Need more pressure when using humidifier?

I've been using APAP now for about 4.5 months, without the humidifier. AHI is down low and all the apnea symptoms are receding. Last night, for the first time, I decided to try using the humidifier with my new S9 because I've been having some random dry mouth episodes that aren't related to open mouth breathing (trust me, I know this for sure). I thought to see if the humidifier relieves that. Plus, it's finally cooling off for the winter here in Paradise, so the humidity is dropping a little.

Well, the upshot was that I almost felt like I was starting over with cpap, feeling smothered with it. I've been using a pressure of 9-12 lately, exhale relief of 3, and loving it. Should I need to adjust the pressure up with the humidifier? The humidifier is set to 4.0 and temp is 65, since I don't want heat, only humidity.

I know I'll need to play with humidifier settings, but last night was very uncomfortable breathing, though I slept through most of it and AHI and leaks and everything were fine. I don't know where to start in making adjustments....

IreneN wrote:I've been using APAP now for about 4.5 months, without the humidifier. AHI is down low and all the apnea symptoms are receding. Last night, for the first time, I decided to try using the humidifier with my new S9 because I've been having some random dry mouth episodes that aren't related to open mouth breathing (trust me, I know this for sure). I thought to see if the humidifier relieves that. Plus, it's finally cooling off for the winter here in Paradise, so the humidity is dropping a little.

Well, the upshot was that I almost felt like I was starting over with cpap, feeling smothered with it. I've been using a pressure of 9-12 lately, exhale relief of 3, and loving it. Should I need to adjust the pressure up with the humidifier? The humidifier is set to 4.0 and temp is 65, since I don't want heat, only humidity.

I know I'll need to play with humidifier settings, but last night was very uncomfortable breathing, though I slept through most of it and AHI and leaks and everything were fine. I don't know where to start in making adjustments....

I've used a gauge manometer on my machines.......with and without the humidifier attached.......and at the end of the 6' hose.......and it shows the same pressure at all locations. SO, I would say you shouldn't need to adjust it. The machines sensors should compensate for the pressure and volume.


Den

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Hmmm... I could have sworn there was another reply here that suggested lowering the humidity. Well, maybe it was my sleep-deprived/depraved mind. In fact, I'm so sure there was such a reply that last night that's what I did. From 4.0 down to 2.0. It did seem to help the suffocation feeling, but wasn't enough to fix the dry mouth. Tonight I'll try 3.0 and see where we stand. Seems like the right direction.

IreneN wrote:Hmmm... I could have sworn there was another reply here that suggested lowering the humidity. Well, maybe it was my sleep-deprived/depraved mind. In fact, I'm so sure there was such a reply that last night that's what I did. From 4.0 down to 2.0. It did seem to help the suffocation feeling, but wasn't enough to fix the dry mouth. Tonight I'll try 3.0 and see where we stand. Seems like the right direction.

I thought so, too.
And, I think I know who it was......but, I won't speculate out loud......I'll let her/him come forth if they wish to.

But, I'm glad to hear that the suggestion helped.
Many of us do better with lower HH settings (or turned off using "passover" mode).


Den

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IreneN wrote:Hmmm... I could have sworn there was another reply here that suggested lowering the humidity. Well, maybe it was my sleep-deprived/depraved mind. In fact, I'm so sure there was such a reply that last night that's what I did. From 4.0 down to 2.0. It did seem to help the suffocation feeling, but wasn't enough to fix the dry mouth. Tonight I'll try 3.0 and see where we stand. Seems like the right direction.

the only thing I've been able to nail down about humidity settings is "it changes, and you've just got to play with it to find out what your nose likes", whether it's up,or down, or none, or lots...

I like none, except when I'm sick, then I hook it up and mositureize my innerds but, I don't try to tell anybody to do that, because as pugsy so rightly points out, that's not for everbody. so, I just tell people to try fiddling with it.

wish there was a better answer... I really do.

IreneN wrote:The humidifier is set to 4.0 and temp is 65, since I don't want heat, only humidity.

When I tried to set my temp to 65 with my humidity still at 4.0, I woke up at 3am with a freaking rainstorm going on in my mask! You must have a much higher room temp than me -- we keep our thermostat at 60. I've been running at 75 degrees and humidity at 3.0, and no more rainout.

If the humidity is making you congested (and that's one of those really individual things) then you could easily end up needing higher pressures. Or it could be a coincidence with some other factor. Like palerider says, that's one of those things you can only figure out from trial and error (and the occasional face-mask hurricane.)