Nasal Congestion

[uvabigm]

Hi All,

I have been using CPAP for the last week and seem to have worked out a few issues. I had severe dry mouth, which was solved by a different FFM that cut down on leaks. I am now able to get a solid 5-6 hours each night and could probably do longer.

The new problem I am having is with nasal congestion. I talked to me RT and she suggested more humidification. I changed the setting for the SYSTEM one humidifier to off so I now have the classic humidification set to C5. This has helped a lot, but I get a lot of condensation in the tube and mask. This does not bother me, except when I change sleeping positions as I get some spray. Is there a negative/down side to too much humidification?

My DME did not give me the heated tube humidifier. They said there was no need. Would the heated tube help? If it would, is the best way to get a prescription from my doctor?

Thanks.

[Julie]

Hi, you can also get congested from too much humidity, so have to find the right level for yourself. If the machine sits higher than you, you'll get some water flowing into the mask too, so make sure it's level or lower than your head.

The heated hose may or may not help depending on you and your local conditions (cold or hot room, air, humidity, etc), but it's not for whoever told you it was unnecessary to make that decision! If it's not the insce. co. dictating those things (but your cheap DME or ignorant doctor), then you should definitely try to get the hose and decide for yourself whether it helps, especially in different seasons.

[Pugsy]

The heated hose would pretty much eliminate the condensation. It keeps the air warmer in the mask and hose and warm air retains the moisture better. It's when the air cools that the moisture is released.
The condensation won't hurt you but it is annoying and can/will disturb your sleep so that part of it makes it unwanted.

The 60 series machines require a special lid and power supply in addition to the heated hose.
There is an upgrade kit that contains the necessary equipment.
https://www.cpap.com/productpage/pr-hea ... e-kit.html
It's easy to do it yourself. I did mine.

You might check your machine and make sure that you don't already have the lid and power supply that is needed.
The lid has to have the little thing for the power supply to heat the hose and the power supply has to be 80 watt instead of 60 watt.

Your DME can get you that upgrade kit if they just would. No RX is required as it is really considered part of the humidifier...just an option. Getting the doctor to write the RX specifically for it would light a fire under their butts though.

Otherwise you could make some sort of hose cozy to help insulate the hose and hopefully prevent the cooling that causes the condensation but I have been there and the heated hose makes it so much nicer plus you can take it off of Classic mode and set it to a setting of 3 which will give you 90% humidity and not have the weight of the hose cozy to bug you.
Plus the temperature of the air in the hose to your mask is independent of the humidity setting. So you don't have to have really warm air if you don't want to. I leave my humidity setting the same year round but change the air temp....warmer air for winter and cooler for summer.
You can read about the setting options here
https://www.cpap.com/productpage/pr-sys ... ifier.html

My nose also likes maximum humidity and I like a cold bedroom. The addition of the heated hose made a world of difference to me.
Best money I ever spent.

[Slartybartfast]

Humidification and the heated tube works for many, but not all people. Everyone's case is different.

When I first got on the hose my pulmonologist/sleep doc said he couldn't recommend too strongly the importance of using a saline nasal spray before you put the mask on. Spray in each nostril while inhaling, and keep doing it until you can taste salt water in the back of your throat. Then mask up. It's worked for me for 4 years now, and never had a problem. Give it a try. It's drug-free, just salt water, and works great.

[Tango]

I found the best thing for my nasal congestion was changing my diet. Due to other health issues, I was forced to change my diet. One of the side effects has been my nasal congestion is minimal in comparison. For me, I think it was the massive reduction in my dairy intake. And my carbs or no longer white flour but brown rice ect.....
I am not perfect but I m much more healthy nd it shows in my congestion or lack of congestion.
Now, I still use a full mask because there was a time I couldn't breath through my nose. Never! So, I adapted to only breathing through my mouth. I'd like to try a nasal pillow but I don't get another mask for 5.5 months. Then, if I chose a nasal mask I'd be giving up on the full mask and I have found success with it.
The downside of the full face mask is my dry mouth. However, part of my new healthy eating plan has been to increase my water intake to about 80 oz per day.
When I drink my water at those levels my dry mouth is minimal.....in comparison. It still gets dry but it takes longer to reach that point and is not nearly as bad. If I don't drink my 80 oz of water and drink water after dinner it can get pretty bad.
So, I drink my water and lots of it. Warm water at that.

[Tango]

I'll try the salt rinse. That has worked well in the past for me. Thx for the reminder.
Be also tried nasal sprays. Prescription. I forgot the name. But I don't like them. I think they cause anxiety? Anyone ever heard of people not feeling right after using prescription nasal sprays. My diet takes care of me for the most part. But, I'm not perfect and I do eat pizza from time to time and my nasal gets contested .

