Worst night yet - need some help!

[betty303]

Last night I had my worst night yet in my first month of trying to make this all work. I went to sleep about 1 am, and at 4:45 woke with a frantic quick release (not very graceful one!) because I was stuffed up and had a throat tickle.

I have been congested once before when I did not have any insulation on my hose. That night I did not have the tickle and with a bit of time sitting up, I cleared up fine and put my hose under the covers, and tolerated the mask enough to go back to sleep. This time, no such luck, and I couldn't shake the tickle either. After a bit of a break, I tried to go back to sleep with the mask and had another quick release episode in about 20 minutes of trying to go to sleep.

Several questions...

1. How do you deal with being soooo sleepy that your whole body is crying out to just turn over, close your eyes and go to sleep. I forced myself to stay awake watching TV, but it was very hard.

2. Now it is 7 am and I am still congested. I don't feel like a cold is coming on. What are the possible cause of the congestion? My hose is snuggled in a fuzzy cloth tube, my heat on the humidifier is set at the level it always has worked,

I did have some string cheese and a Odwalla Vanilla/almond soy-based drink about 3 hrs before I went to bed. Several liquids and foods cause me to form mucous, but usually not much nasal stuffiness. I have a chronic post nasal drip. and I have been using a nasal spray (generic flonase for about a week, then a homeopathic that I use now) that has made a difference.

I have a nasal cleansing kit on order at the drug store, and I should be able to pick that up today.

3. Other thoughts about what I should consider/do?

thanks for your thoughts!

[oldgearhead]

Lunesta?

[Catnapper]

Hi Betty

I am so sorry to hear about your bad night. I had something like that when I had a cold recently. I am not used to the full face mask at all, but used it because of congestion. Wow, in 5 minutes I had a dreadful coughing fit that would not stop. The air across my sore throat must have caused it for me. I didn't find a solution, either. All I can offer is sympathy here. The tickle did not go away for about 5 or 6 hours. I slept sitting up when exhaustion finally had its way. If I put my head down, the coughing started again immediately.

If you keep the nasal passages clear, you could go for a nasal mask to see if that helped the throat. I like the sinus cleansing for that. Sips of water seemed to help a bit, just to keep the throat from getting dry.

Let us know what helps. I bet lots of folks have been in that same dreadful spot.

The Road to REM is really difficult for some of us. I hope that once we get past the 40 miles of bad road we reach a super highway!

Catnapper

[Sleepy-eyes]

Betty303,

Honestly, I don't have any helpful thoughts. I've been having my own nights from HELL recently. But I just wanted to let you know that there are a lot of us out here who don't lay down, with our heads all wrapped up like a mummy, and instantly drift off into a night full of restful, blissful sleep and wistful dreams. Ya ain't alone, baby! So hang in there. Guess it's easy for some and just plain hard for the rest of us.

[SelfSeeker]

Betty, sorry to hear about your bad night.

Why did you force yourself to say awake?

What would you have done pre CPAP with this type of congestion?

If you are using a full face mask, why were you not able to sleep with your mouth open?

Other then that, some points that helped me.

When very congested, I have slept on the recliner. Or prop your body up in bed. If the congestion was causing a sinus headache, I have taken a decongestion. When very congested I slept with the Hybrid on, so when/if need during the night, I could breathe through my mouth.

For a scratchy throat, I make a cup of herbal tea with honey just before bedtime.

Since you have an existing predisposition for mucus with certain things avoid them as much as possible, or find out how long the effects of the mucus sticks around.

I have noticed to much humidity and I get congested within minutes of putting on my interface. I lowered the humidity level and waiting to get the Aussie hose, so I can turn off the heated humidity and use passover. (Do not know if this will help.)

If you often feel like you are going to cough, ask a Dr about cough suppresent syrup.

My trick if you want to call it that, on bad nights, is to laydown, proped up, if I slump down while asleep, at least I had fallen asleep. Not the best solution, but at least I closed my eyes.

You may be having problems now either because the house is more or less humid, which effects the humidity in your hose.

I do beleive that if the nasal passages are to dry, they may become congested by overcompensating for the dryness.

