Choosing a Heated Humidifier ...

ozij · Post by **ozij** » Sun Jun 05, 2005 2:16 pm

glassgal wrote: I use the highest setting and have not run completely out of water yet. I DO use MOST of the water every night, though. I live in S. California, so the relative humidity is on the low side.

The amount of water we user probably depends on our pressure too. I live in Jerusalem - relative humidity on the lower side on a par with S. California, and I get rainout (or, at least enough water to wake me) if the humidifier is the wrong side of 2!
My average pressure (on a bad night) is about 5.5 or 6...
O.

glassgal · Post by **glassgal** » Sun Jun 05, 2005 2:41 pm

Hi Ozij,

I have my pressure set at 10-17 cm/H2O. I usually average 11-12. I have a snuggle hose cover and have not had rainout here, although in Hawaii (very high relative humidity and warm temps) I did have to turn it down about 1/2 way.

Do you have a covered hose or heated one? I have considered getting a heated hose, but don't seem to have problems with rainout, so it didn't seem pressing... I got the fleece cover less to prevent rainout and more to make the hose feel nicer. I like the highest setting on the humidifier -- it just feels better to me!

I also have the small hoses on my NasalAire II covered with a knitted tubular bandage material, which might help some, although, again, I did it for comfort, not rainout.

Good luck!

2listless · Post by **2listless** » Sun Jun 05, 2005 4:23 pm

I use the FP heated Humidifier because it was the only one the DME had available. Use it with the Remstar Auto with CFLEX. I just disconnect one of the hoses and add more distilled water - I do not use a funnel. If I am a little messy, I use a papertowel and wipe up the nightstand, floor, whatever and call it Spring Cleaning! The only drawback for me - when I am seriously restless - I have been known to yank that humidifier half way across the room as I flail in my nonsleep. But that baby keeps on working. Adjustment is easy with knob located in the front, however, it requires a separate shutoff which I frequently forget to do or I hold the button in too long and end up turning it back on. Probably lack of brain cells caused by sleep apnea!

Teej813 · Post by **Teej813** » Sun Jun 05, 2005 4:30 pm

Probably lack of brain cells caused by sleep apnea!

That's probably it. You should try to get more sleep.

teej <--- helpful

neversleeps · Post by **neversleeps** » Mon Jun 06, 2005 9:29 am

I know I'm displaying my ignorance here (but then, that is the one thing I do best... ). I'm looking at the picture of the Devilbiss 9100D CPAP Humidifier and the DeVilbiss® 9200D Humidifier Heater. I can't see how you fill up the humidifier chamber. Where is the hole?

Also, having only used an integrated humidifier, it seems cumbersome to have the humidifier connected by a hose to the CPAP, and then the CPAP connected by a hose to the mask. Is it? (Cumbersome, I mean...)

Also, I can't get my doc to write me a prescription for the GoodKnight 420E because he just gave me one for the REMstar Auto. Which, by the way, I bought out-of-pocket, so I don't know why he gives a rip.... do docs get penalized by the overlords for writing too many prescriptions?) Anyway, does anyone know where I can buy a GoodKnight 420E without a prescription? If so, please PM me. It may seem foolish to get another auto machine, but curiosity has gotten the better of me and I just have to know if the algorithms on the 420E are better suited to my breathing patterns. If so, I can leave it in AUTO mode instead of using it in CPAP mode as I must with my REMstar due runaway pressure.)

ozij · Post by **ozij** » Mon Jun 06, 2005 9:49 am

Try our hosts, cpap.com. I believe they just want the auto on the Rx. I don't know if they can disregard the kind, but it's worth trying.

If that's a problem, see if your dr. will give a "generic" auto Rx - simply not specifying which kind....(you want a backup, you want a lighter one for traveling, etc.)

And if you were Rested Gal, you'ld probably find a friend, or a friend of a friend, or a relative, with whom you could trade (I'll show you mine if you show me yours?) before you buy....

Good luck.
O.

neversleeps · Post by **neversleeps** » Mon Jun 06, 2005 4:22 pm

That's a good idea...

Anyone?????????

Nev · Post by **Nev** » Mon Jun 06, 2005 11:33 pm

Neversleeps wrote

[quote]I'm looking at the picture of the Devilbiss 9100D CPAP Humidifier and the DeVilbiss® 9200D Humidifier Heater. I can't see how you fill up the humidifier chamber. Where is the hole?

You fill it up through either of the hose outlets. I use a small plastic jug.

