Excess water in mask - no humidifier

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Kath Hope on December 22, 2017 at 1:25

Hi Katie. I'm surpised the clinic haven't come across it before as we hear of it quite a bit, although it is more common when people use humidifiers.

The culprit will be down to your bedroom temperature and happens when you exhale into the cold mask.  I would try a hose cover on your hose to insulating it http://www.hope2sleep.co.uk/cpap-ventilator-hose-cover.html and if possible to raise the temperature of your bedroom a little.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Katie Ward on December 22, 2017 at 1:45

Hi Kath,

Thanks for replying, the way they were going on about it at the clinic you'd think I'd come in with some kind of unknown disease!

That makes sense, our bedroom is quite cool all the time. I'll give the hose cover a go first off see if that makes a difference, my partner prefers a cool room.

Thanks again!

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Sleep2snore on December 23, 2017 at 21:55

It is down to the mask being cold not the tubing, though it wouldn't do any harm to try it.

It is just the same as breathing against a cold mirror, the condensation you see there is exactly wht is happening when your warm breath hits a cold mask, cold air being blown through the mask will keep it cold, so if cold air is going into the mask it will cause condensation from your breath.  Heat the room a bit, or do as the older crowd did, put a light buld beside the air intake to warm the air up as it comes to the machine (but not to close) however, the warmer air might result in you needing a humidifier.  You used to get tiny 100 watt heaters that could be put close to a machine, but I have not seen these far some time now.  Warm air might cause a bit of dryness, so don't over do it, or you might be wanting a humidifier next!

Warm up the air in the room a bit.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Kath Hope on December 23, 2017 at 23:52

No, it's not you Katie, as we really do hear of this.  It's worth trying a hose cover as it seems to help others with the same problem.  If it doesn't cure it I would ask for a humidifier.

Katie Ward said:

Hi Kath,

Thanks for replying, the way they were going on about it at the clinic you'd think I'd come in with some kind of unknown disease!

That makes sense, our bedroom is quite cool all the time. I'll give the hose cover a go first off see if that makes a difference, my partner prefers a cool room.

Thanks again!

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Sleep2snore on December 28, 2017 at 16:03

If you have the right machine, a heated hose might help a lot.

You are getting condensation without a humidifier at the moment, the last thing you want to do is add one.

However, it might need to be at a low setting, just enough to heat the air going through the hose.

If you then suffer from dryness, you will need a humidifier, but then you might get more condensation in the mask, so you will need a humidifier on low and the heated hose on a higher setting.

What make and model of machine do you have?

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Katie Ward on December 29, 2017 at 22:46

Hi,

Thanks for your replies. I have a resmed s9 escape machine, which is the one the clinic provides as standard. 

I often find myself waking up with nasal drip and only really suffer dryness if I've been ill.

In terms of cold room, I can do with warming it up a bit and I'm in negotiations with my partner who prefers it cold

Sleep2snore said:

If you have the right machine, a heated hose might help a lot.

You are getting condensation without a humidifier at the moment, the last thing you want to do is add one.

However, it might need to be at a low setting, just enough to heat the air going through the hose.

If you then suffer from dryness, you will need a humidifier, but then you might get more condensation in the mask, so you will need a humidifier on low and the heated hose on a higher setting.

What make and model of machine do you have?

• ▶ Reply

▶ Reply to Discussion