Water in Tubing

[Concerned Mom]

We seemed to have resolved the mask problem by getting a Liberty HYBRID mask. It has been working so well that there are minimal leaks. The problem is.......we have had to use a humidifer because of the high pressures from the LTV ventilator, and even though we have it on the lowest number, there is so much water in the tubing in the morning that it is causing the ventilator to react and go a little crazy. Last night it was alarming constantly and I had to take my daughter off the ventilator. She was full of air in her belly and did not feel well this morning. I've posed this problem to her respiratory therapist via email and will have to wait to see if she can suggest anything. In the meantime has anyone experienced this problem and can you offer up any suggestions for us? Thanks so much.

[bap40]

This is a common problem... some easy fixes are to just use the humidifier as passover, no heat turned on and to use a cover over the hose. There is a gal on the board who makes and sells them or you can do what I did and make my own. Fleece is what is usually used. The problem is usually worse in the winter because of the temp differences in the hose air and the room air. Some people lower the machine itself so that it is below the bed level. This will help the water to go down instead of up. Forgot to mention that this condition is called "rainout".
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Good luck,
Brooke

[AuntieNae]

The problem with too much air in her stomach is called aerophagia.
The water in the hose is called "rain out".
Both are common problems.

As far as rainout, I use a hose cover to reduce the condensation that forms from the temperature difference between the air in the room and the air moving through the hose. You could try to make one yourself with fleece. It also takes the "hospital feel" out of the hose for me.

Here is an example:
http://www.padacheek.com/PAC_Hosecover.html

Others have found great success with the Aussie heated hose. It is on my wishlist.
http://www.sleepzone.com.au/showitems.a ... PAP%20Tube

Hopefully this helps you a bit.
I do not have experience with the aerophagia so I can not help with that .
AuntieNae

[Concerned Mom]

Thanks very much for your suggestions. I will mention the aerophagia to her doctors. Tonight I'll tuck the hose under a blanket to see if this helps. We have the humidifier on the lowest possible heat setting. Sometimes we actually hear it bubbling or "perculating" in the morning. If this doesn't work I will try covering the hose myself with some fleece and if all else fails, I'll order one of those hose covers. It always seems like you fix one problem and another one is just waiting. Anyone else feel this way?

[BeanMeScot]

It can be one thing after another. I also run my hose over my body when the machine is behind me. That way my body provides warmth to the hose, too. That plus adding a hose cover and turning down the humidity from 2 to 1 stopped the rainout issues I was having.

[AuntieNae]

It definitely feels like a balancing act for me too.