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Hose_Head wrote:I suspect you'll KNOW when you need it. It's a personal thing: some need it, some don't. Some use high humidifier settings, others just use passover mode.

Exactly.

I'm one who happens to need humidification. If I try to go without it, my nostrils sting and burn. I don't have to turn the humidifier heat up much. A very low heat setting works fine for me. But I do need just that little bit of extra humidification.

Nan, if I were buying any machine, I'd buy it without its proprietary humidifier. I'd get a separate Fisher & Paykel HC 150 heated humidifier instead. The F&P HC 150 can be used with any brand of cpap/autopap/bilevel machine. With a separate heated humidifier, you're never tied down to using only a particular brand/model of humidifier with your machine. If you ever get yet another machine of another brand, the separate F&P humidifier will work with them all.

I'd especially NOT want the M series integrated humidifier for Respironics M series machines. I'd definitely want to get a separate F&P humidifier to use with an M series machine.

I've used a F&P heated humidifier for years -- with quite a few different brands and models of cpap/autopap/bilevels. Works great!

I do not use a humidifier. That very last thing I want in my lungs is more humidity. I'd pay good money for a cpap that had a dehumidifier attachment.

I spent all summer in the desert and still didn't need or want to use one, and I did hook it up at first because I figured "I'm in the desert, I must need it". Blech, cannot stand it.

I do use a heated hose. I tried not using that for a couple of nights recently, and that was not nice. I am definitely accustomed to a warmer air coming through the hose, I just want it dry as possible.

The first fours years of CPAP I could not stand to use a humidifier but now days I use one full time with no heat.

As others have mentioned, it is very individual. But it is possible to survive with out a humidifier. I hate it. I tried it once, just in pass over mode . It was awful, it made me so congested I had to give up for the entire night. Ugh. I'd suggest just trying it out without the humidifier, see how it works for you. Let us know how it goes!

Tried it for 2 days, total waste. In winter, i use a room humidifier to adjust for dryness in air.
Others need it....think it's a matter of personal choice.

By the way, if anyone needs the ResMed h4i humidaire heated humidifier I've got 2 for sale. One is brand new, the other is the one mentioned above - used for day days. PM me....

I switch back and forth a lot here in Southeast New Mexico. (Been using a clunky old CPAP for about 5 years)

When it's hot in the summer, I usually don't use either heat or humidity.
When it's cold (and we keep the house cold (<60) at night) heat and humidity help the sinus a lot.
When it's dry, I sometimes use the humidifier with no heat.

I rarely take my current humidifier when traveling - too much hassle.

Dave

I have two M-series machines. The one at home has a humidifier which I use on the lowest heated position. I have had some condensation issues, but they are manageable. On my boat a humidifier just does not work well because of the colder water that the boat floats in (serious condensation issues). On the boat I do not use any humidifier. I do fine with or without the humidifier.

Not having a humidifier has the following advantages; occupies less space, no jug of distilled water to store, and consumes much less power from the boat batteries. Space on a boat is always at a premium, and power conservation on a boat is almost a must.

Pat

Rested Gal wrote:

if I were buying any machine, I'd buy it without its proprietary humidifier. I'd get a separate Fisher & Paykel HC 150 heated humidifier instead. The F&P HC 150 can be used with any brand of cpap/autopap/bilevel machine. With a separate heated humidifier, you're never tied down to using only a particular brand/model of humidifier with your machine. If you ever get yet another machine of another brand, the separate F&P humidifier will work with them all.

That's good to know. I have a RemStar Auto, and I don't need a humidifier at this point, but I may be moving to a drier climate, and wondered about that.

Why do you not like the Respironics humidifier? Just wondering.

Hi
Ive been using cpap for the last 18 years and been through a fair few machines ive never used a humidifer and learned to live without it easily enough
give it a few nights without it and see how you get on i have found everything to do with the cpap is just a matter of getting used to it
it gets easier over time

Likewise, 20 years ago a heated humidifier was NOT an option. I learned to not use one. About ten years ago, I purchased a passover humidifier, which helped during the winter months. About three or four years ago I got a new system that had an integrated humidifier. My current ASV unit, which I acquired one year ago includes an integrated humidifier. Frankly, I only use it during the winter months when the humidity drops. Most of the time I do not use one. But then we live in a more humid part of the country / world. If I lived in an arid area, I would always use a humdifier.

I rarely use the humidifier and if I do use it it would be in passover mode. Generally this occurs during low humidity days in the winter as noted above.

This question looks to be a good candidate for conversion into a poll question....

Never a day without

I only use it when I am sick or when my room gets too cold in the winter.