I am new to CPAP and having trouble

[jmval]

I am new to the forum. I need some help. I have had the CPAP for 3 months now and I can't make it through the night with it on. I have the nasal pillows and they would be fine except for my allergies....my nose stuffs up and I can't breathe. I have severe allergies- taking two allergy meds, get two allergy shots every other week and use a nasal rinse. When my nose isn't stuffed up, I find I take it off in my sleep and turn off the machine. I just got another mask to try- a full face mask with the nasal pillow and mask over my mouth. Last night was my first night with it and it didn't go well. I am hoping the key is in finding the right mask. I am so frustrated. I also feel sore in my nose- I wonder if the nasal pillows are the wrong size or the strap is too tight or loose or something because where the pillows touch my nose is bothering me. I'm worried I won't be able to do this. The longest I have gone is 3 hours. I fall alseep okay but then take it off in my sleep or wake up freaked out and take it off.
I welcome any advise or input anyone can give me.

[cflame1]

What equipment do you have? What machine, what pressure, do you use your humidifier (or do you even have one)?

Are you using the Liberty or the Hybrid?

[plr66]

jmval, Welcome! It will now be helpful if you will click on User Control Panel in the light blue strip at the top here, and fill in all your equipment, using text rather than icons so we can readily see what you're using and better help you.

It's common for sore nares to initially be a problem with a new/different nasal mask. Many here find that Lansinoh helps greatly reduce that soreness. It's very expensive. I was recently able to obtain several sample sized tubes which will last me a lifetime, by calling (800)292-4794, after someone suggested it here on the forum. In the beginning though, I actually just used Ayr gel inside my nostrils and aloe hand lotion on the outer rims several times during the day for several days to alleviate that soreness. I did spend a week trying FFM's to also help me get through the breaking-in phase of my poor ole nose. No problem at all after that, and it only took a total of 2 weeks. My cardinal rule for myself was to never, ever remove my mask at nights. And I never have.

I don't have allergies, so it's probably not fair for me to comment on your congestion, but it is always necessary to experiment with incremental changes in the humidity setting you are using. I finally settled happily on passover humidity, which means no heat is applied the the water sitting in the tank. During the winter, I bumped that to the lowest heat setting, but got mild congestion which was helped by nasal rinses.

Edit: Oh yeah--and if you are using a Hybrid mask, there are a couple of threads which have recently been running here that also give reference to links to a couple of historical & comprehensive reviews of ways to tweak this mask. Or, just enter Hybrid in the search box above, and spend the rest of the day researching that!

Just some ideas...Keep reading!

[Slinky]

Yes, you do have to experiment w/the humidification. The opposite worked for me, I had to raise the level on my integrated humidifier rather than lower it. Passover humidity just made the interior of my nostrils chapped and raw. God bless Ayr Saline Nasal Gel. It got to the point the pressure and passover humidifier in my nose was like pouring salt on a raw wound. Ayr Saline Nasal Gel healed the interior of my nostrils so well I was able to use a nasal cushion mask after 2 nights w/o xPAP.

When my sinuses and nose have been stuffed up I've even resorted to donning my mask anyway and every few breaths opening my mouth to take a breath and then back to trying to breathe thru my nose. It took several times of doing that bu in less than 5 minutes I could breathe comfortably thru my nose!

[clanrat]

I was never able to get a nasal pillow interface to work for me. My suggestion is to start with a more traditional nasal mask like a HC407, Zest, or Resp. ComfortGel. When you reach the point where you can make it through the night with those, then you can start experimenting with other interfaces.

A saline spray can be a life saver for re-hydrating dry air passages. Lanolin ointment (Lansinoh is one brand) is great for dealing with chapped skin. You can find both of these products in the baby section of your local pharmacy.

Hang in there, it does get better. Once you get past the 'ripping the mask off in the middle of the night' stage, things get a lot easier. The first time you wake up feeling refreshed instead of like a truck ran you over, you'll "get it," and wonder how you ever made do without.

Best of luck!

-Cam.

