AirSense11 - How to increase humidity

[BlueSky1958]

Using an F20 full mask and notice that my mouth becomes VERY dry throughout the night, and, I have a healthy surplus of water left over in chamber every morning (I fill it up to about 3/4 full and there's often half left over each morning). I see I can manually increase the humidity but what might be a good level to try? Also don;t like wasting all that distilled water every day.

Suggestions?

[Jay51]

A suggestion would be to add 1 to whatever it is set to right now.  Also, if you can go up in an even smaller increment, like 0.2 you can try that increase also.  The thing to watch out for as you increase humidity is "rainout".  This is when water starts to condense in the hose - and might end up on your face and wake you up.  Many people here have hose hangers (or they improvise with something that keep the middle of the high - at a higher level than your head) - so the water drains back down into the humidifier.  Also, you can keep the machine close to the floor - then the hose would naturally arc upwards towards your face; and the water would drain back down into the humidifier.  About the only way to get this wrong is to have both the machine and the hose at your face level or higher than that (then the water would drain onto your face via the mask).  

If your mouth is very dry, that probably means you breathe a lot through your mouth.  Do you breathe ok through your nose?

[BlueSky1958]

Usually breathing through my nose is relatively easy. One nostril always seems 25-40% plugged up at bedtime but it doesn't impede inhaling in any way. I also have the hose going from nightstand, up about 2 feet then back down to my mask as you describe so rainout seems unlikely.

Will the machine show my current setting to make that adjustment?

[staceyburke]

I would bet you are breathing through your mouth when you are asleep. We can easily see if you have a mouth leak looking at OSCAR data on the leak graph. Why not post it and we can check.

[BlueSky1958]

Is this what you meant?

[StratCat48]

I've been using a chin strap to keep my mouth closed for the very reason of a dry mouth with a full face mask. Also a mouth rinse of Biotene just before heading to bed helps for a while. Not good to have a dry mouth as it increases the chance of tooth decay and fungal infections.

[BlueSky1958]

I have Biotene but stopped due to the presence of sorbitol, glycerin, and xylitol, all designed to make it palatable, but then that stuff sits on your teeth all night (and I also wear Invisalign retainers so it would be pressed against my enamel all night). I thought a full mask negated the need for a chin strap because your mouth is contained in the mask??

I'd not want to have to wear a mask AND a chin strap. Too much gear on my head. AHI at 2.5 is acceptable.

But I WOULD like a bit more moisture coming through the tube so my mouth doesn't get so parched.

[Jay51]

airsense11_user-guide_amer_mul.pdf (resmed.com)

Here is the user guide for the Airsense 11.  Setting the humidity level starts around page 11 or so.

[BlueSky1958]

Thanks