CPAP and Nasal Congestion

[rockncountry101]

One thing I'm concerned with is my nasal congestion. My ENT (who ordered the sleep study) is working with me to get my nose unclogged. I am undergoing immunotherapy and may have a ct scan, but will I have trouble with using it with my stopped up nose?

[Pugsy]

If you can't get your nasal congestion issues cleared sufficiently then there are full face masks that cover both the nose and the mouth that will still enable you to get effective cpap therapy if the nasal congestion causes you to breathe through your mouth.

Some people use full face masks for that reason and some people simply prefer full face masks anyway even if they don't nave nasal problems.

[ClarkK]

I had chronically irritated sinuses before CPAP. I feel that using nasal pillow masks actually helped clear my sinues -- along with Nasonex, Nasal Spray, and a bit of determination to make CPAP work.

[Krelvin]

Interesting video about Nasal congestion I saw the other day...

SciShow - Why Is Only Half of My Nose Working?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BGACvb3Mm60

BTW, I have always used FFM cause I have always had problems breathing at night via my nose.

[TangledHose]

Interesting video about Nasal congestion I saw the other day...

SciShow - Why Is Only Half of My Nose Working?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BGACvb3Mm60

BTW, I have always used FFM cause I have always had problems breathing at night via my nose.

Thanks Krelvin, that was very informative. I have never been able to get along with nasal masks, so I've always just stuck to FFM. I do find even though I am using a FFM I am able to breath through my nose most of the time, and the warm, moist cpap air has actually helped my nasal passages emensly to the point that I am a much better nose breather now than I have ever been in the past. my dentist has noticed terrific improvements too because I am nose breathing most of the time......mouth breathing encourages bacteria formation and resulting tooth and gum problems.

I have always been able to breath more freely through my left nostril, so I don't seem to have much of a nasal cycle like in the video, mine is more permanent breathing better out of just one side.......maybe one day I'll get around to checking if I have a deviated septum or not.

[Enchanter]

I have a serious question. I'm confused about this. CPAP is supposed to help with allergies because of the filter. So how is it that people have a hard time using the CPAP when the CPAP helps with allergies?

[kteague]

I have a serious question. I'm confused about this. CPAP is supposed to help with allergies because of the filter. So how is it that people have a hard time using the CPAP when the CPAP helps with allergies?

Breathing filtered air may help - it has helped me. But I doubt the filter keeps out ALL allergens. And one goes to bed with the effects of breathing allergens all day.

[Enchanter]

I have a serious question. I'm confused about this. CPAP is supposed to help with allergies because of the filter. So how is it that people have a hard time using the CPAP when the CPAP helps with allergies?

Breathing filtered air may help - it has helped me. But I doubt the filter keeps out ALL allergens. And one goes to bed with the effects of breathing allergens all day.

But they say they can't breathe with it because of nasal congestion. So how would the CPAP not help when they would be worse off without it?

[zoocrewphoto]

I have a serious question. I'm confused about this. CPAP is supposed to help with allergies because of the filter. So how is it that people have a hard time using the CPAP when the CPAP helps with allergies?

Breathing filtered air may help - it has helped me. But I doubt the filter keeps out ALL allergens. And one goes to bed with the effects of breathing allergens all day.

But they say they can't breathe with it because of nasal congestion. So how would the CPAP not help when they would be worse off without it?

I suspect that they either prefer a nasal mask and thus have trouble when congested (some people feel claustrophobic with a full face mask). Or maybe they are dealing with sneezing and/or a runny nose. I have that problem sometimes, and I can't keep a full face mask on if I need to blow my nose every few minutes. A sneeze or two is okay, but a good wet sneeze can block the exhaust holes. I have no luck with the popular 24 hour medications, but I do have success with cholortrimeton. It only lasts 4 hours, so I can still wake up with block nose, sore throat, and itchy eyes. But I got home from work sneezing up a fit, and now, I am not sneezing and blowing. So, I can go to bed in an hour or so without any problem. I just need to make sure I take the medication at least an hour before bed so that it has time to work.