I have never been able to keep myself awake. I will wake up often, but to stay awake no. I have fallen asleep eating supper, typing on the computer, on the toilet, standing on a bus, you get the picture.

What problems did you have with congestion before CPAP.

[bdp522]

Yes, yes, to everything Selfseeker said!

Brenda

[betty303]

Thanks for your thoughts and empathy.

I couldn't stay in my mask for two reasons - even when breathing through my mouth, I felt like I wasn't getting enough air. I am a meditator, so I relaxed into it and it got a bit better, but I would just about snooze off, and the not-enough-breath would wake me up again. The second reason is that the tickle on my throat got activated by the air going across my throat (with either nose or mouth breathing) and started me into a coughing fit.

When I have this kind of tickle. drinking water or herbal tea only sooths it away for a few minutes - not at all long lasting.

Why did I force myself to stay awake? I feel my throat close even when I am upright, so I have assumed (maybe erroneously) that I also experience apnea/hypopneas when I am sitting up. My past solution when things got so bad (for other reasons than a stuffy nose) that I could not stay in my mask, I put on my O2 canula and just went to sleep - not a great solution, but better than nothing. With a stuffy nose, I assume only a small bit of O2 would get into my system.

Sleeping sitting up will probably be on the agenda for sometime today.

Sigh - so much to learn, so many questions, so many assumptions......

I need some help understanding the difference in heated humidity and passover. I think I have not understood what passover is.

SelfSeeker, your comment about the humidity being too high causing congestion is helpful. I was going the opposite direction with my assumptions (there is that word again! Need to check out those assumptions!) The humidity in general in Colorado tends to be quite dry. I have been thinking of adding a humidifier in my bedroom, but balancing so many variables may be a bit beyond me at this point - two or three things at a time is enough!

How does the following affect congestion - more or less? or does it depend on the particular nose?
-- cooler room temperature than the air in the hose
-- higher temperature on the heated humidifier

[roster]

[quote="betty303"].....................................

I have a chronic post nasal drip. and I have been using a nasal spray (generic flonase for about a week, then a homeopathic that I use now) that has made a difference.

I have a nasal cleansing kit on order at the drug store, and I should be able to pick that up today.

[betty303]

Rooster

Thanks for the links - the read on what to do when you have a cold was very helpful.

Betty

[SelfSeeker]

Betty,

Every case is individual.

Someone with sever apnea would have a harder time, I would assume. or at least be more dangerous.

I want to say that I have no idea what someone with severe apnea, oxygen needs should be doing when they have a bad cold, congestion, or sinus/ear infections. This should be taken up with the doctors involved.

You mentioned Oxygen is that because of sever apnea or other lung conditions? Your case may be special.

Do you use oxygen at night? When you said you were not getting enough air do you mean oxygen, or like there was not enough air to breathe in?

Someone can give better explanations:

Heated humidity: The water is warmed, so that more humidity (water vapour) can be created.

Passover Humidity: The air passes over the air, there will be less humidity the colder the water is, because water vapour is increased by warmer water.

I do not know if a cooler or warmer room will effect the humidity that your nose will get. A colder room and the air will be colder going up the hose.

A more humid room, will deliver more humid air. A dryer room will deliver dryer air.

If a room is to cold and the hose gets cold, some humidity either from the humidifier or from your exhaling breathe will condense (water vapour turning to liquid) and will rain out on your nose. (A topic all by itself.)

Lots of info is found by the light bulb.

cpaptalk-articles.php

I mentioned my case, because, I noticed as soon as I put on my interface, and turn on the xPAP, my nose became so congested, I could not take full breaths. I am not sure if it was the humidity, or the lanolin, I put on the Nasal Aire II or what. I lowered the humidity. It helps a bit. I stopped using lanolin, helped a bit. Started u;sing lanolin again, did not notice a difference in congestion.

I think a lot depends on the individual nose.

I do know that my nose has been more congested after I broke my nose. Dr once said that one side is more swollen to compensate for the other side. Allergies makes it worse.

Also, since it has been a month, have you washed the washable filters and changed the disposable filters.