[englandsf]

Daily nasal rinses are great I find but may not be best right before bed, but I like to dry my nose at night to reduce congestion. I rinse first thing in the am every day using isotonic solution and sometime Alkalol.

I use nasal pillows so my mouth never gets dry.

[Rastaman]

I have nasal congestion but the nasal mask interface seems to blaze right through that for the most part. I have slotted nares, for one. I could easily have a deviated septum. And yet until recently, my humidifier was turned up just over 4 in Austin, Texas. It was originally "prescribed" by my original sleep doctor back in 2005 - 2006.

Recently, I did a sleep study and they asked where I need it: 2 or 3? I said 3. Seemed pretty normal to me. But it gave me an idea that both the previous Doctor (I have a new one now) and lab tech for my sleep study might have correct or completely off information. After all, didn't my original sleep doctor set my APAP for 4 to 20 (basically being a total jerk) I came to this website and was told to take the original prescribed pressure + or - 3 for the setting for my APAP. Seems to work just fine.

So, I am left free to experiment. I'm going to try 2 and 3 and see what Austin might call for and my specific use in Austin. You'd think each location would have a certain setting during different times of the year but based on location and weather. Wouldn't that be helpful information to know?

[englandsf]

Also in Austin - don't expect much humidity except in September and sometimes August. I run my ReMed with pass over only during AC months - started in June so have yet to try a winter with heat (mostly Jan-Mar).

[englandsf]

Did I see you got you got new BiPAP machine?

[Tango]

I also think my new air sense auto set is responsible for my better sleep and ability to breath through my nose. I am 100 percent convinced that the new air sense is a supier model. I've been so happy with it. Everything is better. Even my wife has commented how much better I sleep as well as my moodiness. When I don't sleep I can be a bear to live with. Bun since I started bargain with my new air sense I am the happiest I've been in a long long long time. If you are thinking of upgrading I can't say enough about the newest deemed airsense. And today I am going to download the software so I can really take charge of my therapy.

[Tango]

Sorry for my errors on the previous message. I just got a new smart phone but I can't really see very well. Too small of a key board.
II just wanted to recommend the new airsense. It's the best model I've ever had. Night and day. It's unbelievable how good I am sleeping. It's a miracle

[Rastaman]

Also in Austin - don't expect much humidity except in September and sometimes August. I run my ReMed with pass over only during AC months - started in June so have yet to try a winter with heat (mostly Jan-Mar).

Interesting concept. So, you don't use the humidifier during the more humid months then? Interesting. The more I read the more I realize that most sleep doctor's don't have a clue how to advise their patients. My new sleep doctor provides suggestions that no one has ever suggested before, which is a start in the right direction.

I don't have a BPAP yet but I am scheduled for a BPAP titration on Oct. 5th. I already did the CPAP study (which ended up taking 2 nights about 3 weeks apart) and the results were "inconclusive". In other words, they couldn't find a set pressure that got my numbers into the correct zone. But I haven't been told as much so that is merely speculation on my part. Only time will tell. If they do assign me a BPAP I hope it's an auto because that's what I'm used to. And I hope the new sleep doctor takes this into account. One thing is for sure, for whatever reason, the CPAP study failed to glean helpful data or at least prompted the BPAP study coming up next weekend.

[uvabigm]

Thanks for the tips. I am now having rainout with my heated humidifier (non heated tube). I talked to my DME and they are going to order me the heated tube humidifier. Can I use the hose insulation wrap with the heated tube? Should I use them both?

How would I clean the heated tube? My understanding is to not get the side with the connector wet. Currently I fill the tube with water and soap and then rinse by putting one end on the faucet and allowing the water to run through it. I don't think I can do this without getting it wet.

Thansk,

[Pugsy]

You can use the hose cozy (insulation) with the heated hose if you want to but it shouldn't be needed. Some people like the fact that the plastic feel and sound doesn't happen with the hose cozy so they use it for that reason.
A hose cozy adds weight though....so it's all in what bugs you the most but you can use it if you wish. Just watch out if the air starts feeling too warm.

Regarding cleaning/washing. As long as the connectors are thoroughly dry before you plug them in there shouldn't be a problem.
I wouldn't let them soak in the water though. It isn't needed anyway.
I don't wash my hose anyway. It doesn't get dirty but I know people think that they should...so each to their own.
I don't know how often you are washing...but once a month would be more than sufficient and I would think that with just a little common sense care the connector should be fine if it gets wet briefly...just make sure it is totally dry when you plug it back in.
I think that is what most heated hose users do if they wash their hoses.