AirCurve 10 ASV humidity settings

[MichaelWD64]

I'm 60, been on CPAP 10 years. 1 year old machine, nasal pillows. I recently started using 2 hoses to get the machine further from me, the slight noise wakes me up, I'm a light sleeper.

I use a heated hose for one, and a 10 foot non-heated for the other.

I sometimes get "water boarded", have water condense in the hose and get in my nose in the night. I added the "hose covers", little cloth tubes that go over the hoses. That helped a bit, but still happens sometimes.

I took the settings off automatic, was on 4 when I switched to manual. I know it goes from 1-8 with 8 being the most humidity. (Tube Temp is set on 86 F. (30 C), I have not changed the Tube Temp.)

I tried Humidity setting 3, and 2, both were bad, 2 was worse, basically baked my lungs.

I'm about to try 4 next night but want to know, is 4 really the same as "automatic"? Or does automatic change with room temp?

One could say "Just try different ones" but I've had some really rough sleeps. I'd like to know from someone who knows if I should try 4 next time or a higher number.

Thank you.

[Dog Slobber]

There really is no point in using a heated hose for the first six feet only to use a non-heated hose for the second 10 feet.

As soon as the the humid air passes through the heated hose it will be cooled down sufficiently to condense. There is also no point in covering the heated hose with an insulating tube. The heated hose is on a humidifier, putting a tube on it won't increase the temperature, it will only cause it to heat "less".

Things to try:

• better insulating tube on the 10 foot hose, including the short hose to the mask.
• increase ambient room temperature
• run a room humidifier
• run the 10 foot hose under the blankets

[MichaelWD64]

There really is no point in using a heated hose for the first six feet only to use a non-heated hose for the second 10 feet.

Thank you. I'll look at those other suggestions, but do you think I should take the hose cover off the heated hose?

Since it's getting warmer, I could comfortably turn down the hose heat a few degrees. That would help, right?

[Dog Slobber]

There really is no point in using a heated hose for the first six feet only to use a non-heated hose for the second 10 feet.

Thank you. I'll look at those other suggestions, but do you think I should take the hose cover off the heated hose?

Since it's getting warmer, I could comfortably turn down the hose heat a few degrees. That would help, right?

The hose cover isn't doing anything, on the heated hose, it doesn't help, it doesn't hurt.

Why would turning down the temperature of the heated hose help with rain-out? It wouldn't help, but in warmer temperatures it may not be necessary.

[zonker]

[*]run the 10 foot hose under the blankets[/list]

I think the purpose of the 10 foot hose is to get further away from the noisy machine.

wonder if wrapping it in an electric blanket and leaving it stretched out would help any?

eta-to the OP-have you tried a white noise generator to cover the sounds from your machine?

[mlmollenkamp]

I've used a machine so long that heated hoses didn't exist when I started. For years I made them my self, but I don't suggest that.
If it were me, I'd work on the noise rather than the hose thing. I am quite sensitive to noise, I'm not you, but here are some things that have worked for me.

1. Don't put the machine in a nightstand at the same level as your head. It should always be lower than you, preferably well below the top of the mattress. For years I had my machine on a plank that was placed between the bedframe and the mattress. That gets it below ear level and the mattress absorbs a lot of the sound. Try a small coffee table that's a foot or so lower than the top of the bed. This also lets any hose water drain back into the machine rather than into your nose.

2. Use a hose cover, even on a heated hose. Some of the machine noise comes down the pipe and a soft cover reduces it. I also prefer the feel of the cover over the feel of a snake like hose. My small travel machine is very quiet, but there is so much turbine noise down the hose that I had to build an inline muffler for it. The one they sold was useless. If the noise that bothers you is a singing noise its turbine noise. The humidifier is the best muffler, it may work better at some water levels than others.

3. At least for me, a constant brown or white noise isn't disturbing, after a few minutes I don't hear it. Noises that change are very disturbing. But my CPAP machine's noise breathes with me, especially the noise near the air filter. I totally can't sleep with that. I never sleep without a small noise machine to cover it. I like the small Lectrofan machines, Amazon carries them. I always have one right next to my machine, preferably near the air intake. It doesn't have to be loud, just enough to not hear the machines breathing sound that happens with each of my breaths. Before I retired I traveled every week, staying in hotels. I carried the noise machine because with it every hotel room sounded the same as every other, and home. It really helps with sounds that come and go or change. Perhaps crazy, but for me the best cure for noise is more noise, but of the right type. Keep it next to the machine so your ears can't locate the machine as a separate source.

4. Set the machine on a piece of foam (1" or so thick). It should be larger than the machine. It will absorb both noise and the vibration that transmits it. It also keeps it from sliding around. I also use Velcro to tie the hose to the headboard so I don't pull the machine off the table.

Hope this helps.