Allergic to CPAP?

General Discussion on any topic relating to CPAP and/or Sleep Apnea.
7200
Posts: 14
Joined: Mon Feb 05, 2018 10:39 am

Allergic to CPAP?

Post by 7200 » Mon Feb 05, 2018 11:24 am

I've had a CPAP for almost a year. I was diagnosed with moderate to serve apnea altho I had a cold at the time of the home test. I was given a Resmed Airsense 10. It seems to stay at the highest setting (13) all the time. My nostrils totally dry up and prickle constantly, and my nose often stuffs up when I'm using it. When I take it off in the morning I go into massive sneezing attacks and my nose starts to run like a faucet all day long. If I don't use it that nite, the sneezing and runny nose can last into the next day. I've tried nose sprays, antihistamines, saline spay, coconut oil in my nostrils. Nothing works. If I turn the humidifier up too high it spits water into my mask. The force of the air sometimes makes my sinuses gurgle (seriously). My sleep doc is no help. I've tried 5 masks and I'm really discouraged and using the CPAP less and less. I also don't get any detailed data out of the machine from the Aprea web site, just how many episodes per hour of use and leaks. I could really use some advice. P.S my mother had Afib and in retrospect, severe undiagnosed apnea. She lived to be 94 and died of cancer. No stroke, no heart attack.

User avatar
Pugsy
Posts: 63942
Joined: Thu May 14, 2009 9:31 am
Location: Missouri, USA

Re: Allergic to CPAP?

Post by Pugsy » Mon Feb 05, 2018 11:29 am

Google "cpap rhinitis"
You may need more or less or even no humidity.

For water in the hose or mask...get a heated hose or if already using a heated hose turn up the hose air temp.
See this thread posts # 2 and 3 for various options for dealing with condensation in the mask or hose.
viewtopic/t94035/Pugsys-Pointers-3Deali ... -road.html

_________________
Machine: AirCurve™ 10 VAuto BiLevel Machine with HumidAir™ Heated Humidifier
Additional Comments: Mask Bleep Eclipse https://bleepsleep.com/the-eclipse/
I may have to RISE but I refuse to SHINE.

If you want to try the Eclipse mask and want a special promo code to get a little off the price...send me a private message.

7200
Posts: 14
Joined: Mon Feb 05, 2018 10:39 am

Re: Allergic to CPAP?

Post by 7200 » Mon Feb 05, 2018 12:19 pm

I have a heated hose set at 84, humidity 5 because of water spitting into mask. I was pretty much just handed my machine and first mask with no orientation. The techs here a very young and not very interested in patient issues. Also, I live at 7200 feet in a very dry, dusty environment.

User avatar
Mikebear
Posts: 132
Joined: Sat Dec 16, 2017 3:58 pm
Location: Mid-Michigan

Re: Allergic to CPAP?

Post by Mikebear » Mon Feb 05, 2018 12:40 pm

7200 wrote:I've had a CPAP for almost a year. I was diagnosed with moderate to serve apnea altho I had a cold at the time of the home test. I was given a Resmed Airsense 10. It seems to stay at the highest setting (13) all the time. My nostrils totally dry up and prickle constantly, and my nose often stuffs up when I'm using it. When I take it off in the morning I go into massive sneezing attacks and my nose starts to run like a faucet all day long. If I don't use it that nite, the sneezing and runny nose can last into the next day. I've tried nose sprays, antihistamines, saline spay, coconut oil in my nostrils. Nothing works. If I turn the humidifier up too high it spits water into my mask. The force of the air sometimes makes my sinuses gurgle (seriously). My sleep doc is no help. I've tried 5 masks and I'm really discouraged and using the CPAP less and less. I also don't get any detailed data out of the machine from the Aprea web site, just how many episodes per hour of use and leaks. I could really use some advice. P.S my mother had Afib and in retrospect, severe undiagnosed apnea. She lived to be 94 and died of cancer. No stroke, no heart attack.

I use this about 1/2 hour before sleeping, and it works: https://www.walmart.com/ip/Equate-Non-D ... z/52633861

It's the generic form of Flonase. The 1st month you may need to use TWO shots in each nostril, but you then might be able to change to ONE shot in each nostril.

_________________
Machine: ResMed AirSense™ 10 AutoSet™ CPAP Machine with HumidAir™ Heated Humidifier
Mask: AirFit™ P10 Nasal Pillow CPAP Mask with Headgear
Additional Comments: Pressures = 10 CmH20 - 13 CmH20 EPR 2. COPD, Asthma, 30lbs overweight. Airsense 10 AutoSet
Last edited by Mikebear on Mon Feb 05, 2018 2:56 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Zmartha
Posts: 19
Joined: Tue Jan 09, 2018 9:19 pm
Location: Ozarks

Re: Allergic to CPAP?

