Surviving the Summer with my new CPAP

[CelestialCat]

Hi everyone! Nice to meet you!

I'm new to the forum, but I've been on a ResMed AirSense10 Autostart for about 7 weeks now, using an AirFit F20 full face mask. Apparently I'm one of the lucky few that seems to have gotten used to it with not too much difficulty, thankfully.

I'm happy to say that I'm beginning to feel the difference from CPAP treatment. I actually had an original thought, this morning... there's hope!

Spring has sprung though, and here in inland southern California, Summer quickly follows. So here's my main concern... having diastolic heart failure, high blood pressure and diabetes, I can't tolerate the heat AT ALL without it making me sick. I have an ancient air conditioner that I cannot afford to replace, so it barely keeps up with the 108°~115°F that we usually have for MOST of the Summer here. There's a swamp cooler in the living room but they're too big for the bedroom windows. That's why I flip my schedule for the season, to sleep thru the heat of the day and run errands either in the very early morning or late evening.

I'll be HOPEFULLY moving to a cooler climate out of state next year, but I have to find a way to survive this Summer, living with a CPAP. Please share with me your ideas for making it cooler to wear the AirFit F20. We're already up to 86°~90° and I have to find something that works before we're in triple digits. For your suggestions, please keep it cheap...funds are limited.

Thanks, everyone!
~JulieAnn

[ChicagoGranny]

For your suggestions, please keep it cheap

Sleep buck naked

[LSAT]

There is nothing the CPAP can do to cool the air for you. The air that is pressured into your hose and mask is your room air. The best you can do is put ice cubes in the humidifier tub and make sure your humidity is set to OFF. That may las for a couple hours. Hopefully your AC will hold up.

[Janknitz]

I live in Northern California. It's not as hot here except a few days a couple of times per summer, but it can be in the 90's quite often and we have no AC.

Biggest trick is to turn off the humidifier, but keep water in the tank for "passover humidification". That air is pretty cool. Sometimes I cool myself off a little by putting my wrists in front of the vents or holding up my hand to direct the vented air to my face. It is cool.

You can also make ice cubes (recommend distilled water to avoid mineral build up in your water tank) and put them in the water tank for even cooler air. I don't use the heated humidifier even in winter because of my menopausal "personal summers".

[chunkyfrog]

Dress minimally, ceiling fan, artificial tears in the morning.
The fan dries my eyes.
Only 100% cotton sheets--avoid polyester.

[ChicagoGranny]

The fan dries my eyes.

Cheap sleep mask. https://www.walmart.com/ip/Spa-Bella-Sl ... /540361703

[chunkyfrog]

The fan dries my eyes.

Cheap sleep mask. https://www.walmart.com/ip/Spa-Bella-Sl ... /540361703

I have several different masks.
None really works, but saline eye drops in the morning does the trick.
Easier than putting on another blessed thing at night.

[ChicagoGranny]

I have several different masks.
None really works,

Is it because the eye masks are porous and let the fan breeze through?

I wear a cheap mask but don't run the ceiling fan. Maybe, I should get those expensive dry eyes goggles and run the fan. The A/C could probably be set two degrees higher. That would more than pay for the cost of the goggles. If the goggles are too large, they could interfere with my CPAP mask. Maybe I will order a pair that has an easy return/full credit policy.

[chunkyfrog]

No.
I have an itty bitty nose, and air goes around every sleep mask made, because of a lousy seal.
The only real solution is teen size swim goggles, with a vent cut in
to prevent pressure or vacuum on my eyes.
Not a good solution--I look really silly at breakfast.

[CelestialCat]

Thank you, everyone, for the suggestions. I do run the ceiling fan and have to use replacement tears (not the expensive gel stuff, but replacement tears work better for me than the saline drops). I will make some distilled water ice cubes though, thank you for that suggestion.

Since posting this thread, I've been trying to find solutions to the extreme heat online because we've been getting up to 90°F already, and the air coming through that hose can be a bit stifling at times. There was a suggestion of some kind if pads that fit between the mask and face... has anyone tried those?

Mostly the problem is more about the stifling air coming at me through the hose, than facial discomfort from the mask... so far. It's early yet though. That may be an issue later, I guess. I had hoped there was a way to cool the air, just like there's a way to heat it. Thanks, everyone!