Humidifier Settings

Hi there everyone,

I ordered my equipment through CPAP.com because my insurance will pay 90% for medical equipment, but only 60% for home health services, and the home health center wanted to charge me literally 4 times what I paid CPAP.com.

Everything was easy enough to set up, my only question is the humidifier. I have no idea what I'm going for here. My prescription said to use one, but did not specify heat or setting. I have an IntelliPAP and the heat is adjusted from 1-10 easily enough with a button. Am I going for how it feels and how I like it? Or is there something specific I need to watch out for? My pressure setting is 7 cm H2O.

Thanks,
Sonya

When they did my sleep study for therapy they had the humidifier set way up and it felt awful. Couldn't even wear the masks. After they turned it down to a more comfortable level, I was able o use it. My opinion is that some people like or can handle more humidity than others. I ended up setting mine at 2 on the scale of 1-5. Any higher than that and I feel suffocating and can't handle it. I think you should start low and raise it each night as you get used to it until you find a comfortable level for yourself. Everyone is different. Experiment

Rick B is right. Some need a high level of humidity and some do better with none at all. You need to play with it and see where you like it best. Keep in mind that the higher you set it the bigger the chance or rainout.

Brenda

Just to clarify...

I don't use the IntelliPap so others could offer better advice...
If you start with water in the humidifier and it set to "0" then it will blow air over water and pick up some
but it will not likely pick up much moisture... but the air that blows already has some moisture in it.

As everyone has said you need to experiment.
During summer air is already warm and somewhat humid depending on where you are.
"0" can equal dry mouth and nose...
"10" can equal rainout with water gurgling in the hose and droplets in your nose and mask.

I would try 2 or 3 as a starting point and keep notes...
There's lots to learn but it gets easier.

Nord

Thanks, guys. I had heard of rain-out but didn't know if that was from too high or too low a setting. Looks I'm doing ok at a "2."