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Tired of rain out!
I LOVE my new Headrest mask. But no matter what I do I get rain out once or twice a week in the middle of the night. I have tried the following things and would appreciate any advice you can give. I DO love my mask so I don't want to get a different one.
1.I use a fleece hose cozy.
2. I have wrapped my mask all the way to the nasal pillows with gauze so no part is unwrapped, except the vent.
3.I keep the humidifier on the very lowest setting possible.
4.I keep the tank half filled with distilled water.
5.I keep the mask and hose under a blanket to keep it as warm as possible when I am not using it.
6.I keep the window closed, the temperature is the same in the room each night, but the rain out only happens a few nights a week.
7.My APAP is in the drawer next to the bed, it is about 12" lower than my mattress.
Thanks for your suggestions in advance. bee
1.I use a fleece hose cozy.
2. I have wrapped my mask all the way to the nasal pillows with gauze so no part is unwrapped, except the vent.
3.I keep the humidifier on the very lowest setting possible.
4.I keep the tank half filled with distilled water.
5.I keep the mask and hose under a blanket to keep it as warm as possible when I am not using it.
6.I keep the window closed, the temperature is the same in the room each night, but the rain out only happens a few nights a week.
7.My APAP is in the drawer next to the bed, it is about 12" lower than my mattress.
Thanks for your suggestions in advance. bee
Views: 248
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Judy on
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Have you tried hanging your hose above your head? The condensation can't make the long run UP the hose so there's none to drop down the rest of the hose into your mask.
Have you considered purchasing an "aussie heated hose" and I think I read there is a similar American product. A search on CPAP heated hose should bring up further info I would think. I haven't heard ANY complaints about the aussie heated hose but have heard lots of GOOD things about it.
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I purchased a Headrest last Spring, after many years of using a Breeze. I liked it enough to replace the Breeze as my everyday mask - until late Fall when cold weather arrived. The rain-out, which had never been an issue for me, became an instant problem. This propensity for mask rain-out is, I've concluded, a result of the long path to the exhaust vent, which is one of the Headrest's positive features. I mitigated this somewhat by using string in the pillow assembly to absorb the moisture, but I ultimately made some modifications to my Breeze and returned it to full-time use. Subsequently, I replaced my machine and added a humidifier, which induced the same problem, but to a lesser extent, in the Breeze. I should note that my thermostat is set at 60F at night, and rain-out occurs even at low humidifier settings.
I solved the problem with my Breeze by using a heated hose - in my case I opted for the Repti cable solution (search cpaptalk.com), and it probably will work with the Headrest, although I haven't tried. Hose covers won't solve the rain-out with the Headrest because the condensation occurs in the mask. That was my first attempt.
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Permalink Reply by BeeAsleep on
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Sooooo useful Steven, thanks. Judy, I am hanging my hose over my head...:>(
I am going to do everything I can to keep this mask because it is perfect for me in every other way. I will give more thought to your solutions, I do agree that the problem is in the mask itself, not the hose....I wrapped my mask with gauze all the way down the sides....but I don't think it is enough coverage to make a difference. My room is about the same temp as yours is at 60F. I can't sleep with it warmer... ++sigh++
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Bee - I'm with you. I too can't sleep in an over-heated room, and if you don't have any mouth-breathing issues, nothing compares to the comfort of a nasal pillow interface, and, if you like the Headrest or the Breeze, anything which touches your face becomes intolerable. The Swift may be the current best seller, but it doesn't compare in comfort and fit to the Headrest or the Breeze, IMO.
The string thing I mentioned uses cotton string (I used FDA approved butcher twine) pulled through the removable removable pillow part of the mask. The trick is threading the string through. I used some string trimmer line fashioned into "fish tape" by adding a loop. As I said, it helps catch the big drops. There are questions about how frequently one must replace the string, which isn't that easy to do. I was doing it once per week.
There's a $140 (+ shipping) heated hose which has solved the problem for others using the Headrest. I don't know how much this solution heats the air. As I mentioned, I go the cheap route ($25) by using a reptile heater and a lamp dimmer which allows me to control the cable temperature. There's a fine line between comfort and rain-out - very easy to turn the pieces into a plant conservatory simulator. I suggest that you check out http://www.cpaptalk.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=27579&st=0&... if you're adventurous or have a cold pet lizard.
Steve
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Steven, If you think the problem is with the mask how does the heated hose make a difference?
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Bee,
Your heated humidifier heats water and the air. A heated hose will further heat the air after it leaves the humidifier. Ideally, I guess, it will add only enough heat to overcome the heat loss as the air travels through the tube to prevent condensation as the cooler air will hold less moisture. However, in my experience, it can add more heat than is lost through conduction. In any event, the warmer air can hold the additional moisture which your exhaled breath adds to the air in the mask upstream from the humidifier. Holding more moisture forestalls the mask condensation you're experiencing. As I noted in my earlier post, it's easy to overdo the heating such that the difference in temperature between the room air and the CPAP air is noticeable and, in my case, uncomfortable (swampy).
Steve
BeeAsleep said:Steven, If you think the problem is with the mask how does the heated hose make a difference?
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Permalink Reply by sleepycarol on
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I use the Headrest and haven't even put the Snuggle Hose cover on it yet this winter.
I use my humidifier on passover mode, but I do like a warm room. If I had my room temp set at 60 I wouldn't be able to sleep a wink as that is way too cold for me. Our outside temps have been down in the low teens and a few times single digits and so far I am still good to go.
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And I don't care how cold my room is AS LONG AS I have enough light weight covers to be snuggly warm!!! I can't take the weight of a lot of heavy blankets as that just tired me out thru the night. But they make so many nice snuggly warm light weight bed covers of one type or another that hasn't been a problem for years. Of course, there was NOTHING as warm and comfy and snuggly as my old electric blanket. But hubby doesn't like an electric blanket, even w/dual controls. *sigh*
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Permalink Reply by Mary Angela Wright on
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I had the same problem. My unit was lower than my mattress. I elevated the cpap and now, no more rain out! Good luck!
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Permalink Reply by D. W. Conn on
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My nPAP machine sets on a tiny table about 3 inches from the floor this keeps the hose dry. No chance of buildup.
a word of warning for those who like very warm rooms. Temps above 70 degrees can in many cases increase the chances of apnea events. Those of you who like a balmy 76 degrees well your just crazy!! jk
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