Nasal irritation

Any suggestions regarding nasal irritation? I currently wake up most nights with severe episodes of sneezing, and my nose is running really bad during the day. I've tried many things, but nothing seems to work. The face mask I currently use seems to be the most comfortable that I've used (of 3 total), but I'm almost at my end in dealing with the irritation. I've tried turning up my humidifier, vasoline, different masks, etc., but I can't get comfort. Please help!

To get more insight into the cause, try putting on just the mask - not hooked up to the machine - for a while and see if it happens then. That quick test would establish whether it's the mask itself, or the air that irritates.

I had the same problem and the sneezing went on all the time along with the runny nose. When I went in to talk to the doctor, he said that it was non-allergic rhinitis caused by the air blowing into my nose. He advised me to irrigate my sinuses each evening and to then use Flonase before going to bed. And this has worked very well for me. The Flonase is available by prescription only.

Are you washing/cleaning/replacing the filter(s) in your machine? (how often?)

How long have you had the condition/irritation/symptoms?
How long have you been on therapy?
How long using this machine?
Was the machine new or used when you got it?
Are you using distilled water in your humidifier?

You MAY be worsening the condition by turning up your humidifier.

Den

[quote="rgmorton"]Any suggestions regarding nasal irritation? I currently wake up most nights with severe episodes of sneezing, and my nose is running really bad during the day. I've tried many things, but nothing seems to work. The face mask I currently use seems to be the most comfortable that I've used (of 3 total), but I'm almost at my end in dealing with the irritation. I've tried turning up my humidifier, vasoline, different masks, etc., but I can't get comfort. Please help!

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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): humidifier[
/quote]

As Den ( Wulfman) so greatly stated some of the things that cause your irritation, in my case the higher number on the humidifier made things worse. I would try a lower setting. I also till this day have occasional runny nose in the day time from cpap, told my Dr about it, and gave me a prescription for Ipratropium Bromide Nasal Solution made by Bausch& Lomb, two squirts in each nostril before going to bed, and does the trick. This is for the easing of the cpap air flow irritant. I also use Claritin in allergy situations, but I try to avoid that if possible. I never had a runny nose situation till going on cpap, now I buy stocks in Kleenex,
Ed
Ed

Actually, the part about the sinus drainage doesn't sound all that unusual to me.
Within about 20 minutes after getting up in the morning (about the time it takes me to download my data while my coffee is brewing) my sinuses open up and I have to blow my nose (I don't have any problems with it while I'm "hosed up"....just after I get up). From then on, I don't have any problems (with sinus drainage). If I DID have any sneezing in the past, I really don't recall it.....not like it was a regular event.

And, I use cold/pass-over humidification.

Den

Here are some links that further explain what I was telling you.

http://sleepdisorders.about.com/cs/cpap/a/rhinitis.htm

http://www.sleepmed.com/cap_tips.htm

http://www.sleepfoundation.org/site/c.h ... erence.htm