikes! I did say that out loud"

Italo, I'm so sorry you had such a horrendous experience. Everyone makes dumb mistakes sometimes, so don't be too hard on yourself. Consider it a valuable life lesson! I second the recommendation that others have made to run your machine for a few hours, preferably outdoors or on a windowsill, and see if that helps with the residual irritant. Good luck, and I hope you never have anything like that happen to you again!

For me, something like your Lysol Disaster would be devastating as I can see it is for you. I'm so sorry.
I agree with others who think you'll have to run it where it can continually receive fresh air. When you had
it running in your bedroom the air you exhaled was picked up by the inlet of your machine.

I hate scented products, they are everywhere! I suppose Lysol would still have a scent even if it wasn't
scented as it is a chemical.

I would soak my mask a little longer while cleaning and the white vinegar and water is the best.

Good luck!

Bryan