High Altitude Condensation with CPAP Machine

[A.Smith]

Got a situation, sleep apnea, just returned from 8500 ft altitude camping trip.
Great Fall Colors in Bishop Creek, but the condensation with my required cpap machine was and is an issue.
Any One got any suggestions ? Machine has no altitude settings and Dr said just don't go in high altitudes.

Thanks
Fred

 

[Ronanmd1]

I would think that condensation is more a reflection of temperature than altitude change. Maybe try insulating the tubing or running it under the covers? Or keep the temp up in the camper a little higher?

 

[Seth]

That's kind of an unhelpful suggestion from your doc. Is he a pulmonary sleep specialist? Ought to know better. Often there's a gear specialist at sleep centers who knows the ins and outs very well.

If you're talking about condensation in the tube interfering with air flow and perhaps draining onto your face, the term for it is rainout. If you hit cpaptalk.com and search on rainout or rain out, you'll find *plenty* of suggestions.

Here are some that I've tried, or recall reading, in no particular order:

Get or sew a poly fleece tube cover. This is great - I sewed my first, and bought my second for about $15 or $20. It really works for me.

Lower the humidifier level. When I'm camping I turn off the humidifier, because it really pulls juice to heat up the water. I just throw a quarter cup of water in it, which serves as a "pass-over" (unheated) humidifier.

Increase room heat, as suggested above.

In extreme cases, there are heated tube systems. Cpap.com has all that good stuff, if you're willing to spend a little money that health insurance probably won't cover.

The altitude is a secondary issue that does affect the condensation, but condensation is unrelated to the cpap itself - only the humidifier and tube, as I understand it. You do want to search for the specs for your cpap and confirm that the pump is rated to 10,000 feet or whatever. Or, at least I would; I'm very sensitive to getting the full therapy because it does *so* much good for me!


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[cdbrow1]

I use the ResMed S9 which had heated tubing. That is what you want for use in a cold room. I have used mine while camping in the low teens without any trouble.

 

[A.Smith]

Thanks to All. I will try wrapping the tubing as suggested, till I can purchase a product.
I am off to the White Mountains now that I have a feeling I won't drown in my sleep.
Thanks Again
Fred

 

[longhorn1]

Camped several nights over 8500 ft. In Montana with night Temps around 29. No problem with my CPAP. You can buy an insulated wrap. I ran my hose in my sleeping bag. Check with your equipment supplier. For some reason the insulated sleeve I bought wouldn't allow the end of house to fit through. jd

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[2tallDA]

I got fitted with a dental appliance(mouthpiece). Chucked the CPAP. My symptoms went from 10 to 5 per another sleep study. It's great.
United Healthcare covered it.

 

[BFH4N]

The condensation is most likely due to the cold rather than just the altitude. You probably should turn off humidification in your CPAP, if you haven't already. You might need a little, in the dry climate out there. I got a blanket-material sheath for my hose, which has helped and makes it generally more comfortable to have the hose in the bed. I think it is called "Snugglehose" or something like that. Check one of the CPAP supplies websites.

The thing that has all but elliminated condensation for me, though, is putting the hose under the covers so body heat can warm the air. I lay all the extra hose right along next to my body, with as little as possible outside the covers. This is why the fabric sheath is nice to have.

By the way, if your machine doesn't automatically compensate for altitude, you probably need to manually adjust the pressure when you go up.

- Bernard

 

[Doc Foster]

By the way, if your machine doesn't automatically compensate for altitude, you probably need to manually adjust the pressure when you go up.

- Bernard

Actually most modern CPAPs (Resmed and Respironics do, not sure about F&P as we don't carry those anymore) WILL auto adjust for altitude up to about 8 or 10,000', unless your DME provided the most basic model of CPAP. As other have suggested tubing insulators are easy to make or can be found easily on the internet (http://www.cpapcentral.com/online-store/product/50/38/respironics-tubing-insulator-cover or https://www.amazon.com/Tender-Tubing-CPAP-Insulator-Cover/dp/B0167HA1GM/ref=sr_1_2_s_it?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1476526743&sr=1-2&keywords=cpap+tubing+insulator). And now most modern CPAPs have heated tubing and/or will compensate for ambient temperature and humidity, then will even provide your AHI, etc. to see if the altitude is affecting your sleep. You should be able to talk to your doctor and state that you NEED a newer improved CPAP that has these capabilities to suit your lifestyle. I work in the Sleep Therapy business. PM me if you want.
Then again, one recent study suggests that altitude has minimal effect on PAP therapy, but that is counter intuitive to the scientist in me.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2864887/

 

[jonb96150]

I just spent a couple nights a little north of Bishop creek around Bridgeport with a cpap at 9500' and 9000'. Like others posted, I turn off the humidifier while on 12V as it does use a lot of juice. The passive "passover" is a good idea that I had not thought of. But a few nights without the humidifier does not seem to bother me. At home (6500' and very dry) I just use the minimum setting to avoid "rainout" and it seems okay so maybe I'm just too dumb or numb to notice anything lol.

 

[Porkface]

My wife uses a CPAP and has has rainout problems. We use rigid pipe foam insulation on the length of hose from the CPAP to the bed and tuck the rest of the hose under the covers. She also turns the humidifier down or off depending on temps.