Stuffy head and nose

General Discussion on any topic relating to CPAP and/or Sleep Apnea.
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englandsf
Posts: 1016
Joined: Thu Jul 10, 2014 6:17 pm
Location: Austin TX

Re: Stuffy head and nose

Post by englandsf » Wed Jul 23, 2014 11:52 am

Try nasal rinsing 2-3 a day and Flonase/cortico steroids. Cured me of mouth breathing and full face masks in about 3 days... Nasal pillows when you breather freely through your nose are amazingly comfortable.

_________________
Mask: AirFit™ P10 Nasal Pillow CPAP Mask with Headgear
Humidifier: S9™ Series H5i™ Heated Humidifier with Climate Control
Additional Comments: Sleepyhead SW. NeilMed and Alkalol Nasal rinses. Veramyst. AutoPAP 11-20 cms. Started June '14, untreated AHI 31-38, with PAP around 1.

Chelle25
Posts: 57
Joined: Sat Jul 19, 2014 4:28 pm
Location: Cleveland, ohio

Re: Stuffy head and nose

Post by Chelle25 » Wed Jul 23, 2014 6:31 pm

ProVega wrote:Chelle25

First some history. I have been on my VPAP machine for 7 months. I started with a large full face mask(FFM). Try as I did, I either had unacceptable leaks or pain from an excessively tight mask. After trying several other FFM ans sizes, I was introduced to the nasal pillow mask I am presently using. After some initial adjustments, it works extremely well.

Shortly after starting the use of the nasal pillow mask I developed the symptoms you describe. I can't describe the feeling any better then you did. I feel poorly most of the day. My hearing and taste are negatively affected too. My doctor thinks it might be an allergy and is treating me for it. I have tried some of the suggestions posted on this thread but, so far nothing is working.

Please post anything you find that helps. I will do the same.

Thank you,
Leo

Hi Leo,

I decided to go with the full face mask due to my severe allergies and that I get sinus infections real easily. I felt that it would not be good for me to have the bulk of the air going up my nose. I think I am a mouth breather as well.

I get what your saying about the tight mask hurting and all. Sometimes my cheekbones hurt. But I am slowly getting to know my mask. I have the Velcro straps from my mask perfect right now and I don't dare touch them or I'll screw it all up. My mask also has a knob at the top which will tighten or loosen the mask around the nose area. I have to tinker with those sometimes.

One member suggested I turn the humidity down so the last few nights I have lowered it down to 1 and it has made a huge difference! I am not that congested anymore and it has also helped with my watery eyes.

Last night I had a good night. No leaks or tightness and I slept like a baby. Today I felt like a million bucks!

_________________
Mask
Machine: Philips Respironics, system one REMstar Auto A-FlEX 560
Humidifier: Philips Respironics system one heated humidifier
Mask: Mirage Quattro (full face)
Software: Philips Respironics sleepmapper

Chelle25
Posts: 57
Joined: Sat Jul 19, 2014 4:28 pm
Location: Cleveland, ohio

Re: Stuffy head and nose

Post by Chelle25 » Wed Jul 23, 2014 6:34 pm

englandsf wrote:Try nasal rinsing 2-3 a day and Flonase/cortico steroids. Cured me of mouth breathing and full face masks in about 3 days... Nasal pillows when you breather freely through your nose are amazingly comfortable.
Yes englander I have been using the flonase and due your earlier suggestion I am nasal rinsing with the saline more often. I actually saw the neilmed rinse in my pharmacy the other day and they make a nose gel too for moisturizing.

_________________
Mask
Machine: Philips Respironics, system one REMstar Auto A-FlEX 560
Humidifier: Philips Respironics system one heated humidifier
Mask: Mirage Quattro (full face)
Software: Philips Respironics sleepmapper

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englandsf
Posts: 1016
Joined: Thu Jul 10, 2014 6:17 pm
Location: Austin TX

Re: Stuffy head and nose

Post by englandsf » Thu Jul 24, 2014 5:55 am

How's it feel on the mask? Is your bridge still under pressure... now the only challenge is getting a nasal pillow to compare.

