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Cold/Cool versus Warm air from CPAP humidifier

Posted: Mon Jul 07, 2008 9:31 pm
by tleatham
I've not been on cpaptalk.com in a long time but can't seem to find any posts including replies to my older posts about this topic. I feel that I'm suffocating when I run my CPAP with the humidifier or even without because of the warm air. However if I put crushed ice in my humidifier tank instead of water, leave the humidifier off altogether and put my mask in the freezer up until the time I put it on to sleep then I'm OK, at least to get to sleep. If I wake in the night however I find it difficult to go back to sleep because the mask has warmed up and the air being output from my CPAP is room temperature or warmer. I cannot lower the temperature in the room cool enough because it would cost a small fortune (I live in Memphis-temps and humidity is HIGH), my wife couldn't handle it and I have the same problem even in winter when room temp is very cool.

What I wonder is if anyone else has a problem using their CPAP because of the warm air being output by the unit. I've inquired and searched the web and have not found anything that provides me consistent cold/cool enough and possibly moist air to the mask throughout the night. I've seen a post or two for a secondary unit that passes air across water through a maze of tubes (elementary explanation I know) before outputting to the mask but my fear is that it will just not provide cool enough air. I have tried to use water in my humidifier with no heat and that is just not cool enough, even to begin with. Honestly the colder, the better for me.

I'd love if someone knew of or invented a unit that passed air through a refrigeration unit on it's way to the mask, a sort of A/C unit for CPAP. I'd love nothing more than to feel like I'm breathing from a freezer all night long.


Posted: Mon Jul 07, 2008 10:05 pm
by Perchancetodream
I don't especially care for the warm air from my heated humidifier, but if I don't use it my sinuses get dried out and clog up, making it hard to breathe at all.

I'm unaware of any unit that can cool the air that you inhale through your mask. Seems like using the ice in the humidifier would be the only way to cool the air, and even that would probably not have much impact unless you use a pass over humidifier instead of a heated one.

Or perhaps set up a couple of pass over humidifiers in sequence, and use a sleeve to keep the hose insulated?

Good luck in your search.

_________________

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Posted: Mon Jul 07, 2008 10:36 pm
by SleepyNoMore
What about buying a couple of extra masks and alternate them through the night so that (one or two) of them will be frozen at all times???

You said you are using ICE in your HH? Is it distilled ice? You are only supposed to use distilled water in your HH! Try filling your HH with water and leave it turned off and see what happens.

Quite frankly, I do not know how anyone can have cold air blowing in their nose, let alone ICE COLD AIR , that would dry out my sinuses and give me a major headache!

I use my heated humidifier and Aussie Heated Hose togother (all year round) with the HH setting on 1, that's how sensative my nose is to cold air...

I have been on this forum for almost a year and never heard of anything like this...

KEEP US INFORMED!

Goodluck and take care of your nose, it's the only one you've got

SleepyNoMore


Posted: Mon Jul 07, 2008 11:56 pm
by Goofproof
This week I have been trying No Water, in my HH, it's a little cooler and is working quite well for me. Our bodies don't need extra moisture during the day, unless you mouthbreath, your body should be able to adjust. Jim

Posted: Tue Jul 08, 2008 1:03 pm
by WindFlyer
tleatham:

One thing you could try is to get an extra long hose (maybe a 12-footer) and coil it up inside of a cooler full of ice. That would cool the air before it gets to your mask. The problem you'll likely run into, though is massive rainout depending on how much humidity is being put in. Something to try, though. Give your icemaker a workout.


Posted: Tue Jul 08, 2008 1:45 pm
by Wulfman
WindFlyer wrote:tleatham:

One thing you could try is to get an extra long hose (maybe a 12-footer) and coil it up inside of a cooler full of ice. That would cool the air before it gets to your mask. The problem you'll likely run into, though is massive rainout depending on how much humidity is being put in. Something to try, though. Give your icemaker a workout.
Or, something along this line (only smaller scale) would be to fill a couple of zip-lock bags with ice and then sandwich the hose between them.....if you have a handy place near the CPAP to lay them. You might need a 10' hose, but the bags of ice should be able to cool the hose quite a bit, I would think.
Except for the first time or two when I started, I've always used pass-over (unheated) humidity. I usually keep my distilled water in the refrigerator, too.

Den


Re: Cold/Cool versus Warm air from CPAP humidifier

Posted: Wed Apr 13, 2011 3:52 pm
by Cool Humidified Air
There is something called a "Cool Air Inhaler" coming to market soon. This is a hand-help device that is non-electromechanical and buy using ice, it provides stable cool humidified air directly to the patients face via mask. I believe the output is similar to a cool mist humidified, 60 degrees F @ 40%RH.

Re: Cold/Cool versus Warm air from CPAP humidifier

Posted: Thu Aug 09, 2012 11:45 am
by Slim
Put 2 or 3 drops of Vicks Vapo Menthol in the water. (Vicks Vapor Product). It's a liquid for vapor machines.

Re: Cold/Cool versus Warm air from CPAP humidifier

Posted: Thu Aug 09, 2012 11:56 am
by Pugsy
Old thread revived by someone.
Normally I don't bother with these but in this case I will in case one of the newbies reads this and thinks it is a great idea.

It is generally accepted that we never should add anything to the water in the humidifier tank. It might not hurt anything and it might not be able to hitch a ride on the moisturized air particles but if it did I don't think we would want such a concentration going into our lungs. I don't think I would want to risk it.
For sure it is likely to make a mess in the tank and thus requiring more cleaning and that alone would keep me from doing it.

Re: Cold/Cool versus Warm air from CPAP humidifier

Posted: Thu Aug 09, 2012 11:59 am
by chunkyfrog
Pur-sleep in a minty fragrance.

Re: Cold/Cool versus Warm air from CPAP humidifier

Posted: Thu Aug 09, 2012 12:00 pm
by tattooyu
chunkyfrog wrote:Pur-sleep in a minty fragrance.
^THIS. It's called "Clear."

Re: Cold/Cool versus Warm air from CPAP humidifier

Posted: Fri Aug 10, 2012 7:36 pm
by Sleepy in Ohio
Anybody ever come up with anything new to deal with this problem? I experience the same thing. I am a naturally warm person. My wife calls me her human furnace. So when I put on the mask, even without the heater, my body works harder to breathe out against the constant pressure, therefore i get even warmer. Let alone if I have the heater on and add humidity to the air. A "cool" humidifier would help to moisten the air but help to cool me off. After 90 minutes, I get so warm (even without the heater) that I wake up frustrated and the mask comes off. HELP!

Re: Cold/Cool versus Warm air from CPAP humidifier

Posted: Fri Aug 10, 2012 9:22 pm
by Julie
Get your thyroid checked! Seriously, one of the first signs of trouble is lack of proper temperature regulation.

Re: Cold/Cool versus Warm air from CPAP humidifier

Posted: Tue Aug 14, 2012 10:17 am
by Sleepy in Ohio
Thanks, Julie. I'll definitely check it out.

Re: Cold/Cool versus Warm air from CPAP humidifier

Posted: Wed May 15, 2013 10:19 am
by Needcoldair
I'm with you I need cold air also! I've tried putting my distilled water in the frig and that helps a little. Would really like to find something that will cool it down to the low 50's in temperature. If anyone knows anything please let me know.