Congestion Affecting CPAP Usage - Help!

General Discussion on any topic relating to CPAP and/or Sleep Apnea.
Heart Jumping
Posts: 276
Joined: Wed Jul 22, 2015 3:06 pm

Congestion Affecting CPAP Usage - Help!

Post by Heart Jumping » Wed Nov 25, 2015 9:01 am

I've now been on CPAP for exactly one week. I often have congestion in one nostril. What I'm experiencing is that on nights where I don't have much congestion I am doing OK and my breathing with CPAP is comfortable. But when using CPAP on nights when I have congestion and am only breathing through one nostril I feel as though I'm struggling to breathe and sometimes feel like I'm suffocating. I've tried Flonase nasal spray in the past with little to no reduction in congestion.

I don't think a full face mask would help because I'm not a mouth breather?

Is there anyone else that has dealt with a congestion issue like this and had it impact your CPAP comfort and what did you do to solve it?

Thanks!

_________________
Machine: ResMed AirSense™ 10 AutoSet™ CPAP Machine with HumidAir™ Heated Humidifier
Mask: DreamWear Nasal CPAP Mask with Headgear - Fit Pack (All Cushions Included with Medium Frame)
Additional Comments: AirFit F10 Full Face Mask is my backup mask for when congested.

User avatar
49er
Posts: 5624
Joined: Mon Jan 16, 2012 8:18 am

Re: Congestion Affecting CPAP Usage - Help!

Post by 49er » Wed Nov 25, 2015 9:23 am

Heart Jumping wrote:I've now been on CPAP for exactly one week. I often have congestion in one nostril. What I'm experiencing is that on nights where I don't have much congestion I am doing OK and my breathing with CPAP is comfortable. But when using CPAP on nights when I have congestion and am only breathing through one nostril I feel as though I'm struggling to breathe and sometimes feel like I'm suffocating. I've tried Flonase nasal spray in the past with little to no reduction in congestion.

I don't think a full face mask would help because I'm not a mouth breather?

Is there anyone else that has dealt with a congestion issue like this and had it impact your CPAP comfort and what did you do to solve it?

Thanks!
Have you tried nasal rinsing? I have had mediocre results but many people swear by it.

I hear you about getting a full face mask as I am not a mouth breather either. This was true even before my septoplasty.

49er

Heart Jumping
Posts: 276
Joined: Wed Jul 22, 2015 3:06 pm

Re: Congestion Affecting CPAP Usage - Help!

Post by Heart Jumping » Wed Nov 25, 2015 9:28 am

49er wrote:Have you tried nasal rinsing? I have had mediocre results but many people swear by it.
I just ordered one of these to try.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001CW ... ge_o00_s00

_________________
Machine: ResMed AirSense™ 10 AutoSet™ CPAP Machine with HumidAir™ Heated Humidifier
Mask: DreamWear Nasal CPAP Mask with Headgear - Fit Pack (All Cushions Included with Medium Frame)
Additional Comments: AirFit F10 Full Face Mask is my backup mask for when congested.

User avatar
LSAT
Posts: 13229
Joined: Sun Nov 16, 2008 10:11 am
Location: SE Wisconsin

Re: Congestion Affecting CPAP Usage - Help!

Post by LSAT » Wed Nov 25, 2015 9:35 am

You really don't need all that equipment....An OTC NeilMed Nasal Rinse from your pharmacy does a great job for about $15. It has enough packets to last through many colds.

_________________
Machine: ResMed AirSense™ 10 AutoSet™ CPAP Machine with HumidAir™ Heated Humidifier
Mask: Fisher & Paykel Vitera Full Face Mask with Headgear (S, M, or L Cushion)
Additional Comments: Back up is S9 Autoset...... Buckwheat hull pillow

Heart Jumping
Posts: 276
Joined: Wed Jul 22, 2015 3:06 pm

Re: Congestion Affecting CPAP Usage - Help!

Post by Heart Jumping » Wed Nov 25, 2015 9:43 am

I've used the ones from the pharmacy before, I want to give the machine a try, I think it'll be easier to manipulate for me versus holding a bottle inside my nose and may be more effective, more importantly if it works for me I think it'll be more convenient and therefore something I'll stick with each night as needed.

