I spoke too soon and Drippysneezy nose issue

[Teresalf]

So I posted a couple of days ago about a hear gear problem causing pain in my neck. I switched from Airfit F10 to the Dream wear nasal. I tried it and all was GREAT but I spoke too soon.... because this happened, sneezing,(I'm talking so much my ribs hurdtd) and drippy nose all day. This happened to me before when I was using the Airfit P10 nasal pillows. What is it about nasal mask and pillows that do this. I feel a very sensitive spot way up in my nose that feels like it being irritated by too direct air. The full face mask doesn't cause this problem. I so wanted to be able to use the Dream Wear as it didn't cause any pain from the strap being too low on the back of my head but this sneezing and drippy nose is non stop. Any ideas?

[Julie]

If your humidifier is sitting level or higher than your head, put it at a lower level. And try a lower setting (if any at all) because you may not need any humidity on certain days depending on weather and local conditions.

[Pugsy]

I so wanted to be able to use the Dream Wear as it didn't cause any pain from the strap being too low on the back of my head but this sneezing and drippy nose is non stop. Any ideas?

What humidity setting are you using on your machine? Are you using a heated hose?

I suspect a humidifier setting adjustment is needed.
With the DreamWear the nasal passage is getting the full pressure and doesn't like the humidity setting and the reason you didn't have the symptoms with the full face mask is because the mouth was helping to disperse the pressure.

Humidity needs vary widely among the population of cpap users.
The nasal mucosa are funny little dudes in that they tend to swell and produce allergy like symptoms whether they are too dry or too wet...so we can get the same symptoms with either too much added moisture or too little added moisture.

Google "cpap rhinitis"....it's common.

What I usually tell people is if they are using a lower humidity setting....try going higher.
If they are using a higher setting...try going lower
If they are using a middle of the road setting...toss a coin but most people will need more.

Depending on where you live and the ambient humidity you may or may not even need added humidity but just because you live in a humid locale doesn't necessarily mean that you don't need added humidity.
Where I live 40% humidity is considered relative "low" for us but my nasal mucosa give me horrible symptoms like you are experiencing if I don't use the maximum setting available on the humidifier. It's just what my nose needs to be happy.

I don't remember if you are using a heated hose or not but if not I would suggest using one if at all possible because it allows for greater customization of both the humidity delivered and the air temp in the hose.

[wydazy]

That was me but I changed humidity setting to 5 maximum and I haven't sneezed for three days.

[Janknitz]

Teresa, what about a nasal mask, rather than a nasal pillow mask? The airflow isn't quite as direct, and the newer ones with soft cushions like the Nano are very comfortable. I'm using the wisp, but that has an annoying neck strap.

[Teresalf]

I'm using a humidfier setting of 2 with a heated hose, that is set to 78. I keep my unit lower than my bed and the hose is hung on bedpost. I live in a pretty humid state, Texas. So do y'all think I should go higher or lower with the humidity. I REALLY want to use a nasal mask as the full face mask is getting to be just too much for me. I am also breaking out all over my face in the pattern of the F10 mask. Sigh, I can't go without CPAP because I am rated severe and I'm too scared to go without it, I have horrible nightmares and wake up feeling like I've been run over by a truck when I don't use it. I hope I can fix my issues soon. Thanks for the help?

[Pugsy]

A setting of 2 is on the low side....I would suggest try higher.

I also live in a fairly humid area but with winter being here the air is a little drier in the house what with the furnace being on. I max out my humidity setting even if it is raining out side and the windows are open.
So while outside humidity may be rather humid that doesn't always mean that the inside humidity is the same as the outside humidity.

[Teresalf]

A setting of 2 is on the low side....I would suggest try higher.

I also live in a fairly humid area but with winter being here the air is a little drier in the house what with the furnace being on. I max out my humidity setting even if it is raining out side and the windows are open.
So while outside humidity may be rather humid that doesn't always mean that the inside humidity is the same as the outside humidity.

Thank you Pugsy, I am going to give it a go!