Water in Nasal Pillows Only

I apologize for posting a common topic, but I can't find a solution in any of the threads about this. I've been using a CPAP for 5 years, recently I started getting water in the nasal pillows, and nothing I've tried seems to work.

I'm using a Dreamstation 2 with nasal pillows and a heated tube.
In my attempts to eliminate water in the nasal pillows, I have:

Adjusted the humidity and heat levels in every combination.
Turned off the heat and humidity.
Put the machine on the floor in hopes of gravity helping.
Put the tube under the blankets for extra heat.
Purchased a nose pillow cozy.

I get moisture pretty much within 5 minutes of turning on the machine. I don't understand why this is an issue now after 5 years of smooth sailing. I guess I'm wondering if there's a something I haven't tried, or is my next option switching masks. Thanks!

You may think it's water--but maybe it'snot.
Sorry; I just couldn't help myself.

Lol....well played. Yeah I'm pretty sure it's coming from me. I'm guessing the only thing I can do is switch masks.

Or try an oral antihistamine.
I have for years.

Twilight 2000 wrote: ↑

Sun Mar 27, 2022 7:06 pm

I get moisture pretty much within 5 minutes of turning on the machine.

This statement above really makes me wonder if there was some leftover water in the mask or hose because normal condensation issues I can't see occurring within 5 minutes of turning the machine one. It normally takes some time for typical condensation issues to occur.

Exactly what settings are you using?

Any chance there was moisture in the mask or hose leftover from either cleaning or prior condensation?

Usually higher hose air temps are to be used to prevent condensation.

What is your ambient bedroom temps?

I stopped using nasal pillows because the condensation was driving me bonkers. I felt like I had a wet dog nose all the time, and hated it.

I wasn't using heated humidity, because my (now recalled) Philips Respironics humidifier didn't work (a known manufacturer's defect in those CPAPs and NOT the reason for the recall). So it wasn't condensation from that. It was worse in the winter, when it was very cold in my room, despite a hose cover. Cold air from the machine hit my warm nose and condensed right at the nares and then filled the nasal pillow. Yuck!

Is it possible your room is cold (ambient temperature or air conditioning) and the air in the hose has cooled down by the time it hits your nose?

I use a nasal "cushion" mask now--the Dreamwear nasal cushion, and I do not have that issue at all with that mask. If you can use nasal pillows, this type of nasal cushion mask should work just fine for you, and you can avoid the condensation issue.

Pugsy wrote: ↑

Mon Mar 28, 2022 7:18 am

Twilight 2000 wrote: ↑

Sun Mar 27, 2022 7:06 pm

I get moisture pretty much within 5 minutes of turning on the machine.

This statement above really makes me wonder if there was some leftover water in the mask or hose because normal condensation issues I can't see occurring within 5 minutes of turning the machine one. It normally takes some time for typical condensation issues to occur.

Exactly what settings are you using?

Any chance there was moisture in the mask or hose leftover from either cleaning or prior condensation?

Usually higher hose air temps are to be used to prevent condensation.

What is your ambient bedroom temps?

My apologies for the delay in response. My room temp is around 63-64 degrees. I don't use the tube warmer or the humidifier. Both have been ineffective for me in any setting, I get the same amount of condensation either way. And yes, occasionally there is water left in the nasal pillow, I've gone as far as to use a hair dryer to evaporate it!

Now, here's the interesting thing: we just got back from a vacation on Maui (I know, poor me) and I used the same machine, same settings, and I got minimal to NO condensation in the pillows. Obviously there are forces of physics at play that I don't understand. Maybe the hotel room was warmer? It had AC, so it's not like it was a drastic difference. We just returned home (Bay Area) and the condensation is back.

Twilight 2000 wrote: ↑

Wed Apr 13, 2022 1:44 am

I don't use the tube warmer or the humidifier.

Then the moisture is coming from your own exhaled breath and then condensing since you aren't using the humidifier.
If you aren't using the humidifier to add moisture then the only other place for it to come from is you.

Twilight 2000 wrote: ↑

Sun Mar 27, 2022 7:06 pm

I'm using a Dreamstation 2 with nasal pillows and a heated tube.
In my attempts to eliminate water in the nasal pillows, I have:

which nasal pillows are you using?

Get a hose cozy.

Throwing spaghetti here ...

Twilight 2000 wrote: ↑

Wed Apr 13, 2022 1:44 am

And yes, occasionally there is water left in the nasal pillow, I've gone as far as to use a hair dryer to evaporate it!

Preheat the pillows with the hair dryer.

Twilight 2000 wrote: ↑

Sun Mar 27, 2022 7:06 pm

Adjusted the humidity and heat levels in every combination.
Put the tube under the blankets for extra heat.

No humidification BUT heated hose turned up as high as possible plus the hose cozy suggested by chunkyfrog.

Now, here's the interesting thing: we just got back from a vacation on Maui (I know, poor me) and I used the same machine, same settings, and I got minimal to NO condensation in the pillows. Obviously there are forces of physics at play that I don't understand. Maybe the hotel room was warmer?

I would guess the room WAS warmer, so you had less condensation--even a few degrees might make a difference.

Somewhere buried deep on this site is a list of hacks. People used to put an inch-long piece of cotton string or cotton yarn inside the pillow barrel (not the cones that go against your nares) to absorb the condensation. I tried it for a while but there was still condensation on the nasal pillows that made it feel wet in my nose, and it bothered me to change the yarn daily (even though I knew it was condensation, my brain thought "mucus" ). If you do this, make sure you aren't blocking the CO2 vent.

I don't think you've said exactly which mask you use. Padacheek.com makes "barrel cozies" for some of the nasal pillow masks. BUT, I still had condensation issues with nasal pillow masks, even using the barrel cozy.

I do not have this problem at all with the Dream Wear mask. It has a nose "cradle", not nasal pillows.