Chronic Rhinitis aggravated by new DreamStation

[amelia135]

Until mid December 2016 I had used a Respironics REMstar pro for five years. I suffer from chronic rhinitis but rarely had problems using the REMstar.

My sleep doctor informed me that I was eligible for a new machine so I purchased a DreamStation CPAP PRO. When I had set it up I noticed a strong chemical/plastic smell. The first morning after use I woke up sneezing and with a runny nose. The condition worsened over the next few days until I abandoned my new DreamStation and did not use CPAP for several days until the rhinitis had settled down. I then went back to using my old REMstar until 22 January 2017. I was out of the country Jan 23 - Feb 24 and did not take a CPAP machine with me. Upon return six days ago I resumed use of my REMstar, meanwhile I soaked and rinsed the chamber and hose of the DreamStation twice.

Last night I set up and used the DreamStation with my old hose to test it out. I could not detect any chemical/plastic smell.

I slept through the night, however this morning I awoke sneezing and with a very runny nose which still continues.

I am fed up. I have a brand new expensive DreamStation which it seems is a white elephant. The chronic rhinitis is so bad (and would get worse, should I continue to use the DreamStation) that the only recourse I have is to revert to the old REMstar.

It is nothing to do with humidity or any other allergens that might be present in my house. It is solely due to the chemicals present (and presumably out-gassing) in the DreamStation. And even if I can eventually, by repeated rinsing of chamber and hose, leach them out they may well be present in other non-washable parts...!!!

Any solutions?

[Pugsy]

Turn the DreamStation on and let it blow all day outside (like a covered porch). Turn the humidifier off while you do this so that it doesn't heat up anything or make sure the tank has water in it.

And humor me...exactly which Remstar Pro were you using and what was the humidifier set at?
Do you have the model number handy? Or a link to a machine that looks like it?
You can go to cpap.com and check out the machines available ...even older models and post a link.

And humor me again...what was the DreamStation set at for the humidity and were you using the heated hose or not?

While you may think it has nothing to do with the humidity....the old Resmstar machines humidity delivery is/was totally different from the way the new machines deliver the humidity and shouldn't be dismissed without investigation because humidity could very well be the culprit. When the nasal mucosa get unhappy with the moisture (or lack of) from a cpap machine they respond with the exact same symptoms as you are blaming on the chemical smell stuff.

[Julie]

Plus - spring has come early this year, and along with it likely many allergens that wouldn't be expected for another month at least!

[ChicagoGranny]

Plus - spring has come early this year, and along with it likely many allergens that wouldn't be expected for another month at least!

December? South of the equator? No, that would be a normal spring.

[Julie]

What??

[Soothest Sleep]

Plus - spring has come early this year, and along with it likely many allergens that wouldn't be expected for another month at least!

That depends on where one lives. The OP doesn't mention location so how could we assume seasonality with any accuracy? For example, where I live, we are still experiencing winter; spring allergens have not sprung yet, to my knowledge.

I'm with Pugsy; perhaps the humidity situation needs looking at. I have chronic rhinitis as well, and have just recently adjusted my humidity level down a bit which has improved my stuffy nose while I sleep.

Regarding the smells, are all the cpap materials new, out of the box? Or could anything have been used in a loaner or rental situation previously? In the latter case, odours can and do transfer from previous users if not properly cleaned before a new user. Think about heavy perfumes, strong garlic, or chemical scented cleaners whose odours can cling to silicone masks.

Jean

[upforsleep]

Stabilize your indoor environment to allow your machine settings to remain constant as well.
If you haven't already;
1. Use an allergen rated filter on your HVAC system.
Adding an air purifier to your bedroom is a plus.

2. Get an indoor Humidity Monitor in your bedroom.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0013 ... UTF8&psc=1
Walmart probably has them. On first use allow a couple of hours for the readings to stabilize and then it will display the highest and lowest readings. The one above also records room temperatures.

Once you see what you need to stabilize you bedroom humidity levels you have a base for your humidifier settings. (in my room I had to add a De-humidifier to stabilize humidity and it works perfectly turning off and on again to the desired setting in auto mode. I got mine from Home Depot.

I also use the DreamStation. It has an auto or manual humidifier settings and the instruction manual explains each setting. Auto works well for me, or you can fine tune in manual mode. The supplied heated hose also has settings and works independently.
You must keep your upper passages moist, as Pugsy advised, without overdoing it or getting too dry.
There is tons of info on the net about upper and lower respiratory moisture percentage and I read up quite a bit. However, your own comfort level will be the best settings.

Hope you feel better. This worked for me and now I don't need allergy meds indoors.

