I used a SoClean 2 for several years and the original SoClean before that, and was very happy with it. It does work really well to sanitize the tube and mask and is so much easier and takes less time than washing.
When I upgraded to a new APAP machine recently my DME expressed concern about the "activated oxygen" (ozone) from a health standpoint. I was not concerned, because it remains within the system and converts back to ordinary oxygen within a certain time. In my experience that was the case.
However I did more research online and learned that ozone can be corrosive to certain materials. It has no effect at all on many. I read a review by someone who had used a SoClean 2 and he believed that some of the seals in his CPAP machine had been damaged by the ozone. I don't know if that was the cause or not, but I have stopped using my SoClean for now. I miss it because I know it is an effective sanitizer, in my experience. I haven't decided whether to start using it again or not. I have not looked closely at my old machine to see if there is any evidence of corrosion.
Hi Dan. Thanks for the advice. I will talk with my sleep physician. The strong plastic smell I experienced has dissipated some. But I will contact the manufacturer anyway. I read elsewhere that using heated tubing can increase the plastic smell.
I have experienced years of daytime fatigue both before and after CPAP treatment. I have experienced such drops in energy that I feel like I have to consciously breathe or my body will just stop breathing. That is the most extreme fatigue that I have experienced. Fortunately that happens only a few times a year. My new CPAP equipment is reporting central apnea. I wonder if there is a relation between that and this experience of feeling that my body will stop breathing unless I consciously inhale and exhale when I am feeling such extreme fatigue. I have also been diagnosed with hypoglycemia and hypothyroidism which further complicate diagnosing the cause.
I joined this forum recently. I was diagnosed in January 2011. In spite of using my CPAP regularly since then, I still experience fatigue during the day. I recently got a new machine that is reporting that I have central apnea in addition. I also struggle with insomnia from time to time. Putting on my CPAP mask sometimes triggers it. Currently, I'm very concerned about the new equipment I recently acquired. There is a very strong odor coming from the mask and tube, indicating volatilized chemical compounds are offgassing. I'm very concerned about the effect of this on my health. A recent post on a different CPAP forum that I also participate in, described the exact same thing. The writer said they woke up the following morning feeling ill after using it for the first time.
As a 73-year-old women diagnosed with sleep apnea in 2011, I am concerned about my heart health. I am 5'4 122 lbs and have been using APAP since diagnosed. I have trouble determining if my occasional episodes of sudden weakness and dizziness are heart related or something else. What kind of tests should I request from my doctor?
