Need help with new mask & rain out

[Taxcat]

While I am new to this forum, I was diagnosed almost 2 years ago so I am not new to using my machine or having a mask that works for me.

First I have the S9 Elite with heated humidifier and climate control hose. Until recently I had been doing very well with the Fisher and Paykel Zest mask. However, it was time to replace the seals on the mask. Well, since the time I had my original Zest, F&P has changed the design of the foam cushion insert the mask uses. There are now these new cutouts in the cushion and I can no longer get a seal. It leaks where these new cut outs are. I tried a bunch of new mask styles on with my DME and decided that the best fit was the Respironics Nasal Gel Cushion Mask petite size. I do get a good seal, but hate the way the headgear attaches. Those stupid ball things are a pain in the ass.

However, my main problem is that now I am suddenly having huge problems with condensation accumulating in the mask. I never had this issue with my old Zest mask and had not changed any of my machine settings. I have tried all different air temperature settings and still get the same issue. This is really frustrating me because I am woken up every couple of hours at night when the condensation drips out of the mask. I forgot to mention that I also have a brand new Climate Line hose.

Does anyone have any suggestions as to what I can do to stop the rain out and why I am suddenly having this issue with a new mask when I was not having a problem before?

Thanks,

Elizabeth

[Pugsy]

Condensation is a byproduct of moisture in the air coming from the humidifier and moisture that is in our own breath when we exhale along with room temp which is the cooling part of the equation that cools the moisture laden warm air and forces it to lose the ability to hold onto the moisture and we get rain out.

I got lost on which mask you were using now...if it has a smaller face print then there is less room in the mask and it will "cool down" faster and release the moisture as condensation in more quantities.

What is the temp setting on the humidifier? If you can increase it a bit perhaps it will stay a bit warmer at the mask level and not let things cool off so much.. (never mind...I just read you have tried all the different settings) Or increase bedroom temperature. Or create some sort of hose cozy for the short hose to the mask so that the air stays warmer in the mask. Not much we can do with the moisture that gets introduced into the mask from our own moisture laden breath. So we have to try to keep the mask from allowing the temperature to drop within the mask because that is when the condensation will occur.
Other alternative is to reduce the overall humidity going into the mask but sometimes that is not comfortable and sometimes that is not enough to prevent the condensation from the moisture in our breath.

If your mask had a "mask" cozy....like I have the barrel cozy ([url]http://www.padacheek.com/PACSwiftII_Barrel_cozy.html[/url)...that would likely help.
Not sure how practical that idea might be though with your type mask.
Perhaps a short hose cozy for the part of the hose that is not heated.
Or increasing bedroom temp a bit.

[ems]

I had rain out once and didn't like it one bit! DME suggested to lower the humidifier from 3 to 2 1/2. It worked... never had rain out again. I think it has to do with room temp and where you live. Also, it helps to have your machine lower or at least level with your mattress.

[Taxcat]

Thanks for the suggestions. I do believe that the overall footprint of the comfort gel mask is smaller than the footprint of the Zest mask. Also, I think there are fewer exhilation ports in the comfort gel mask than the Zest and the ports on the comfort gel are much further down the connector tube than the Zest.

I talked with my DME this afternoon and he recommended the following:
1. lower the temperature on my machine (I have already tried it as low as 61 degrees), but will try it again.
2. To only have 1/4 inch of water in the humidifier. He referenced some recent study that indicated that if there is more water than can be used in one night in the humidifier it will cause rain out.

I will try my DME's suggestions tonight and see if it helps. If this doesn't work, I will try some of the other suggestions or try to go back to my old Zest mask.

The sort of good news is that my DME also told me that he thinks he has some of the old Zest foam inserts around as samples that he can give me so that I can keep using my old Zest mask which I liked much better for a bit longer. He was out of town when I tested out new masks to replace the Zest so I was not aware that he had any samples when I ordered this new mask.

Can I just say that I am so mad at F&P for making this stupid change to their mask. How they think that putting these odd curved cut outs in the foam will help it seal better is beyond me.
Elizabeth

[Pugsy]

2. To only have 1/4 inch of water in the humidifier. He referenced some recent study that indicated that if there is more water than can be used in one night in the humidifier it will cause rain out.

Okay, that makes no sense at all but whatever....
Be careful you don't run out of water....that plastic stinks to high heaven when it overheats.
I have been there and done that. Nasty smell.

Again...if the condensation is from your own exhaled breath...you could have rain out even without using a humidifier. Many people complain about it and say they either don't use a humidifier or use one in passover mode with no heat at all and still end up snorting water.

[archangle]

The little ball things are frustrating, but sometime after using them for a while, they'll suddenly become natural and will go on and off without even thinking about it.

Just be glad you don't have the old style ComfortGel mask where the clip holder part of the mask would break. Respironics fixed that a few years back.

[Taxcat]

Well, I tried the suggestions by my DME last night and immediate rain out occurred. Then I maxed out the temp at 86 degrees on my machine and I still had rain out. I do believe that it is being caused by my own breath when I exhale. This mask does not appear to have very good exhilation ports

I switched back to my old mask in the middle of the night. No rain out whatsoever. I really hope my DME has a way for me to get the old replacement foam cushions for my Zest mask. I do so much better with that mask.

Thanks to all for the suggestions, but I do not think this mask is going to work out long term.

Elizabeth