_________________
Mask: AirFit™ P10 Nasal Pillow CPAP Mask with Headgear
Humidifier: S9™ Series H5i™ Heated Humidifier with Climate Control
Additional Comments: Sleepyhead SW. NeilMed and Alkalol Nasal rinses. Veramyst. AutoPAP 11-20 cms. Started June '14, untreated AHI 31-38, with PAP around 1.

Chelle25
Posts: 57
Joined: Sat Jul 19, 2014 4:28 pm
Location: Cleveland, ohio

Re: Stuffy head and nose

Post by Chelle25 » Thu Jul 24, 2014 5:59 am

I'm kind of afraid to get the nasal one englander. I have had multiple surgeries on my nose. I get sometimes chronic sinus infections and my allergies are bad. If this full face can work out for me I don't want to fix something not broken right?

_________________
Mask
Machine: Philips Respironics, system one REMstar Auto A-FlEX 560
Humidifier: Philips Respironics system one heated humidifier
Mask: Mirage Quattro (full face)
Software: Philips Respironics sleepmapper

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knothead
Posts: 538
Joined: Fri Jan 24, 2014 8:58 am
Location: Corpus Christi, Tx

Re: Stuffy head and nose

Post by knothead » Thu Jul 24, 2014 6:32 am

Chelle25 wrote:
ProVega wrote:Chelle25






I decided to go with the full face mask due to my severe allergies and that I get sinus infections real easily. I felt that it would not be good for me to have the bulk of the air going up my nose. I think I am a mouth breather as well.

I get what your saying about the tight mask hurting and all. Sometimes my cheekbones hurt. But I am slowly getting to know my mask. I have the Velcro straps from my mask perfect right now and I don't dare touch them or I'll screw it all up. My mask also has a knob at the top which will tighten or loosen the mask around the nose area. I have to tinker with those sometimes.

One member suggested I turn the humidity down so the last few nights I have lowered it down to 1 and it has made a huge difference! I am not that congested anymore and it has also helped with my watery eyes.

Last night I had a good night. No leaks or tightness and I slept like a baby. Today I felt like a million bucks!
Sounds like you have it going your way...this is good...

_________________
Machine: ResMed AirSense™ 10 AutoSet™ CPAP Machine with HumidAir™ Heated Humidifier
Mask: Mirage Quattro™ Full Face CPAP Mask with Headgear
Additional Comments: BP down & in control, Resmed S9 Autoset for backup & travel.

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englandsf
Posts: 1016
Joined: Thu Jul 10, 2014 6:17 pm
Location: Austin TX

Re: Stuffy head and nose

Post by englandsf » Thu Jul 24, 2014 9:37 am

Makes lots of sense. I so wish I could get over the claustrophobia of a FFM. I'll try it again next time I gets cold though!

_________________
Mask: AirFit™ P10 Nasal Pillow CPAP Mask with Headgear
Humidifier: S9™ Series H5i™ Heated Humidifier with Climate Control
Additional Comments: Sleepyhead SW. NeilMed and Alkalol Nasal rinses. Veramyst. AutoPAP 11-20 cms. Started June '14, untreated AHI 31-38, with PAP around 1.

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ProVega
Posts: 7
Joined: Wed Jun 25, 2014 10:00 pm
Location: Livermore, CA, USA

Re: Stuffy head and nose

Post by ProVega » Fri Aug 22, 2014 7:18 pm

Chelle25 - Just got back a few days ago from visiting my son. My symptoms seemed to go away during my visit. I may be allergic to some local weads, our home or maybe my home town? I am going to try giving our house a good cleaning and turning down my humidifier. Thanks for your input and those of others here.

_________________
Mask: Swift™ FX Nasal Pillow CPAP Mask with Headgear
Humidifier: S9™ Series H5i™ Heated Humidifier with Climate Control
Additional Comments: I am using an S9 VPAP Adapt Machine. I have complex sleep apnea.