Nasal congestion

[biancalthompson]

I'm new to using a CPAP machine. I am on my second mask because it feels suffocating. I use a nasal mask. I'm thinking it's because of the congestion from allergies that is causing that suffocating feeling.

[Sheriff Buford]

Welcome! Are you using a humidifier on your cpap machine?

Sheriff

[CoreyB]

With nasal congestion many people find it best to use a full face mask. At least until the congestion clears. And yes it can feel like someone is suffocating you when your nose is plugged up.

[Jas_williams]

what are your settings, often machines come out set with a min pressure of 4 this can feel like insufficient air flow and suffocating. but without knowing your settings its difficult to make recommendations

[biancalthompson]

My pressure settings are a min of 8 and Max of 11. Yes I use a humidifier and a heated hose. I use an airsense 10 autoset

[Julie]

Is there some reason your max setting is only at 11 (it's more usual to leave it high at 20 or not a lot lower)?

[Chris8243]

Is your congestion something new, or chronic?

I can breathe through my nose, but not comfortably for long. Need to take a breath through my mouth. First disccovered this doing yoga a few years ago.

So I'm a "mouth breather", never knew that term until entering the CPAP world.

As a kid, I woke up daily congested. I can picture the breakfast table in my school days as having a cup of tea, OJ, cereal or whatever my mother made for breakfast AND a box of tissues. Always the tissues for my runny nose. I do not feel neglected but I didn't get tested until I was out of the house on my own. So I got shots in my 20s. Not allergic to any foods, all environmental. Dust (biggie), grass, trees, mold, all animals (we never had any pets), etc. That's been my life.

Fast forward 40 years, my allergies are much less bothersome. My biggest trigger seems to be our dogs, confined to my husband's man cave or outside. Never ever in the bedroom and no longer have run of the house since this winter when my allergies really flared up again. They are built for outside and have a cushy set up so no guilt there. They always come hiking and camping and even in the car to run errands but I do pay the price.

Getting back to topic, recently started having bothersome nasal congestion at night. Doc says the inside of my nose is pale and swollen. He is not an allergist, he's my primary care doc. Started me on Flonase for 6 weeks, didn't make a difference, nose still swollen inside. Stopped using that and started singular tablets. Still not making very much difference but I will stick with that for a while. I can and do take Zyrtec as needed and in a pinch I will take a Benedryl. The benedryl is needed only when I play with the dogs too much, I kinda know my limit, but I do "like" them so I put up with it.

And that is my probably TMI on my nasal congestion story. People on the forum here without a history of a chronic congestion condition also recommend a nasal spray with just saline, some use Afrin.

I will never be able to use a nasal mask/pillow for CPAP, I accept that. More often than not, when I wake up I feel fine in the nose department. I go about my life without giving it too much thought. I could go to an ENT for a full workup but don't think that's needed since I can live with my symptoms. For me, it's all about treating symptoms.

[Miss Emerita]

Are you being treated for your allergies? If not, that would be a good step to take. I got a lot of symptomatic help by combining Flonase with Azelastine (need a prescription), plus as Chris says, Singulair (also prescription). I also use the Neilmed rinse from time to time, per my allergist's recommendation. I'm getting allergy shots, though that's more of a long-term fix.

[Chris8243]

I also use the Neilmed rinse from time to time, per my allergist's recommendation.

Me too, I forgot about that. Bit of an annoyance but sure feels good afterward, lol.

[biancalthompson]

Sorry I am slow to respond. I use Zyrtec and Flonase to control allergies. The congestion isn't new. It's just more of an irritation when I am wearing a mask. I haven't tried a full face mask yet. I did switch masks and thought I would like it but after three bad nights I went back to the first one. I am averaging 4.5 hours with the CPAP on. The DME supplier raised my pressures so hopefully I will do better. My apnea events on the first mask is less than 2 per hour. On the new mask it was 4-5 events per hour. I have only been using the CPAP for 3 weeks.

[Miss Emerita]

Bianca, you’re having some good results already, which is great. I do recommend asking your doctor about some prescription meds for allergy symptoms. Finding the perfect mask can be something of a quest, so have patience and keep problem-solving.

As things get easier, do try to keep the mask on longer at night. When you take it off and sleep without it, you slow down the process by which your brain adapts to the new dispensation.

Keep us posted!

[socknitster]

Increasing the humidity on your humidifier might help.

I concur with others stating you need to see if you can get your allergy symptoms under control.

Personally I take allegra, singulaire, and zantac (yes, it's for reflux, but it's also an antihistimine and this is off-label use that really helps) daily because my allergies are so bad.