Betty the more you read the more you will figure out. Listen to your body and try to figure things out.

Thanks for your thoughts and empathy.

I couldn't stay in my mask for two reasons - even when breathing through my mouth, I felt like I wasn't getting enough air. I am a meditator, so I relaxed into it and it got a bit better, but I would just about snooze off, and the not-enough-breath would wake me up again. The second reason is that the tickle on my throat got activated by the air going across my throat (with either nose or mouth breathing) and started me into a coughing fit.

When I have this kind of tickle. drinking water or herbal tea only sooths it away for a few minutes - not at all long lasting.

Why did I force myself to stay awake? I feel my throat close even when I am upright, so I have assumed (maybe erroneously) that I also experience apnea/hypopneas when I am sitting up. My past solution when things got so bad (for other reasons than a stuffy nose) that I could not stay in my mask, I put on my O2 canula and just went to sleep - not a great solution, but better than nothing. With a stuffy nose, I assume only a small bit of O2 would get into my system.

Sleeping sitting up will probably be on the agenda for sometime today.

Sigh - so much to learn, so many questions, so many assumptions......

I need some help understanding the difference in heated humidity and passover. I think I have not understood what passover is.

SelfSeeker, your comment about the humidity being too high causing congestion is helpful. I was going the opposite direction with my assumptions (there is that word again! Need to check out those assumptions!) The humidity in general in Colorado tends to be quite dry. I have been thinking of adding a humidifier in my bedroom, but balancing so many variables may be a bit beyond me at this point - two or three things at a time is enough!

How does the following affect congestion - more or less? or does it depend on the particular nose?
-- cooler room temperature than the air in the hose
-- higher temperature on the heated humidifier

[OwlCreekObserver]

I normally use a nasal mask (with tape) and whenever one side or the other is stopped up, I've had good results with Afrin spray (original formula). I don't have to use it often, and you're not supposed to use it for more than three days in a row, but it works really well for me when needed. It relieves my congestion almost immediately and keeps working throughout the night.

Also, for that throat tickle, I sometimes use Breathe Right Snore Relief throat spray just before I put on my mask. I no longer snore since starting CPAP but I keep this stuff around just for this purpose. It usually works long enough for me to fall asleep and then I'm usually good for the night.

By the way, I was stationed in Colorado Springs for a few years back in the 1970s. The area has exploded in size since then of course. I loved the dry climate, even though it had some drawbacks.

OCO

[SelfSeeker]

OWC,

I did not even think of a nasal decongestion spray.

Interesting about the spray.

What is the main active ingrediant in it?

[quote="OwlCreekObserver"]I normally use a nasal mask (with tape) and whenever one side or the other is stopped up, I've had good results with Afrin spray (original formula). I don't have to use it often, and you're not supposed to use it for more than three days in a row, but it works really well for me when needed. It relieves my congestion almost immediately and keeps working throughout the night.

Also, for that throat tickle, I sometimes use Breathe Right Snore Relief throat spray just before I put on my mask. I no longer snore since starting CPAP but I keep this stuff around just for this purpose. It usually works long enough for me to fall asleep and then I'm usually good for the night.

By the way, I was stationed in Colorado Springs for a few years back in the 1970s. The area has exploded in size since then of course. I loved the dry climate, even though it had some drawbacks.

OCO

[roster]

OWC,

I did not even think of a nasal decongestion spray.

Interesting about the spray.

What is the main active ingrediant in it?

[SelfSeeker]

opps that was confusing.

I was wondering what the active ingrediant is in the breathe right snore relief spray.

[OwlCreekObserver]

oops that was confusing.

I was wondering what the active ingrediant is in the breathe right snore relief spray.

Here's the whole list:

Purified water, Alcohol, Glycerine, Polysorbate 80, PVP/VA Copolymer, Essential Oil Blend (Wintergreen Oil, Menthol, Peppermint Oil, Anise Oil, Eugenol), Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Saccharine, Cetylpyridinium Chloride, Ammoniou Glycyrrhizate.

I imagine that any throat spray that lubricates the throat might be helpful. This just happens to be what I had on hand and the label says it's safe to use every day.

OCO