S8 Escape II w/humidifier and dryness

I have been on this machine for about a month, switched from a nose/mouth covering mask to nasal pillows (swift 2?) Originally it was going well, but lately I have been waking with extremely dry throat (almost cannot swallow without taking a drink first). I have my humidifier setting on 2, seemed to work well for a few days but now having this problem. The humidity is flowing, as the tube is full of condensation... Matter of fact, sometimes I get a small flow of water down the throat which isn't very pleasant. Ideas? Was supposed to have my first follow up with the Dr today, but don't feel I have gotten a good enough test yet. I have never been a mouth breather, my wife has not mentioned that I have started... what else could it be?

Yes you are mouth breathing and losing therapy. Of course with the brick you were sold you would never know it.

Go back to the 'nose/mouth covering mask'...(Full Face Mask). You are breathing/leaking through your mouth and not getting the therapy you need. Mouth breathing causes dry mouth and throat. Be sure that your humidifier is set properly.

I was REALLY hoping that wouldn't be the answer... That mask was irritating the crap out of me, will explore options, I did not buy the S8 (and have since learned that it will not provide the information needed) My insurance considered it a rental... however I just changed insurance, will go back to my equipment provider and see about mask options and changing up to something that i can monitor the data..

This would explain why I haven't felt any better....never ever have I been a mouth breather, the machine is causing this? Or the nasal pillows?

Erkman wrote:This would explain why I haven't felt any better....never ever have I been a mouth breather, the machine is causing this? Or the nasal pillows?

If you can breathe normally just fine through your nose during the day and find that you mouth breathe at night perhaps it is just a habit. With time you might be able to break that habit if that is all it is. Try a chin strap, see if that helps. Some people just need a little reminder to keep the mouth shut. Sometimes the facial structure just simply relaxes and the mouth drops open. If the mouth relaxes then the air going up the nose and down the airway will try to exit through the mouth. It wants to take the easiest way out.

When I first started therapy it seemed I had a bit of mouth breathing issue myself. I did not want to go the full face mask route. So I tried chin straps and eventually taped my mouth shut for about 2 months. Then I started getting lazy and quit taping and found out that I no longer had the leaks that I seemed to have when I first started. I think I was in a habit of mouth breathing at night simply gasping for air. So I just broke that habit. Not everyone can do away with chin straps or tape but you just might be one of those. Won't know till you try.

Erkman wrote:I have been on this machine for about a month, switched from a nose/mouth covering mask to nasal pillows (swift 2?) Originally it was going well, but lately I have been waking with extremely dry throat (almost cannot swallow without taking a drink first). I have my humidifier setting on 2, seemed to work well for a few days but now having this problem. The humidity is flowing, as the tube is full of condensation... Matter of fact, sometimes I get a small flow of water down the throat which isn't very pleasant. Ideas? Was supposed to have my first follow up with the Dr today, but don't feel I have gotten a good enough test yet. I have never been a mouth breather, my wife has not mentioned that I have started... what else could it be?

That's part of your problem. Too much humidity can make nasal congestion worse.......then you resort to mouth-breathing.

Turn your humidifier Off......it's called "passover" humidification. You'll still get some humidity as the air picks up some as it passes over the water.


Den

Wulfman... wrote:

Erkman wrote:I have been on this machine for about a month, switched from a nose/mouth covering mask to nasal pillows (swift 2?) Originally it was going well, but lately I have been waking with extremely dry throat (almost cannot swallow without taking a drink first). I have my humidifier setting on 2, seemed to work well for a few days but now having this problem. The humidity is flowing, as the tube is full of condensation... Matter of fact, sometimes I get a small flow of water down the throat which isn't very pleasant. Ideas? Was supposed to have my first follow up with the Dr today, but don't feel I have gotten a good enough test yet. I have never been a mouth breather, my wife has not mentioned that I have started... what else could it be?

That's part of your problem. Too much humidity can make nasal congestion worse.......then you resort to mouth-breathing.

Turn your humidifier Off......it's called "passover" humidification. You'll still get some humidity as the air picks up some as it passes over the water.


Den

I will give that a try, also, I normally never sleep on my back, this has become more of the norm since I started using the mask, maybe that is causing my mouth to open (normally sleep on stomach with head to the side) I will try and force myself to sleep normally, if that doesn't work will try and turn off the humidifier. Would rather not go back to a full mask.

Bed pillows can make a huge difference in mask leakage. I've used a Chiroflow (also sold as "Mediflow") water-based pillow for many years (and before I started this therapy).......and it has worked very well with this therapy. I've tried to use a "standard" pillow on occasion but had a horrible time with mask leakage and just plain terrible sleep. There are pillows that are specifically designed for this therapy and then some that also work well with it. You might do well to investigate other options.


Den

I have been using the S8 for a few years and it has only been in the last couple of months that the dry throat thing has happened for me too. I also have a Remstar Auto at a holiday house and strangely that never gives me a dry throat at all. I have since decided to drop the S8 and use the Remstar all of the time and still no dry throat. Given they are both auto CPAP machines and both have exactly the same min/max settings does anyone have any idea why the end result is so different?