[CPAP] Water in Mask

[smorris298]

I have been using CPAP for 2 weeks.  Last night i woke up with water in my mask, this is the first time this has happened.  The settings on my machine have not changed since day 1.  Anybody know why this might have happened?

[Crimson Nape]

Hi smorris298!  -  
What you are describing is called "Rainout".  This common when using a standard non-heated hose.  This generally occurs by having the humidity turned up above what the ambient temperature can support.  I recommend obtaining a Resmed ClimateLine heated hose.  The heated hose provides the ability to set humidity levels higher than what can normally be supported by the ambient room temperature.   Additionally,  try to locate your CPAP below mattress level, routing your hose above your head and then back down to you.  This will aid in causing any condensation that forms in the hose to drop back to the CPAP and not into your mask.  This is a good setup when you get the heated hose as well.

[mesenteria]

Between you and the machine, you're both contributing to the water load in the air passing through the mask.  It's simply too high a moisture load for the air temperature/mask inner surface temperature combination.  You need to raise the temperature of the room air to warm the mask more (probably not a great idea since it's already next-to-skin), or a better idea would be to reduce/stop humidification of the water by altering the settings appropriately.

Or....stop breathing. 

[smorris298]

Crimson Nape

Thanks for the info.  I am using a heated hose.

[Big Guy]

My machine rests on a file cabinet on the side of my bed. From there, the hose runs uphill at a steep incline, until it reaches a hose holder I fabricated some time ago. 

I've never had any rainout issues as far as I know. I do tend to drool just a bit during the night. Some nights can be a bit worse than others. 

If it's bad enough, it'll wake me up and I then get up, remove my mask, and use a tissue to wipe it dry. Other times......I just swallow. Not trying to sound gross, just telling it like it is. 

[Crimson Nape]

. . . I am using a heated hose.

You can approach this two ways, three if you combine them. One, increase the hose temperature. Two, reduce your humidity setting. Three, both one and two.

What are your current settings?

[smorris298]

I have th humidity on 8 and i have no idea what the hose temp is or if i can change that

[Crimson Nape]

This is just a guess but you might try a setting of, Humidity set to "Auto" and Temperature to 78F (26C).  The "Auto" setting tries to maintain a humidity level as high a possible without rainout for the given temperature.  The temperature is just a starting point. You can play with this setting for your comfort.

[smorris298]

I will give it a try.  Thank you