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A success story

Posted by Seapappy on December 19, 2001 at 13:05:35:

As a new user to CPAP I did a search and found this forum. As I read some of the postings I can see I share some of the same things with many of the posters here. I've felt tired for the last 5 years it seems, and have had the lack of energy that most others have reported. I have seen a great improvement in my life since I started using CPAP about 10 weeks ago.

I was lucky in that when I reported my symptoms to my Dr. and suggested I may have a sleep problem he immediately OK'd the tests needed. Again I was lucky in that when the sleep test was done they immediately "gave" me a Remstar CPAP with heated humidifier and I chose the Breeze headgear with the large nasal pillows. The Tech who fitted me did a good job of setting me up and instructing me on the proper use of the system. The morning after the test I was a happy owner of a new CPAP system.

I soon became familiar with the formulas "high humidity = clear nose + rainout" and "low humidity = stuffy nose - (no) rainout". As my sleep-deprived brain slowly began to start functioning again I thought there must be a way to alter the formulas. After trying the insulating sleeve from the CPAP man and raising the temperature in my bedroom the formulas altered some but not enough to satisfy me.

Now my brain was really cranking, I was emerging from my haze with a real purpose, FIX THE RAINOUT or loose sleep thinking about it! An idea was slowly forming in my mind, heat the air after its humidified so even if it cools in the hose it won't condense (it must be cooler than when it was humidified to condense) was the theory. I called my medical supplier and explained the problem to the person who is their CPAP expert. The man said he knew about the problem but had nothing to help. I had visions of patenting a heated hose, becoming rich, maybe even famous, but mostly rich. But alas its already been thought of, the man explained, they have the same problem with people on respirators so they have electrically heated hoses to prevent condensation. He even said he wouldn't be surprised if it became available for CPAP in a year or two.

So there you have it, a cure for rainout but it's not available. But wait, maybe it is! I started cleaning out my closet that night and found an old heating pad, about 6 in wide by 18 in long for wrapping around an arm or whatever. Hmmm I thought, what if I wrapped it around my hose lengthwise? If it won't burn skin it shouldn't melt plastic. I wrapped the hose with it, set it on low, and turned on the humidifier heat that night. That night's sleep was the best since I started with the machine, I woke up the next morning feeling better than I had in ages. I could not believe how clear my nasal passages felt when I woke up! I've been using this system now for about 10 days with no ill effects. I have the Remstar humidifier heat set at 3 and my bedroom is about 60-63 deg. (I live in Minnesota so I have a cool bedroom) I have NO rainout in the Breeze nosepiece or anyplace else for that mater. My pressure is set at 12.

I think for anyone struggling with humidity and rainout problems this may be a way to help. If you have an extra few feet of hose you could zig-zag it on a piece of foam and lay a standard size heating pad on top to warm it.

I hope my story can help someone become friends with their CPAP, and bring peaceful sleep to someone struggling.

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