Congestion causing aches and pains?

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englandsf
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Congestion causing aches and pains?

Post by englandsf » Wed Nov 26, 2014 10:02 am

On the road and congested for the last three nights. Lots of aches and pains in my ribs and upper back and sides.

I'm thinking part aerophagia (from swallowing lots of mucus perhaps) and part muscle ache from working so hard to breathe (I'm obviously really good at keeping my mouth closed).

Anyone have anything similar when they're congested? I think I've got humidity right (resMed 1/6) and I use EPR of -3 on pressure range of 10-20.

TIA

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Pugsy
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Re: Congestion causing aches and pains?

Post by Pugsy » Wed Nov 26, 2014 10:13 am

When I am congested (it's rare) I just feel like crap no matter if it is daytime or nighttime.
I can't say that I have the aches and pains you are having any more than usual though (but remember old arthritic woman here)...so I don't know but what you say sounds logical. Our bodies do funny little things when things aren't working like they should.

Struggling to breathe can sure cause chest wall discomfort though...similar to costrochronditis especially upon exhale.
When congested it is extra difficult to exhale against the pressure even with using EPR.

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englandsf
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Re: Congestion causing aches and pains?

Post by englandsf » Wed Nov 26, 2014 11:32 am

My thoughts too (I'm a 61 yr old overweight male).

Made worse by hotel beds and dry heating, and it's odd how my nose opens and closes during the night. I'm sure humidity plays a role but I run dry and seem happiest at 1 out of 6 on my S9 and just passover in the summer/fall. Using my new spare machine with identical everything and settings to my home machine on the road.

Getting "waves" of Flow Limit up to 0.4 - what does that mean? I'm still getting lowish leakage with only two spikes over 24 (ResMed "norm") and a bit of mouth breathing in extremis.

It's my first winter on CPAP (started June) so it's all a learning experience. I guess it is what it is...

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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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Pugsy
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Re: Congestion causing aches and pains?

Post by Pugsy » Wed Nov 26, 2014 11:47 am

I am unsure as to how much the flow limitation graph on the S9 might be tied to nasal congestion.
I am sure that it impacts it but I don't know how much.
My FL graphs are so boring it isn't even worth posting so I have never really had a chance to correlate potential nasal issues with the graphs and now this S9 I am using doesn't give me FL graphs.
But back with all the Respironics machines I have used and the S9 VPAP Auto I used...I never had FLs of any great number unless my pressure was sub optimal for some reason or other.

I don't worry about random brief large leak spikes no matter what the reason as long as I am sleeping through them.
A long time ago I figured out that the quest for "perfection" in all things hurt my sleep more than it helped it...so I don't care if things on paper are maybe not quite "perfect" as long as I sleep good and feel decent...or as decent as my other issues will let me.

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englandsf
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Re: Congestion causing aches and pains?

Post by englandsf » Wed Nov 26, 2014 11:50 am

Thanks Pugsy. I am still getting 9 hours with an AHI below 2 most nights. So I should be grateful and keep tweaking. Not getting paranoid at all about issues now, so I must be an old hand...

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Pugsy
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Re: Congestion causing aches and pains?

Post by Pugsy » Wed Nov 26, 2014 12:03 pm

Yeah...about 6 months into therapy was when I developed a much more lax attitude about things.
From data to cleaning...it had all got old and boring real fast.
That was when I finally realized that the solution to all the world's (or my) problems wasn't hidden in the data somewhere and if I had a big enough microscope I could get it figured out.

I still like to experiment though...with masks or whatever but that's more to help the boredom than it is to see if anything improves or not because I learned a long time ago that minute changes in the data didn't mean squat in terms of how I felt or even slept.
My mask experiments are tied to sleep quality more than leak control. I sleep better with some masks when compared to others and sleeping better always wins in my book.

You are on the road...sleeping on different beds (from yours at home) plus you are having congestion issues which always plays havoc with how a person feels and sleeps in general. It's a no win situation really. Just have to make the best of it if you can. Learn from it if you can but I wouldn't expend an enormous amount of brain power trying to micro analyze things....not much you can do about it anyway at this point.

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englandsf
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Re: Congestion causing aches and pains?

Post by englandsf » Wed Nov 26, 2014 12:18 pm

You are wise beyond your years, grasshopper!-)

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Mask: AirFit™ P10 Nasal Pillow CPAP Mask with Headgear
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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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palerider
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Re: Congestion causing aches and pains?

Post by palerider » Wed Nov 26, 2014 2:00 pm

englandsf wrote:On the road and congested for the last three nights. Lots of aches and pains in my ribs and upper back and sides.

I'm thinking part aerophagia (from swallowing lots of mucus perhaps) and part muscle ache from working so hard to breathe (I'm obviously really good at keeping my mouth closed).

Anyone have anything similar when they're congested? I think I've got humidity right (resMed 1/6) and I use EPR of -3 on pressure range of 10-20.

TIA
our resident expert on this says:
englandsf wrote:Pusgy et al - I have found that if I tough it out I can get my P10 to work with quite heavy congestion - even one blocked nostril. It seems that about 10-12 breathes will allow me to blast enough of a passage to get to sleep and stay there. I run my system quite dry which may help - passover humidity and no heat.

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Paralel
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Re: Congestion causing aches and pains?

Post by Paralel » Wed Nov 26, 2014 7:19 pm

englandsf wrote:On the road and congested for the last three nights. Lots of aches and pains in my ribs and upper back and sides.

I'm thinking part aerophagia (from swallowing lots of mucus perhaps) and part muscle ache from working so hard to breathe (I'm obviously really good at keeping my mouth closed).

Anyone have anything similar when they're congested? I think I've got humidity right (resMed 1/6) and I use EPR of -3 on pressure range of 10-20.

TIA
The rib pain is likely costochondritis, very common with congestion, especially if coughing is involved. A heating pad or hot water bottle usually provides significant relief.

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englandsf
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Re: Congestion causing aches and pains?

Post by englandsf » Wed Nov 26, 2014 7:28 pm

Thanks guys - I guess the dryer heated air, being in hotels and the congestion is proving a tough combo...

_________________
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.

Paralel
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Re: Congestion causing aches and pains?

Post by Paralel » Thu Nov 27, 2014 6:07 pm

englandsf wrote:Thanks guys - I guess the dryer heated air, being in hotels and the congestion is proving a tough combo...
Yep. You would not believe how often I have heard this between Nov & Jan. every year.

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Re: Congestion causing aches and pains?

Post by Guest » Thu Nov 27, 2014 7:45 pm

Paralel wrote:
englandsf wrote:Thanks guys - I guess the dryer heated air, being in hotels and the congestion is proving a tough combo...
Yep. You would not believe how often I have heard this between Nov & Jan. every year.
Couple of ways to put some moisture in the air if you think that will help.
Of course the first (and easiest) is to use the humidifier.

When staying at hotel/motels during the winter months I do two things....
1. Run the shower HOT for immediate relief - use bathroom door to circulate air around the room
2. Long term you can pour water around the perimeter of the room and near the bed. Do this daily... After about 3 days you will notice a significant difference in breathing.