_________________
Machine: ResMed AirSense™ 10 AutoSet™ CPAP Machine with HumidAir™ Heated Humidifier
Mask: DreamWear Nasal CPAP Mask with Headgear - Fit Pack (All Cushions Included with Medium Frame)
Additional Comments: AirFit F10 Full Face Mask is my backup mask for when congested.
Last edited by Heart Jumping on Wed Nov 25, 2015 10:37 am, edited 1 time in total.

User avatar
49er
Posts: 5624
Joined: Mon Jan 16, 2012 8:18 am

Re: Congestion Affecting CPAP Usage - Help!

Post by 49er » Wed Nov 25, 2015 10:06 am

Heart Jumping wrote:
49er wrote:Have you tried nasal rinsing? I have had mediocre results but many people swear by it.
I just ordered one of these to try.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001CW ... ge_o00_s00
Good luck with it and please update on how it works out. I have been thinking of getting something electrical but thought I would start with the sinugator since it is alot cheaper and still has a money back guarantee.

User avatar
poppi2
Posts: 590
Joined: Thu Nov 18, 2010 2:54 pm
Location: Houston, near JSC

Re: Congestion Affecting CPAP Usage - Help!

Post by poppi2 » Wed Nov 25, 2015 10:31 am

You will like that machine. I bought a cone attachment for a Water Pik, and the combination is very convenient.

A coworker had sinus surgery and was irrigating, told me about irrigating and I bought the cone attachment from his ENT.

_________________
Mask: AirFit™ P10 Nasal Pillow CPAP Mask with Headgear
Additional Comments: PAPCap, 3M Microfoam Surgical Tape, PoliGrip Strip, APAP 12.0 - 14.0 cm

WindCpap
Posts: 394
Joined: Fri Oct 09, 2015 6:57 pm

Re: Congestion Affecting CPAP Usage - Help!

Post by WindCpap » Wed Nov 25, 2015 10:36 am

I would never buy a machine for sinus irrigation. Sinus irrigation is one of the most dangerous activities you can do infection wise, and there are reported cases of people developing fatal infections doing sinus rinses improperly. I want to be able to see, and know I have sterilized, every piece of equipment that touches the water I am putting up my nose.

That rant aside, there are some things than can be done with the CPAP in addition to the sinus rinse. Upping your pressure/minimum pressure will definitely help. Your nasal cavities can be "splinted" open just like the rest of your breathing passages. I had a few occasions when I would wake up with a little congestion, and couldn't get back to sleep after resetting the ramp because I want to the bathroom. By upping my ramp pressure from 7 to 8 (therapy pressure is 9), the symptoms went away. Also, a couple of drops of peppermint essential oil on a makeup removing pad set near to your cpap inlet can be very good for relieving sinus congestion (at least for me, anyway). You can control the strength very precisely by how close the pad is to the inlet.

_________________
MachineMask
Last edited by WindCpap on Wed Nov 25, 2015 10:43 am, edited 1 time in total.

Heart Jumping
Posts: 276
Joined: Wed Jul 22, 2015 3:06 pm

Re: Congestion Affecting CPAP Usage - Help!

Post by Heart Jumping » Wed Nov 25, 2015 10:40 am

WindCpap wrote:I would never buy a machine for sinus irrigation. Sinus irrigation is one of the most dangerous activities you can do infection wise, and there are reported cases of people developing fatal infections doing sinus rinses improperly. I want to be able to see, and know I have sterilized, every piece of equipment that touches the water I am putting up my nose.
A Debbie Downer always has to show up, don't they ? All of the cases I've read about that happening were when someone used unsterile water. Hopefully it'll be OK, but I do see your point. I guess when I get the machine I'll be able to see how well I can clean it.

_________________
Machine: ResMed AirSense™ 10 AutoSet™ CPAP Machine with HumidAir™ Heated Humidifier
Mask: DreamWear Nasal CPAP Mask with Headgear - Fit Pack (All Cushions Included with Medium Frame)
Additional Comments: AirFit F10 Full Face Mask is my backup mask for when congested.

User avatar
49er
Posts: 5624
Joined: Mon Jan 16, 2012 8:18 am

Re: Congestion Affecting CPAP Usage - Help!

Post by 49er » Wed Nov 25, 2015 10:50 am

Heart Jumping wrote:
WindCpap wrote:I would never buy a machine for sinus irrigation. Sinus irrigation is one of the most dangerous activities you can do infection wise, and there are reported cases of people developing fatal infections doing sinus rinses improperly. I want to be able to see, and know I have sterilized, every piece of equipment that touches the water I am putting up my nose.
A Debbie Downer always has to show up, don't they ? All of the cases I've read about that happening were when someone used unsterile water. Hopefully it'll be OK, but I do see your point. I guess when I get the machine I'll be able to see how well I can clean it.
Exactly HJ, the fatal cases were due to people using unsterilized water. And WC, you can get an infection from a squeeze bottle if you don't use the proper cleaning techniques. Just saying.

