Hi y'all!
I'am new to the CPAP scene, and have some questions. First, here's what I'm using:
REMstar Plus, Fisher & Paykel HC 150 Ambient Tracking humidifier, and a Breeze with nasal pillows. CPAP is set at 6, and humidifier at 2. Diagnosed with mild Sleep Apnea -- I stop breathing 24 times an hour, not severe from what I'm told.
Tonight will be my 4th night with the gizmo. I must admit, I don't feel all that sleepy in the daytime now, but it is still a long way to feeling great.
I noticed that in the hoses and nasal apparatus condensation builds up, and during the night some water gathers and drips out of the pillows. And it is water, not nasal fluid. I wake up, and dry whatever I can. Is this normal?
In the morning, I empy the water pot and rinse, and detach the hoses and hang them in the bathroom to dry out. But by bedtime, they are still somewhat wet, and I can't figure out how to manually dry the pillows and nasal gizmo. I'm alittle worried of bacteria starting to grow in there. Is there a way to dry this stuff out?
Also, the filter in the back of the CPAP machine, should I rinse it out every week or just leave it alone, and what black, replace?
And when I have an upper respitory infection (which I get alot) or sinus infection (I get alot of them too), should I continue using the CPAP, or discontinue until all healthy?
Its been a real challenge sleeping with this gear. But I'm determined to persevere. I just wonder how long it will take to really feel a great improvement.
Well, thanks for whatever advice anyone can offer!
Chris
_____________
newbie w/questions
7 posts
• Page 1 of 1
-
battlin_blazes
- Posts: 72
- Joined: Mon Mar 07, 2005 7:03 pm
- Location: a cornfield in ohio
as far as the humidifier goes you can adjust the temperature down and the condensation will go away, I personally prefer no heat and use it just as a passover humidifier. It boils down to what works best for you. some people can't tolerate not having the moisture. there is also a fleece insulation you can put over the hose that is supposed to eliminate the condensation. Not sure if it works as I use no heat.
the filter should be rinsed out periodically, personally i just glance at it and see how it appears you can usually tell if it needs cleaned.
hope that helps some but honestly everyone is different, I'm three months into treatment and still not getting relief so hopefully your luck and Dr. is better then mine!! good luck.
_____________
the filter should be rinsed out periodically, personally i just glance at it and see how it appears you can usually tell if it needs cleaned.
hope that helps some but honestly everyone is different, I'm three months into treatment and still not getting relief so hopefully your luck and Dr. is better then mine!! good luck.
_____________
AND I USED TO THINK SLEEP WAS OVER RATED!!!!
-
Ann N.
Hi Chris-- welcome to our forum!!
I will try to address a few of your issues, others can fill in the gaps. First of all, I believe you have moderate osa, rather than mild. I know the severe category starts at AHI = 30. It is important that you are under treatment.
The water in the nasal pillows is called "rain out." It is the condensation from the warm humidified air going through a colder hose. There are several ways of addressing it. The first responder to your post, for instance, finds a passover humidifier, using unwarmed water, to work fine for him. Most people though are more comfortable with a heated humidifier. That way more moisture gets in the air which keeps the nasal passages from drying out over night. But that can produce condensation. To take care of it, one can turn the heat on the humidifier down lower so that no condensate forms, or one can use a hose cover, available for about $20 online, or very low cost if you make your own. Another alternative is the get a heated hose (tube) from an Australian company for around $100. It is not covered by insurance. The heated hose has to be plugged in every night when you turn on your XPAP. Many people swear by them and I personally use one on every night.
As for drying the hoses, before I got my heated hose, I had two hoses, so that I could wash one and then let it one air dry as long as it would take to dry. Others attach the wet/damp hose to their xpap and turn the xpap on and let the hose dry that way. I also use the Breeze. I have four sets of nasal pillows and in order to save time, in the morning I put the each set I used overnight in a little bowl in the bathroom and then after four days I wash all four sets at one time. I shake them out after I wash them and they seem to be pretty dry by my bedtime. If need be you can always let the xpap blow air through them before you put the interface on. I then put them away until I need them. I guess the point that I am trying to make here is that it is helpful to have backups for everything. That way you always have a clean and useable setup when you need it.
