Using too much water?

linda3777 · Post by **linda3777** » Sun Apr 29, 2007 12:53 pm

Hi everyone. I have spent the past few days reading everything I could on this board and I have to say it's a wealth of information. Thank you to everyone who has offered advice and shared experiences.

I started on my cpap about six months ago. My ramp number starts out at 9 and eventually goes to 16. I'm not sure what the OSA and such numbers mean, I don't know anything really. The company that bought my machine to my house said "your doctor said this is what you need... good luck" and basically have dropped out of sight.

My question today is am I using too much water every night in my cpap? I fill it to the Fill Line with distilled water and every morning it is bone dry. Where is that water going? Is it going into my lungs? Is that a normal amount of water to be inhaling every night.

blarg · Post by **blarg** » Sun Apr 29, 2007 12:55 pm

Probably straight out your mouth, which is most likely open.

Unless you're like me and you've had 17 hour nights....

What's your humidifier set on?

Nitro Dan · Post by **Nitro Dan** » Sun Apr 29, 2007 1:09 pm

I have to fill mine just about to the top deflecter or I run high and dry. My heater is set on three.

Wulfman · Post by **Wulfman** » Sun Apr 29, 2007 1:11 pm

blarg wrote:Probably straight out your mouth, which is most likely open.

Unless you're like me and you've had 17 hour nights....

What's your humidifier set on?

(I believe) What blarg was saying is that (since you're using a nasal mask) your mouth is probably falling open at night and your therapy air (along with the water) is leaking out of it. That means you're not getting much benefit from your therapy. If you insist on wearing a nasal mask, you need to tape your mouth shut, use Polident adhesive strips to seal your lips. The other option is to use a full face mask.

Den

blarg · Post by **blarg** » Sun Apr 29, 2007 1:32 pm

Wulfman wrote:(I believe) What blarg was saying is that (since you're using a nasal mask) your mouth is probably falling open at night and your therapy air (along with the water) is leaking out of it. That means you're not getting much benefit from your therapy. If you insist on wearing a nasal mask, you need to tape your mouth shut, use Polident adhesive strips to seal your lips. The other option is to use a full face mask.

Yup. Or use a chin strap. Or a DIY mouth guard. *cue RG swooping in with a pile of links*

Goofproof · Post by **Goofproof** » Sun Apr 29, 2007 2:08 pm

The taping, or polident strips or the FF mask are 100% solutions if done correctly, anything else is a crap shoot and mileage may vary, greatly even to the extent of jaw pain.

At 16 cm, you should have been a candidate for Auto Bi-Pap, no wonder your DME wished you luck, but if you will it, it can be done. Jim

Jaggles · Post by **Jaggles** » Sun Apr 29, 2007 6:12 pm

This is interesting to me because my HH, set on 3 now 4, hardly uses any water. I can go 4-6 days without refilling.

blarg · Post by **blarg** » Sun Apr 29, 2007 6:21 pm

It depends a lot on your mask's vent rate, and obviously how many leaks you get. I use a lot less water on my Aura than I do on my Hybrid. Big shock there, huh?

linda3777 · Post by **linda3777** » Sun Apr 29, 2007 8:17 pm

My humidifier is set on 2.

Thanks for the answers, now I have more questions. You mentioned at 16 cm, you should have been a candidate for Auto Bi-Pap. What is an auto bi-pap?

Jaggles, your machine and mask is identical to what mine is and you go 3 to 4 days without filling it?!! See, this is exactly the kind of info I need to better understand this. Thanks so much, everyone, for your input.

I used to wake up a few times a week with a very dry mouth but I haven't had that in over a month or more. I have soft cloth bandage tape, would that work to tape my mouth shut? Do you tape the entire mouth shut or just a strip up and down in the center to keep your mouth closed?

Nitro Dan · Post by **Nitro Dan** » Sun Apr 29, 2007 8:20 pm

Jaggles wrote:This is interesting to me because my HH, set on 3 now 4, hardly uses any water. I can go 4-6 days without refilling.

I guess it depends on the pressure....

linda3777 · Post by **linda3777** » Sun Apr 29, 2007 8:22 pm

That makes a lot of sense. I wonder what Jaggle's pressure is set at. That might well have a lot to do with it.

Jaggles · Post by **Jaggles** » Mon Apr 30, 2007 6:02 am

I am at 11. Plus I am in Florida so its humid here too. Might make a difference.