Advice for managing humidity please

[rachel9]

Hi folks, 

I had 6 lovely, successful years of APAP therapy with a ResMed S9. Then it began to malfunction, and I got a ResMed S10. I can't make the S10 comfortable. 

If I put the humidity level on 5, I wake up with a painfully dry nose and mouth. If I put the humidity level on 6, the air is so damp it's almost hard to breathe, and I get a ton of rainout. There is no 5.5 setting. When I sleep with the S10, I end up putting it on one setting (5 or 6) until the discomfort wakes me up and then putting it on the other setting (5 or 6) until the opposite kind of discomfort wakes me up. (I'm exhausted, and I've gone back to sleeping with my S9, which sorta-kinda-works but not real well.)

Things I've tried with the S10:
- I got a chin strap and continue to use it; it's doing its job (in keeping my mouth closed) but hasn't made the drier setting comfortable.
- I've tried using the auto climate control feature--it's too dry for me.
- I've tried raising and lowering the temperature of the climate-controlled tube to different levels so that I can use the 6 setting without rainout; no luck. 
- I've also tried keeping the hose under the blankets with me for insulation; no joy. I've also tried keeping the hose outside the blankets.
- I've tried using nasal moisturizers while using the lower (5) setting; it's not enough and my nose and throat are still painfully dry. 

For context, I bought this machine retail and don't have a DME. I have an appointment with my sleep doc but have to wait another month for it. 

Any advice? Thank you in advance for your help!

Rachel

[Sleeprider]

Welcome to Apnea Board. It seems strange you experience such a difference between a setting of 5 and 6. Many of us prefer the manual climate setting to get more consistent results. I'll suggest a setting of Manual at 5 with tube temperature at 80*F (27*C). I really like the SnuggleSkins fleece tube cover to help with facial and body contact with the tube and to further condition the air.

[rachel9]

Thanks--I'm using Manual controls, and I've tried that combo of 5 humidity plus 80 degree temp in the hose--it's too dry. But thank you for your answer.

[SarcasticDave94]

Have you increased both manual humidity to 6 and higher hose temp? What about a hose cover? Does the hose travel in an inverted V shape, up from the PAP onto a hanger, then back down to the mask? Any to all these may be needed.