you dont really need that humidifier

[harry33]

I started using my CPAP back in 1995 and have never used or felt the need for a humidifier. after all the nostrils do humidify the air and I dont mouth breathe, having a nose only mask

considering all the extra work a humidifier requires, Do you really need it, perhaps its just a fashion accessory?

BTW I live in a low humidity area, clothes dry quickly hung up in house

any comments

[Goofproof]

I keep one as a option, but I only use water in it when needed. In two years I haven't used water, I keep it inline as a muffler for noise. Jim

[BlackSpinner]

I started using my CPAP back in 1995 and have never used or felt the need for a humidifier. after all the nostrils do humidify the air and I dont mouth breathe, having a nose only mask

considering all the extra work a humidifier requires, Do you really need it, perhaps its just a fashion accessory?

BTW I live in a low humidity area, clothes dry quickly hung up in house

any comments

I bet you don't live in a heated house in a cold climate.
Not a fashion accessory. Any ENT will tell you lack of humidity causes inflammation which allows bacteria to grow. Besides nose bleeds are no fun and blood is hard to get out of fabric.

And the work? You have to be kidding me. OH the pain of having to fill it every night! OMG the work of weekly swishing it with vinegar! The things I could have done with my life in those 5 minutes!!!!!!

[Pugsy]

Once I turned my humidifier down to 1.
Twice I forgot to add water and ended up using the machine without water.

All 3 times I ended up being miserable for 3 or 4 days until my nasal mucosa forgave me.
Horrible symptoms. Congestion, runny nose, sneezing, pain and I was not ill with a cold or whatever.
Directly related to lack of moisture. My nasal mucosa need it and I am not about to deny them again.

I know that some people do quite well with minimal or no added moisture but not me. I happily use a setting of 4 or 5 and I won't be changing because I was totally miserable when my nasal mucosa got messed up from the lack of moisture.

[Kairosgrammy]

Good response. Don't know why some folks think that because they don't need something, noone does. The humidifier is a life saver for me.

I started using my CPAP back in 1995 and have never used or felt the need for a humidifier. after all the nostrils do humidify the air and I dont mouth breathe, having a nose only mask

considering all the extra work a humidifier requires, Do you really need it, perhaps its just a fashion accessory?

BTW I live in a low humidity area, clothes dry quickly hung up in house

any comments

I bet you don't live in a heated house in a cold climate.
Not a fashion accessory. Any ENT will tell you lack of humidity causes inflammation which allows bacteria to grow. Besides nose bleeds are no fun and blood is hard to get out of fabric.

And the work? You have to be kidding me. OH the pain of having to fill it every night! OMG the work of weekly swishing it with vinegar! The things I could have done with my life in those 5 minutes!!!!!!

[Kairosgrammy]

I'm not trying to be ugly, really but what you are saying here is that if you don't need it, no one does. I need the humidifier. Both sleep docs have insisted on the humidifier, just wish they'd explained the humidifier more clearly. The two biggest things that prevent people from being compliant with cpap usage is how you adjust to the mask and whether a particular mask is right for you and nasal congestion. I get stuffy every night. Have a lot of allergies and bad sinuses. I didn't understand the benefits of humidifier and so left mine set at 2. No real benefit. Then I learned that the key for people with nasal congestion is humidity. I raised mine and now have no problems with nasal congestion. Wish I'd understood that earlier. I really think you are just trying to start a controversy myself.

I started using my CPAP back in 1995 and have never used or felt the need for a humidifier. after all the nostrils do humidify the air and I dont mouth breathe, having a nose only mask

considering all the extra work a humidifier requires, Do you really need it, perhaps its just a fashion accessory?

BTW I live in a low humidity area, clothes dry quickly hung up in house

any comments

[retrodave15]

I started using my CPAP back in 1995 and have never used or felt the need for a humidifier. after all the nostrils do humidify the air and I dont mouth breathe, having a nose only mask

considering all the extra work a humidifier requires, Do you really need it, perhaps its just a fashion accessory?

BTW I live in a low humidity area, clothes dry quickly hung up in house

any comments

Every body is different. Perhaps by living in a low humidity enviroment you may have acclimated yourself to not needing a humidifier.

For me its "Give me my humidifier or give me death!" Right now it is set on 4

[RocketGirl]

Individuals vary; climates vary; needs and preferences vary. I doubt that there's a single "one size fits all" aspect anywhere in CPAP-land.

I sing semi-professionally so I'm really particular about how I treat my sinuses and lungs, and I find that the extra moisture helps. Pre-CPAP I would spend every winter with nonstop colds, bronchitis and sinus infections. Since starting CPAP I've had exactly one cold (caught that on a long-haul airplane flight). So for me, it's been a real blessing to have the humidification.

[StevenXXXX]

I started using my CPAP back in 1995 and have never used or felt the need for a humidifier. after all the nostrils do humidify the air and I dont mouth breathe, having a nose only mask

considering all the extra work a humidifier requires, Do you really need it, perhaps its just a fashion accessory?

BTW I live in a low humidity area, clothes dry quickly hung up in house

any comments

Don't remember where I saw it, but if I do, I will post a link here.
Edited to add this link:
https://knowhow.webex.com/ec0605ld/even ... rmat=short

You do have to enter some information - but it does not have to be valid - Just anything will work.

It is acceptable knowledge in the CPAP medical community that one does benefit from using a humidifier when using CPAP - simply becasue the nostrils just cannot keep up with humidifying the air when using CPAP.

Even if you do not think you need a humidifier, using one would be better.

[retrodave15]

Do you really need it, perhaps its just a fashion accessory?

If a humidifier was a fashion accessory, insurance would not pay for it. It has been deemed a medically necessary device.

[archangle]

If you're using a nasal mask, and aren't mouthleaking, why would you need humidity more than a non-apneac? There shouldn't be more air flow. CPAP air won't be any dryer than room air. The airflow shouldn't be any faster once pressure equalizes between your lungs and the mask.

Enough of us mouth breathe at least a little, so it makes sense to always have the humidifier available any way. I'm not advocating not getting the humidifier.

Maybe apnea irritates our throats. Maybe a restricted airway increases velocity in the airway and drys us out more than non-apneacs.

[StevenXXXX]

If you're using a nasal mask, and aren't mouthleaking, why would you need humidity more than a non-apneac?

This webinar says you do. https://knowhow.webex.com/ec0605ld/even ... rmat=short

You do have to enter some information to get to the webinar - but it does not have to be yours - Anything will work.

The webinar is fairly long, but if you skip through it, you will find the part that compares non-humidified air using CPAP as not being sufficient.

[Elle]

I love my humidifier and sometimes think I need it more than the cpap.

[Mary Z]

I need my humidifier for my comfort. My nose and mouth get dried out without one. Glad you don't have to bother with one.

[chunkyfrog]

My nose thanks me every morning for giving it extra moisture.