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Humidity adjustments
Just curious, how often do you adjust your humidifier settings? What factors call for adjustments? Thank you so much for your help.
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Melinda Hertel on
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I agree with everyone's comments, especially that the setting should be based on what is comfortable for you. And everyone is different. The only thing I might add is that whether or not you are in a humid or dry climate, it is important to consider that concentrated air is blowing directly into your nose/mouth and can be very irritating to the tissues. A lot of people are tolerant of this, but some still are not, even in a humid environment. You might have to experiment a little and find out what is most comfortable for you.
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Permalink Reply by susan mccord on
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Banyon, I'm gonna have some questions for you around this issue, but not for a couple of weeks. Having a re-titration done 3/9--hope to finally figure out if my pressure's been causing all my sinus problems. But I'm probably gonna be tweaking my humidity once I get the results of titration back.
Susan McCord :-)
Banyon said:I live in upstate Georgia and rarely use the humidifier if I am at home. When I travel to Toronto in the winter or Phoenix any time of year, I need the humidifier.
The bedroom humidity level is the determining factor. The Mayo Clinic web site says, "Ideally, humidity in your home should be between 30 and 50 percent. Humidity that's too low or too high can cause problems." http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/humidifiers/HQ00076
I keep a hygrometer in my bedroom and as long as the humidity is above 35% there is no need to use the CPAP humdifier. At 35% I use a humidifier setting of one and turn it up one notch for every 5 points the humidity drops.
Too much humidity is an overlooked problem.
I disagree with Dan. There is some science to choosing supplemental humidity settings. Subjective judgment can be very tricky and misleading.
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Permalink Reply by Sonia S. on
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Oh, that would explain why sometimes when I wake up I see the setting on the humidifier had gone done a bit, when I had set it at a high number (4 or 5) when I went to bed. Wondered how that happened and thought maybe while moving around in bed maybe the tube moved the setting. Those times when that happened had woken up with my mask full of moisture. It's good to know that my auto CPAP machine can detect a "rain out" condition and adjust itself.
Sonia
Samuel Kaplan said:Yes, there is a 1-5 setting on the CPAP panel. But, even if you set it at the highest (5), if the sensors detect a "rain out" condition it will adjust itself.
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Permalink Reply by Kathleen on
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Hi, Steven
The factors are comfort level,
I have a HC150, and rarely change the setting; this humidifier adjusts to ambient temperature.
If I had a different one, I would most likely require more heated humidity in the colder months.
My answer may not be of any help to you, but that's all I can offer.
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Permalink Reply by 99 on
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you may have adjusted the humidifier your self in your sleep and not remember
i sleepwalk my self
Sonia S. said:Oh, that would explain why sometimes when I wake up I see the setting on the humidifier had gone done a bit, when I had set it at a high number (4 or 5) when I went to bed. Wondered how that happened and thought maybe while moving around in bed maybe the tube moved the setting. Those times when that happened had woken up with my mask full of moisture. It's good to know that my auto CPAP machine can detect a "rain out" condition and adjust itself.
Sonia
Samuel Kaplan said:Yes, there is a 1-5 setting on the CPAP panel. But, even if you set it at the highest (5), if the sensors detect a "rain out" condition it will adjust itself.
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Permalink Reply by Banyon on
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susan mccord said:Banyon, I'm gonna have some questions for you around this issue, but not for a couple of weeks. Having a re-titration done 3/9--hope to finally figure out if my pressure's been causing all my sinus problems. But I'm probably gonna be tweaking my humidity once I get the results of titration back.
Susan McCord :-)
Sorry I don't get here very often, but seem to remember there is a long thread describing all your sinus problems. Can you post a link to that thread?
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Permalink Reply by Richard Neider on
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All great responses. I adjust my unit when needed depending on the bedroom climate. I rarely use water in the summer as the humidity in the bedroom is adequate. Winter is different situation, during extreme cold dry spells, I need to turn the humidity up. Each person can tolerate a different amount of humidity and you need to adjust to your needs whenever needed.
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Permalink Reply by Linda on
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As needed. I use the medium setting in the winter months here in MO. When traveling to FLA or the Bahamas I have been awaken to a hose full of water. It does depend on climate control in your room. I have an electronic humidifier in my bedroom. When the humidity goes above 60% I back down a notch on my CPAP humidifier control. This was an issue for me last year. Turns out my REMSTAR Auto M series was on it's last leg. My new one works great along with a great fit of my full face mask; Mirage by Liberty .
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Permalink Reply by Gordon Osmond on
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Hello Linda,
If you get condensation in your face mask, buy or make a cover for the tube. My wife used a piece of old blanket and I have not had any condensation since.
Linda Murphy said:Hi Steven
I keep mine on two. I found that any more and the air gets too hot and I feel like I can't breath. Also I get more water in the tube and face mask.
You just have to try different settings until you are comfortable. It's a process.
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Permalink Reply by RL on
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I'm going on two months on CPAP with a Resmed System One heated humidifier in a semi arid climate - Colorado at about 5500 feet above sea level. My house uses a forced air heater system which can be very drying. We usually use some type of room humidifier during the winter. As a mouth breather, I am used to applying lip balm every night before bed (without chin strap). I prefer the sleeping room temperature to be between 65-68 at night, and have found that settings of 2 or 3 consistently work for me.
I guess I was fortunate to get the System One heated humidifier from the start. It does adjust the amount of moisture it adds to the PAP air, based on relative humidity in the room, combined with which setting level I select. I don't believe the machine changes the dial setting but it does modify how much humidity it adds based on how much is already in the intake air. My evidence for this is the variation in how much water is left in the water container by morning. Some days it has been very near empty, and other days it is nearly full still.
I don't believe I have had any "rain out" with this system, while I do have it set up with the hose having a dip that goes below the CPAP and bed level before rising to my head/mask level. I figured this out from the start by reading SG threads with other people's problems. I have had a few nights in which there was some excess condensation in the nasal pillow of the mask, but not enough to wake me or cause any big problems. I have also modified the humidity level upon waking at night with a drier than usual sinus and throat from 2 to 3. I did try the 4 setting a few times, but mostly found this caused to much condensation in the nasal pillow. I expect I may reduce the humidity once we stop using the heater for the season, but I am not sure how low I will go. I read somewhere that the CPAP creates a "new climate" in the nasal passages, and that is why the humidity is important. I know for me it is important as I can be prone to bloody noses, and that can be due to dry nasal passages. I think you have to consider your climate, the humidity for the time of year, and your indoor climate as variable by the type and amount of heating or cooling system you have. Then, of course, how your own nasal passages are responding to the CPAP air, and any other physical conditions like allergies, virus or infection or sensitivity level. I'm so glad the manufacturers make this component adjustable, as there is not one ideal setting for all conditions or users. I wonder, how long the variability has been an option?
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Permalink Reply by Charles Austin Beck on
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When I first received my cpap I had my humidity set on 2. I would wake up with mouth and lips dry. I believe that was because my body had not yet adjusted to keeping the air shut off from my mouth. I did find my nose would be dry on the inside also. I found that in January when it was so cold out my room got a little cool. The result of that was I would wake up with my nostrils so cold on the inside that it hurt. I turned my humidifier up to 3, and have not had a problem since. I haven't moved it for a long time.
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Permalink Reply by Jenny Foerst on
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I turn my as high as it will go every night, which is still not nearly high enough in the winter, with gas heat running. I wake up with sandpaper tongue and all, even on max settting. Very frustrating. I think I was overcharged for a really crappy machine. I should have researched machines before buying, but I was in a panic once I got the diagnosis.
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