Anyone here NOT equipped with a humidifier?

I was told to try my cpap w/o the humidifier as it would be better for me if I could stand it. Although it has only been 2 nights now, I haven't felt a need for one. So anyhow, I was just curious!
jl

Janet, I just switched from my Hybrid liberty to a FitLife FF mask. And after a night of rainout, and a night of decreasing humidity, just took a nap and noticed that I don't think I need the humidifer either. If you don't need it, that is, if you don't feel dried out, then you're really lucky. Go for it.

I don't think there is harm if you don't need it, not to use it. Everyone is different and what works for someone may or may not work for others.

My ENT Doc all but insisted at least passover humidification. He said with out the moisture my sinuses would dry out and I would have sinus infections that would not be fun. I guess it depends on how humid your climate is and whether you have air conditioning and central heat to dry out the air in the house.

Jerry

My DME sent me home with a HH, he told me to definately use it, he said we need the moisture to keep our nose from drying out!

My apartment environment is well balanced humidity wise, even in winter, so I have not felt the need to use my CPAP humidifier.

I am glad I have it......but haven't needed to use it.

J

GaryG wrote:Janet, I just switched from my Hybrid liberty to a FitLife FF mask. And after a night of rainout, and a night of decreasing humidity, just took a nap and noticed that I don't think I need the humidifer either. If you don't need it, that is, if you don't feel dried out, then you're really lucky. Go for it.

I don't think there is harm if you don't need it, not to use it. Everyone is different and what works for someone may or may not work for others.

Gary,
Has anyone ever told you that you resemble Einstein?
I was told that a humidifier would make it more likely that I would get infections and such...go figure!
I live in hot humid Florida, but we do have central air! Thank goodness!
jl

I have a humidifier...but I'm leary about using it.
And I guess I really should use it because of having dry eye syndrome and chronic dry mouth.
I can't say my nose feels dry in the mornings, anymore...and my mouth isn't so bad...but I have to use Thera-Tears eye drops the minute I get up.
I think my eyes might be dry no matter what, though, and the exhaust holes on my mask blowing the air up, between my eyes, doesn't help.
I just worry about that even if I clean the little thingamajigs in the humidifier, like a fiend, some nasty old mold will get in there and I'll wind up with the lung infection of the century. I have COPD...and I've got lung fears.

One day, one day...maybe...

In the summer I do not use the humidifier and so far haven't felt the need to start using it. Once our furnace goes on I will probably have to use it, but for now I am good to go.

Demeter_Soul wrote:I have a humidifier...but I'm leary about using it.
And I guess I really should use it because of having dry eye syndrome and chronic dry mouth.
I can't say my nose feels dry in the mornings, anymore...and my mouth isn't so bad...but I have to use Thera-Tears eye drops the minute I get up.
I think my eyes might be dry no matter what, though, and the exhaust holes on my mask blowing the air up, between my eyes, doesn't help.

Hi,

I had a lot of issues with dry eyes and eye pain from using CPAP. I found that by running at 3 or 4 out of 5 on the humidifier really helps. I haven't really had any issues with that since I figured out this trick.

I also was nearly driven nuts by air movement around my eyes from the mask exhaust. I finally found a mask that doesn't bother me, the Swift LT. It exhausts below the nose, which I don't have issues with. The full face masks that I have tried where the exhaust ports are on the bridge of the nose are a problem for me. I think the reason is that I have worn glasses for 40 years, and I am not used to having air blow in my eyes.

-john-

t

I don't use the Humidifier. When the DME Tech fitted me, she had me set the Respironics BiPap to three. It was awful!! Rainout and I swore it increased the Apnea. Also, I had to constantly readjust to the changing Humidity. What a bother...

I experimented with the Black and Decker 400 to see how long it would go on DC current without the Humidifier. That's when I noticed it wasn't necessary.

I do sinus irrigation before going to bed. I'm wondering if that moisturizes the sinus cavities enough for the night???

My Sleep Doctor's office sponsored a Support Group. I mentioned my sinus irrigation with a Rhino Tip and running without a Humidifier. The Nurse attending our Meeting quite strongly recommended against this approach. She said patient's sinuses had suffered, created harm.

Fact of the matter, everybody is different. When I first tried it without a Humidifier, I had bleeding scabs around my nostrils. Now, it's no problem, regardless of the humidity. I really believe it's the rigorous sinus irrigation!!

I think the only time I've put the humidifier back on the 'Brick', those rare days in the winter, humidity drops below 30%. I wouldn't dare take a chance....


**Also, at my Support Group Meeting for Sleep Apnea, I shared that too much humidity increased apnea. The Sleep Techs and Nurse never had heard of that before - I wonder if their is any Science behind it**


Sleep well,

SG

Actually, I recall getting the same advice from the Apria DME back in 05; and, it was (for me) good advice.

I rarely use the humidifier, and when I do, only on passover (unheated) mode.

My personal experimentation shows an increased AHI at heated humidity, of any heat setting (and importantly, some others post the opposite experience).

Besides AHI increases (for some), my worries about humidifying include the incubation of fungi, bacteria, and protozoa and who knows what else? Here's just one article (this one suggests pathogens in xPAPs with tapwater in the reservoir) on the topic. You can easily find other related articles with an online search. http://www.rtmagazine.com/issues/articl ... -10_10.asp


.

Besides AHI increases (for some), my worries about humidifying include the incubation of fungi, bacteria, and protozoa and who knows what else? Here's just one article (this one suggests pathogens in xPAPs with tapwater in the reservoir) on the topic. You can easily find other related articles with an online search.

Thanks Captain_Midnight, I forgot about this! I would really like to know how many of us have had a sinus infection? Our forum debates back and forth on cleaning the equipment and how often. And moisture will carry weird stuff, no doubt...

That would make a great Study, likelihood of getting a Sinus Infection with CPAP, with and without humidity..

Humidifier, I hardly knew yee....

Thanks,

SG

I use my humidifier.

Without it, my nose dries out, and clogs up, and I wake with a horrible headache.

You'd think N'Awlins would be humid enough that I wouldn't need it, but nope! I tried passover humidification, thinking of what things might be if I were running on battery after a hurricane. It could be ... interesting.


corrected typo

14 + years ago when i got my first cpap i had a passover humidifier and I used it religiously till it died. DIdn't have insurance to replace it with and I realized that I really didnt need it. So I went like 6-7 years without one. Then we moved into our current apartment like 5 years ago with central air.. First time Ive lived in a home with all electric heat and central air combined and BOY I learned fast I needed one.

Dry cold sinuses SUCK! takes me HOURS to get over it. So I can lay down again. And thats if they arent bleeding.

If we are having a nice spell and have the windows open I can do without it. But I wouldnt trade my heated humidifier for a passover now for nothing. lol. I have the integrated one with my Remstar auto and im happy to leave it set to 2 but I do wish it had a bigger tank as the one it has only lasts around 6 hours when its really dry in the house.

Cant say ive washed it since its always dry when i get up each day. So no worries about moisture. And I always use the distilled water. No sinus infections for me since i've had it and got my allergies under control with medications finally. *Knock on wood*