Test Results (Dehydration)

[Sparticus]

Due to an early talk about dehydration I thought I would test the theory that CPAP causes this. I have now been without my APAP for 2 days to see if there was any difference in my hydration and I can conclude that using your machine doesnt have any effect that I can see. This test was not taken with any medical equipment so please take this test with a pinch of salt, so to speak.

[James @ Intus]

We had a customer on the line this week who has an iSleep i20 Auto and an XT-III. Neither humidified. On nights using the APAP, he'd wake up fine. After a night fixed pressure machine, he'd have a dry mouth.

We reasoned that the APAP will deliver a lower average pressure, hence a lower total airflow. The fixed pressure machine delivers a higher total airflow, as it doesn't settle down to a lower pressure when not needed.

We recommended to add a humidifier to the fixed pressure machine.

That case alone contradicts your findings to a degree. It just depends...

And at the Scottish Association for Sleep Apnoea AGM/Patient Day there was a QNA panel and (de)hydration came up. Some said that even when cranking up the humidifier to full whack, they'd have a dry mouth. It quickly emerged the chap didn't even drink any water during the day.

So hydration starts with fluid intake. The humidifier is there as a bonus, not to hydrate you.

[Sparticus]

Well I have now used a Humidifier and not use one, yes I can sometimes wake with a terrible dry mouth but that doesnt mean that Im dehydrated, like the man, all I drink is coffe, I dont drink water or any other hydrating drinks. The only other fluid source is power drinks and I have loads of those due to me still addicted to them. These drinks also Dehydrate you. On or off cpap, with or without a humidifier, the difference is negligable.

[symmit]

I was really suffering with the dehydration for the first week or so, but have got into a pattern of drinking lots of water - what I reckon had happened is that my total fluid intake had plummeted (would drink 10 coffees, redbull, coke, whatever!) so I've replaced that with water, sugar free drinks and fruit juices - and a couple of coffees in the morning.