Another humidity question

[cariaad]

OK, it's been a bit better lately, but I'm wondering if you all use a 50 psi compressor like ours? If so, what do you set it at? And what do you set the amount of H2O at? I've put Alli's at 28% which allows the most water, and the compressor runs around 25-30. Her shirt ends up wet and sometimes the pillow as well, but if I set it at any less she will still get dried up. And do you use distilled water? Can tap water be boiled and used instead? (We are struggling for $ right now and distilled is 98c a gallon!) We're still waiting for July appointment with the new pulm so Im trying to work things out for myself rather than wait...Thanks, Deb

[Jacob's Mom]

Although Jacob is on cpap at night now, we still use the 50 psi compressor for humidity occassionally. We use approximately those same settings. As for the water, our insurance pays for respiratory water, but we ran out once and did use distilled water. I had a friend who son was 24 hour vent dependent and she used boiled tap water. I think if you ask the doctor, it will be like anything else: he/she will have a different opinion than the next one. I know what you mean about money. 98c a gallon could really add up in a months time. We have to by Jacob's Pediasure - WOW. It is around $225 a month.

Do you use drain bags? That always helped with some of the excess moisture.

[christyw]

There is a process to distill water that I found a long time back on the internet somewhere. It was more than boiling I think - but I would THINK that boiled water would be fine for the mist. That's how we made "sterile water" back when we used to make it.

I've noticed gaithy is pretty dry in the morning too - despite the mist. It's not a big problem for her, but she still should be more humidified. We use heated mist, with a fisher-paykel heater. I turned the heater up a degree last night and turned the pressure on the machine up to 45 and that seemed to help

christy