Newbie in Despair- Mask Only Rainout!

[AttitudeofGratitude]

Hello Everyone!!
I have been reading around on this site and you all are definitely the best!! I have been especially interested in the issue of rainout. When I did my sleep apnea titration, with a take home CPAP without a humidifier, I had rainout in the mask (before I knew it was called rainout, I called it Disgusting Condensation..LOL).

Now I have my own CPAP (with heated humidifier) and mask, and while I am only at the beginning of Week 2, I am sleeping through the night. BUT.. if I turn over, the condensation begins dripping on my face and it feels like I imagine waterboarding to feel.. Soo.. In the interest of not becoming long-winded, I was wondering if anyone has any solutions for condensation in the Mask Only!! I have checked the tube daily and there is no condensation there. Thank you in advance for any advice/suggestions you may have.

[BleepingBeauty]

Hello Everyone!!
I have been reading around on this site and you all are definitely the best!! I have been especially interested in the issue of rainout. When I did my sleep apnea titration, with a take home CPAP without a humidifier, I had rainout in the mask (before I knew it was called rainout, I called it Disgusting Condensation..LOL).

Now I have my own CPAP (with heated humidifier) and mask, and while I am only at the beginning of Week 2, I am sleeping through the night. BUT.. if I turn over, the condensation begins dripping on my face and it feels like I imagine waterboarding to feel.. Soo.. In the interest of not becoming long-winded, I was wondering if anyone has any solutions for condensation in the Mask Only!! I have checked the tube daily and there is no condensation there. Thank you in advance for any advice/suggestions you may have.

Hi, and welcome aboard.

If you fill in your profile with your equipment (User Control Panel, top left of the page), that information will appear in each of your posts on the forum, and we'll be able to offer more specific suggestions for any problems you're experiencing.

My first questions: What mask are you using? What setting is your humidifier on?

If your bedroom is on the cool side, you might try lowering your humidifier setting so that there's less of a temperature difference between the air in the mask and the air in the room. If you were comfortable without a humidifier during your sleep study, you may opt to not use the humidifier at home, or you might use it in "passover" mode (i.e., the tank filled with distilled water, but no heat applied). Even though you're not seeing any condensation in the hose, itself, you might want to consider a fleece hose cover.

Some people find that a cotton wick inside the mask takes care of the condensation you're experiencing, but that solution depends on which mask you're using. Once we know more about your equipment, we can offer more advice.

In the meantime, I hope that helps.

[Jersey Girl]

Ah, I see that you have a Comfort Gel Nasal Mask - my first mask too! I had a lot of condensation in my mask and when I turned over, dripped down my chin. I got a lovely, warm, cozy fleece hose cover from http://www.padacheek.com - around $30 or so. Also you should know that I get the most condensation from my Comfort Gel. (I have 3 masks.) There is a mask very similar to the comfort gel called a Mirage Soft Gel - it is made slightly differently, but still gives that softness on the cushion - I experience almost no rain out with that one. I sleep with my warm humidifier on number 2. A hose cover will definitely help with the rain out in your mask. There is one hose cover that may eliminate the rain out in your mask entirely - An Aussie heated hose. It costs about $140.00 and comes from Australia: http://www.sleepzone.com.au/showitems.a ... PAP%20Tube'.

So don't despair - there is an answer to this one!

Warmly,

Jersey Girl

[MarylandCPAPer]

I have not used the same mask as you but when I started CPAP therapy, the DME told me to be sure the CPAP machine was lower than I was when using it. I have had no problem with rainout--maybe just lucky--even though I keep my humidifier set at its highest setting--5. Just a suggestion, in case it may help. Good luck with your treatment!

[pdean44]

I am going to have to try the 2 setting next time. I had slight rain out today. Been adjusting it up and down trying to find the right setting. i bought a fleece hose cover. Just ordered a chin strap so on to the next phase of experimentation. One night i had everything perfect and the next something changed so who knows.

[AttitudeofGratitude]

Thank you everyone, your answers were very helpful. Before posting, I had read alot about the rainout coming from the hose, but it was hard to find anything on "mask only". Super helpful though, thankfully I have already started knitting a hose cover, if anything to make that zip-zip sound disappear.