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Is My Nasal Pillow Mask or Machine Making Me Sick ?

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dmypub +0 points · about 3 years ago Original Poster

I have been successfully using a nasal pillow mask with my respironics dreamstation for a few years. Lately I have noticed that I have a pattern of getting sinusitis type symptoms every couple of weeks. Yes, I do clean my hose and machine on a regular basis and have used both soap/water and vinegar. My sinuses often feel raw and I wonder if there is anything I am doing with my machine that is contributing. I currently have the machine on the lowest heat setting. I do not heat my hose. I use an air purifier in my bedroom. I'm stumped but this has been a continuing pattern that repeats itself every 1 - 2 weeks. I feel yucky for a day, get over it, and then it repeats. thanks.

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Dude +0 points · about 3 years ago

I'd stay away from vinegar... you may not be rinsing well enough. Just use a mild dish detergent and warm water. Rinse thoroughly. If that isn't the problem raise up the humidifier setting and preheat before bed. Also try some nasal gel too before bed. I do, however, the nasal pillow doesn't fair well with higher pressure for me anyway. You might need a full face mask.

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dmypub +0 points · about 3 years ago Original Poster

tried 4 different face masks - did not work for me. not sure why this is happening suddenly. climate change allergy season changing ? at first I thought it was a soap that might have had some fragrance..

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Sierra +0 points · about 3 years ago Sleep Patron

How do you have the humidifier set up? How much water is the humidifier using each night?

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dmypub +0 points · about 3 years ago Original Poster

I have been running with the lowest setting "1" on humidification. it's been fine at this setting for months and months.. I have to replace some small amount of water every couple days. I'll try increasing to the next level of humidification..

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Sierra +0 points · about 3 years ago Sleep Patron

When I run out of water in the night, I usually wake up with a very dry nose and a burning feeling. Seems to me that the maximum amount of humidification is best, providing you do not get water collecting in the hose. The benefit of a heated hose is that it allows for more humidification without water collecting (rainout). I run my ResMed with a heated hose, in auto climate control mode and the temperature set at 27 C.

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dmypub +0 points · about 3 years ago Original Poster

I reviewed my humidification settings - it was set to 0. I changed the setting to 1 and filled the water reservoir, to max.

I started smelling a very slight burning "hot" smell in the early morning - it used up ALL the water after about 7 hours.

So, is my respironics dreamstation machine not working correctly, or am i doing something wrong ?

Does the hose heating setting need to be ON and in concert with the humidification setting ? the hose hasn't been a problem so I have never experimented with it..

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Sierra +0 points · about 3 years ago Sleep Patron

I don't have a DreamStation, so not really sure how it works. On the ResMed it goes into auto climate control when you plug in the heated hose. See page 10 of this manual. It looks like you have to manually set the temperature and humidity.

https://incenter.medical.philips.com/doclib/enc/11405972/DreamStation_CPAP_User_Manual.pdf%3Ffunc%3Ddoc.Fetch%26nodeid%3D11405972

Mine runs out of water sometime after about 9 hours. If you are running out in 7 hours something seems wrong. Perhaps the humidifier is not controlling well.

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dmypub +0 points · about 3 years ago Original Poster

thanks. I'll try the "adaptive" setting tonight instead of "fixed". Suppose I need to find the model serial number and find out if there are any software upgrades that are needed..

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