harder breathing with humidifier

k.c.snorzalot · Post by **k.c.snorzalot** » Wed Mar 08, 2006 2:48 pm

I've only been on CPAP for a couple of weeks now. I was just put on an additional humidifier which attached to my Remstar machine (I was issued this because of the cold air from the CPAP seeming to give me an ear ache the morning after using the machine).
Last night was the first night with the humidifier; they had set it to a #4 setting for me. I really felt a lot of extra pressure breathing out last night with the humidifier on. Even when I hit the ramp button, it still seemed harder to push the air out. I tried lowering the setting on the humidifier to 2 in the middle of the night, but still had the feeling of pressure, not to mention that I got rainout as well with the setting of 2.
Is it normal to feel this extra pressure with a humidifier? Am I just nuts? I think I'm going to go back tonight to CPAP without the humidifier, and just use the hose-snuggle that I made today to see if that will help with the cold air problem.
Any advice anyone has on this matter would be greatly appreciated. I always heard that humidifiers made things better not worse.

bank4cat · Post by **bank4cat** » Wed Mar 08, 2006 2:59 pm

I have to keep my humidifier around 2 if i go more than 4 i have a hard time breathing. To me i feel like there is not enough 02 in the air when it is heated that much.

GrumpyInKC · Post by **GrumpyInKC** » Wed Mar 08, 2006 3:47 pm

I started with a humidifier from the beginning and didn't like it due to rain out problems so I just left the heater off and used it like a passive humidifier and it worked pretty well. Now I set mine at a 1 and I haven't had much rain out problems.

I don't have any problems exhaling with the himdifier, but l've never tried my cpap without the humidifier.

If your cpap has c-flex make sure it didn't get turned off by mistake.

Also make sure your getting a good seal between the cpap and humidifier. I take off my humidifier each day to clean and refill with distilled water and I sometimes have problems getting it to seal at this connection.

Linda3032 · Post by **Linda3032** » Wed Mar 08, 2006 4:04 pm

Yes, check the cflex. Also, the hose-snuggle will warm the hose and help prevent rainout. A humidifier set on 1 shouldn't cause difficulty breathing or rainout - try that.

Also, make sure your machine and humidifier are below bed level if possible.

rested gal · Post by **rested gal** » Wed Mar 08, 2006 5:34 pm

A lot of extra warmth and humidity makes me feel like I'm breathing molasses. I don't like a lot, but I do like a touch of warmed humidified air. When I was using the Respironics integrated humidifier, I usually kept it at "1".

I also keep my F&P HC 150 heated humidifier down at its lowest setting unless I'm using my FF mask. Then I turn it up a several notches as mouth breathing in a FF mask can be very drying.

Snoredog · Post by **Snoredog** » Wed Mar 08, 2006 5:51 pm

when you turn the humidifier up too high it causes your turbinates in your nose to swell restricting air flow. This is the normal function of the turnbinates to regulate the incoming air temp and moisture before it reaches your lungs.

Leave the humidifier off and/or start on a lowest setting and only increase until comfortable or back off should condensation start to form on the inside of the hose.

Recommend the aussie heated hose, it works great for cool rooms.

Moogy · Post by **Moogy** » Wed Mar 08, 2006 6:07 pm

[quote="Linda3032"]

Also, make sure your machine and humidifier are below bed level if possible.

How far below bed level? A few inches, a foot, on the floor?

Moogy
Thankful for all the help!

Linda3032 · Post by **Linda3032** » Wed Mar 08, 2006 6:20 pm

Moogy, if you don't get rainout, then you don't need to worry about it.

If you start to get rainout, then you need to cover your hose, and/or lower your humidifer setting a little. Also, if you set the machine with humidifier a foot or two below your head level (thus making the hose run uphill to your mask), then the condensation runs down instead of into your mask.

You could also buy a heated hose from Australia, but Snoredog says you won't get rainout in Calif., so what do I know? .........

Linda3032 · Post by **Linda3032** » Wed Mar 08, 2006 6:22 pm

Oops on me. Moogy isn't in Calif. ..............

Snoozie · Post by **Snoozie** » Wed Mar 08, 2006 6:54 pm

I have trouble breathing with the humidifier cranked up also. Just like breathing muggy tropical air. I did turn it up to 3 this past week with my cold and it did help. Last night I turned it down to 2 and tonight it will be back on 1 again.

Mask

Additional Comments: BLOWER speed 9 c-flex on, 2 liter 02 added