All stuffed up! Any helpful suggestions?

[SKInouye]

Hi there! I am a new CPAP user and my biggest problem in the past month is that my head is all stuffed up.

I have been diagnosed with OSA and I have a bunch of other medical problems including fibromyalgia and type 2 diabetes. Before I started CPAP, I had chronic post nasal drip that didn't respond to any treatments.

It seems to be getting worse the more I use the CPAP ... it's at the point where I have to stop using the CPAP for a night every few days so that my ears can clear out.

I am using the REMstarPlus Mseries with C-Flex at a setting of 6 with the integrated heated humidifier set at 1. I started out with the Mirage Swift Nasal Pillows mask but switched to the Mirage Vista Nasal mask about a week ago. So far I have tried: Benadryl, Sudafed PE, Afrin Nasal Spray, nasal saline spray, Xlear nasal spray, Astelin and nasal washes with a netti pot.

The RT at my DME mentioned on Friday that maybe I should see an ENT... I've been to see one in the past year due to more frequent sinus and ear infections. I had a CT of my head and there were no problems noted.

Any suggestions you may have would be helpful. Thanks!

[sleepwaker]

Hi skinouye

I sympathize with you Im a long term sufferer of being stuffed up.

After trying everything i have found something that really does work effectively. It clears out the stuffiness, reduces the pain and in general makes me feel more well.

Its called 100% Allicin, a small capsule from a health store that i take 1 per day.
(Ive been told it is a immune system booster it works with your own body needs. Its 100% the active ingredient of the garlic tablet. purely natural.)

I swear by it. let me know how you get on if you do try it.

Take care

[SelfSeeker]

Hello SKI,

Do you have allergies? This is a bad time for many people. If you have allergies maybe you can try something like reactine for long term effect.

At night you may want to try something like Dimetapp that has both an antihistamine and a nasal decongestant in it. The decongestant helps with the nose and ears. (Maybe the same as taking the sudafed and benadryl, read the labels and ask the pharmasists.)

At this time of year, my bedroom has to be completely dust free and clean, because of all the other allergies.

Also, have you tried proping up the pillows a bit.

Good luck.

[wolftracker]

Might check this link on allicin

http://www.allicin.com/

just googled for allicin and first link is listed above
i have never tried it ... so can not comment on how
it works ...

my .02
wolf

[Vader]

It seems to be getting worse the more I use the CPAP ... it's at the point where I have to stop using the CPAP for a night every few days so that my ears can clear out.

I haven't heard of stuffiness becoming worse, specifically *because* of CPAP, but I guess it could be possible.
What I have found is sinus stuffiness can aggravate more at night.
If you're doing various saline rinses, etc., I would have thought that should offer some help.
How about one of the Rx nasal steroids? ....or even Zicam Seasonal Allergy Relief™ ?
The garlic pills that someone else mentioned certainly couldn't hurt, because they are a powerful antifungal agent. Those are usually sold in an odorless formulation.
Have you tried a full face mask?
This would allow you to breathe through your mouth, if necessary, and still give you your apnea therapy.

Good luck, and don't be hesitant to come back and ask more questions.

_ EDIT: I forgot to mention, but you should probably also turn up your humidifier a notch or two....________________

CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): CPAP

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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): CPAP

[elliejose]

Welcome, SKI,

I have the same problem. I have been on cpap about a year and a half. I have found for myself that one of the things that helps is to use a stand alone humidifier (ALWAYS run at highest setting.) I have had sinus problems since I was very young. I notice your humidifier is a stand alone, and is Respironics. I have no experience with that one. I have tried the integrated Respironics - with terrible results. Just like I am taking a really bad cold all the time -- sneezing, congestion, coughing, red runny eyes -- the whole bit. I have tried it 4 different times with the same results. Just does not seem to have enough heat. I have nothing against Respironics products. I have a Remstar Auto which I loved until I needed BiPap and am in the process of trying to get a Respironics Auto Bipap. I would really like to be able to use the integrated one because of the convenient size. But I stick with my big, trusty old Humidaire.

This is my experience only. I have not seen anyone else say that this works better for them. Just a suggestion, if you are able to trial another humidifier.

Rested Gal, who is one of our own most experienced hoseheads, uses the F&P HC150, which is another stand alone. She says it is also very good.

I plan to get an Aussie heated hose just as soon as I can. I believe that it would also help. The cooler air, even in summer, seems to be what triggers my problems. I cannot run my Humidaire on a low setting (or forget to turn it on) without trouble. In fall and spring, I also take allergy meds and every now and then a round of prednisone helps. I also do nasal rinse with neti pot when needed.

Good luck to you and I hope you soon find a solution to your problem.

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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): respironics, bipap, humidifier, hose, CPAP, auto

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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): respironics, bipap, humidifier, hose, CPAP, auto

[Offerocker]

Hi there! I am a new CPAP user and my biggest problem in the past month is that my head is all stuffed up.

I have been diagnosed with OSA and I have a bunch of other medical problems including fibromyalgia and type 2 diabetes. Before I started CPAP, I had chronic post nasal drip that didn't respond to any treatments.

It seems to be getting worse the more I use the CPAP ... it's at the point where I have to stop using the CPAP for a night every few days so that my ears can clear out.

SKInouye: In addition to the excellent advice already provided, I can only add that I've had similar symptoms for the past week. It has been VERY humid here in PA. So, I got out my NETI POT, used it w/warm saline solution and quickly went to bed. It does help me. Otherwise, I feel that I'm unable to breathe through my nose. I do not wear a FF mask.

I also use the HC150 heated humidifier, and just turned the heater on last night to a low setting; that also seemed to help. Mask was still on this morning!

Maybe you could ask your doctor how much your fibromyalgia is playing a part in all of this.
It's interesting to me that your ears are also bothered. Could you possibly HAVE a head cold?

The Neti Pot is inexpensive, and using it has been an asset to my cpap therapy. Maybe not nightly, but I know when I need to use it. Mine is stainless steel.

You have a full plate, and don't need these additional problems. Good luck in finding what works for you.
As mentioned earlier, I also hope you let us know what has worked for you.

[kavanaugh1950]

I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. I FIND MYSELF SO STUFFY THAT ITS HARD TO LIE DOWN AND BREATHE AT THE SAME TIME. I WAKE UP WITH EARACHES. I CRANKED UP MY HUMIDIFIER TO 4 AND PUT VICKS VAPORUB UNDER MY NOSE BEFORE I GO TO SLEEP AND IT REALLY HELPS. I WEAR A FULL FACE MASK BECAUSE I AM A MOUTHBREATHER BUT I FIND I DON'T BREATHE THROUGH MY MOUTH AS MUCH WHEN I USE THE VICKS. GOOD LUCK, PAT