Additional, external CPAP humidifier?

General Discussion on any topic relating to CPAP and/or Sleep Apnea.
CardiacProtest
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Additional, external CPAP humidifier?

Post by CardiacProtest » Fri Jan 30, 2015 3:56 pm

I have a CPAP with a built-in humidifer. Despite turning it all the way up, and adding saline nasal gel... I wake up with dry mouth all the time.

Has anyone used an external, in-line humidifier to further humidify their CPAP air?

What about using a room humidifier near the air input to your CPAP?

So tired of dry mouth!

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Julie
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Re: Additional, external CPAP humidifier?

Post by Julie » Fri Jan 30, 2015 4:20 pm

You didn't say what mask you have, but if it only covers your nose vs your mouth as well, you could be losing lots of Cpap therapy air when asleep out of your mouth and a humidifier won't fix that... a FF mask will. Do you know your AHI and other numbers?

CardiacProtest
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Re: Additional, external CPAP humidifier?

Post by CardiacProtest » Fri Jan 30, 2015 4:26 pm

I use a nasal pillow, and prefer it to a full mask. I actually still get dry mouth even when I wear a mouthpiece + tape. I know additional moisture won't cure mouth leak, but I'd still like wetter air.

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Pugsy
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Re: Additional, external CPAP humidifier?

Post by Pugsy » Fri Jan 30, 2015 4:31 pm

Unfortunately even using a full face mask with the humidifier set to maximum doesn't guarantee that a person won't experience dry mouth...but it might help. It would at least hopefully prevent loss of therapy pressure if the mouth is covered.
Normally mouth breathing is the main culprit (no matter if mouth is covered or not) for dry mouth complaints but it isn't the only possible cause of dry mouth.
There's always meds as a potential factor along with maybe some health conditions.

What machine are you using? There are sometimes some additional potential setting changes which can be made to help the machine deliver more moisture...depending on the machine...like the Respironics machines have Classic Mode available that uses a LOT more water but most people don't know about it.

I don't know of any additional humidifier that you can plug into your current system to add more moisture.
Now adding a room humidifier might help depending on what your ambient humidity is to start with.

But the main fix for dry mouth, if it is caused by mouth breathing, is keep the mouth shut....and that's easier said than done.

Edit...I see you are using a nasal pillow mask and experience dry mouth even when the mouth is taped.
Adding more moisture up your nose isn't going to help your mouth unfortunately.
Do you take any meds that are potentially drying? Any health conditions that make dry mouth worse?

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LSAT
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Re: Additional, external CPAP humidifier?

Post by LSAT » Fri Jan 30, 2015 6:22 pm

CardiacProtest wrote:I use a nasal pillow, and prefer it to a full mask. I actually still get dry mouth even when I wear a mouthpiece + tape. I know additional moisture won't cure mouth leak, but I'd still like wetter air.
You may prefer a nasal pillow, but, as Pugsy said, getting moisture up your nose will not help your dry mouth. If you used a full face mask and breathed through your mouth while asleep, the moist air will go into your mouth. You could try a room humidifier to see if the additional moisture helps.

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