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continued requirement for increased humidity - PaytonA - 09-14-2014

About a month ago, I switched from my old S8 VPAP Auto 25 to my new S9 VPAP Auto without climateline tubing. While using the S8, my humidifier was set between 5 and 6. The S9 came set at 3 and I thought what the heck lets try it once just for kicks. To my great surprise, I did not have dry mouth. I used it set at 3 for a week and then began to get dry mouth. Upped it to 3.5 and that worked well for a while but started having dry mouth again. It is currently set at 4 and I am beginning to get dry mouth.

I do use Biotene for dry mouth every night just before bed. I have not paid enough attention to be able to tell if I am using more water now than at 3 but if I am it is not much more.

Any ideas out there what might be causing this? All of this is happening during a fairly humid summer.

Mongo, to answer the question that you are going to ask - yes, it is plugged in. The hose is even connected to the machine and my mask.
Rolleyes

Best Regards,

PaytonA


RE: continued requirement for increased humidity - surferdude2 - 09-14-2014

The only thing that comes to mind that could be causing this is the possibility that you are blowing a different quantity of air through the system due to your changing needs. I can imagine that if a greater air pressure was pushing air through at a higher velocity the air would have a shorter residence time in the humidifier and be less saturated with moisture and not have the same effect as it did when the volume was less. I'd expect a higher water usage under that circumstance although a greater percentage of it would be wasted on the air being dumped by the mask's normal flushing bleed off. Along with that, the extra volume of air being delivered would dry your mouth more.

Have you checked to see if your pressure has a "higher than before" average overall level?


RE: continued requirement for increased humidity - vsheline - 09-14-2014

(09-14-2014, 06:21 PM)PaytonA Wrote: About a month ago, I switched from my old S8 VPAP Auto 25 to my new S9 VPAP Auto without climateline tubing. While using the S8, my humidifier was set between 5 and 6. The S9 came set at 3 and I thought what the heck lets try it once just for kicks. To my great surprise, I did not have dry mouth. I used it set at 3 for a week and then began to get dry mouth. Upped it to 3.5 and that worked well for a while but started having dry mouth again. It is currently set at 4 and I am beginning to get dry mouth.

Before cooler weather starts, I suggest trying to get prepared by getting the heated hose. It allows the humidity to be higher without allowing rain out in the hose.

Some don't like to use the heated hose in hot weather.

If using heated hose on automatic climate control, the higher the hose temperature is set, the higher the air moisture content will be.





RE: continued requirement for increased humidity - retired_guy - 09-14-2014

Payton, I really think the dry mouth thing has more to do with the mouth coming open than the humidity, except if your room humidity is very dry, then finding a way to add humidity to your environment might do nice things for your sinuses, and hence your tendency to open your mouth.



RE: continued requirement for increased humidity - zonk - 09-14-2014

Not much you can do, full face mask and dry mouth goes together

Some meds can causes dry mouth too
Keep hydrated, saline sinus rinse and warm salt water gargle

Salt is a panacea for anything Too-funny


RE: continued requirement for increased humidity - justMongo - 09-14-2014

Payton: I'm running mine with a standard hose; and set to 5.0
I use nearly the entire H5i tank each night.

Your temperature is what? Above 100F and humidity > 35% ?
You should find an outlet on the Huntington Beach Pier and sleep there.
Breakfast at Ruby's !!!!


RE: continued requirement for increased humidity - PaytonA - 09-15-2014

(09-14-2014, 07:03 PM)surferdude2 Wrote: The only thing that comes to mind that could be causing this is the possibility that you are blowing a different quantity of air through the system due to your changing needs. I can imagine that if a greater air pressure was pushing air through at a higher velocity the air would have a shorter residence time in the humidifier and be less saturated with moisture and not have the same effect as it did when the volume was less. I'd expect a higher water usage under that circumstance although a greater percentage of it would be wasted on the air being dumped by the mask's normal flushing bleed off. Along with that, the extra volume of air being delivered would dry your mouth more.

Have you checked to see if your pressure has a "higher than before" average overall level?

My minute ventilation has gone up some since I started with the S9 so maybe there is something with regard to higher air velocity.


RE: continued requirement for increased humidity - PaytonA - 09-15-2014

(09-14-2014, 08:26 PM)vsheline Wrote: Before cooler weather starts, I suggest trying to get prepared by getting the heated hose. It allows the humidity to be higher without allowing rain out in the hose.

Some don't like to use the heated hose in hot weather.

If using heated hose on automatic climate control, the higher the hose temperature is set, the higher the air moisture content will be.

I just received my heated hose. What a pain that was. Stupid DME said that I needed a prescription. Had my PCP fax one to the number given. Checked back later after hearing nothing. The DME did not have the fax (?) and said that the fax number was wrong. I did not want to bother my PCP any more so I just bought one online-no prescription required.


RE: continued requirement for increased humidity - PaytonA - 09-15-2014

(09-14-2014, 08:38 PM)retired_guy Wrote: Payton, I really think the dry mouth thing has more to do with the mouth coming open than the humidity, except if your room humidity is very dry, then finding a way to add humidity to your environment might do nice things for your sinuses, and hence your tendency to open your mouth.

It has been very humid here lately and since we have no air conditioning the room humidity has been high also. You may be right about open mouth syndrome.


RE: continued requirement for increased humidity - PaytonA - 09-15-2014

(09-14-2014, 09:03 PM)zonk Wrote: Not much you can do, full face mask and dry mouth goes together

Some meds can causes dry mouth too
Keep hydrated, saline sinus rinse and warm salt water gargle

Salt is a panacea for anything Too-funny

Zonk,

My problem is that I was doing fine with dry mouth and then that changed for some reason. I have not changed any medications and I have been using the full face mask since March and not having significant dry mouth problem.

Salt is not the panacea for my fluid retention problems I am afraid.