New User: change distilled water daily?

[rebean]

Good morning.  First post!!! After 8 years of avoiding cpap - I've caved.  I'm 65 year old woman and I've always snored loudly.  I had a sleep home test and it came up as AHI 20.2 and RDI as 32.6 (though the sleep study doc said he basically uses the AHI as the standard for treatment.  On Tuesday, I received a Resmed Airsense 11 and the P10 nasal pillows.  The usual - first night kept it on for 4 hours.  2nd night slept in 3 sections and managed to keep it on for 2 of those.  Last night I seem to have kept it on all night! 

I filled the humidifier tank to the min. level with distilled water (no minerals).  I live in NYC and we are particularly humid right now.  Anyway, the tank was used just to under the min level in the morning.  So....do I REALLY need to change the distilled water ever single day?  Dump it and then refill? It seems like it's going to start adding up with purchased distilled water.  meh.  

BTW, the resmed app seems to indicate I have almost no 'leak' and that the events (apneas, I presume) recorded between 2-5 for each night (note that only last night was complete night).  Is it possible that it helps the apneas this quickly? 

I have dealt with weird feelings  - yesterday I felt a bit 'over-oxygenated' but suspect that this is my body's learning curve.  

Thanks to anyone who has read this and cares to answer. 

bean

[rebean]

also...I cannot figure out how to edit my information - anyone care to help?  e.g., when I signed up it was pre-machine but now I know that my (current) pressure settings are 4-10 (I start at 4 and it ramps up when I fall asleep).  

Lastly, is there a way with this machine to see the history of what pressure settings you ended up with?  I cannot figure that bit of info out and it isn't recorded in the resmed app. 

bean

[Big Guy]

When I started my CPAP Therapy in Sept. of 2018, I used distilled water, for a few months. I then stopped that and began to use regular tap water. 

We have lots of calcium here in our water. I'd empty the water reservoir each morning and then wipe it dry with a paper towel, then allow it to fully air dry. 

I rarely has any mineral build-up, and when i did, some White Vinegar worked wonders. Just let it soeak for a few minutes and I was good to go again. 

Anyways, that was a while back and buying distilled water and keeping enough on hand was a hassle. Happy to say I gave up my CPAP Therapy after three years of not seeing any improvement, and I'm sleeping fine. 

I do believe that I shouldn't have been diagnosed in the first place. 

[rebean]

Thanks. I’m hoping for other opinions and seeing if there’s a consensus.  

I did, however, figure out how to amend my profile! Win!

[OpalRose]

Lastly, is there a way with this machine to see the history of what pressure settings you ended up with?  I cannot figure that bit of info out and it isn't recorded in the resmed app. 
bean

Download the free OSCAR software.  This is the best way to get help if you need it, and you will be able to see much more than pressure settings.  

There are links in my signature line to guide you.  

I've always used distilled water, as I have no patience having to clean the mineral buildup that comes with tap water.  
I personally dump my water every morning, and refill at night.  Eventually you will get a feel for how much water you use and not have to fill it to the max line.  

FYI, there is a Help button at top of page or just ask if you have other questions.

[Nightynite]

I just use distilled water only, I rinse and wash with mild soap about every 4 th day. Consecutive days I just top it off.

[raylock1]

I'm in NJ so have similar humidity.  We also have very hard water.  I began using distilled water when I first got my machine in 2019 but that lasted only for a couple of months. It was just a hassle.  During the last 3+ years I have used tap water.  I have found that the chambers last indefinitely with a periodic rinse with vinegar.  Because Medicare provides a new chamber every six months, I have ended up with a couple extra so I stopped ordering them.  To your question, based on my experience you should be fine with tap water.  Suggest you replace the tap water daily.  (a final thought--I forgot to refill a few weeks ago and let the chamber run dry.  After that I just turned off the humidity and left the chamber dry and for some reason, my sleep has improved)

[rebean]

Thank you all.  I think I'm going to try to 'top off' the humidity to just above the minimum level nightly and wash the container every 3 days.

[Homerec130]

I use tap water and every so often have to clean the calcium out of the tank. Even though I live in AZ, I have my humidity set on 0 - essentially the heater is off and the air just passes over the water. Works fine for me.

I started out using distilled water, but after talking to folks, went to tap.

[dwd1249]

I don't use the tank at all at home. I replaced it with a side cover.
If I sleep in some places with air conditioning ,like the hospital, I use the tank there.