Rainout ?...Also, new DME, new Machine! :D

[CollegeGirl]

Well, my machine has over 12000 hours on it now and is three years old (so it could still go another two) but I have new insurance, and I've hit my out-of-pocket max for the year which means they're picking up EVERYTHING money-wise. So... new APAP here I come! I've found out there's a DME locally owned by the Goodman family (Hi Johnny! ) and I've already had my doc contact them. They've already called me once to let me know she did - they're calling me back this afternoon once all the details are ironed out.

I can't wait to experience an actual helpful DME for once in my life. Here's hoping my doc's office didn't botch the script. They're notorious for messing up.

I'll let y'all know how it goes, so everyone with Apria can be jealous. *grin* (I'm kidding... I only say that because I had to deal with Apria's incompetence for so long).

Now, my question - I've had the same machine and mask for a couple of summers now and I've always spent summers in the same place. The only thing that's changed is the brand of window unit a/c I'm using. But I've suddenly developed significant rainout, where I never had it before. I don't use a humidifier at all. I thought maybe I was keeping things colder than I had in previous years, so I started raising the temp on the a/c - my room is at 71 now, warmer than I usually like, and I'm *still* getting rainout (usually a good half-teaspoon is in my mask by morning). I really like to sleep with cool air, so I'm hesitant to use a hose cover or anything. I'm actually managing to get this water up my nose at night, and it's causing sinus issues when it happens.

Has anyone else started developing rainout suddenly for no reason at all? Any suggestions? Thanks.

[ozij]

Have you by any chance switched to a new seal? The seal thickness makes a difference.
Is you APAP running at the same pressures? Lower pressure makes for more rainout.

Congrats on getting a new machine!

O.

[DreamStalker]

The other significant factor that affects rainout besides temperature is relative humidity. You could get yourself a room dehumidifer ... but the hose cover may be the cheaper alternative.

[CollegeGirl]

Have you by any chance switched to a new seal? The seal thickness makes a difference.
Is you APAP running at the same pressures? Lower pressure makes for more rainout.

Congrats on getting a new machine!

O.

Nope, same seal, same pressure. BUT now that you say that, I wonder... it FELT like to me that my pressure was suddenly lower one day. And after three years, I know it's not just a matter of "getting used to it." I thought it was likely just my imagination, and I adjusted. Checked my data, everything looked kosher. Maybe I'll ask my new DME to use the manometer on this old machine and make sure it's still blowing the right pressure. Maybe it's not anymore - sounds like that might account for the rainout. Good call, O! Thanks!

Dreamstalker, if it's not a machine problem, I'll definitely consider a dehumidifier. But you're right - a hose cover would be cheaper.

[ozij]

Have you by any chance switched to a new seal? The seal thickness makes a difference.
Is you APAP running at the same pressures? Lower pressure makes for more rainout.

Congrats on getting a new machine!

O.

Nope, same seal, same pressure. BUT now that you say that, I wonder... it FELT like to me that my pressure was suddenly lower one day. And after three years, I know it's not just a matter of "getting used to it." I thought it was likely just my imagination, and I adjusted. Checked my data, everything looked kosher. Maybe I'll ask my new DME to use the manometer on this old machine and make sure it's still blowing the right pressure. Maybe it's not anymore - sounds like that might account for the rainout. Good call, O! Thanks!

Dreamstalker, if it's not a machine problem, I'll definitely consider a dehumidifier. But you're right - a hose cover would be cheaper.

Check for leaks, CG; One of my Headrests devloped a small tear on the top - where the tube joins the swivel - and I remember the same happened to Goose.

O.

[amos]

Graduate Girl,

I do not have an answer for your question. I just wanted to say, "Hi."

amos

[Gerald]

I suspect that what you are experiencing is rainout caused by exhaled breath.

You and I are using the same mask.....and I solved my rainout problem by inserting a couple of 6" pieces of cotton string inside the nosepiece.

I've been rainout-free since september of last year.

If you want to stop your problem, PM me and I'll send pictures of how I did it. It's a simple fix....easy to do..."blessed" by "Mother Superior" (Rested Gal).

Gerald

[CollegeGirl]

Hahaha, did you get a lab rat trophy for it, Gerald? Sure, I'd like to look at what you did. I'm having trouble picturing it. I'll PM.

O, the first thing I do when I get in bed tonight (10 minutes from now) is check for that. Thanks!

Amos - HI! *waving furiously!*

[sleepyprm]

Gerald, you just put two 6-inch pieces of thread in the nosepiece? How? Did you just lump them in there, or stretch them out? They didn't come out into your nose at all??? Ok, stop laughing, I'd really like to know. I experience rainout sometimes, and I use almost all of the advice from this forum: put the machine much lower than my head (the bottom level of the nightstand); hose cover; made the room warmer. This works most of the time.

[bdp522]

Here is the thread about the string fix...with pictures!

viewtopic/p306301/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=3 ... 21#p287921

Brenda

[Gerald]

Brenda......

Thanks for posting the pictures...........

Sleepy.......the purpose of the string is to act as a "wick"....to catch the two or three big drops of moisture that form from exhaled breath.

The string fix is not meant to prevent rainout condensation caused by condensation from the air coming from the humidifier.

It helps to understand that rainout is caused by two different factors.....exhaled breath condensation.....and humidifier condensation. Attack them separately....divide and conquer.

The string fix absolutely works.

To test all aspects, I've used the same pieces of string since September of last year.....no exhaled breath rainout....and absolutely no problems.

Gerald

[sepool]

I got severe rainout once staying in a motel room - I was running the window AC unit full blast, but I suspect that the AC wasn't draining water outside like it should - so it was more humid in the room than it should be. A working AC should lower the humidity, by draining the water outside.

[Gerald]

Holiday Inn Express?

[sepool]

Holiday Inn Express?

It was a bit lower down the food chain than that. Kinda rustic and 60's original.

[AllOwnersManual]

Not sure if this will help or not, but i know that if you are able to tuck the tubing under the blankets with you it will keep the tubing warm, thus reducing rainout.

Fishey and Paykel also have the Heated tubing which some patients love more then the pressure reductions features on the Resmeds and Respironics