Nasal Irritation and Constant Rain Out

[Askel]

Hi again.

First, thanks for all the help so far. I am forever greatful.

I've been dealing with nasal irritation and rainout for the past two weeks now, with it getting progressively worse. In dealing with the rain out, at first I didn't understand, then the logical side of me kicked in and I moved the machine to the floor. That seemed to help for a night, then it came back as if I did nothing. Eventually my wife used some packing fabric and wrapped my hose and that seemed to help for a night, then came back. Tonight I woke up with rainout so bad the nasal pillows were actually sliding when I would exhale, and that's pretty much what woke me up.

To boot, now my nose feels like it's on fire. This problem has only really started in the last couple weeks. I try putting cream on my nose when it acts up and then putting the nasal pillows back on. Other than rain out, I'm able to sleep the rest of the night. If there is rain out, I've actually gotten good at waking up to empy the hose, then put it all back together.

I guess, since I know I have only a basic set up. 1. Do I have to make the investment in tube insulation in order to stop this, or is there another way? 2. Is this my body's way of saying "Listen man, we tried this nasal pillow and it's just not for us, change or we're gonna continue being sore..."

As always, and help provided is greatly apprecaited.

CPAP / OSA newb

Phil

[bdp522]

I use the Aussie heated hose and have no rainout problems. It is expensive but I've had mine over 2 years and it still works just fine. The other option would be to raise the temp in the room.

Brenda

[SleepyInIndy]

Are you sure that it is rainout? I have had a couple of instances where it wasn't condensation, but just excessing nasal drainage. If you are still getting rainout after putting the machine on the floor and insulating your hose, I would look at reducing your humidifier setting or even running in passover mode (dial set to 0 on your machine). Is your ambient room temperature very cool? I have found that the colder the room, the less humidification I need. I have to keep mine at no more than 1 and that works sufficient for me. The only times I get rainout is when I have inadvertantly set the humidifier setting too high. The last time was when the better half was dusting....

[Askel]

Thanks

I am pretty sure it's water and not drainage, but how can I be certain?

Betting it's water, I will try to reduce the setting. I normally have it at 2, anything less has seemed to dry me out.

Thanks again

Phil

[Gerald]

Adding to what SleepyinIndy says.......

Use Lansenoh Lanolin on your nares......available from the "nursing mommy supplies" area of your drugstore. Slather the stuff on your nares before putting on the mask. it acts as a lubricant, sealer, and nare healer.

Put (2) pieces of heavy cotton string inside your nosepiece....they act as a wick to catch the few drops of condensation caused by exhaled breath.

My hose is wrapped in flannel cotton insulation, my humidifier is set on (1), my room humidity is about 40%, room temperature is set on 67 degrees, my blower is at body level on the nightstand, my hose is suspended above me on a swinging arm....and I haven't had any rainout since August 1, 2008. That was the day I installed the heavy cotton string inside my nosepiece.

Gerald

[Askel]

Does the string just dry out during the day, or do you find yourself changing it out at all?

Also, how do you have it situated so that it does not end up blocking anything?

Thanks in advance.

Phil

[BeanMeScot]

As a less expensive solution, get a http://www.mopsdirect.us/cgi-bin/SoftCa ... us+Froogle heated reptile cord. It is 15 watts, same as the Aussie heated hose.

More of my water issues come from the nasal pillows. It helps me that I now have 2 pillows so I can switch out during the night.

[Askel]

More of my water issues come from the nasal pillows. It helps me that I now have 2 pillows so I can switch out during the night.

How is it that you're having issues because of the nasal pillows? I'm curious if I'm duplicating the problem you're having.

Everyone was pretty quick to see that I got on the nasal pillows when I was diagnosed. They do work, it's just become uncomfortable. Is there a specific reason to go the pillow route?

Phil

[BeanMeScot]

More of my water issues come from the nasal pillows. It helps me that I now have 2 pillows so I can switch out during the night.

How is it that you're having issues because of the nasal pillows? I'm curious if I'm duplicating the problem you're having.

Everyone was pretty quick to see that I got on the nasal pillows when I was diagnosed. They do work, it's just become uncomfortable. Is there a specific reason to go the pillow route?

Phil

It's just based on my experience. I got a hose huggie and the water continued, I got a mask hose huggie and the water continued, I got a reptile cord heater and the water continued. It's condensation in my pillow. I tried the string thing and it did work when I could stop it from trying to slide into my nose from the pressure. I traded on here for another pillow and being able to change out the pillow during the night definately helps. I am able to put in a dry pillow. I have also been able to turn down my humidifier from 2 to 1 and I will sometimes turn it off when I am feeling a lot of moisture.

[Askel]

Thanks again

I may have another pillow, I think I was originally set up with three. I'll try that.

Thanks

Phil

[Gerald]

Phil......

The cross-sectional area of a piece of string is minimal....so, I don't experience blockages.

The mask is dried during the day with filtered air blown from a small muffin fan out of a computer.

I only remove the string when washing my nose-piece....about once a week...or so.

Gerald

[Askel]

Gerald

Thanks again.

Phil

[Gerald]

Phil.........

I just had another thought that'll help...........

My hose goes "up" from my blower....to the hanger over my head....then, "down" to my mask. The amount of hose going "up" is about 70%....the amount of hose going "down" is 30%.

What I've formed here is the same as the J-trap under my bathroom sink....except that it's upside down.

The condensation formed inside the hose by the humidified air coming from the blower is 70% trapped....and dribbles back to the humidifier....because water can't run uphill.

That means that I only have to deal with 30% of hose condensation....affecting the part of the hose that's pointing "down" from my overhead hanger. Flannel hose insulation prevents most of the condensation in this portion of the hose.

That leaves condensation formed by exhaled breath.....inside the nose-piece..... and the string inside the nose-piece takes care of that.

Once you realize that condensation has two different sources.....and that you fight each source in different ways....you have the battle won.

Divide and conquer.....

Gerald