Cold Nose on CPAP

Hi everyone,

I started CPAP on Friday night. I did great on Saturday night, slept through the night, though I woke up once.

Last night (Sunday night), I only made it until 1am. I can't remember every reason I had trouble. There was more mask leaking, I think because I washed out the mask and headgear in the shower and the parts of the mask got pulled apart. I thought it was dry and properly assembled when I put it on, but maybe not. So I kept having leaks, but finally must have fallen asleep.

I woke up feeling the need to take it off. The thing I most noticed was that my nose was very cold. The area surrounding my nose was cold too but it was mostly my nose.

Today (Monday) I took a good long nap - lucky that I was able to do that - and I did well. I slept well for maybe three or four hours. So that is promising. My nose was cold when I took off the mask, but not as cold and not difficult to tolerate.

Does anyone know what would cause that? I do have a humidifier. I set it at 0.5, because the DME rep told me that - ironically - people tend to have problems with dryness when they turn up the heat on the humidifier, as turning up the heat is drying.

I did fine at 0.5 on Saturday night. And I think I may have actually turned it up to 1.0 on Sunday night, the night when my nose was too cold. It was back down to 0.5 today when I napped.

Thanks for your help!

Janet

Does anyone know what would cause that? I do have a humidifier. I set it at 0.5, because the DME rep told me that - ironically - people tend to have problems with dryness when they turn up the heat on the humidifier, as turning up the heat is drying.

Another DME employee who failed elementary school science? No - warm air can hold more moisture. Start playing with your humidifier settings, there is no reason to have a cold nose.

My humdifier has settings for 1-4. My nose was super cold during the day after using setting 2 for a week. I switched to setting 3 and it's been better for me.

I am so spoiled by my Climateline tubing, that if I sleep without it, I get a nearly frigid beak.

Turning up the heat if you aren't using the ClimateLine hose might be more drying (though in all honesty I don't believe what you were told is the whole truth) but it also allows for more humidity to be delivered...so it should offset each other.

Are you using the ClimateLine heated hose or a regular slimline hose?

A setting of 0.5 or 1.0 with a regular hose isn't going to add much warmth at all and yes, your nose will get cold...I call it ice cube nose. Very annoying.
If you aren't getting an option to increase the temperature separately...you may be using a regular non heated hose.
Your choices are to either increase the bedroom temp or increase the humidity setting to add more warmth hopefully to the air.
You might get enough relief with a hose cozy acting as insulation to prevent the air in the hose from cooling off so much.
You could make a hose cozy with some old socks to see if it helps. Just cut out the toes and slide over the hose and secure with something like rubber bands or even scotch tape.

If you aren't using the ClimateLine hose....get one. It keeps the air warmer all the way up to the mask hose or attachment.
You won't be sorry.

Pugsy wrote:If you aren't using the ClimateLine hose....get one. It keeps the air warmer all the way up to the mask hose or attachment.
You won't be sorry.

Totally worth every dollar of it. Then you'll be able to try different combinations of temp and humidity as they can be manipulated independently.

Family member of mine, new to cpap, was told by her DME that there was no such thing as a heated hose for her S9 -- Oy! Once I told her about it and she got one, she no longer has ice cube nose and is comfy at night.

p.s. Froggie -- you have a beak ?

Thanks, guys! I do have the slimline hose. I'll try playing with the settings. If that doesn't work, I'll try the cozy or the climateline hose.

So glad I have this forum, thanks for the advice!

Janet

I'd try putting the humidifier up to 3 or 4. You have it really low right now. Higher number on humidifier = greater moisture. Will help with dryness and the cold air.

Thanks. I'll try it at 3 tonight and see what happens. Already looked into buying the climateline hose if needed, and the Snugglehose fleece cover.

Happy to say I slept fairly well last night! Had the humidity on 3 as advised. I woke at 2am - seems to be a usual thing for me. Took me a long time to get back to sleep. But other than that, I slept through the night with the machine on.

I think I will treat myself to the snugglehose, as it would simply be more comfortable when the hose gets in my way during sleep, AND it might help.

If I have more problems, I'll ask for my next hose to by a Climateline.

Thanks so much for all your help and support!!

Janet

Should have added - no cold nose!

Great to hear

By the way, I think give the climate hose a go too. Might as well if you have it

Thanks, Sleepstar! I don't have it. I was seriously considering ordering it. But since I did well last night, I've decided to see how things work out. I'm supposed to have a hose replacement every 3 months (I'm surprised at how often they will replace this expensive equipment!).

I'm going to wait and see how I do. If I think I need the Climatehose, I'll request it. And if they say no, and I still think I need it, I'll buy it myself.

It is so great to have this forum! I'll bet it's helping many people stay in compliance and get well! All of you who are helping us are a true blessing. I just hope that when I adjust, I don't forget to stick around and pay it forward (which I know I sometimes do, inadvertently).

Janet

Kaiasgram: No beak, but it's been cold, stiff, and numb enough I could have believed I had a beak!