[ChicagoGranny]

a De-humidifier

[upforsleep]

Thanks ChicagoGranny for the chart.
One must realize at the rate of air movement that our machines operate to clear the airway lowers the humidity level from your room another 20%. Kind of like riding a motorcycle down the freeway with your mouth open. You end up with a very dry mouth and puffy cheeks. (and lots of bugs too, lol) Hence the humidifier is added and used if needed. However Passover is recommended as minimal use.

Where I live it is very humid and I ended up at the Dr. office with "swimmers ear" from my misuse and misunderstanding led to changing my settings from too dry to soaking wet. The Dr. explained that during the dry therapy allergens had blocked the inner ear tubes and could not drain the fluid normally when I overcompensated with the humidifier to sooth the dry mouth and nasal passages,and he could see fluid in both ears.
By stabilizing my indoor environment, I am not sneezing and blowing my nose constantly and can leave my machine settings alone.
My dehumidifier is set on 60% and only comes on as needed. I only run it while sleeping so I always get some water in the holding tank. That is the variable that I removed from my therapy.

[palerider]

Thanks ChicagoGranny for the chart.
One must realize at the rate of air movement that our machines operate to clear the airway lowers the humidity level from your room another 20%. Kind of like riding a motorcycle down the freeway with your mouth open. You end up with a very dry mouth and puffy cheeks. (and lots of bugs too, lol)

I call BS, unless you're using a NIV machine, there's no air movement in your passages that is any different at all from what happens when you're awake, your lungs provide all the air movement.

nothing at all like riding a motorcycle with your mouth open, unless, perhaps, you've got a nasal interface and you're letting all the air blow out your mouth.... then, of course, the machine will ramp up the flow to try and get the pressure where it should be.

[chunkyfrog]

I vote we wait for "amelia" to post again, with more information, so we have something to go on.
Amelia, are you still there?

[upforsleep]

palerider,
well, then tell me what is going on when you hold your nose and blow? Why do swimmers and high altitude climbers, passengers, even bother?

[ChicagoGranny]

the rate of air movement that our machines operate to clear the airway

This is not correct. The rise and fall of the human diaphragm determines the air movement in the lungs and airway. Air movement is no greater in a CPAP user than in a normal breather.

And, it follows that this is not true either:

lowers the humidity level from your room another 20%

If this were true, running a small fan in a room would cause condensate to pool in front of it.

It's not clear from your profile which mask you are using

Mask: DreamWear Nasal CPAP Mask with Headgear
Additional Comments: Amara View FFM, SleepyHead Software

when this,

dry mouth

occurs.

If this is happening with the nasal mask, then you are most likely mouth breathing/leaking and your CPAP therapy is not working properly.

If it is happening with the FFM, there are ways to mitigate the problem, and forum members can help with this.

You must keep your upper passages moist, as Pugsy advised, without overdoing it or getting too dry.

BTW, My room humidity runs around 50%. When we have a long cold spell and the heat runs a lot, it has dropped to 35% for a few days. I haven't had the CPAP humidifier out of the drawer in three years. I'm always puzzled when people in a humid climate use the humidifier.

[upforsleep]

I totally regret my replies to this thread because no one seems to "get it"
One more short try and then I am outta here.

I has to do with the Eustachinan tubes in the middle ear. They are to equalize pressure on the eardrum(inner and outer ears)and also to drain moisture. They can become blocked by allergens and most of us use nasal spray or neti- pot to clear the tubes to the back of the throat (you can taste it when it's clear). Have you ever heard the term "nasal drip"?
Cpap therapy air movement is greater than normal and that's why so many have trouble with bloating and gas, look at your airflow charts.
The increase in air flow during cpap therapy as related to humidity level is a proven fact. If not no one here would complain about airway dryness.
I use Amara View ffm. At times I switch to the Dreamwear and tape.
I going to stop here, because it was never my intent to create a debate.
If you are going to post your advice then do it to the original poster asking for help and leave me out of it.

[Pugsy]

BTW, My room humidity runs around 50%. When we have a long cold spell and the heat runs a lot, it has dropped to 35% for a few days. I haven't had the CPAP humidifier out of the drawer in three years. I'm always puzzled when people in a humid climate use the humidifier.

Because despite living in a humid climate sometimes the nasal mucosa isn't happy with the change.
I had an occasion a couple of weeks ago where my S9 didn't know the humidifier was attached (I guess poor electrical connection) and it wouldn't recognize my heated hose and wouldn't give me any choices for humidity selection and more importantly didn't use any water the night before...and I was checking all this stuff because I woke up with rhinitis symptoms from my nasal mucosa getting dried out. It has happened in the past when I forget to top off the water chamber and the machine runs out of water. I recognize the symptoms.

So despite my "humid" climate (ambient humidity per the little gadget I keep on the bedside table running upper 40s and low 50s)...my nasal mucosa didn't like it when the humidifier didn't crank out extra moisture.
Some people's nasal mucosa just want more.