First night - condensation problem

Hi,

While my first night was encouraging because I now know I can sleep with the mask on, I did have a strange problem that i'd like to get your opinions on. The humidifier heat was set by the guy from the healthcare provider at 3, and throughout the night I found that the water collecting in the mask started making a whistling sound that kept waking me up. I lowered the heat to 2, but the problem persisted. Eventually I turned the heat off completely, and the problem was solved.

But I do think the heated humidity is desirable - has anyone else had this problem?

My machine is a REMstar Plus C-Flex, and the mask is a Fisher & Paykel FlexFit HC407 nasal mask.

Thanks,

Rob

Just set the heating the way you like it. I don't heat in the summer just in wintertime. When I got a cold (nose conjested) I heat also.

I agree with Dutch guy - set the heat how it works for you, or even turned off, as you did. As long as you're comfortable, that's what matters. I keep mine turned down almost as low as it will go, but I do like a bit of heated humidification.

"Rainout" - that condensation that forms when warm moist air hits cold plastic or cold silicone - sure can disturb sleep! Gurgling sounds, water dripping or spraying on your nose, mask losing its seal because the cushion gets slippery...rain out can cause all kinds of problems.

Depending on how cold you keep your bedroom and how much heated humidification you want (if any), keeping the hose itself warmer is the trick.

Some people put the hose under the bedcovers with them.

Some use a hose cover.

Some hang the hose over the bedpost, hoping most of the condensation will trickle back down into the humidifier.

Some just turn the humidifier heat off.

Been there, tried all that. Believe me, the Aussie heated hose is the surest way to help prevent rainout. I have one to use along with (not instead of) my heated humidifier, as do several people who sung its praises over on the talkaboutsleep message board. So far it can be bought only from an online store in Australia and is well worth the money. People who use Puritan Bennett machines which have a separate sensor line running through the hose would need to mention that to the store owners to be sure to get a heated hose with a sensor line included.

http://www.sleepzone.com.au

The only extra you need for plugging it in to a U.S. electrical outlet is a 12V 1 amp DC converter...available for about $18.00 at Radio Shack.

Of course it's possible to still get some moisture inside the mask (your warm exhalations hitting cold plastic), or in the unheated short connector hose that some masks have....but nothing like the rain out caused by a cold hose. The heated hose works amazingly well to stop most, if not all, rainout - far, far, far better than any other fix. And still allow you to use the amount of heated humidification you want. Can you tell I'm a believer in the Aussie heated hose?

rested gal wrote:I agree with Dutch guy - set the heat how it works for you, or even turned off, as you did. As long as you're comfortable, that's what matters. I keep mine turned down almost as low as it will go, but I do like a bit of heated humidification.


The only extra you need for plugging it in to a U.S. electrical outlet is a 12V 1 amp DC converter...available for about $18.00 at Radio Shack.

Can you tell I'm a believer in the Aussie heated hose?

Thanks! I went to the site and ordered one. We tend to set our thermostat back at night, so clearly the rainout would continue to be a problem.

Best,

Rob

Hi

I too get condensation in my mask, It is often worse in the winter mths where I am. I wrap the hose with the remains of my dad's PJ legs from his pants. It protect the condensation from forming at night as it is often cold enough in winter to give me a decent rain out.

What a shocking feeling waking up with a wet nose! Or worse still waking up to the feeling of your nose and face getting wet from the rainout! I have gotten used to the ran out I get every so often that I keep a box of tissues next to my bed, next to me.

I reach towards the ground towards the box of tissues which is kept next to my bed During the night whenever I feel my face getting wet I grab a tissue and partially take my nasal mask off and wipe the inside of my mask,drying it and after that I replace it on back on my nose and fall asleep again.

This is often done without me having turning the bedroom lights on or having to open my eyes to see my box of tissues is. Gotta admit it took a to while for me to get used doing this proccedure using the sense of touch only!!!!

Now I do it at night without thinking about it!!!!

When I went for my second sleep study they put me on the CPAP...I had rainout...I was dripping in my nose...boy was that annoying. The tech ended up turning the humidifier off. My guess is they had it set too high.

Lynne

So last night I took two of the suggestions, and had a rain-free night. I placed the unit closer to the ground, and turned the humidifier down to the lowest level. That will work until my Aussie hose arrives, but I'll need more humidification when winter hits here in Toronto.

Rob

I too have experienced the whistling in my Flexifit mask a few times. I find I have to take it at least partially off and wipe the condensation out of the inside with a kleenex. I am troubled by the rainout even more frequently although I have a flannel tube cover, try to keep the hose under the covers, and keep the humidifier setting at 2 on my Resmed Autoset Spirit .

Hello,

I solved the problem of condensation caused by the heated humidifier by turning the heat way down and leaving it just high enough to keep my nasal passages from drying out, and placing the humidifier 19" below the CPAP machine and the level at which I sleep. This kept the mask higher than the humidifier so the condensation would roll back down into the humidifier instead of reaching the mask. Hope this helps. Dani

Hi,

I'm looking forward to the aussie tube! Also, my healthcare provider is bringing an Activa over today at 2:00. Last night was a FlexiFit nightmare of twisted straps, leaking and rainout.

Rob

I just purchased a Fisher Paykel HC500 humidifier. It has a heated wire hose and a digital temperature gadge dial that allows me to adjust the temperature of the air inside the hose. No rainout, and it keeps the air temperature in the hose a constant temperature no matter what the outside temperature is. A little expensive, but it works great.