[jmval]

Thanks for the info on the nasal gel. I put in my machine info. Am I able to read my machine and see how I am doing? Or do I have to wait for my smartcard to be read? The hybrid mask I am trailing is the Mirage Liberty FFM.
/jmv/

[jmval]

My pressure is 9. I set the humidifier at 2. Any higher and I get water in the tube. I have tried the setting at 1 sometimes if my nose is not too dry to begin with. Where do you get the Ayr Saline Nasal Gel? I tried the traditional nasal mask when I first had my titration and we couldn't get one to fit my nose/face so went with the nasal pillows. I do well with the pillows if my nose doesn't stop up and I don't take it off during the night. I don't really like the Mirage Liberty FFM. I could try the more traditional full face mask. What I really want to do it make it with the nasal pillows. The sleep center advised I wear it in the evening while watching TV to get use to having it on. I may try this. I am able to fall asleep with it on - the problem is when I wake up or semi wake up and take it off. I do not normally breathe through my mouth at night. I wear a bite plate for grinding. I only breathe through my mouth when my nose is stopped up.
The DME said that having even pressure to nose and mouth with the full face mask sometimes helps. I will keep trying. I see from this forum that I have a lot to learn about my condition and the machine. I was diagnosed with severe obstructive sleep apnea syndrome.
/jmv/

[jskinner]

I am new to the forum. I need some help. I have had the CPAP for 3 months now and I can't make it through the night with it on. I have the nasal pillows and they would be fine except for my allergies....my nose stuffs up and I can't breathe. I have severe allergies-

Welcome to the group.

Many of us here can relate to your nasal problem with trying to use CPAP. If your nose is stuffed up then CPAP treatment can be very difficult indeed.

Do you know what is the source of your allergies? Is there anyway to get away from the trigger. How long have you had this nasal problem? Here are my suggestions:

1. Neti pot every day just before bed.
2. Nasal steroid (your probably already on them?)
3. Consider Turbinate reduction surgery if this is a long standing problem

Until you can get the nose working its going to be very hard to breath though your nose on CPAP. I would recommend against nasal pills if you have congestion. Maybe try the new FullLife mask. Are you able to breath though your mouth on CPAP rather than your nose? That can be really uncomfortable.

I set the humidifier at 2. Any higher and I get water in the tube.

Buy a hose cover. That should help with the rainout (aka water in the tube)

Try to hang in there. May of us have been though this and will try to help.

[plr66]

You can find Ayr saline nasal gel at any WalMart or other pharmacy--in a small tube near the nasal sprays. You can also find nasal rinses in the same place.

Try keeping your hose completely under the covers, being careful not to cover up your mask's exhale vent. Even when I first started, and used HH level of 2, this cured the rainout for me. YMMV.

[clanrat]

Buy a hose cover. That should help with the rainout (aka water in the tube)

Try to hang in there. May of us have been though this and will try to help.

Yes! I love my snuggle hose. This simple change eliminated my rainout, even at the highest settings on the humidifier.

[spacetoast]

Another happy snuggle hose user here. Also, my machine is just below the level of my bed, and I route the hose behind and up over the headboard. I think this helps with rainout too from what I've read.

My seasonal allergies were AWFUL just a few weeks ago. I was using Afrin just to be able to use my apap, but knew that was a short term solution. I called my doctor and asked for a prescription for Nasonex. If you aren't using a nasal steroid, you should see about getting a prescription for one.

My nightly routine is:

1. neti pot
2. nasonex in both nostrils
3. 2 Claritin

all about an hour or so before going to bed.

In the morning I take one Claritin and also do the neti pot, but no nasal steroids. This pretty much got rid of my allergy symptoms and I can breathe at night.

Here's a good video on how to do it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQm7YpxgOnA
The first part is pretty much exactly how it works. The next two parts of the video are for humor only! Caution: one dirty word at the last 2 seconds of the video.

This guy looks like he's not enjoying it, but after the first couple of times you get used to it and start to enjoy it, believe it or not.

[Guest]

1. neti pot

This guy looks like he's not enjoying it, but after the first couple of times you get used to it and start to enjoy it, believe it or not.

They also have a neti squeeze bottle from the same company that works great. You use the same medicine but it goes into a squeeze bottle that then goes up your nose and you squeeze the water through. It's really easy and seems like it might be easier for a first time user than the pot. I got a couple of sample bottles from my allergist and also found them at Walmart in the same section as the neti pot.

[Scarlet834]

Buy a hose cover. That should help with the rainout (aka water in the tube)

Yes! I love my snuggle hose. This simple change eliminated my rainout, even at the highest settings on the humidifier.

Glad to hear about this! I'm a brand newbie and have awakened twice so far with water up the nose (or the alternative, the nose sucked dry at lower humidity settings--the water is preferable). I'm going to try this before the weather gets cold, although I might try knitting my own hose cozy for the heck of it.