Arctic blast
My wife and I like it cold in the bedroom (oo, er...) We both grew up in conditions of comparative hardship, and have a visceral aversion to heating the house when everybody's in bed. So for the last few nights, when it's been sub-zero outside, I've been woken repeatedly by my CPAP machine blowing freezing cold air into my face. It usually happens when it raises the pressure.
Also, water vapour from the humidifier, or possibly my lungs, condenses out in the mask, eventually to the extent that I have to wipe it out.
Consequently, I'm getting less sleep with the CPAP machine than I ever did without it.
I've tried wrapping the hose around my body and, apart from having vivid dreams involving snakes, this does actually help a little. But still not enough.
I've ordered a heated hose from ResMed, but it's going to be 7-10 days, they say, and it's not getting any warmer.
Is there any simple solution to this problem, that I have just overlooked?
Best wishes, DS
RE: Arctic blast
If you can, try to keep as much of the hose under the covers with you, not necessarily around you but in the warm air trapped in the bed.
You could try to find something to wrap around the hose that is left exposed too, like a towel or a spare blanket, or the sleeve of a sweater even. That will help retain the heat.
You can try turning the humidity level down temporarily, too, as cold air can't support as much water vapour. I can't remember if you said what yours is set to, but mine's set at 4, even with the heated hose and at least some residual heating during much of my sleep time.
RE: Arctic blast
(01-09-2022, 05:54 AM)Ratchick Wrote: You can try turning the humidity level down temporarily, too, as cold air can't support as much water vapour. I can't remember if you said what yours is set to, but mine's set at 4, even with the heated hose and at least some residual heating during much of my sleep time.
Fair point. There's a tricky balance here -- if I turn the humidifier up, the air reaching my face doesn't seem so arctic, but I end up with more condensation in the mask. And waking up with a mask full of freezing-cold water isn't very agreeable. If anybody tells me that a heated hose won't fix this problem, I will cry.
God, I hate CPAP :/
Best wishes, DS
RE: Arctic blast
The heated hose helps to keep the water condensing on the inside of the tube itself, which hopefully means the warmer air reaching your face is less likely to condense out too. It doesn't heat the air, per se, which is why I'm suggesting finding some way to warm the hose externally too (even with the heated one). I can definitely feel the hose is warmer after say 10-15 minutes of running than it is when I start the CPAP. You can, also, preheat it before you start, IIRC. That might help especially in the first few minutes too, so at least it's not freezing cold when you turn it on.
RE: Arctic blast
You might want to turn down humidity and turn up heated hose along with adding an insulting material to the hose. Keeping it under covers may help too.
Mask Primer
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RE: Arctic blast
I really recommend a good fleece tube cover. It makes the tube much more comfortable, quiet, and it protects it from abrasion or cats if that applies. I use the Snugglehose fleece cover because it covers tubing up to 8-feet long so it also gets right up to the mask. There are mask covers to insulate the silicone cushion. Take a look at Supplier #31. If your mask is blasting you with cold air it's leaking. Fix the leak and no problem.
RE: Arctic blast
(01-09-2022, 09:54 AM)Sleeprider Wrote: I really recommend a good fleece tube cover. It makes the tube much more comfortable, quiet, and it protects it from abrasion or cats if that applies.
Oh, wow -- it never occurred to me that fleece tube covers were a thing. Thanks.
My mask isn't leaking, though -- at least, no leaks are reported. At high pressures there's a fair draught through the mask and out of the vents. I suspect some of the problem is air being blown from the vents onto my face, which only happens at high pressures.
BW, DS
RE: Arctic blast
DS, I use the Snugglehose which fits tubes up to 8-feet. It covers the main tube from the machine and all the way over the short tube to the mask. It makes a world of difference in comfort not to let that vinyl tube contact your face or body, and instead just feel the soft fleece.
RE: Arctic blast
For extra insulation, I scrunch an 8-foot cover onto my long hose and cut down a regular cover to put over my short hose.
In a pinch, you could try using old socks, cutting holes in the toes. If you're at all handy with a needle, you could also sew a temporary cover using strips from an old towel.
RE: Arctic blast
Thanks. I just ordered a fleece cover. If nothing else, it will stop the bedroom looking like an intensive care ward.
But...
Is it safe to use a cover with the heated hose? Or will the whole thing just melt?
BW, DS
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