Progress Report -- It's A Learning Experience

I've been using my Remstar Pro, along with the full-face mask, for a little over two weeks now. The first couple of nights were the worst, with very little sleep at all, but it has gradually improved since then. That's not to say that every night is better than the one before, of course, but I think there is progress and I'm doing better today than I was in the beginning.

I've had a constant problem with leaks, and can't figure out why some nights I have almost none but the next night they're back again. Overall, I think that's getting better as well. I'm now at the point where I don't worry about the relatively minor leaks, which is probably where I need to be.

Last night was certainly one of the most interesting. To that point I hadn't been using the heating element on my humidifier because when I tried it at the beginning it was just too warm and uncomfortable for me. Anyway, I'd been coughing for a couple of nights (probably allergies) and thought that maybe the heating element might help with that.

I woke up about three hours later because of a wierd noise I was hearing, like the sound of water bubbling in a pipe, which is pretty much what it was. Apparently the warm vapor had condensed in the hose. As I was laying there trying to figure it all out, I adjusted my mask, spraying water in all directions. Funny in retrospect, but not in the middle of the night.

Turned the machine off, got out of bed, disconnected and emptied the hose, wiped out the mask, put it all back together and somehow managed to eventually get back to sleep -- AFTER I made sure the humidifier was turned off!

I think I'll just go with the passive humidifier from here on, thank you very much.

The adventure continues.

Don

You know, my impression of passover humidifers is that they are not useful, at least not to me. Now that I have a good adjustment on my active humidifier, I am really impressed at how much less nasal irritation I get - and I used no humidification for many years.

I used a passover humidifier for just a couple weeks at the end before going to a heated humidifier. I have had one "rainout" with my heated humidifier - not as extreme as yours..

If I had a bunch of rainouts, I'd try a hose cover - and then I'd try a heated hose. I would not give up my heated humidifier - I'd solve the problem. Likely it could be solved with some flannel.

And I might try a lower setting if I got that much rainout.

Heated hose will definitely solve that problem, Owl Creek Observer, if you decide you want/need the humidification. Flannel hose cover might work too. On the other hand, maybe you're one of the lucky ones who doesn't need much humidification.

Good luck.

Regards,
Bill

Is you machine lower than you head?
Mine is about a foot off the floor and I pull any extra hose in bed on top of me so any "rainout" as it's called will drain right back into the humidifier.

Hey Don,

Welcome to our "hosehead" world. Where if it's not one thing, it's another.

Here are some tips for avoiding rainout:

Rainout occurs when you are using a heated humidifier and start getting condensation in your hose. It's caused by the steamy air coming from the humidifier at a higher temperature than the surrounding room air, so it cools on the way to the mask. While it leaves the humidifier as "humid air" when it cools, it reaches the mask as condensed fluid / "water" and you get a damp face.

Ways to try to avoid rainout:

1. Keep your xpap machine below the level of the mattress, as low to the floor as possible.
2. Use hose covers – flannel or fleece tubing to cover your hose. Use as many as necessary. (I use three covers on my Aussie heated hose and I still get a few droplets of rainout using my Aura – but I appear to be an exception, not the rule).
3. Run your heated humidifier as low as you comfortably can.
4. If your hose runs up over your head, try not to raise it really high to where it has a long drop back down to your head.
5. Raise your room temperature as high as you are can and still sleep comfortably.
6. Nasal pillows are usually more prone to rainout than masks.
7. If all else fails, purchase an Aussie Heated Hose from Australia. Not only does it help prevent rainout, but it also warms the air before it hits your face and/or up your nose. Here’s the site:
http://www.sleepzone.com.au

OCO,

I'm also a (cold) "passover" humidification user. There really are a lot of us that use it.

Best wishes,

Den

I was plagued by nose-bleeds (on blood thinners), until I started using
my heated humidifier. I haven't had any nose-bleeds since..