New CPAPer - Needs Help on Machine Type

Slinky · Post by **Slinky** » Sat Dec 08, 2007 8:29 am

RestedGal, what don't you like about the Resmed humidifier, other than that it is an integrated humidifier and doesn't have the capacity of the F&P stand alone HC 150?? The only complaints I've seen about it are the same as with the "classic" pre-M series Respironics integrated humidifier - that in very dry conditions sometimes they can't provide enough humidity for some of us. Of course the design of the M series humidifier is the beef w/the M series humidifier w/its great potential for getting water into the xPAP itself if not handled carefully and correctly.

If one doesn't travel a lot, I agree 101% about the stand alone F&P 150 heated humidifier. I have an old F&P HC 100 and it is a honey. It really saved my bacon when I had the rental pre-M Series Respironics Auto last winter!

DreamStalker · Post by **DreamStalker** » Sat Dec 08, 2007 9:13 am

I had the H3i and it is "weak" in that it does not put out very much heat. I needed to use it turned to almost max, the water ran out a couple of times, and I live in the south. The HC150 on the other hand I only need to turn up about one fourth and the water has never run out.

I don't travel but when I have, taking the HC150 is no big deal. Because of my experience with the ResMed HH I did not even consider getting the integrated for the Respironics APAPs I now have. Instead I have two HC150s.

rested gal · Post by **rested gal** » Sat Dec 08, 2007 11:54 am

Slinky wrote:RestedGal, what don't you like about the Resmed humidifier

All the things that DreamStalker mentioned were what I didn't like about the resmed H2i humidifiers I used. Have not tried the H3i. The H2i's had to be turned up all the way to give me the same kind of heated humidification I got at a low to medium heat setting with the "classic" Respironics integrated humidifier, or with the F&P on its lowest settings.

Besides the wimpy heating, a major thing I didn't like about it was refilling the resmed water chamber. I much prefer just "adding more distilled" each night and not dumping the unused water out. Both the F&P and the classic REMstar humidifiers are a piece of cake to "add more" without removing the water chamber at all.

Having to remove the M water chamber to fill it is why I don't like the M's either. Along with not enough capacity and an apt-to-leak design when they first came out, which may or may not be fully addressed by now.

Minor annoyances to me with the resmed humidifier were the way the little light came on and off intermittently (I suppose the heat was designed to turn on and off all the time -- silly, imho) and the way the machine would keep blowing at a low pressure after stopping treatment, to dry things out.

LOVE that F&P HC 150!

Slinky · Post by **Slinky** » Sat Dec 08, 2007 8:30 pm

Well, I have no experience w/the H2i but do have the H3i and did have the Respironics "classic's" integrated humidifier and I found no difference in settings and results between the two. Definitely, the F&P did more at lower settings than either of the two.

I don't empty my H3i every night. I just add more distilled water. I keep a small funnel sitting on top of my gallon jug of distilled water as I found that more convenient than pouring from the gallon jug to a smaller bottle to put the distilled water in the humidifier. Tho adding from the smaller bottle didn't require the funnel.

The light to indicate the H3i is on is so small I never even notice it!! I admit at first it bothered me that the blower stayed on low for awhile but now appreciate that it is drying things out. But then at first I had been popping the cover open for that very reason until I realized why the blower stayed on for a while.

ColinP · Post by **ColinP** » Mon Dec 10, 2007 3:10 pm

On the equipment side, I can't offer anything to this discussion, but I can say that no matter what humidifier I use, I'll always empty it out before refilling it, for the same reason I do that on my kettle - if you leave the same water in there you will eventually get scale forming, and by dumping the older water which has a higher concentration of salts you should be able to go for longer before needing to deal with that.

I hope my ResMed H3 keeps me going when it gets to winter, right now it's not really an issue - it's 11 at night and is still nearly 30 degrees celcius and the humidity is around 90% or more.

Colin

rested gal · Post by **rested gal** » Mon Dec 10, 2007 3:29 pm

ColinP wrote:On the equipment side, I can't offer anything to this discussion, but I can say that no matter what humidifier I use, I'll always empty it out before refilling it, for the same reason I do that on my kettle - if you leave the same water in there you will eventually get scale forming, and by dumping the older water which has a higher concentration of salts you should be able to go for longer before needing to deal with that.

What you're describing, Colin, is true....if you don't use distilled water.

If you use only distilled water in the humidifier, there's no scale at all. None. Months go by without my dumping the unused water out of the humidifier. Just adding more distilled water. The water chamber stays crystal clear. No scale anywhere, not on the plastic walls or floor of the chamber. Nowhere.

darotem · Post by **darotem** » Fri Dec 14, 2007 6:39 am

Thanks to all for your helpful inputs. I have changed the mask to Ultra Mirage II and everything is much quieter. However, it is hard for me to get used to the new mask. I feel pressure on my upper lip and nose regardless of the adjustments I have made. I'll ask to try another mask.

darotem · Post by **darotem** » Thu Dec 27, 2007 3:19 pm

Just a short update. I have switched again to the Respirinics Profile Lite Nasal CPAP Mask with Headgear. I have it for a week and it seems that I have got used to it much better than the two previous ones. Hope this will be my choice for a while.

Thanks to all for your great inputs.

Happy Holidays.