I am using a Respironics machine and it has two filters. I don't know what filters yours has. My machine has a charcoal colored foam filter and a thin white one. The foam filter I believe is to be washed every month, whereas the thin white one is to be replaced every month. Again, I don't know about your machine.
Good news for you! Many of us on xpap have fewer respiratory infections since we went on xpap. (I personally think that as we get more rest our immune systems improve.) Also, many on the board have a full face mask, which covers the nose and the mouth, so that when they do get a cold they can still use their xpap. Again, it is the redundancy of the interfaces which allows you that option.
More than enough for now!! Enjoy your sleep tonight!
Ann
_____________
I will try to address a few of your issues, others can fill in the gaps. First of all, I believe you have moderate osa, rather than mild. I know the severe category starts at AHI = 30. It is important that you are under treatment.
The water in the nasal pillows is called "rain out." It is the condensation from the warm humidified air going through a colder hose. There are several ways of addressing it. The first responder to your post, for instance, finds a passover humidifier, using unwarmed water, to work fine for him. Most people though are more comfortable with a heated humidifier. That way more moisture gets in the air which keeps the nasal passages from drying out over night. But that can produce condensation. To take care of it, one can turn the heat on the humidifier down lower so that no condensate forms, or one can use a hose cover, available for about $20 online, or very low cost if you make your own. Another alternative is the get a heated hose (tube) from an Australian company for around $100. It is not covered by insurance. The heated hose has to be plugged in every night when you turn on your XPAP. Many people swear by them and I personally use one on every night.
As for drying the hoses, before I got my heated hose, I had two hoses, so that I could wash one and then let it one air dry as long as it would take to dry. Others attach the wet/damp hose to their xpap and turn the xpap on and let the hose dry that way. I also use the Breeze. I have four sets of nasal pillows and in order to save time, in the morning I put the each set I used overnight in a little bowl in the bathroom and then after four days I wash all four sets at one time. I shake them out after I wash them and they seem to be pretty dry by my bedtime. If need be you can always let the xpap blow air through them before you put the interface on. I then put them away until I need them. I guess the point that I am trying to make here is that it is helpful to have backups for everything. That way you always have a clean and useable setup when you need it.
I am using a Respironics machine and it has two filters. I don't know what filters yours has. My machine has a charcoal colored foam filter and a thin white one. The foam filter I believe is to be washed every month, whereas the thin white one is to be replaced every month. Again, I don't know about your machine.
Good news for you! Many of us on xpap have fewer respiratory infections since we went on xpap. (I personally think that as we get more rest our immune systems improve.) Also, many on the board have a full face mask, which covers the nose and the mouth, so that when they do get a cold they can still use their xpap. Again, it is the redundancy of the interfaces which allows you that option.
More than enough for now!! Enjoy your sleep tonight!
Ann
_____________
-
Guest
Thanks for the info.
Last night I hooked up the hose directly to the CPAP machine and it and the nasal pillows dried out nicely. I dropped the heat to 1.5 and two hours later I woke up with a very dry throat -- but the hose was dry. I just took off the contraption and went back to sleep. What a mistake! When I got up in the morning, my bones were aching, my eyes burning and I was so groggy, and stayed that way all day. I think I'll just leave it at 2 and CPAP-blow the hose and apparatus dry, and just live with the "rain out".
After this morning, I don't think I ever want to sleep without the CPAP again!
Chris
Last night I hooked up the hose directly to the CPAP machine and it and the nasal pillows dried out nicely. I dropped the heat to 1.5 and two hours later I woke up with a very dry throat -- but the hose was dry. I just took off the contraption and went back to sleep. What a mistake! When I got up in the morning, my bones were aching, my eyes burning and I was so groggy, and stayed that way all day. I think I'll just leave it at 2 and CPAP-blow the hose and apparatus dry, and just live with the "rain out".
After this morning, I don't think I ever want to sleep without the CPAP again!
Chris
-
NeurosurgeryNP
- Posts: 304
- Joined: Sun Jan 30, 2005 6:58 pm
- Location: Long Island, NY
- Contact:
7 posts
• Page 1 of 1