CPAP Doesn't Work because nose is clogged

[Muse-Inc]

Ok so for years I have been having the problem of my nose stuffing up on one side when I go to sleep walk up flip sides then the clog goes to the other side. There is also when both sides clog up. This only happens when I lie down...even times when it is completely clogged and it runs clear I try to blow my nose and can't get any air through yet it is still running...CPAP isn't working.

I have the same issues. I started therapy wearing a pillow mask, then I started mouth breathing from congestion. Since mid '09, I've worn the Innomed (RespCare) Universal Hybrid FFM which has pillows and a mouth cushion so I can breathe thru my nose and when congested thru my mouth without losing therapy air. It might help you too. Oh, my doc said when nose is congested and NOT runny, assume you are dehydrated and drink more water -- I do this even if nose is runny, the water helps. Changing humidifier setting up/down might help. If allergy, I use Ocean spray in the can (Amazon), it's pricey but an easy way to flush the nostrils with saline (better than the squirt stuff which just runs down throat as you've experienced). Occasionally I resort to spraying with Nasacort (over the counter cortisone spray) but I prefer non-drug management.

https://www.cpap.com/productpage/RespCa ... -Mask.html

[Holden4th]

I've lately come to realise that some of my nasal congestion problems relate directly to humidity. I had a terrible time in September when I went to Perth and didn't take the humidifier with the machine. My nose ran, I sneezed incessantly and I was blocked up. On returning home and attaching the machine to the humidifier, all those problems went away. A few weeks ago I ran out of water in the humidifier and the problems came back. So to my mind, humidity levels can be a cause of congestion.

[TedVPAP]

Using a nasal pillow stops my congestion problem. The first few breaths can be a struggle but once I get the air flowing, no more problem. Once I take it off in the morning, my congestion builds back up.

[TedVPAP]

...I did have my septum repaired...I was able to breathe for about 6 months then it started back up again..Dr who did the job said yeah only other thing he could do would be reshaping the bone at the top of the nose but he said that the way mine was shaped it wouldn't do much good. The problem is snoring wife has had it and wants me back on CPAP but the CPAP isn't working.

You may want to get a second opinion as to how successful your septum repair was.

[FrederickRose]

I was initially using nasal steroids like Flonase as well as saline while resisting the use of the humidifier. Now that I use the heated humidifier and have reverted from mouth breathing to nose breathing, my formerly clogged nasal passages stay open. YMMV!

[Gerald?]

Had the same problem before I got my CPAP treatment working effectively. I used anti-histamine and decongestants for a while but then someone taught me this trick to do just before going to sleep.

Take a normal breath in
Let a little bit of air out
Hold your breath
Hold until about 5 seconds after your first desire to take a breath.
When you start breathing again, breathe only though your nose (even if it is still blocked) and as gently as possible. You don't want to be able to hear (and only barely feel) air coming in your nose.
If your nose is not clearer, repeat this a few times with about 15 seconds break between each time.
Once you get at least one nostril clear, mask up and just breathe through your nose.

[Wulfman...]

Ok so for years I have been having the problem of my nose stuffing up on one side when I go to sleep walk up flip sides then the clog goes to the other side. There is also when both sides clog up. This only happens when I lie down. Of course snoring is a big issue. I complained to Drs. they say you have allergies (no tests done they just looked at my nose one didn't even look at my nose). They send me to the sleep study and say yeah you have sleep apnea here is your cpap. How can the cpap work when my nose is clogged??!!! I end up falling asleep and then my mouth opens because I still can't breathe through my nose. The stuffed up is so bad that I can actually hold my finger on my nose to close the open passage and blow as hard as I can and there isn't even any movement on the other nostril. There is even times when it is completely clogged and it runs clear I try to blow my nose and can't get any air through yet it is still running. they give me the stuff to shoot up my nose...it doesn't work it. If I am laying down and shoot it I feel it running down my throat and it doesn't do anything if I am sitting up it runs back out my nose with no affect. Anyone have these symptoms or know a fix...I did have my septum repaired...I was able to breathe for about 6 months then it started back up again..Dr who did the job said yeah only other thing he could do would be reshaping the bone at the top of the nose but he said that the way mine was shaped it wouldn't do much good. The problem is snoring wife has had it and wants me back on CPAP but the CPAP isn't working.

I don't have time to read this whole thread, so I'm just going to ask some questions and throw some things out.

What did they give you to "shoot up your nose"?
If you're using Afrin, try to get off of it. It can cause a rebound effect and make you dependent on it.
Are you doing nasal cleansing before bedtime so you can start out breathing well?
What humidity settings are you using? Too much heated humidity can cause more nasal congestion. If you're using a higher setting, you might try turning it down or off. I've used cool "passover" humidity since I started. About two nights of a moderate HH setting told me I didn't like that.

By the way, I went to high school (back in the 1960s) with a person who had that same name (your user name).


Den

.

[SnoringInOregon]

Anyone have these symptoms or know a fix...I did have my septum repaired...

I have the same symptoms but not nearly as bad as you do. I do OK most nights. I also had surgery for a deviated septum and also some sort of electrical zapping to burn away excess tissue within my nose.

This thread has lots of good suggestions. I've already tried some in the past and I will try more that were mentioned.

One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is some advice from my ENT doctor: use saline nasal spray throughout the day to keep your nostrils moist. It seems to help me when I remember to do it.