Using HumidX on any machine

Good day all. Finally decided to sign up here as I have found your forum helpful in the past and have viewed some topics without being a member. Thank you. I have been a CPAP user since 1999 and last year i finally decided to upgrade my really old Respironics Remstar LX with near 60,000 hours of use on it. Mainly because most of my previous employers did not cover durable medical equipment in their plans. My current employer does cover them as long as it is medically necessary. Of course, I had to go and have a new sleep study done and see a specialist before I could get the new equipment but it was worth it. As of September of 2019, I have been using the AirSense 10 APAP machine.

During that time in getting my new machine, I had also been doing research on portable CPAP devices so I could have a smaller device on my several camping trips I go on in the spring, summer & fall. I ended up buying a Dreamstation Go with the humidifier attachment mainly because I preferred the more universal nature of it over the other device I was looking at getting (ResMed AirMini). I really like the machine and it works well. A bit noisier than my AirSense 10 (This machine is whisper quiet to me) but the noise is not really a factor to me as I like a bit of noise in the background while I sleep.The one draw to the Air Mini was the HME setup (HumidX) as the camping trips I usually go on don't have AC power sources available. The main drawbacks to me was the proprietary nature of the Air Mini, no direct humidifier option and you can only use 2 or 3 mask setups with the machine without some sort of modification.

What I am trying to figure out is if there is some sort of modification that I could do so I could use the Airfit P10 mask for the Air Mini on other APAP / CPAP machines. I did find this one topic but the only answer received had to do with a generic HME device that you could use with any mask:

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=157153&p=1204135&hi ... e#p1204135

Only thing is, that device would probably not be very effective with my Airfit P30i mask as it would be too far away from my mouth. Same would apply with the regular P10 mask I have as well (back up mask). Those HME devices work best the closer they are to your mouth so they can capture your moist, exhaled air.

If there were other topics I missed that has other suggestions, then please point me to them. I did spend some time looking here and outside of here as well to no avail. Only information I could find was using any mask with the AirMini.

Thanks for any suggestions or pointers.

You do know you can use your existing DreamStation Go Humidifier with water in it but no heat (so no power draw which is the main problem with camping and battery use when humidity is needed) so you don't drain the battery so much???
It's what we call passover humidity. The air flowing over the water will pick up some moisture...granted not as much as when heat is added but it will pick up some moisture.
I have no idea how it might compare to using the humid X disc though... BUT here's what I would do if I wanted to use the HUMID X disc with a mask like the P10 which obviously would mean the disc is too far away from the nose to be of any real benefit.... I would modify the short hose length so the disc would be closer to the nose if at all possible. Off the top of my head I can't think of a way but I would look at it and see if there was some way to shorten that hose on the P10.

Alternately....look at the Bleep mask that I use because the short hose that comes with it is a lot shorter and is easy to make even shorter.
The disc could be placed much closer to your nose with it.

Thanks for the reply Pugsy.

The passive / passover solution does not work for me as I still end up with a severely dry nasal passage and then I end up with allergy type responses for days to follow. The sneezing becomes unbearable rather quickly. My past solution was to use my external humidifier for my Remstar LX in a passive manner but I place it in an insulated lunch bag with several hand warmers in it and then zipping it up as much as possible so not too much warm air get outs from the opening caused by the hoses. I then wrapped it in a small blanket or towel for further insulation. This trick worked just fine but is bulky and cumbersome.

I am trying to find out it the HME's would be better for me. The advantages of the HumidX over a generic HME is the lifespan. I have read you can get up to 30 days on one Humidx once opened and only 7 days with one of those generic HME's once opened. While the generic one is cheaper per unit ($5 per unit vs. $9.83 (6 pack) - $11.67 (3 pack) per HumidX), they are not cheaper over a lifespan. If you base it that way and the general lifespan of each unit, the generic ones would cost double because you would have to use 4 ($20) vs 1 ($9.83 - $11.67) over 28 days. What I was thinking is that perhaps one end of the universal mask adapter that comes with the Dreamstation Go (https://www.usa.philips.com/c-p/HH1456_ ... sk-adapter) could maybe fit over the end of the AirMini hose that plugs into the AirMini and then it could be sealed with tape of some kind to prevent any possible leakage. I could then use the HumidX with my Dreamstation Go. Perhaps I'll just have to buy the AirMini hose to find out if that would work ($34 through most sites) and if it does, then I can buy the other attachments for a solution. Was wondering if anybody else had perhaps thought of this and if they were successful.

I do like the idea of the bleep mask and the modifications that could be made to the hose attachment to get the HME closer to the mouth. That is definitely something to think about. Thanks.

Pass over humidification wouldn't be enough for me as well so I understand you there. For that reason I really haven't bothered looking at the Humid X things. I can't even handle a setting of 2 for humidity and I always felt that the discs most likely wouldn't be able to give me what the 2 setting would give me.

I have never seen the AirMini hose to have any idea if it would work with the DreamStation Go hose connections. Sorry.

Since I no longer camp out and need to run off a battery or anything like that....haven't had a chance to explore the options but if I did want to try it...the disc would have to be really close to the nose for sure and I would probably soak it in water first to add more moisture. I have read that seems to help.
The Bleep hose is probably the shortest nasal mask hose that I can think of.
Now the other hoses might be able to be modified so they are much shorter but I haven't looked at them closely enough to see how it could be done. Maybe surgery to shorten and a lot of vet wrap to attach it without leaks to the longer hose.

