Fine tuning... and, a mask question

Tash · Post by **Tash** » Thu Jan 05, 2006 5:31 pm

Hi all! I tried, for the first night, my new Aussie heated hose, and even used my homemade fleece cover on it, and still had rainout in the middle of the night. I do like that the air actually feels warmer on my throat, and it is moister. The best I can figure, is that the way I am setting up my hose is contributing to the rainout. I have it stuck through my headboard (it's a sleigh type headboard, with an opening in the top 1/5th of it with iron works in it). I have my machine on the floor, the hose up behind the headboard, then through the cut out and down to my pillow. This was how invisioned the analogy of "fish at the end of the line" phrase, which I think was RG's description of how to set up the hose... So, the hose is approx 1 1/2 feet above me coming thru the headboard, then has slack to let me roll over while sleeping. Unfortunately, whenever I roll over, I get an unexpected nasal rinse. I was thinking I would try the scrunchie pinned to the mattress in front of my pillow tonight, and give up on the headboard thing. Does that sound like it will fix it?

Also, I just received my Ultramirage FF mask, which was sent thru Gentiva and AUTHORIZED by insurance (gasp ) There was no bill inside the package, so I am waiting to see how insurance handles that, but I was amazed to receive it, at least they are paying for SOMETHING.

The question I had is, I know I have read it somewhere, but where are posts re: the best way to set up the Ultramirage FF mask? I tried the search function, but haven't refined my skills yet to actually locate the info I am looking for... any tips, or links for that matter, would be appreciated.

Thanks!
Tash (newgal)

Wulfman · Post by **Wulfman** » Thu Jan 05, 2006 6:14 pm

Tash,

Wasn't there a user's manual and CD that came with the mask?

In any case, don't tighten the headgear too much.....in fact, leave it a little loose.....that way, the rubber seals around the mask will expand to seal against your face. There's also the cushions that rest against the forehead that you may want to adjust for the proper angle.
It can take some tweaking to finally get the right fit. That's not a "negative", just that since everyone's face is different, it's kind of "to each his own" as far as what works for each of us.

Good luck,

Den

capt · Post by **capt** » Thu Jan 05, 2006 6:22 pm

You did not mention what humidifier you are using, the room temperature or what the humidifier setting is set to. I would set the humidifier to a lower setting. I have never had a problem with my heated hose, but I do not leave it on all day, and due to this I know that it takes some time for it to warm up, so I set my humidifier setting accordingly.

Wulfman · Post by **Wulfman** » Thu Jan 05, 2006 6:35 pm

Tash,

I forgot to mention that there are some videos that you can download from CPAP.COM that might help.

https://www.cpap.com/downloadVideo.php?VGID=26

Best wishes,

Den

rested gal · Post by **rested gal** » Thu Jan 05, 2006 9:54 pm

Hi Tash,

You have the main hose rigged right. But if you keep getting some rainout, you might want to drop the hose down a little more.

You can probably turn your humidifier's heat setting down quite a bit, as capt suggested, now that you have the heated hose.

One or two posters even found that they could turn their heated humidifiers completely off while using the heated hose, and still get enough humidification. Passive humidification and the warmed air through the heated hose worked fine for them.

Keep tweaking things and you'll find the arrangement that works for you, too. I guess you checked to see if the heated hose was actually working, by feeling along the length of it. Most of it won't feel warm at all, but there will be spots where you'll discern a bit of warmth that lets you know it is, indeed, "on".

Tash · Post by **Tash** » Fri Jan 06, 2006 8:42 am

Wulfman,
Yea, it came with the manual and video, I was just trying to remember the extra "tips" that I had read...thanks for taking the time to remind me. I was so excited to have actually received the mask that I was planning on wearing it last night, but ran out of prep time (it smells like rubber/plastic and needs a good soaking). Thanks for the video links, too

Capt,
I am using the Remstar humidifier (integrated?). I had it set at 5 the first night, last night I turned it down to 4. The room temp. is 68 degrees. I moved my hose down off of my headboard, and did the scrunchie thing last night. I still had rainout, and I also had more mask leaks because I need to fine tune the hose configuration so it doesn't pull my mask off while I sleep. I will lower the setting on the humidifier again tonight, Thanks for the info!

