Temp & humidity question

[Thewino]

Hello again all,

First, I've got to change masks as the bridge of my nose has started bleeding. I've tried band-aids, gel pads, and the cloth full face mask liners. Last night, I actually used all three together and still woke up sore and bleeding. I have a call in to my DME to switch masks.

My question pertains to my problem of waking up every morning with a severely dry mouth, throat, and nose. I have a humidifier. Could someone help me with the settings? I can't seem to get it right.

I live in Florida so it's 85-90 degrees outside. My air conditioner keeps my house at about 77 degrees. What setting should I put my heated tube at and what humidity level would be helpful?

Is the higher the hunidity setting mean: the more water being sent to the mask?

Thank you,

TheWino

[Pugsy]

What setting should I put my heated tube at and what humidity level would be helpful?

Is the higher the humidity setting mean: the more water being sent to the mask?

The temperature should simply be whatever is comfortable feeling to you. I like cooler in summer and warmer in winter myself.
The humidity setting..yes higher means more humidity delivered to the mask level.

Though I will say this...having a full face mask and mouth breathing doesn't always mean you won't have dry mouth syndrome.
The humidifier simply cannot provided enough added moisture for some people to overcome the drying effect of mouth breathing. There are OTC products available to help rehydrate the mouth like the Biotene products but sometimes for some people the mouth is going to dry out. It doesn't take a lot of mouth breathing to dry out the mouth...been there and done that myself. Now when using a full face mask at least therapy pressure isn't being lost with mouth breathing but the drying effect is still present and the oral cavity is simply too large for the humidifier to be able to maintain adequate moisture for some people. Don't know why it works for some at not others but maybe general hydration is a factor or mouth drying meds is a factor but it does happen for some people. Even with humidifier at max level sometimes it just can't overcome the drying effects of the air going in and out of the mouth.

[Thewino]

Thanks Pugsy. I hope to have your CPAP knowledge one day.

In the mean time, I'm glad you're here for help!

I think what is happening to me is that in the middle of the night, I start mouth breathing for hours at a time. The dry mouth and throat events were happening before CPAP therapy began. I will ensure to crank up my humidity level.

Pugsy: does the top of the Quattro FX mask go lower on one's nose than the plain Quattro mask? Also, will the Respironics masks fit the Resmed machines? The Respironics gel mask looks inviting. Anything has to be better than bleeding, right?

Thank you very, very much!!!

TheWino

[Stanley56]

I know your question wasn't about your mask, but have you tried the Hybrid? Nasal pillows for the nose and regular mask for the mouth. I had the same problem as you with normal full face masks and the Hybrid (so far) has been the answer for me. I only wish I had discovered it before I made a permanent scar on the bridge of my nose.

[chunkyfrog]

The Climateline on our S9's can be set for manual or automatic.
I found the "manual" setting to be difficult to use, and have it on automatic now.
This keeps the humidity at 80%, and I set the temperature only--wherever it feels best.

[Pugsy]

No mask ....and I repeat no mask....should ever cause pain or open sores or blisters. To me that is totally unacceptable and I would trash can any mask that did cause those problems. There are simply too many other choices in masks to have to put up with pain or sores and I wouldn't be spending extraordinary time or effort trying to make a pain or open sore causing mask, work.
Any mask that causes pain or open sores or blisters is either the wrong size, not properly fitted or simply not a good mask for one particular person to try to use.

Any mask can be used with any machine...so doesn't matter the brand of mask and/or brand of machine. So no problem there in that regard. In the past there were a few high dollar machines that couldn't use a certain mask but that isn't the case now. Problem normally is that the DME usually only maintains mask brands that go along with machine brands that they sell because they get a better price on both. Profit margin drives the stocking of supplies.

I am sorry but I have never ever used a full face mask (except of a quick trial of the Innomed Hybrid) so I have no idea how to go about fitting any full face mask optimally.
All I can do is point people to the normal resources available for fitting these masks in hopes that maybe they spot something that they are doing wrong that is causing the problem.

http://maskarrayed.wordpress.com/taming ... e-quattro/ principle is the same for both the Quattro and the Quattro FX

Video
http://www.cpaplibrary.com/full-face-masks.html

Confirm sizing by printing off a template....
http://www.resmed.com/us/assets/html/ma ... lates.html

Can you normally breathe through your nose okay during the day or do you have chronic nasal congestion problems that prohibit using a nasal pillow mask? Ask Kenwood about nasal pillows.. He's probably my most vocal convert right now.
viewtopic.php?f=1&t=87166&st=0&sk=t&sd=a&start=225
I don't remember what page the reports start after I twisted his arm and forced him to at least try the nasal pillows...but poke around in his novel a bit. There's a good chance you will learn something.

If you can't breathe through your nose well at all...
Consider the Innomed/Respcare Hybrid or the ResMed Liberty
https://www.cpap.com/cpap-masks/hybrid-cpap-mask.php
You can still mouth breathe but won't decimate your poor nose.

[John from Brookston]

Check the size of your mask. My DME "sized" me by looking at me and saying "Yep, he's a Large" and the mask wouldn't work and rubbed a sore on my nose. I downloaded the Mirage Quattro sizing guide and lo, I'm a Medium. I've worked with it and read and re-read the blog page Pugsy referenced and my mask actually does "float", at least on my nose. No trouble at all now.

I *AM* going to try a pillow mask because I hear so much good about them.

Right now I run the humidifier on full (90%) and the hose on its lowest setting (I have a heated hose). The air is cool and refreshing all night long. I run the AC to keep things at 70, too.

[Thewino]

Thank you every one. I'm working through all of the information you guys sent. The hybrid mask looks interesting.

I appreciate you'll taking the time to reply!

TheWino