Good therapy / Bags under the eyes?

[tattooyu]

Hello all, since this is not really part of my personal progress (my numbers), I decided to start a new thread.

Week 7 — My therapy is going very well, and my numbers are low and steady. However, I have noticed rather unassuming bags under my eyes that I didn't have before. The only thing I can think of is that the air in my sinuses is reaching through the ducts in my eyes and causing some swelling.

They aren't too bad, but I would have thought I would have less bags under my eyes with good sleep. Anybody notice this with themselves?

Also, I've never had allergies and sneezing in my whole life like I have since starting therapy.

[Julie]

Hi, the bags are likely a result of the allergies, which are likely the result of your nose now being so "clean" from therapy that allergens probably have more of a clear route to trouble (plus don't forget it's spring, allergy time, and I think this year they're bad anyhow). A cold towel may help the bags, but why not try some (nondrowsy) antihistamines as well.

[jnk]

It is also possible that some general swelling has gone down in your face (which can be a good thing indicating effective therapy) and that the swelling going down has left bags under you eyes. However, I agree with Julie that it is more likely allergies.

[Victoria]

This may sound crazy, but I have far, far FEWER allergies since starting cpap. I used to wake up every morning sneezing with a runny nose, and now....nothing. No idea what made the difference....maybe sleeping with filtered air?

[mdbarthe]

I gotta agree with Victoria (she's from the midwest, too). I used to sneeze my head off and be miserable for several hours after I got up every day during allergy season. That was before I started CPAP two years ago. Since that time, I sail right through my days without any problems and get up without the allergy symptoms. I think the filter in the machine helps screen out some of the pollen and other allergens that used to have a clear path into my respiratory system.

[plr66]

Kenny, I have had the same experience..did not previously have bags under my eyes, have never had any allergies, and have not found my face to have changed contours since starting cpap. But the sudden saddlebags upon starting cpap were horrendous, actually. And despite "good therapy." I did find that when I progressively cut my heated humidifier down from 2 to passive/no heat, the bags distinctly subsided, but did not disappear. I posted a thread about this last Fall, and was surprised that there was not more of a response, since I was guessing this might be a common problem.

[GumbyCT]

No bags here, thankfully, but I do get the sneezing and runny nose since starting cpap. I think I get used to breathing the filtered air all nite. Then it takes my body about an hour to adjust to the impurities.

[builta]

Hi,

I had this problem at about a month into treatment. Talked to Sleep Doc.--Really good guy who has been doing the for over 20 years and is in XPAP himself. He told me that it was due to my FFM (a ResMed Quattro) being adjusted too tight and blocking endocrine drains. So, I switched to a F&P Flexifit HC432--no looking back. Not sure how this helps you because your nasal mask is sooo different the the Quattro, but your thread title make me think about it.

Sleep tight!

[Violet]

Kenny,
For myself, I can only assume my new dark circles are from the swelling that has gone down in my face from great therapy. Allergies are not the cause for me and I've never been predisposed to having dark circles. Its enough though that loved ones are still concerned because I don't look rested.

This, as others have mentioned may be the reason for yours as well. But, It appears that this is really a guessing game.

[tattooyu]

builta: I have my mask as loose as it can go without leaking, although my chinstrap is pretty tight. I wonder if something isn't draining correctly because of that?

Actually, I may have figured it out. I think it's the air at the office! What I realized was that I was noticing it more on my morning restroom visit at work. Then, I discovered that I rarely sneeze until I walk into work, where I immediately start sneezing and having a runny nose!