Introduction

ppharman · Post by **ppharman** » Fri Oct 22, 2010 10:42 am

Hi All,

I am new to this board and have viewed enough to see that there is a lot of useful information here.

It is getting cooler and I was getting condensation in the hose and nasal pillows. I removed the humidifier and I am not experiencing any breathing problems, but it is early in this experiment.

Some questions for the board: I am considering getting the viewing software. It this useful? I used to cuddle with my wife at night, but the airstream from the nasal pillows bothers her and keeps her awake. Is there and mask that exhausts out the back?

There does not seem to be much humor around cpap machines. So here is my attempt at humor... Greeting between cpap users.. "Hey Hoser". In Canada it might be "Hello Hoser A".

Pat

Julie · Post by **Julie** » Fri Oct 22, 2010 11:33 am

! Are you a Canuck or not? Welcome to the forum (from the Maritimes). The software is terrific because you get to see in detail what's going on with your treatment every day (if you want, or less often), and so can learn to adjust things to see what works and what doesn't, as well as being able to sound erudite to your MD (who probably doesn't know zip about Cpap anyhow, and just uses the 'compliance' stats to keep the insurance company happy. The best part is that apart from how you feel in general, which certainly counts, you don't need to have new studies done every year or whenever, because you already will know almost everything there is to know about things. Plus everyone here (lots of long time experts too) can help interpret and fix almost all problems you might run into, though no one has a problem steering you to your MD if we feel that it's needed (sometimes we're real nags!).

Have you tried just turning down the humidifier, running it just in 'passover' mode? That often can help. As far as venting all over your wife, there are many different masks and some do vent up rather than out, and/or a few smarties here have also tweaked things to do that. I can't give you direct advice however, because only my cats get the benefit but I'm sure others will have some ideas.

robysue · Post by **robysue** » Fri Oct 22, 2010 11:39 am

Welcome to the forum!

So here is my attempt at humor... Greeting between cpap users.. "Hey Hoser". In Canada it might be "Hello Hoser A".

LOL. Yes, we sometimes do get too serious and some light hearted humor is nice.

Concering your condensation problems: You can search for "rainout" to get lots of ideas on how to work on it. What works for me is the following:

1) The CPAP and humidifier are BELOW the level of my matress.

2) The hose is inside a hose snuggly (you can get them from padacheek.com or here on cpap.com if you want). The snuggly helps insulate the hose and keep the air in it a bit warmer so that it can better hold the extra humidity from the humidier.

3) I run the hose under the covers with me. That again warms the air in the hose up so that it will hold more moisture. With the hose in the snuggly, it doesn't feel all cold and medical Rather, it feels rather like a stuffed toy snake to me. And there are worse things to sleep with.

Concerning:

I used to cuddle with my wife at night, but the airstream from the nasal pillows bothers her and keeps her awake. Is there and mask that exhausts out the back?

The nasal pillows mask I use (Swift FX) seems to blow far more on me than on my husband even when I'm using him as a large pillow and cuddling onto his shoulder and into his underarm. You might see if having your wife curl around you works any better. I too miss snuggling/cuddling with my spouse and am still working out how to do it.

Finally you ask about software and whether it's useful. Well it does help you track the daily data. Individual daily data may or may not mean anything in particular. There are whole threads on what the data actually means and how "what it means" may depend on "what brand machine" the data comes from. But most people here (including me) will tell you getting the software is worth it. For me, its helped confirm that my problems adjusting to CPAP have NOT been caused by massive nighttime leaks caused by breathing through my mouth---you don't get 0.0 L/min 95% Leak Rates on a ResMed S9 if you're doing heavy mouth breathing. You can also see where your machine reported AHI numbers are trending. And that can help you decide more objectively whether the therapy is working or working well for you---particularly if you're not feeling any better in the daytime than you were before starting CPAP. Finally, for me (as a mathematician) the data is simply fascinating to look at. I really don't know what it all means (yet) in terms of my therapy or in terms of how I feel in the day since I've only been using CPAP for 4 weeks and have had some adjustment issues. But even I can see from the flow data when I was clearly restless and not sleeping very soundly on many nights.

So again, welcome and best of luck!

Tielman · Post by **Tielman** » Fri Oct 22, 2010 11:45 am

ppharman wrote:There does not seem to be much humor around cpap machines. So here is my attempt at humor... Greeting between cpap users.. "Hey Hoser". In Canada it might be "Hello Hoser A". Pat

Welcome!

I guess you missed the thread discussing things Dr's, Therapists and other medical professionals have told the members. Now that was a HOOT!!

