Sinus problems after use of CPAP

[Rodge11/1/1939]

I am experiencing major sinus problems and sneezing and runny nose every morning and sometimes all day after using my machine overnight. I have cleaned the hoses (vinegar and water, hydrogen peroxide, etc.), adjusted the air volume, varied the water amount, and still major problems every day.
Any suggestions?

[Pugsy]

Please register at the forum and add your equipment to your profile.

Do you use a humidifier? If so at what setting?
What you are describing is what I had when I forgot to add water to my humidifier and it went dry. It is common.

Some people need more humidity in the air and some people need less.
If you don't use a humidifier, get one. If you have one and it is set low, increase it a bit. If it is set high decrease it a bit. If it is set in the middle... toss a coin
Most common need is more moisture though but not a lot more.

[Paulrp]

be sure and keep your filter changed and the foam one washed, getting clean air may make a difference

[Rodge11/1/39]

I have tried the humidity setting on low @ 1 and off @ 0. I still place water in the reservoir to the 25% level even at 0 setting. By morning the water is down by a very small amount. With a setting of 1 it uses most of the water overnite. My sinuses seem to do better when the water is set to 0. My pressure starts at 4 and ramps up to 12 in 45 minutes when I turn the machine on at bed-time. I keep the small black foam filter in the back of the unit cleaned about every third day or so. I have been told that mold may be my problem so I clean the tubing and pillow nose apparatus with hydrogen peroxide or a vinegar (1 part) to water (3 parts) mix every week. When I first started on the machine about 3 months ago the dispensing technician set the humidity contol on 5 and I adjusted it down and down as my sinuses went completely wild at higher settings and pressure.
Any other suggestions? Does anyone have better experience with the nasal mask rather than the nose pillow design?

[bap40]

My nasal pillows use more water than does my nasal mask. Not sure why but am sure there is a reason.

[sagesteve]

I tell people to get off any nasal mask! You can see that I use the ultimate answer...Fisher Paykel Fit. The reason?...you'll never get rid of the sinus problem with a nasal mask ( I don't even know WHY they make them?). You are suffering from a "Histamine Response". I won't go into all the medical jarggon here, but simply put, you are responding to "something" in your nose ( you can get some more info on your nose here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nostril )
Here's the problem. Your body is reacting to a "foreign" substance in your nose with a histamine release and it's creating all these problems in your sinus(s) and nose. No different than an allergy.

If you continue to use a nasal mask, here's what you can do. Get the Sinus Buster Allergy:
http://www.iherb.com/Sinus-Buster-Nasal ... 29154?at=0
This is now available at Walgreens etc...BUT it is hard to find the Sinus Buster "Allergy". I buy just about everything from iHerb-they are GREAT. The more you shop with them, the more you get in discounts. Their customer service is next to none!

You can also look at this info on how to use it:
http://www.ehow.com/how_2352060_sinus-b ... spray.html

Here's how you can start off...before you go to bed--get the Sinus Buster Allergy and do what the ehow says (they say 10 days...I noticed an improvment right away! I also tilt my head way back and sniff in BIG), then take an anti-histamine ( Benedryl or anything that works for YOU!)...then take (2)Sudafed. If you do this "religiously" for a few nights, you should see a huge improvement. Also, when you get up in the morning repeat the above. You want to stay ahead of this, don't let it get ahead of you. No different than treating an allergy.

[sol]

I would stay away from all medication as it makes things worse ,you can use neilmed sinus rinse (sachet not the spray) ,a chinstrap and learn to place your tongue against the roof of your mouth when you sleep to keep mouth closed .if you are using too much water you probably mouth breathing and mask leaks .wash the equipment in warm soapy water and use distilled water in the humidifier .

[Breathe Jimbo]

WAY too much vinegar! You may be screwing up your sinuses with residual rotten wine vapors. Try using no vinegar and instead use Dawn dishwashing liquid. And there is no reason to wash the hose more than once a week, if that.

[AMUW]

I am experiencing major sinus problems and sneezing and runny nose every morning and sometimes all day after using my machine overnight...

You've given us the tip of the iceberg on your story... and have received a few suggestions from those who had simple solutions.
It could be as simple as an initial intolerance to CPAP... or as complex as understanding the many different physiological interactions during sleep between nasal respiration and other body systems.
For the rest of the story, I suggest:
- once registered, access to the forum archives, search for the many different similar situations encountered, using keywords like "nasal, sinus, congestion, inflammation, turbinate"
- in addition to user experiences, there are a number of clinical articles connecting such symptoms to OSA and CPAP use
- before you get scared away by the complex surgical or allergic recommendations of an ENT or sleep doctor, you'll probably hit a reply closer to yours after posting more detail

[Rodge11/1/39]

In response to the request for a list of my equipment I am providing the following:
I have a Phillips Respironics REMstar plus, C-Flex,System 1 humidifier with Nose Pillow medium mask.
I will stay away from the vinegar for cleaning per the recommendation.
I am going to contact my equipment provider look into the possibility of getting off the Nose Pillow type mask.
I am also going to check the websites recommended by sagesteve and try the Sinus Buster Allergy recommendation.
Thank you for the information.