Recommendations for a Humidifier to combat dry mouth and throat (with COPD and 16hrs oxygen) please

[GothNerdSpoonie]

Have been using an oxygen concentrator since the end of May 2022 and wake up 3 times during the night with bone dry mouth. My eyes, nose and mouth are dry and my voice gets very croaky during the day. I was wondering if a humidifier would help and would like a recommendation from anyone here who has used one successfully. Ideally a small desktop unit as there's not much room in my bedroom. All opinions considered

[Welshcatlady]

Good morning, can't answer your question regarding a humidifier, but I also get a dry mouth, but I put that down to 2 of my meds, one inhaler and Amitriptyline for my Fibromyalgia. I always have a glass of water to hand, and during the day I find that chewing gum, sucking a sugar free mint or boiled sweets, especially Jakemans, really help and they stop my voice being so croaky too.

[GothNerdSpoonie in reply to Welshcatlady]

Thanks for the advice, I have water to sip when I wake up in the night, but I'm hoping to find something which will mean I don't wake up. I'm tired all the time from broken sleep.

[R2B_John Moderator]

Ask your oxygen supplier for a humidifier bottle to attach to your concentrator.This will moisturize the oxygen coming through the tubing.

Be sure to use distilled water and to follow the cleaning instructions.

Hope this helps.

[GothNerdSpoonie in reply to R2B_John]

Thanks, I did and he advised against the ones they use as it's a faff

[Anniebeen]

I had that problem some years ago and the water bottle attached to the concentrator fixed it. Do look into it. Good luck! 😀

[GothNerdSpoonie in reply to Anniebeen]

I asked the engineer when he was here Friday and he said it's a faff to keep it upright and needs filter changing all the time and can only use distilled water. Plus they don't usually prescribe them for only 1l.

[Jocopd in reply to GothNerdSpoonie]

I occasionally get dry mouth too. I don't know if its the meds or oxygen or what. But I am not changing meds or going off oxygen so I had to find a way to help. I tried the little bottles that go on your concentrator but the problem with them is they build up condensation on your tubing. And you can wake up in the middle of the night with a nose full of condensation. Way too much hassle for what they do since they don't do much. I found 2 things really help. A "dry" mouth spray - the cheapest one is fine and it is not prescription. You spray in your mouth before you go to bed and it seems to keep your mouth from drying out. Or you can use it during the day too. The other thing I got was a room humidifier. Just an inexpensive one and just run it a few hours a day or overnight in my bedroom. Yes, they take distilled water but you can get that cheap at any store.

[GothNerdSpoonie in reply to Jocopd]

Can you give me a recommendation on the dry mouth spray and humidifier? Please. Have spent all afternoon looking at humidifiers on Amazon and all have lots of negative reactions. A word of mouth recommend is far better 😀

[Jocopd in reply to GothNerdSpoonie]

Sure the dry mouth spray I use is Biotene dry mouth moisture spray. And the humidifier is a "Homedics" brand. They seem to have a good product. I got it at bed bath and beyond but I live in the states so not sure what you have over there. The one I bought was close to $100 but looking at Amazon I see some around $25- $50. I would highly recommend to try the Biotene first. Cheaper that way and it will probably work just as good. I also use the humidifier because I live in a very dry desert area.

[Jocopd]

oh, and wanted to add that after using the dry mouth spray a few times it seems I don't have dry mouth hardly at all anymore. Its like it readjusts your saliva glands to put out more saliva and keep your mouth moist.

[GothNerdSpoonie in reply to Jocopd]

Thanks heaps for the recommends, we don't have a spray over here but Biotene do a mouthwash which, I presume, would work in the same way. Have ordered from Superdrug as I'm still shielding as much as feasibly possible. If that doesn't work so well then I've seen the Homedics UK website and they have a good one for £49.99. Might be useful in the winter with the central heating on.

[GothNerdSpoonie in reply to Jocopd]

The Biotene mouthwash seems to be doing the trick, thanks heaps for the info 😃👍

[GothNerdSpoonie]

Thanks everyone for the replies, it's great to feel "seen", hope everyone's coping ok with the heat this summer 😃👍

[betmaxbaby]

The humidifier bottle works if you know what you are doing with them. They are very particular, they have to be screw on just right ( I mean perfect) . When you figure out how to do this you wont get any water in the line and they definitely help. The other thing is you have to learn how to NOT breath through your mouth at night. O, its all a learning experience to be tied to a leash, as I call it. If you have a furnace on all winter you may as well invest in a humidifier also. Its a full time job keeping things clean and filled up--- So just smile and throw in a few 4 lettered words once in awhile.... good luck. O, I have lots of tips, just ask, my oxygen supplier hates when I call cause I make them shape up as to the stuff they are giving me. No, im nice but I like things as user friendly as I can get.......( like small canula nose pieces and not the gorilla ones.)

[Jocopd in reply to betmaxbaby]

Its not "knowing what your doing" - that makes the rest of us sound stupid lol. Its a common problem and if you just google it you will see plenty of issues with condensation in the lines even from skilled professionals. You can even buy an inline water trap or ask for one from your oxygen supplier that is supposed to help trap the condensation and its doesn't help either.

[betmaxbaby in reply to Jocopd]

Right those "traps" do nothing. Its been through trial and error that I figured the cup needed to be perfect. After I discovered this then the representative told me that the biggest share of problems from the concentrator are cause from the cup. duh, that only took a couple of years for me to find out. Then they had told me temperature (summer, winter) caused the condensation. That made sense but I found that wasnt true either. So now I think I have found the right cup ( all cups are not created equal either) and have perfected screwing it on. cup #64377 B&F medical---- gas bubble humidifier. I have 25 &15 ft line and then the 4ft canula. If u screw the cover on and it leaks, you didnt screw it on right. I also use Sams club purified water and its fine for me.