I agree it is a bit more cumbersome to have a hose to connect the humidifier to the CPAP machine, but I keep seeing posts from people having trouble with the seals between their machine and the integrated humidifier, and some from people who get water in their machines from the humidifier - e.ga. when they fill it up a bit too full.

I had a few runaways in the early morning with my 420E, but you can switch off the over-sensitive "IFL1" control and that seems to fix it up without any increase in AHI.

Kluemaster · Post by **Kluemaster** » Tue Jun 07, 2005 8:52 am

Ok, Seeing this made me not sure I wanted to buy the integrated humidifier, and I was going to order it yesterday.

The issue is this though. If I want to keep it small due to my travelling a lot for work, Then I think I am going to just have to deal with the inconveniences of using the integrated humidifier. Do you guys feel that's a correct statement?

I've got to be able to carry it with.. and until now, I NEVER check baggage.
I travel for up to 10 days with my one carry on suitcase and my laptop case. I REALLY don't want to have to go to checking luggage, at least not for the 4-5 day trips. If I have to change for the longer trips, then I'll adjust, but waiting for baggage can be a major hassle when I'm trying to make it to a customer by a certain time, etc....

Thanks,

Alan

wading thru the muck! · Post by **wading thru the muck!** » Tue Jun 07, 2005 9:38 am

Alan,

Don't hesitate to buy the integrated humidifier for your machine. The are very compact and work great. If you want to travel as light as possible, it's the only way to go.

chrisp · Post by **chrisp** » Tue Jun 07, 2005 9:58 am

As far as folks having problems with the setup. Its as easy as putting your glasses on. If you don't wear glasses, underwear. You do wear underwear. If not consider yourself mechanically challanged and pay Wader to do it for you. I hear he is looking for work. Maybe he can just draw up some picture instructions on how to hook up the hose and add water.

:twis ted:

ozij · Post by **ozij** » Tue Jun 07, 2005 12:48 pm

The issue is this though. If I want to keep it small due to my travelling a lot for work, Then I think I am going to just have to deal with the inconveniences of using the integrated humidifier

Definitely right. The intgerated humidifier is excelent for traveling: it's light, its footprint with the pb4xx is only slightly longer than the machine itself, it packs into pb's carrying bag (the new kind) perfectly.

I've just come back from a 3 week trip, including a couple of 24 hours flights. The small footprint of the combination makes it easy to find a place for it next to whatever bed you're sleeping in, and the the humidifier is a very small addition to what you carry. A bag with a PB and the integrated humidifier is much lighter than another laptop, and you can put additional things is the bag. Jannelle once posted her travel arangements - look for the post

Schlepping consideration are important - if you have them, I suggest you start out with the integrated - and if it's not good enough, keep that for travel only, and buy a more convinient one for everyday use. Personally, I didn't find that necessary.

By the way: never, ever check in CPAP equipment. You have a right to carry it in addition to any other carry on luggage - it doesn't count as luggage, it's medical equipment. Imagine not having it with you because it was mislaid, as sometimes happens with suitcases.
And it won't survive all the thumping and dumping that carry on luggage goes through.
O.

Brian000 · Post by **Brian000** » Tue Jun 07, 2005 1:19 pm

ozij wrote:
You have a right to carry it in addition to any other carry on luggage - it doesn't count as luggage, it's medical equipment.

Can you provide a link to some documentation the verify this? I can't find anything on the TSA's web site. As I understand it, you are allowed to carry on one carry-on plus one personal item (such as a purse); I've always though that a cpap would count as your carry-on. I can't find any info that indicates that you can carry on a cpap in addition to other allowaable carry-on baggage because it's medical equipment.

This may be airline policy and not regulated by the TSA, in which case could be different with different carriers or domestic vs. international routes.

I agree to never check a cpap.

neversleeps · Post by **neversleeps** » Tue Jun 07, 2005 1:29 pm

Hi. Click on:
DOT Fact Sheet

Also, here is an interesting thread:

CPAP and TRAVEL

glassgal · Post by **glassgal** » Tue Jun 07, 2005 8:36 pm

Welcome Brian000,

There were some threads about travel a while back -- do a search -- I looked up the TSA regs and posted them -- search for travel and me (glassgal) -- and you should come up with something. I have only travelled domestically -- to Hawaii from California.

I made a point of talking to the folks at the counter and at the gate -- trying to find a time when they weren't swamped and told them that I had a CPAP. They let me pre-board to be sure that I got overhead bin space! (Thanks Aloha Airlines!) They were great!

Do search out the older threads -- there is some good info there!

Choosing a Heated Humidifier ...

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