Regarding your advice to raise the pressure, I do that constantly in the middle of the night. Didn't work too well unfortunately last night which was frustrating but that happens.

49er

Heart Jumping
Posts: 276
Joined: Wed Jul 22, 2015 3:06 pm

Re: Congestion Affecting CPAP Usage - Help!

Post by Heart Jumping » Wed Nov 25, 2015 10:55 am

WindCpap wrote:That rant aside, there are some things than can be done with the CPAP in addition to the sinus rinse. Upping your pressure/minimum pressure will definitely help. Your nasal cavities can be "splinted" open just like the rest of your breathing passages. I had a few occasions when I would wake up with a little congestion...
Just to be clear, we aren't talking about a little congestion here, the one nostril is usually completely congested to the point that I can't breathe though it at all. I do intend to up my minimum pressure a little (currently at 7 with no ramp), but I can't imagine that will help much. On the other hand if I could start off uncongested, I think the CPAP will help me to stay that way throughout the night, that's one of the things great I've already noticed happens, whereas in the past I was always a little congested when i wake up.

_________________
Machine: ResMed AirSense™ 10 AutoSet™ CPAP Machine with HumidAir™ Heated Humidifier
Mask: DreamWear Nasal CPAP Mask with Headgear - Fit Pack (All Cushions Included with Medium Frame)
Additional Comments: AirFit F10 Full Face Mask is my backup mask for when congested.

WindCpap
Posts: 394
Joined: Fri Oct 09, 2015 6:57 pm

Re: Congestion Affecting CPAP Usage - Help!

Post by WindCpap » Wed Nov 25, 2015 11:38 am

49er wrote: And WC, you can get an infection from a squeeze bottle if you don't use the proper cleaning techniques. Just saying.
And that was exactly my point. I am quite paranoid about the whole infection from sinus rinsing thing, so I pour the water in the bottle right after the kettle shuts off to sterilize the bottle. I doubt I could do that with a machine. I am not saying that the machine is dangerous, just that it would hard for me to have confidence in its safety.

_________________
MachineMask

WindCpap
Posts: 394
Joined: Fri Oct 09, 2015 6:57 pm

Re: Congestion Affecting CPAP Usage - Help!

Post by WindCpap » Wed Nov 25, 2015 11:41 am

One thing I learned about sinus rinse is not to do it right before bed. Your sinuses need time to drain afterword, and the runny nose feeling is really irritating with the nose pillows. If one nostril is completely clogged, I will usually try lying on the other side to let gravity drain it. Then the peppermint/pressure combination usually takes care of it for me. I do sometimes have to take off my mask to blow my nose.

_________________
MachineMask

User avatar
andycole
Posts: 149
Joined: Thu Nov 19, 2015 11:19 am
Location: Holyoke, MA

Re: Congestion Affecting CPAP Usage - Help!

Post by andycole » Wed Nov 25, 2015 12:05 pm

I have a nasal congestion problem and use a full-face mask. When I lay down both nostrils clog so I breathe thru my mouth. Sitting up or reclining on my back, I can breathe normally but not when I lay on my side even with 2 pillows and headboard raised 4" (have reflux).

_________________
Mask: ResMed AirFit™ F20 Full Face CPAP Mask with Headgear
Additional Comments: Machine: ResMed AirCurve 10 ASV with Heated Humidifier/Slimline Hose. Pressures: 5/10

User avatar
49er
Posts: 5624
Joined: Mon Jan 16, 2012 8:18 am

Re: Congestion Affecting CPAP Usage - Help!

Post by 49er » Wed Nov 25, 2015 12:12 pm

WindCpap wrote:
49er wrote: And WC, you can get an infection from a squeeze bottle if you don't use the proper cleaning techniques. Just saying.
And that was exactly my point. I am quite paranoid about the whole infection from sinus rinsing thing, so I pour the water in the bottle right after the kettle shuts off to sterilize the bottle. I doubt I could do that with a machine. I am not saying that the machine is dangerous, just that it would hard for me to have confidence in its safety.
Sorry for misunderstanding WC. Now I understand better what you are saying.

49er