RG,
Even though I still had rainout, there was less last night. I am hoping I can overcome it with the humidifier setting, and put my hose back through my headboard - that configuration was much easier to sleep without disturbing the mask and seal. Thanks for the encouragement! I am be away from home tonight (my machine's first night out) so I won't be able to let you know how it's working for a couple of days.

All - thanks for the responses, it is really nice to have a place to ask these questions and I appreciate it

PEELS · Post by **PEELS** » Fri Jan 06, 2006 9:11 am

Newgal,

I also agree with the other posters that you may need to adjust your humidifier level until you find the best setting for rainout. Sometimes you may have to readjust depending on the indoor temperature. Last week the weather was a little milder here and I actually could turn the heated hose off and not get rainout but I adjusted the humidifier up a notch. So you settings may need to change now and then.

Also, a tip that I picked up from this forum, is to use a remote to turn on and off the power to the heated hose. Unfortunately, the hose does not come with a switch. The remotes are the type that many people plug their Christmas lights into. It works great. Else, use a power strip with a switch.

Good luck with the rainout.

George

yardbird · Post by **yardbird** » Fri Jan 06, 2006 9:22 am

Here's something to try regarding the hose. I'm having absolutely no rainout issues and I do NOT have the heated hose (yet) nor do I have a hose cover...

I have my REMstar auto with integrated heated humidifier sitting on the bottom shelf of a small table next to my bed. It's only about 4 inches off the floor. My hose comes up and actually lays between the head of my matress and the headboard. It does NOT go up over my headboard. It goes about from the edge of the bed to the middle and then it kind of curves back on itself toward the machine again. Picture in your mind a real skinny "U" laying on its side with the bottom "leg" going to the machine and the top one going to the mask. I have plenty of slack in the hose this way. I use the Swift and I've found I can comfortably sleep on my side and actually have the hose from the mask kid of like... thrown over my shoulder. I'm getting USED TO having the hose go up to the top of the headgear, but ... well... with a different mask I'm sure you'd have to see what works.

ANYWAYS... I'm thinking that having the hose only travel about a foot before it's between matress and headboard is having some kind of insulative effect. AND since there's really no length of hose to speak of that goes UP higher than the mask, any condensation I MIGHT be getting is simply going back down the hose to the machine rather than getting sprayed up my nose. I'm also at a relatively low pressure. I have the auto set between 6 and 11cm so I really don't seem to have a problem with the air pressure PUSHING any water through the hose.

So that's what appears to be working for me as far as hose routing. And I know it depends on a lot of thigs like how much hose you have, how thick is your matress, will the hose stay there (I have a platform bed so the hose is basically sitting on the platform completely free...not connected to anything or tethered by anything).

Make sense?

Tash · Post by **Tash** » Mon Jan 09, 2006 9:17 am

Yardbird,
Sorry for the late reply, have been away from my computer. I tried your setup (your description made perfect sense). I still had rainout (but less of it) with my Aura. Then I tried it with my new Ultramirage FF mask - I had condensation in the mask, but no rainout contact (the END of the Chinese water torture!) My whole family (self included) have been sick with stomach flu since Saturday, so I am not feeling all that well rested, but have high hopes for the new mask. Thanks for the setup description, it is working.

Take care,
Tash

HP · Post by HP » Mon Jan 09, 2006 2:19 pm

If the headboard is up against an "outside" wall of your home, and the hose is basically touching that wall, the wall could be transferring too much of the heat from the air in the hose. That might negate the effectiveness of the heating, and water might be condensing in that part of the hose. If this is happening, then the air flow would move the condensation to your mask.

You might try re-routing the hose temporarily away from the wall, and try again.

Just a thought.

Good luck.

HP

Fine tuning... and, a mask question

Fine tuning... and, a mask question

Condensation