Lung irritation - detergent odor

I have had my cpap for many years and for the most part use it without issue. However, last Saturday I cleaned it with dish soap and I don't think I rinsed it well enough. That night there was a definite odor or the detergent (joy lemon ultra). The next morning I experienced chest tightness and shortness of breath. I also used the cpap the next night, odor was less but still detectable. I haven't used it since but continue to have tightness in my chest and shortness of breath. It seems to come and go and for the past couple days have had nasal congestion and have been coughing up small amounts of phlegm. I've been to the doctor. EKG was normal although my pulse oxygen dropped when I walked.

Anyone have experience like this? Could I have irritated my lungs and it's just taking a while to clear?

Thanks.

Callietallie wrote:I have had my cpap for many years and for the most part use it without issue. However, last Saturday I cleaned it with dish soap and I don't think I rinsed it well enough. That night there was a definite odor or the detergent (joy lemon ultra). The next morning I experienced chest tightness and shortness of breath. I also used the cpap the next night, odor was less but still detectable. I haven't used it since but continue to have tightness in my chest and shortness of breath. It seems to come and go and for the past couple days have had nasal congestion and have been coughing up small amounts of phlegm. I've been to the doctor. EKG was normal although my pulse oxygen dropped when I walked.

Anyone have experience like this? Could I have irritated my lungs and it's just taking a while to clear?

Thanks.

You cleaned WHAT with dish soap?


Den

.

Reservoir tank
Hose
Hard plastic part of face mask
Soft outside part of mask (not inside grey part they said not to get wet)

It's how I've always washed it. Soak in soapy water then rinse. I think I did not do an adequate job of finding this time?

Callietallie wrote:Reservoir tank
Hose
Hard plastic part of face mask
Soft outside part of mask (not inside grey part they said not to get wet)

It's how I've always washed it. Soak in soapy water then rinse. I think I did not do an adequate job of finding this time?

OK. If you have any Dawn (the original blue formula) dishwashing liquid, I'd re-wash it in that to see if it removes the residual odor you're smelling/experiencing.

That's all I've ever used and it has no odor remaining after washing.


Den

.

Joy does not rinse as thoroughly as Dawn.
You deserve better!
Don't even buy that cheap junk!
It's basically early dollar store crap.

You're assuming it was the soap, not rinsed well, but what if your symptoms are coincidental and you're having cardiac problems? Why not see a doctor (in the ER) asap?

chunkyfrog wrote:Joy does not rinse as thoroughly as Dawn.
You deserve better!
Don't even buy that cheap junk!
It's basically early dollar store crap.

I regularly wash mine once a week using any liquid hand soap and right now, I use Ajax triple action. Probably I should switch to 'Dawn (the original blue formula) dishwashing liquid'.

Thanks for the concern. I have been to doctor. They ruled out any significant cardiac event on Monday. Had a stress test yesterday; waiting for results. They said if there was anything life threatening they would not send me home. They sent me home and I'm waiting till Monday for results.

I was just wondering if anyone thought the tightness, breathing issues and productive cough could be lung irritation from the fumes. I've never had breathing issues like this before.

Callietallie wrote:Thanks for the concern. I have been to doctor. They ruled out any significant cardiac event on Monday. Had a stress test yesterday; waiting for results. They said if there was anything life threatening they would not send me home. They sent me home and I'm waiting till Monday for results.

I was just wondering if anyone thought the tightness, breathing issues and productive cough could be lung irritation from the fumes. I've never had breathing issues like this before.

If I was in your situation, the first thing I would do is to run the cpap with a hose on it for half an hour or less not on my head. That would expel any lingering odor. Option two would be to revert back to where I was before this issue come up. Did you change something? I have heard though never used it that some cpap can be fitted with scented odor to neutralize offense odor. This may be an option unless there is more serious health issues requiring medical intervention

Get in touch with the manufacturers (or research the stuff online yourself) and ask about ingredients and if any studies showed similar problems.

Callietallie wrote:Thanks for the concern. I have been to doctor. They ruled out any significant cardiac event on Monday. Had a stress test yesterday; waiting for results. They said if there was anything life threatening they would not send me home. They sent me home and I'm waiting till Monday for results.

I was just wondering if anyone thought the tightness, breathing issues and productive cough could be lung irritation from the fumes. I've never had breathing issues like this before.

It may be asthma. It can develop slowly but mine reacts that way to odours and chemicals. Odours are actually VOCs "Volatile Organic Compounds" Your body may not like the compound you are inhaling. Asthma can present in several ways including feeling like your chest is constricted, wheezing, or coughing. The actually area irritated can be not the lungs but the bronchial tubes.

My brother occasionally has issues with detergent odor from Dawn. He just finds it annoying. Doesn't appear to cause other distress. However, what I've done since is wash first in detergent and then soak in a bucket of water with a little vinegar in it for about 5 minutes. Then rinse. I do this instead of soaking in the detergent. I wash my stuff at the same time, but have not had any issues with Dawn.

Plastics have an affinity for the fragrances added to commercial detergents. Consider using a gentle soap like Ivory bar soap on a wash cloth. Dishwashing detergents are extremely aggressive. What you described is a good reason to limit washing your CPAP components. For what it's worth, for the past 5 1/2 years I have only washed the reservoir monthly, and the mask maybe every few months. Since the hose delivers only filtered air, I've never thought it needed washing.

Slartybartfast wrote: For what it's worth, for the past 5 1/2 years I have only washed the reservoir monthly, and the mask maybe every few months. Since the hose delivers only filtered air, I've never thought it needed washing.

Hi Slartybartfast",

i wash my cushion daily and /or use a different clean one each night but do wash my water tank and hose once a week per manufacture recommendation. You know the cushion do retain saliva that drips down during sleep. In the morning, its way dirty and therefore,cannot be reused unless washed. When I have colds, sore throat and flu, all the parts are washed daily to eliminate reinfection. The hose and water tank I am told, can become a breeding ground for bacteria and moulds if not washed weekly. I really do not if this is an exaggeration from manufacturers or not.

Slartybartfast

+1

I am very meticulous about cleaning, my hose is cleaned every night with Filtered, Pressured, Humidified air all night long … Mask too … but I take an extra step with the mask, it is also cleaned with unpressurized, unfiltered, room air all day long while it lays on the table next to my bed.