its going to break a relationship!! HELP!!

[autumnsbreeze]

hi to one and all...heres the situation, my fiancee(hes 45) has an antiquated machine(its about 7 years old) that he constantly complains about (he hates it 'cause his nose gets cold) and ends up frequently pulling it off in the middle of the night . Without it he snores loud enough to have people banging on the walls from his next door apartment neighbors..IM SERIOUS!!. the NOISE is so bad that i try to find reasons not to stay over, love does not conquer all when you fall asleep at the wheel the following morning.. he joined a newly started company 2 years ago , which does not have the funds to provide insurance , so playing hit and miss in finding the right cpap machine simply isnt viable ....what he needs is one that has both a heater and humidifier .
so folks, i could use any suggestions as to a machine that fits the bill and a reliable purchase site..
please drop me a line at fairytale54@yahoo.com
bobbie~

[Ric]

I discovered there are many "add-on" heated humidifiers, (see the earlier thread by harikarishimari about Humidifier Booster), one by DeVilbiss, and another mentioned by CAPT, the Resmed Humidaire, or HC100 or HC150 mentioned by DSM. That should warm his nose.

Add an Australian heated hose, that will keep it warm and DRY. Those can be added inline to whatever old klunker machine you are describing, without having to fork out for a whole new CPAP. Would make a nice wedding gift besides.

Hope that helps.

[sapphireskye]

First, maybe he needs to get another sleep study probably to get another machine unless he already has a script that will cover it. https://www.cpap.com which is associated with this message board has great prices if you guys are gonna purchase a machine, but you need a script for a cpap. Another site, which I saw someone mention here is

Awake in America

http://www.awakeinamerica.org/Admin/AboutUs.shtml

They provide help sometimes for sleep apnea studies and machines to some individuals.

I wish you the best of luck

Chelle

[sir_cumference]

If the problem is getting a cold nose I agree with ric, the aussie heated hose will stop that straight away without costing the earth.
sir_cumference

[yardbird]

Oh I can relate to this one.

Get a HEATED humidifier. Maybe $150 or so. It will come with hoses to connect to his current machine. A passover humidifier is not enough. The evaporative cooling from a passover humidifier makes it progressively colder until finally you feel like someone is pouring a slushie up your nose. That's what happened to me. Heated humidifier solved it.

He MIGHT be able, as someone else mentioned, to get by with just the heated hose. That's a very inexpensive option and worth the investment even without the humidifier, but for ME, the heated humidifier was the key.

I think the need for the heated humidifier will probably be relative to where you live. I live in western NY and when it gets cold up here, the air in the house gets very dry.

[LDuyer]

I agree that he likely needs a heated humidifier. It's such a must. And he can get one that connects to his machine. It's easy to connect. And if he can handle the cost of the humidifier, he doesn't need a prescription for it. The prescription is only for the cpap machine. However, some docs will also prescribe the humidifier in order for insurance to cover it.

I understand the Aussie heated hose is wonderful, although I've not needed one. And I've heard that some people cover their exisiting hose with a makeshift covering. Either they make one themselves or they can cut the ends off of old warm socks and insert the hose in them. The added covering may be enough to any rain out problem that might occur. Either way, I think it's still necessary to get a heated humidifier.


Linda

[GoodKnight]

Here is another vote for a heated hose. It costs about $100.00 and will go a long way to warm his nose. It feels great to have the nice warm air on your face in place of the normally cold blast.

Try that first and then add the humidifier if necessary.

[rested gal]

Hi Bobbi,

My hat's off to your fiancee for not quitting...for continuing to struggle to make this work. And kudos to YOU for finding this message board and explaining the problem clearly.

You said he'd been using cpap for seven years. His complaint is cold nose. Obviously he's getting along without a heated humidifier and just needs the air to be warmer. The Aussie heated hose (heated cpap tube) will do that beautifully: http://www.sleepzone.com.au

That's the cheapest solution to his cold nose problem. As others have suggested, that alone might do all he needs done. The heated hose is a good thing to have even if he gets a heated humidifier later.

If he wants a heated humidifier now, I'd get a Fisher and Paykel HC 150. It can connect to his current machine, and most important, it can also connect to ANY new machine he might get in the future.

If he wants to get a whole new machine now, I'd recommend the Respironics REMstar Auto with C-Flex. I would not buy the integrated heated humidifier with any machine. I'd still buy the separate F&P HC 150 heated humidifier to use with whatever machine he chooses. And the Aussie heated hose, of course.

If he gets that particular autopap, he can get the software (Encore Pro 1.5) for it free at the Respironics software update center website

One of the cheapest places I've seen the necessary card reader for that software is at http://www.2factors.com.
The DT3500 USB desktop "sliding + postal." $30 includes shipping to the U.S. from that Hong Kong store.

After this many years on a straight cpap, his pressure needs may be different now. An autopap will be kinda' like having a mini sleep study at home -- the machine automatically determining what pressure he needs throughout the night. I'm not a doctor, but I think it would be a VERY good idea for him to get an autopap at this point.

[sthnreb]

Not only does a heated humidifier provide warmer air, it keeps you nostrils and throat a little bit more lubricated from drying out. But it does nothing for bloat/gas..... I've always used one with mine regardless of winter (heat) or summer (A/C). It doesn't totally stop dry throat but helps immensely. Of course getting the temp set properly is a must too. Go as high as you can without rainout. Also, you can try a snuggle hose, a flannel sheath that covers the 6' hose. I started with this Respironics Bipap Pro Auto and seriously considered changing it back to a plain bipap. But once you get used to the auto and can tolerate the lower pressures, it seems to be better. We all ask questions and live and learn.

[sthnreb]

Hi Bobbi,

If he wants a heated humidifier now, I'd get a Fisher and Paykel HC 150. It can connect to his current machine, and most important, it can also connect to ANY new machine he might get in the future.

If he wants to get a whole new machine now, I'd recommend the Respironics REMstar Auto with C-Flex. I would not buy the integrated heated humidifier with any machine. I'd still buy the separate F&P HC 150 heated humidifier to use with whatever machine he chooses. And the Aussie heated hose, of course.

.

Good suggestion on the seperate heated humidifier because you can add a battery backup to a machine but it seems a humidifier is much more touchy to the proper power supply. So, if you lose power, the humidifier works as a passover and the bipap/cpap/apap continues to run on backup power.