Dead Air

CONTENT WARNING: Gross

I work in a sleep medicine clinic. I had a patient come in complaining that his CPAP was giving him a rash around his mouth and bumps on his tongue. Rash? I’ve heard that before, very common. Bumps on the tongue? Never.

He brought in his machine with him, so I took a look at his mask, which seemed to be new. I discussed his hygienic care of the machine, and he admitted he’s never washed out the humidifier or tubing, as he doesn’t use the humidity setting, so he figured he didn’t need to.

This could definitely cause some type of rash just from the pure funk that can grow.

I opened up the humidifier part (which he had taped black felt around for some aesthetic reason?) and out fell a DEAD STINKING RAT. I screamed, and a few nurses jumped into action and cleaned everything up.

How did you not SMELL that?!