Question for Oracle users

I set a patient up on an Oracle yesterday, and I have a question for those of you who use it. What setting do you keep your humidifier at? His is set at 2 and he claims that it's out of water by morning. Since that is the recommended setting for the Oracle, I'm a little confused by this. As far as I know there is only one size humidifer chamber. Does anyone else have this problem, or did you have to get a larger chamber?

Hi Christine,

Gosh, it's wonderful to see an RRT as concerned as you are about going the extra mile to try to help a difficult patient. And especially good to see you on a message board asking other actual users what their experiences are. You're a "good'un", as we say in the South!

I've used my Oracle several times with two different autopaps/heated humidifiers. PB 420E with Fisher & Paykel HC150 heated humidifier on a heat setting of "2". And the Respironics REMstar auto with integrated heated humidifier set on "3" (out of 5.) Never had the chamber run out of water though - with either one - unless I had forgotten to fill it to the "fill line". I did use the Aussie heated hose with the REMstar set up, but not with the PB 420E (simply because I don't have the heated hose with sensor line for it.)

I'd add that I usually sleep about 6 or 7 hours. That may be why the amount of water held in either humidifier's chamber is lasting fine for me. Is your man sleeping a lot longer stretches at a time?

If it makes any difference, my autopap pressures during the night rarely hit 14...usually staying down in the 9-11 range most of the night. If he's using a considerably higher pressure, perhaps a greater air flow could affect the amount of moisture being picked up? I've read in Fisher & Paykel's literature about the Oracle that users can generally use less pressure for same treatment efficacy. Perhaps that might be something to consider if less airflow from the machine could make the water last longer. Unless he's using a machine with software for you to monitor what happens if the pressure is lowered some, tweaking the pressure (with the doctor's "ok") might be problematic.

Perhaps others will have suggestions about larger water chambers. Both mine seem to be essentially the same size.

Well, for now he is on BiPAP of 17/10, but that will probably have to be titrated down since he's changed to the Oracle. I tell you, he has been a nightmare. It's a good thing he's nice, because his place is cockroach infested and I hate going to see him! That's why I'm trying to do my research before I get there so I can be in and out. I know that's horrible, but it's the truth. Anyway, I'm going to call Fisher Paykel tomorrow. Hopefully I will only have to make one more visit for a while!