Post by Zmartha » Mon Feb 05, 2018 12:58 pm

[color=# In the past week I, too, have been having massive sneezing attacks and then blowing my nose most of the day. It goes away when I go out walking in the cold air and it disappears by night time but starts up in the morning. I also wondered if it is something to do with my machine or Ayr. I changed the filter in the machine, the filter in my humidifier, and the filter in my furnace and I still get to sneezing and blowing my nose. I don't remember this ever happening before even without apnea./color]

_________________
Mask: DreamWear Full Face CPAP Mask with Headgear (Small and Medium Frame Included)
Additional Comments: Pressure 4-10cm
Martha, 75
Diagnosed mild apnea Dec, 2017
Was switched to AirCurve™ 10 S BiLevel Machine with HumidAir™ from CPAP to BIPAP June, 2019
Dreamware Face Mask and Airfit N30i Nasal Mask

User avatar
Julie
Posts: 19898
Joined: Tue Feb 28, 2006 12:58 pm

Re: Allergic to CPAP?

Post by Julie » Mon Feb 05, 2018 1:43 pm

Anyone try a small dose of antihistamine to see what happens? If the 'rainy' season comes early, so will season allergies... be carefui of 'non-drowsy' meds tho' as they'll keep you awake. Just another thing to keep in mind.

User avatar
Goofproof
Posts: 16087
Joined: Mon Dec 05, 2005 3:16 pm
Location: Central Indiana, USA

Re: Allergic to CPAP?

Post by Goofproof » Mon Feb 05, 2018 1:48 pm

Zmartha wrote:[color=# In the past week I, too, have been having massive sneezing attacks and then blowing my nose most of the day. It goes away when I go out walking in the cold air and it disappears by night time but starts up in the morning. I also wondered if it is something to do with my machine or Ayr. I changed the filter in the machine, the filter in my humidifier, and the filter in my furnace and I still get to sneezing and blowing my nose. I don't remember this ever happening before even without apnea./color]


Yes, it does have something to do with XPAP use. Your XPAP has better filters in it than you home, it removes much smaller particles (Pollen). Then you take the XPAP off, breath in that dirty air, and blame your XPAP, yes it is the XPAP's fault, the mask should super glued to your face so you could breath clean air all day. :idea: Jim
Use data to optimize your xPAP treatment!

"The art of medicine consists in amusing the patient while nature cures the disease." Voltaire

mesenteria
Posts: 142
Joined: Thu Feb 01, 2018 2:53 am
Location: British Columbia

Re: Allergic to CPAP?

Post by mesenteria » Mon Feb 05, 2018 2:12 pm

7200 wrote:I've had a CPAP for almost a year. I was diagnosed with moderate to serve apnea altho I had a cold at the time of the home test. I was given a Resmed Airsense 10. It seems to stay at the highest setting (13) all the time. My nostrils totally dry up and prickle constantly, and my nose often stuffs up when I'm using it. When I take it off in the morning I go into massive sneezing attacks and my nose starts to run like a faucet all day long. If I don't use it that nite, the sneezing and runny nose can last into the next day. I've tried nose sprays, antihistamines, saline spay, coconut oil in my nostrils. Nothing works. If I turn the humidifier up too high it spits water into my mask. The force of the air sometimes makes my sinuses gurgle (seriously). My sleep doc is no help. I've tried 5 masks and I'm really discouraged and using the CPAP less and less. I also don't get any detailed data out of the machine from the Aprea web site, just how many episodes per hour of use and leaks. I could really use some advice. P.S my mother had Afib and in retrospect, severe undiagnosed apnea. She lived to be 94 and died of cancer. No stroke, no heart attack.
The vapour pressure of water lowers with altitude, but the air is dryer and generally colder because it has less latent energy at altitude. The molecules are not only less dense per cubic cm, but they are less energetic and therefore the air can be cooler. Cold air cannot hold the same amount of moisture that warmer air can. You don't often see relative humidities past about 65% at altitude, but you can get them to the saturation point in the tropics on a coastline.

Since you are at altitude, you are breathing air that wants to be dry. It can be moistened, but it wants payment, or compensation, and that compensation is typically to warm it. That's why some people have to use a warming tube...they may live near sea level, but in a cooler climate up north, and they like cool bedrooms. An unheated tube will simply cool the air moving through it to room temperature and encourage the air to relieve itself of moisture...and we get watery masks and water pooling in the long cold tubes.

I think you have tried all reasonable remedies, except..................moving. I realize it might be completely unthinkable, but the altitude is your enemy here. If you attempted to humidify your bedroom, it might work, but would that have unintended consequences? Maybe condensation on windows running down to the sills, black mold....mold behind baseboards.

I wish I could be of more help.