Thanks.

I think I'll just pluck down the money and buy the AirMini hose and see how I can modify it to work with other machines. If I am successful with a modification, I can buy the rest of the items needed to use the HumidX with my Dreamstation Go. I will also share it here for anyone interested.

I have also heard and read the pre-moistening the discs help and will definitely try that should I be successful.

I plucked down the money for AirMini tubing and the universal mask adapter I was referring to earlier will fit over the end that plugs into the Air Mini. I can wrap some tape around it and cover the 2 slots on the side to prevent any leaks at that particular point. Next would be to purchase the remaining items so I can use the P10 mask with it. Any recommendations on a type of tape that would work best? Thank you

I tried to add a picture showing the universal adapter fits over the end but when I submit it, it does not show in my reply. Perhaps it needs approval before showing?

No...the lack of the image showing up isn't because it needs approval. Something wasn't done right or it would show up.

tommyboy39 wrote: ↑

Thu Jun 11, 2020 10:30 am

I tried to add a picture showing the universal adapter fits over the end but when I submit it, it does not show in my reply. Perhaps it needs approval before showing?

are you using the "attachment" feature?

it's one of the two tabs featured below your text box. you should see one tab marked options and another marked attachments. use that and follow the directions.

good luck!

Thanks pugsly.

Perhaps I cannot add attachments at this juncture. When I try to attach a picture stored locally on my pc, the status is just a triangular, yellow exclamation point. I don't like posting pictures and such to public web servers (seems to be the only other option if attachments are not allowed). Just a personal choice for me.

Zonker: I see the options and attachments tab below the text box and that is where I went to try and attach my picture stored locally on my pc. No bueno when I do so.

Attachments are allowed but perhaps the file format or size was the problem.

You can also use any photo hosting website if you wish. I use imgur.com myself quite often.

tommyboy39 wrote: ↑

Thu Jun 11, 2020 11:01 am

Thanks pugsly.

Perhaps I cannot add attachments at this juncture. When I try to attach a picture stored locally on my pc, the status is just a triangular, yellow exclamation point. I don't like posting pictures and such to public web servers (seems to be the only other option if attachments are not allowed). Just a personal choice for me.

Zonker: I see the options and attachments tab below the text box and that is where I went to try and attach my picture stored locally on my pc. No bueno when I do so.

what is the extension on that pic?

i know that jpeg, gif and png will attach.

zonker wrote: ↑

Thu Jun 11, 2020 11:05 am

tommyboy39 wrote: ↑

Thu Jun 11, 2020 11:01 am

Thanks pugsly.

Perhaps I cannot add attachments at this juncture. When I try to attach a picture stored locally on my pc, the status is just a triangular, yellow exclamation point. I don't like posting pictures and such to public web servers (seems to be the only other option if attachments are not allowed). Just a personal choice for me.

Zonker: I see the options and attachments tab below the text box and that is where I went to try and attach my picture stored locally on my pc. No bueno when I do so.

what is the extension on that pic?

i know that jpeg, gif and png will attach.

It's a jpeg image, 1.5MB

It's too large....that's the problem.

tommyboy39 wrote: ↑

Thu Jun 11, 2020 11:06 am

zonker wrote: ↑

Thu Jun 11, 2020 11:05 am

tommyboy39 wrote: ↑

Thu Jun 11, 2020 11:01 am

Thanks pugsly.

Perhaps I cannot add attachments at this juncture. When I try to attach a picture stored locally on my pc, the status is just a triangular, yellow exclamation point. I don't like posting pictures and such to public web servers (seems to be the only other option if attachments are not allowed). Just a personal choice for me.

Zonker: I see the options and attachments tab below the text box and that is where I went to try and attach my picture stored locally on my pc. No bueno when I do so.

what is the extension on that pic?

i know that jpeg, gif and png will attach.

It's a jpeg image, 1.5MB

oh, okay. it's the size then. you can either resize it to below 1 mb or use a hosting site like imgur as pugsy suggests.

good luck!

and i see that pugsy and i are double teaming you!

zonker wrote: ↑

Thu Jun 11, 2020 11:09 am

tommyboy39 wrote: ↑

Thu Jun 11, 2020 11:06 am

zonker wrote: ↑

Thu Jun 11, 2020 11:05 am

tommyboy39 wrote: ↑

Thu Jun 11, 2020 11:01 am

Thanks pugsly.

Perhaps I cannot add attachments at this juncture. When I try to attach a picture stored locally on my pc, the status is just a triangular, yellow exclamation point. I don't like posting pictures and such to public web servers (seems to be the only other option if attachments are not allowed). Just a personal choice for me.

Zonker: I see the options and attachments tab below the text box and that is where I went to try and attach my picture stored locally on my pc. No bueno when I do so.

what is the extension on that pic?

i know that jpeg, gif and png will attach.

It's a jpeg image, 1.5MB

oh, okay. it's the size then. you can either resize it to below 1 mb or use a hosting site like imgur as pugsy suggests.

good luck!

and i see that pugsy and i are double teaming you!

Aaaah... got it!!! Must have missed where the image size should be smaller than 1MB. Success. See my image above in my previous post.
Tag teaming is good. All help and suggestions are appreciated.