PS: I always thought that CPAPers were "hose heads"?

GumbyCT · Post by **GumbyCT** » Fri Oct 22, 2010 12:09 pm

Tielman wrote:
ppharman wrote:There does not seem to be much humor around cpap machines. So here is my attempt at humor... Greeting between cpap users.. "Hey Hoser". In Canada it might be "Hello Hoser A". Pat
PS: I always thought that CPAPers were "hose heads"?

I would be better if you could hear the voice inflection - "Hello Hoser, eh?"

The Headrest exhaust goes straight out the top of your head. eh?

Canadians always sound like they are asking a question, eh?

cflame1 · Post by **cflame1** » Fri Oct 22, 2010 12:20 pm

Don't assume that all Canadian's use the term eh, Gumby... 'cause I don't.

GumbyCT · Post by **GumbyCT** » Fri Oct 22, 2010 12:36 pm

cflame1 wrote:Don't assume that all Canadian's use the term eh, Gumby... 'cause I don't.

eh?

ppharman wrote:There does not seem to be much humor around cpap machines.

There's always one, eh?

kteague · Post by **kteague** » Fri Oct 22, 2010 12:41 pm

I love cpap humor! Sometime when you're in the mood to read, search the forum for humor and maybe even songs where they've been revised. Lots of great old stuff. Glad to have another contributing member so I can get my chuckles.

BlackSpinner · Post by **BlackSpinner** » Fri Oct 22, 2010 12:56 pm

ppharman wrote:Hi All,

It is getting cooler and I was getting condensation in the hose and nasal pillows. I removed the humidifier and I am not experiencing any breathing problems, but it is early in this experiment.

You will be wanting to put it back on as soon as the heating goes on, right eh? So get some cheap tube socks in your favourite hockey colours and cut the toes off and slide them over the hose to prevent condensation. That humidifier is a blessing in the desert dry heated home.

ppharman · Post by **ppharman** » Fri Oct 22, 2010 2:38 pm

Replying to all that commented;

I am not Canadian, but live near the border in the Pacific Northwest. Thanks for the tips on "rainout" or condensation.

I may have to modify my nasal pillow to change the exhaust direction. Quick Watson the duct tape.

scrapper · Post by **scrapper** » Fri Oct 22, 2010 4:14 pm

I use the Swift FX-------found when the exhaust rebounded off of the pillow or blankets in some positions to be annoying, same as if I was lucky enough to have a spouse to curl around. I divided a filter and taped it carefully around the exhaust vent, and it is now sufficiently diffused without any negative effect.

kempo · Post by **kempo** » Fri Oct 22, 2010 4:26 pm

Welcome aboard ppharman. Glad to have ya here.

scrapper could you show us a picture of that modified exhast? Please.

scrapper · Post by **scrapper** » Fri Oct 22, 2010 6:34 pm

I just pulled apart a cpap filter into two layers------------put one layer over the exhaust vent of the Swift FX mask, and secured it with a bit of tape on the top and bottom............I'm sorry, I don't know how to attach pictures. It doesn't stop the air from escaping as it should, but totally diffuses it so you don't notice it.

carbonman · Post by **carbonman** » Fri Oct 22, 2010 6:54 pm

ppharman wrote:It is getting cooler Pat

Yes it is.
I will be installing my Ozzy heated hose tonight.
For the winter, not only does it prevent rainout,
it makes the air nice and warm.....and it feels so nice.
When it is really cold, I put the hose under the covers w/me
and it keeps me nice and toasty.

http://www.sleepzone.com.au/showitems.a ... PAP%20Tube

Welcome!

rested gal · Post by **rested gal** » Fri Oct 22, 2010 9:11 pm

Welcome to the board, ppharman.

Aeiomed's "Headrest" nasal pillows mask has the neatest vent of any mask I've ever tried. The exhaust is up above eyebrow level and vents straight up, like a little chimney. Doesn't hit your arm, the pillow, the bedding, or... your bed partner.

LINKS to HeadRest nasal pillows mask topics (same mask has had other names: Aeiomed Aura, then Headrest, then Invacare Twilight NP, then back to Headrest again.)
viewtopic.php?t=3098

Introduction

Introduction

Re: Introduction

Re: Introduction

Re: Introduction

Re: Introduction

Re: Introduction

Re: Introduction

Re: Introduction

Re: Introduction

Re: Introduction

Re: Introduction

Re: Introduction

Re: Introduction

Re: Introduction

Re: Introduction

Machine	Mask