I started with a nasal mask. I like it well enough but I get condensation inside and it wakes me up a lot. I have humidity set at 1 and temp as low as I can at 60 and still get it. Any way I can get that to stop without turning off all the humidity?
I recently got a pillows mask. I am not sure I like it as whether I use the medium or small it makes my nose sore. I like the pillows mask alright.
I just need to know if there is a way to stop the nasal mask from getting so wet inside, or is there someway to set pillows so my nose doesn't get sore? I can't do a full face mask because I get claustrophobic with it. Thanks in advance for advice.
scwerl Welcome to the forum! The correct mask is the key to effective therapy! The pressure or pressures your machine operates dictates what type mask makes sense to some degree. I am on Bipap and my pressures are max (21/25). I have not tried pillows as they are not normally recommended for high pressure therapy. I don't know the reason but that is what I have heard. I also don't like the idea of sticking the thing IN my nose.
I currently use an Amara View mask that works a lot like a nasal mask but covers your mouth. No big heavy central brace up between your eye and light weight are the positives. The headgear is on the uncomfortable side especially on the back of my neck and I will probably try and figure out how to mitigate this negative as the mask itself is comfortable and seals well for me. It was the first mask that was given to me by my DME. I couldn't wear it at first because of massive air leaks.
Next mask I used was a Simplus traditional full face. After experimenting with sizing it because a useful mask. LEAKS LEAKS LEAKS so I started using mask pads to keep air out of my eyes.
I found that my jaw slackened during the night and found that using a mixed martial arts mouthguard kept my mouth SHUT and my jaw from slacking. This fixed many of the leaks with the Simplus and almost all leaks with the Amara View. Since I figured out how to beat the mask leaks I tried a nasal mask; the WISP.
The Wisp was a MISERY. Felt like I was drowning even with the humidity OFF... found I couldn't breathe at all with the machine not running as the exhaust holes are just too darn small. I couldn't stand the thing for even a half hour. Fit was fine and to this day, it is my intention to open up the exhaust holes as an experiment to see if I can make the mask work for me. I bought it fairly inexpensively and it came with three pieces of cushion for sizing. Look at the holes on your nasal mask and compare them with a full face mask. They are TINY! Anyway, I suspect you are having the same issue I had with the moisture... and I know how to fix my supply hose so it doesn't leak water down and don't overfill the reservoir on my machine.
Sorry to be so long but it has taken me 15 months of trial and error and fumbling to figure this out and it may help others.
Hi Scwerl, my thoughts are that is probably the difference in the room temperature vs. the humidifier temperature that is causing the condensation. Have you tried a hose cover, its like a long tube sock that goes over the tubing to help with the condensation? Or perhaps you can still use humidity but turn off the heat element completely, that will still give you moisture element of it.
As far as the tube goes, that is a possibility that condensation is building up because of the difference in room temp and the temp of your machine. Some folks loop the hose over a bedpost to create a trap for the water on the machine side. Good call Sleep! scwrl, don't know what the temp in your room is now but it is quite a bit cooler than in the warmer months?
I had similar problem, sometimes felt like I was drowning. Even with humidifier set to "0", could not sleep well. Finally removed unit humidifier and got small room humidifier, free standing unit. Solved problem. Nose pillows hurt me too. There is a design that is like a ball that sits on the nose, and another that has a design whereby the connection is at top of head, side rubber tubes to bottom of nose, and goes across nostrils instead of inside. I use this currently.
