Brea here again with more questions regarding masks, gel, et

Brea · Post by **Brea** » Fri Sep 09, 2005 7:33 pm

Hi friends,
I did get the Swift nasal pillows and was excited to be able to see while trying to breath! Seemed to be doing fine until nose bloody. I had advice to try KY Gel or similar and did it on first night. But my poor nose was very sensitive air I guess.
Would using humidifier help or hurt more?
What is Ayr gel? Better that others?
I had to temporarily get another nasal mask until I am healed up more, but could be soon.
I go back to Dr next week so I am trying to get as many hours logged as possible. However, right now I am traveling again and will be back home Monday.
So glad to hear that Jan (who said husband was ENT doc) had an alert day!!Gives one hope !! It's all I do sometimes to spell alert , much less feel it! Anyway thanks again for the help!! Brea

Fatigue Fighter · Post by **Fatigue Fighter** » Fri Sep 09, 2005 7:42 pm

Dear Brea,
A bloody nose? That must be miserable. I started with low humidity and gradually increased it as my nares adjusted to the air. I now have it at 3 on my Remstar humidifier (but I live in California where it is not humid). I used a gel right from the start and it helps tremendously. Hope your nose heals real soon.
FF

Brea · Post by **Brea** » Fri Sep 09, 2005 7:59 pm

Thanks FF for your quick reply again!
I thought the first 2 nights I was humidifying because I had put water in it but realized it wasnt on. That is because I need more info. Where do you set the #3 etc. for humidifier?
I am in Fla where it is humid too, but nose is in need of something!

Thanks everyone.

rock and roll · Post by **rock and roll** » Fri Sep 09, 2005 8:06 pm

If you are getting bloody nose problems, I would bet you are using too small a size. Try going up a size. Humidifiers are important to have and will help, but it should notg be giving you a bloody nose. Ayr is very good and won't harm your interface.

WAFlowers · Post by **WAFlowers** » Sat Sep 10, 2005 8:21 am

Brea wrote:I am in Fla where it is humid too, but nose is in need of something!

I'm also in Florida, but the air conditioning pulls so much humidity out of the air that using a heated humidifer for my APAP is a must!

Brea · Post by **Brea** » Sat Sep 10, 2005 8:40 am

Hi again!
I tried the humidifier last night for my dry nose problem (healing up to try the Breeze again).
I am still not sure I am doing it right. I just pushed the Heat button on the machine (after putting water in it !) I can't set this machine manually since the Tech has it set on 6. I noticed FF said he set his humidifier on 3. Or am I mistaken? Anyway I had it on approx 5 hours before I took it off. This morning my throat was very dry but after a few cups of hot tea, throat is good!
Do I need more help on the humidifier??Is there just one temperature??No cool moist air?
Still learning and trying.
Thanks everyone!
Brea

Margaret · Post by **Margaret** » Sat Sep 10, 2005 8:45 am

I agree with all the above advice.

I have a small to medium size nose and I use the largest size (adjusted loosely) without leaks. I do use another mask if my nose is sore or healing.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sat Sep 10, 2005 9:01 am

Brea:

i agree with margaret and rock and roll, try a larger size pillow. also you can try using the humidifier as a pass-over-that is do not turn the heating unit on at all, just put water in the humidifier and let the cpap blow air (at your pressure setting) through the humidifier. this will give cool humidification to your therapy. it gives a little less moisture than the heated humidifier but for some people it is all that is needed and eliminates some other problems with HH. i personally do not use any type of humidification although i have both a cross-over and HH unit for my two machines. when i am in arizona at my brothers or in utah at my sons or las vegas etc, where it is much drier i sometimes use the cool cross-over humidifier with my PB-420.

hope this helps,

best to you,

steve,
ufo13

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sat Sep 10, 2005 9:04 am

Brea:

that was me above. get GUESTED A LOT on this site!

steve,
ufo13

Brea · Post by **Brea** » Sat Sep 10, 2005 9:07 am

I meant trying to use the Swift again! I am traveling and dont have all my info here. Anyway........
I received 3 sizes but the Techie said I should use the small one. I did the first couple of nights but then tried the medium since I remembered others using the med and larger ones.
Why should that make a difference as far as dry nose? Or is it just better to get more air in?
Thanks all.
B

Margaret · Post by **Margaret** » Sat Sep 10, 2005 9:38 am

Brea

I imagine that the large pillow is gentler on your nose for a number of reasons.

Imagine water through a hose where you can increase the water pressure by adjusting the nozzle. The small pillow is forcing the air through a smaller hole (if the hole were the thickness of a needle imagine the damage it could do).

The large pillow doesn't go as far into your nose, resting on less sensitive tissue. I also find I can wear the larger pillow more loosely without leaks. The looser I have the pillow the more comfortable it feels.

I think the larger pillow is more flexible and therefore feels softer. I imagine how soft the rubber would feel if was a foot wide.

Probably none of this is accurate but give the large pillow a try and see what you think.

Margaret

rock and roll · Post by **rock and roll** » Sat Sep 10, 2005 9:41 am

The larger pillow is less invasive to your nares and will form a better seal. The Swift should not make your nose bleed. Switching to the larger size has cured this same problem in others.

neversleeps · Post by **neversleeps** » Sat Sep 10, 2005 9:44 am

Margaret, isn't it like 2a.m. where you are? Shouldn't you be sound asleep ---large nasal pillows and all????

Margaret · Post by **Margaret** » Sat Sep 10, 2005 10:21 am

2.20am on the east coast. Thanks for reminding me.
Goodnight

neversleeps · Post by **neversleeps** » Sat Sep 10, 2005 10:24 am

Sure, you SAY you're going to bed... but we know better! You'll be up, perusing cpaptalk for hours and hours and hours and hours....

Brea here again with more questions regarding masks, gel, et

Brea here again with more questions regarding masks, gel, et

How do you set the humidifier to a certain number?

Re: How do you set the humidifier to a certain number?