nasal congestion

Hi everybody. This is my first post. I have been a CPAP patient for two years now and after finally using the right mask I sleep very well, thank you. During the winter I learned to increase the humidity on my ResMed machine which seemed to help. I turned it way down in the spring but then back up to almost the highest because I was dry in the morning. My big problem now with the machine set to almost the highest humidity is all day I am congested (like I have a cold.) I suffer from allergies (seasonal) and take a Zyrtec daily year round. I have tried nasal saline spray and Flonase but it doesn't seem to help. Can anyone offer some advice please? Thank you. Steve

You may have begun mouth breathing when asleep, making you feel dry, but increasing humidity will cause more congestion and then more dryness because you'll have to mouth breathe. Have you considered trying a FF mask (you didn't say what you are using)?

Julie wrote:You may have begun mouth breathing when asleep, making you feel dry, but increasing humidity will cause more congestion and then more dryness because you'll have to mouth breathe. Have you considered trying a FF mask (you didn't say what you are using)?

Hi Julie. I use a Mirage FX nasal mask which is wonderful!! I used to use a full face mask and it was way too claustrophobic!! What would you recommend with these added comments?

In general summer requires less humidity than winter but it depends where you are and your climate. Does your congestion seem to increase while you're on the mask or decrease? Humidity can work either way, although most people (not me) do better with more. Maybe run some simple one night tests - high, medium and low - and see which one feels best.

englandsf wrote:In general summer requires less humidity than winter but it depends where you are and your climate. Does your congestion seem to increase while you're on the mask or decrease? Humidity can work either way, although most people (not me) do better with more. Maybe run some simple one night tests - high, medium and low - and see which one feels best.

My congestion is severe after I've slept all night; I can sleep fine with the mask on. I did have the humidity turned down to 1 or 2 before I increased it to 5 where it is now. Should I go back to 2 and see how that is?

SteveMP170 wrote:

englandsf wrote:In general summer requires less humidity than winter but it depends where you are and your climate. Does your congestion seem to increase while you're on the mask or decrease? Humidity can work either way, although most people (not me) do better with more. Maybe run some simple one night tests - high, medium and low - and see which one feels best.

My congestion is severe after I've slept all night; I can sleep fine with the mask on. I did have the humidity turned down to 1 or 2 before I increased it to 5 where it is now. Should I go back to 2 and see how that is?

I breathe clearly when I put the mask on and don't seem to be affected until I wake up all congested.

SteveMP170 wrote:My congestion is severe after I've slept all night; I can sleep fine with the mask on. I did have the humidity turned down to 1 or 2 before I increased it to 5 where it is now. Should I go back to 2 and see how that is?

Sometimes finding the right balance of moisture to keep our nasal mucosa takes a bit of detective work.

Some people need more moisture and some people need less moisture and some people don't even need any moisture. It's something that you have to sort of figure out yourself because there is no right or wrong way...there's only what works for the individual and to complicate the situation sometimes what the individual might need will change.

If you are more congested when you wake up in the AM than when you went to bed and you are maxing out your humidity setting then by all means try a reduction to see what happens...see if it helps or hurts the situation.
It's very possible that you are one of those people whose nasal mucosa need less added moisture.
Play with the settings and see if you can find something that helps with the congestion.

Pugsy wrote:

SteveMP170 wrote:My congestion is severe after I've slept all night; I can sleep fine with the mask on. I did have the humidity turned down to 1 or 2 before I increased it to 5 where it is now. Should I go back to 2 and see how that is?

Sometimes finding the right balance of moisture to keep our nasal mucosa takes a bit of detective work.

Some people need more moisture and some people need less moisture and some people don't even need any moisture. It's something that you have to sort of figure out yourself because there is no right or wrong way...there's only what works for the individual and to complicate the situation sometimes what the individual might need will change.

If you are more congested when you wake up in the AM than when you went to bed and you are maxing out your humidity setting then by all means try a reduction to see what happens...see if it helps or hurts the situation.
It's very possible that you are one of those people whose nasal mucosa need less added moisture.
Play with the settings and see if you can find something that helps with the congestion.

You sound like my doctor!!! Thank you for your help. I'll try experimenting.

Your humidity was 1-2 before you raised it to 5. You should increase gradually. That was a big jump.

LSAT wrote:Your humidity was 1-2 before you raised it to 5. You should increase gradually. That was a big jump.

I had used it during the fall and winter at 6 so I figured I'd be all set, but I will try coming down and gradually changing it if necessary.

Unless you're in the very west part of ME, I'd think the last thing you'd want is more humidity (right now), speaking from a New Brunswick viewpoint here!

Julie wrote:Unless you're in the very west part of ME, I'd think the last thing you'd want is more humidity (right now), speaking from a New Brunswick viewpoint here!

I lowered it back down to 2 last night and things seem to be much better this AM. Still congestion but I'm not runny and stuffed up. I think the advice I got was good!! Thank you everybody!

You mentioned nasal sprays but not nasal rinses - maybe try that? I use one every day (PM me for exact regime) before I apply my corticosteroid spray (Veramyst). I found if I rinse and spray anywhere near bed time it makes me more congested/runny nosed so I do both first thing.

englandsf wrote:You mentioned nasal sprays but not nasal rinses - maybe try that? I use one every day (PM me for exact regime) before I apply my corticosteroid spray (Veramyst). I found if I rinse and spray anywhere near bed time it makes me more congested/runny nosed so I do both first thing.

I don't know anything about a nasal rinse... as I said I have used saline spray. What do you use as a nasal rinse, and would I use it in the morning since I don't have a problem at night getting to sleep?

Any luck?