Nose clogs up when laying down, and other times too

Hi, I'm new here, and also new to PAP treatment. I've only been using my APAP for less than a week so far.
I am running into a number of challenges and so forth with the treatment, which I'm sure is totally normal.

The main issue for me is that I have problems with my nose, which have been present for years and are not caused by the APAP treament.

The issues are:

1. Deviated septum, and trouble breathing through nose even during the day, which is sometimes better or worse randomly
2. When I lay down, after a few minutes one or both nostrils tend to clog up significantly, and may be on/off throughout the night.

Multiple doctors in the past have prescribed me some Flonase, and it has never done anything positive for my nose breathing problems, so I think the recent trial of that will be my last. Allergy medicine also has no effect. I researched deviated septum on this forum and saw a number of people who said that the deviated septum surgery did not improve their PAP treatment. Aside from that, I don't want the surgery anyway because it sounds awful. And besides that, I can't afford the surgery anyway! Rant /over

When my nose happens to be "less clogged up" then the APAP works pretty good and I feel comfortable (though on a separate note I feel like I need more pressure, which I will talk to sleep clinic about)
When my nose is more stuffy or clogged, I feel like I'm suffocating and like the PAP air isn't really getting through very well (I am using nasal pillow mask and it fits pretty good with no leaks, even with the stuffy nose, but it feels like more air is coming out the vent on the front of the mask). A couple nights I have taken off the mask due to the stuffy nose

What I've tried:

- using the humidifier (helped nose feel less dry, but does not improve airflow in nose)
- adjusting the Flex setting

Questions

What might be causing my nose to "clog up", especially when laying down, and why is it "random"? (Hoping someone else that has this issue too can offer their findings)
What might I be able to do / try to help improve nose breathing, especially with the APAP treatment (settings, adjustments, things the clinic can do, etc)?
Any other advice, ideas, etc about this issue or anything I've mentioned?

Thank you!

Go to your pharmacy (Walgreens, CVS, etc) and get a NeilMed Rinse Kit. Use it before bed. It works great.

If you hadn't said you'd used the humidifier for dryness, I'd have said to turn it down or off as it can cause congestion, but if that's not the problem, you may need to see (another?) ENT doctor as I'm not sure what else to tell you, especially as you don't want surgery either.

Running my machine's humidifier greatly improves my problems with congestion. I find that a high humidifier setting definitely helps me.
TheDuke

I had problems breathing through my nose my whole life until I had a septoplasty done. Once the badly deviated septum was corrected, I have been able to breath through my nose. I think this is one of the problems I have with using nasal pillows. When I could not breath through my nose, I would breath through my mouth, and continue to do so when I sleep. During th day, I breath through my nose.

do you use a full face mask? If you do, it really isn't an issue for you, if you breathe through your mouth.

BREATHE RIGHT strips!
I use one when I have a cold, so I can continue using my p10.
Clean your nose with a baby wipe before adhering; and in the morning, peel slowly and gently.

Wow, thank you all so much for your replies! Many more than I expected and very kind and helpful!

Per advice I just ordered one of those sinus rinse kits. Those actually freak me out a little, so it will be a challenge to use it, but I will try anything within reason to help my issue.

I will also speak with the sleep clinic and see if they have any ideas - I think an increase in the minimum pressure on my APAP would help to some extent

Regarding Breathe Right Strips: I've been wearing them every single night for what must be the past 10 + years. They improve my breathing perhaps by 20% and only if I fit it on just right to pull away from my septum. I absolutely hate them though - they have basically left a scar across the bridge of my nose, and I hate having to take them off in the morning. When I got my APAP I was ecstatic that maybe I could stop wearing the strips at night (which I have stopped, since starting the APAP). Hope I can solve this so I don't go back to those.

Thanks again to everyone

I will probably be posting other threads on the forum soon

We have three HEPA filters with ionizing
Big difference.
Neli med is available at Wal-Mart etc.
Use it. It helps more over time


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Ask your ent about astelin and qnasl nasal sprays

Also, it might be a good idea to get allergy testing. Skin testing is the best and find a good allergist.

wannasmile wrote: I researched deviated septum on this forum and saw a number of people who said that the deviated septum surgery did not improve their PAP treatment. Aside from that, I don't want the surgery anyway because it sounds awful.

Surgery to correct a deviated septum is very easy these days. You may have read stories from people who had it years ago. You may also have seen stories from the one out of a hundred who had a bad experience. They will wave their its-horrible flag the rest of their lives. The 99 out of 100 who have a good experience don't shout it from the rooftops.

As far as not improving CPAP treatment, it for sure can improve breathing while using CPAP. The surgery was one of the best things I ever did for myself. Neti pots and Flonase won't correct a deviated septum.

ajack wrote:do you use a full face mask? If you do, it really isn't an issue for you, if you breathe through your mouth.

Breathing through the mouth is a big issue for anyone who does it - gum and dental disease.

Please keep us posted if you find a solution. I have the same problem and have tried everything. I do nasal rinse twice per day. I shower before bed, use a new pillowcase at night, run an Austin air 1500sq feet rated air purifier in my room that absorbs voc's and chemical odors, wash sheets and blankets weekly in hot water, use an allergy cover on top of bedding, have mattress and pillows encased in allergy covers, and am using astelin and flonase sensimist nasal sprays. My nose still swells almost shut at night most nights. I was using Qnasl and that helped quite a bit but it possibly gave me bad anxiety. I might try the Qnasl again in the future to see if it helps. I have been having chronic sinus infections but am still getting stuffed up after the last round of antibiotics (levaquin).

I'm in the same boat: my nose is like a leaky faucet, the allergist RX'd ipatroprium bromide (saying that bad allergies can still break through all the other meds), but when I lie down my nose acts up as if I wasn't all tanked out on meds. Nasal saline rinse is great. Nasacort or any other steroid spray keeps inflammation in check. Astelin is a great spray, and then the ipatroprium bromide. I'm on top of these sprays! Finally, started taking Xolair injections for allergic asthma earlier this year to obliterate all the respiratory symptoms...until I got my OSA diagnosed this month.

What I wanted to ask: last night my runny nose calmed down nicely with the APAP humidifier. But now, my ears hurt in the AMs like I have a new earache. What's that all about? Does CPAP cause earaches? I really do not want to go to my ENT who is the sleep doc anytime soon mostly because these docs find things wrong with me every time I set foot into their office.