M Series heated humidifer too small?

[frapilu]

After having used an old Respironics Remstar Pro with a nice big humidifier chamber for the past 5 years, I've just gotten a nice new M Series apap with aflex with the M series heated humidifer. It's a cute little thing but I'm wondering whether I'm alone at finding it too small?

I need high humidity. I have dry mouth from drugs & medical conditions. In addition, because I mouth breathe, I use a quattro full face mask so I need the humidifer at the maximum. My first few nights were work nights, so shorter sleep. With the humidifier at maximum, the chamber was pretty close to empty in the morning. So this weekend, I found myself waking up early coughing away with an empty humidifier that I had to refill. Not amusing at all.

If others have this problem, what do you do? I know that Hawthorne uses an HC150 standalone humidifier. Is that what others do or do you keep an extra M series chamber nearby to exchange when the first one empties?

France

[sleepngo]

If you require that much humidity, than the HC-150 is your best bet, I only set mine to 1 or by-pass most of the time, so very seldom go below half a tank.

Dan

[6PtStar]

My intergrated one leaked so bad it messed up the heating element. I went to the HC150. Love it, never looked back!

Jerry

[Hawthorne]

If you like a high humidity, the M Series is definitely too small. If you
get the HC150 stand alone you will get more efficient humidifation and probably won't need the M Series one. I don't use a lot of humidity, especially in the summer (I'm using passover right now), but I have stored my M Series one away for travel maybe. In winter, I expect to use my stand alone with a higher humidity but I expect I can get by with a lower setting than on the M Series and on my old Remstar and be very comfortable. The HC150 has a tank comparable in size to the old Remstar tank.

[Hawthorne]

P.S. - I have a dry mouth from drugs and medical conditions as well. I think I told you I mouth breathe too so I tape my mouth. You use a full face mask. These are good reasons to get a stand alone HC150!
By the way, I also use Biotene mouthwash at bedtime. It is for dry mouth. Really helps too!

[frapilu]

sleepnogo -- I truly wish I could manage with less humidity but even with high humidity, I have to have a bottle of water and losenges on the nighttable.

6PtStar -- I'm wondering whether mine might be leaking since it empties so quickly. I keep meaning to check if the heating element is wet in the morning but I keep forgetting.

Hawthorne -- The HC-150 sounds very good from you, sleepnogo and 6PtStar but it looks so big in the picture! I don't have a lot of room on the floor between the bed & nighttable. I'll have to check if cpap.com has dimensions on their site. Did you get it from cpap.com or here in Canada? I've taped my mouth before but found I often had to rip off the tape to take a sip of water. I started stealing venti-sized straws from Starbucks so I could have a straw in the bottle that was long enough But, I do plan to give taping and a nasal mask another try now that I have a machine than is data capable. I've tried Biotene toothpaste, which didn't impress me, but haven't tried the Biotene mouthwash. I'll put it on my grocery list for this weekend and give it a try.

Thanks all. I see I'll have to seriously look into the HC-150.

France

[Hawthorne]

I bought mine from cpap.com. Things are much too expensive in Canada for sleep apnea. There was one for sale on cpapauction.com the last tme I looked. I have had some good deals on masks from there.
There is a tray thing that comes with the HC150. Your machine and the humidifier, with it's hose attachment sit on it. I just measured and the tray takes up 15" on the little low table I have beside the bed for cpap stuff. Machine and humidifier sit nicely on the little table.

[6PtStar]

A little big but it comes with a tray and I put a little piece of velcro on the bottom of my cpap and fasten it to the tray and it all move together and on the tray it can even hang off the table.



Jerry

[frapilu]

Hawthorne -- thanks for the measurement. I'll measure around the bed & nighttable and see how to manage it. That's 15" across, right? How many inches deep, please, if you don't mind? I'm not sure yet about cpapauction.com although I'll probably eventually buy from there.

Jerry -- thanks for the picture. Seeing it beside the M series helps.

Thanks both
France

[6PtStar]

The tray is 10" X 15". That should give you a scale.

Jerry

[sleepngo]

Frapilu, This might be a long shot for you, but if you can get your hands on a used Liberty ff mask with nasal pillows, try applying a piece of Saran warp cut a little bigger than the mouth cushion and than apply to the cushion than to your face, like you normally would. I used this method to train myself to stop mouth leaking. In the process I found that the saran warp caused my mouth to create a lot of saliva and my lips were moist too.

Might work for you too, that is keep your mouth moist.

Dan

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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): Nasal Pillows

[deepurpleprincess]

Yes I have the same problem. unfortunately I am stuck with it. Only thing I am worried about is the fact I might be moving to Montana from Florida. Florida is humid so I don't have to crank it up high, but Montana is low humidity so it's going to be a problem. I don't know why the make the tank so darn small. Mine is starting to leak as will and I have no clue why.

[Hawthorne]

Yes, it is 15" wide and it's about 10 1/4" deep. The height is about 1/2 inch.
You do have to be careful on cpapauction.com. I got caught once and paid but did not receive the mask. I appealed through PayPal but they could do nothing. I'm cautious about "new sellers" now and really read the feedback people give about a seller.

[frapilu]

Thanks Hawthorne & Jerry for the measurements. I'm going out tonight but will check things out tomorrow night to see what I can do.

sleepnogo -- thanks for the thought but I couldn't use the liberty ff mask. Just couldn't figure out without a mirror and a lot of fiddling how to put it on. I think I'm more likely to try chapstick and taping instead.

deepurpleprincess -- I guess you might have to consider an HC150 standalone humidifier too I've heard that leaking is a current problem with the M series tanks. I really can't understand why a company that makes sleep apnea products would make a tank that when you use it at maximum humidity only allows you to sleep 6 or so hours. Seems to me they should have aimed for 8 hours at least?

Thanks
France

[6PtStar]

I've heard that leaking is a current problem with the M series tanks. I really can't understand why a company that makes sleep apnea products would make a tank that when you use it at maximum humidity only allows you to sleep 6 or so hours. Seems to me they should have aimed for 8 hours at least?

Thanks
France

The newer chambers are not supposed to be as bad about leaking as the older ones were. The new ones have a big black latch and larger rubber seal on the tank. Below is a reply I got back from Respirionics when I asked about the running dry problem.


"Dear patient,

The CPAPS were tested at a setting of 5(the highest) and a pressure of 20cm. They lasted 7 to 8 hours. There are some things which will affect that time. The first thing is a large mask leak will cause faster air flow which uses the water faster. The second is the temperature of the room (cool to cold),and the third is the humidity ( dry) in the room. These all will shorten the time which the water will last. If the water runs out before you wake, the heater will not burn up. It does not go above 145 degrees on the heating plate. That is not high enough to do any damage. If you should wake at some time, it is quite alright to add water if you wish.

Product support"

Jerry