Allergies

fehler · Post by **fehler** » Sat Jun 07, 2008 7:03 am

Hi everyone,

Can any one tell me by your experience that before CPAP you had no problem with allergies but after CPAP you started having all kinds of problems? The reason I am asking is because it has happened to me.

Frank

bap40 · Post by **bap40** » Sat Jun 07, 2008 10:02 am

Allergy season is upon us. People can develop allergies at any time of their lives. The 2 things that come to my mind are...

1. Make sure your machine filters are clean and in good shape.
2. It is possible that you have your humidity level set too high.

For some of us, having the humidity temp set too high can produce symptons that mimic allergies. Congestion, nasal problems, can all be caused by humidity levels that are just too high for some people.

Try setting the humidity on the lowest setting or just use it in the passover setting.

If you are now doing these things and still are having the problems, I don't have an answer for you.

snoregirl · Post by **snoregirl** » Sat Jun 07, 2008 11:42 am

I have to add that too low humidity does it for me. Dries my sinuses and causes symptoms that seem much like allergies. Sneeze and nose itches and runs all day. This happens to me when I forget to turn on the humidifier.

Overall I experience far less trouble with allergies with CPAP than without.

cflame1 · Post by **cflame1** » Sat Jun 07, 2008 11:46 am

I would have agreed with snoregirl last year. This year, my allergies have gone nuts. To the point that they are setting off my asthma.

As to whether I use passover or heated humidification. Passover for me usually. Think that I've turned on the heat a couple of times, it's usually when I've got a cold and it's cold out.

bap40 · Post by **bap40** » Sat Jun 07, 2008 1:38 pm

So it sounds like either end of the spectrum can cause problems with allergy types of reactions. The question seems to be how to decide between the real deal and humidity related causes.

Bookbear · Post by **Bookbear** » Sat Jun 07, 2008 4:03 pm

Remember, too, that this has been an exceptionally bad year for high pollen counts and allergies nation-wide. A friend who is a nurse in an allergy clinic says it is the worst she remembers in the 15 years she's been working there.

goose · Post by **goose** » Sat Jun 07, 2008 10:21 pm

I've had allergies ever since I came back from overseas in 1971 (some people tell me that it was exposure to agent orange and other "methyl-ethyl terrible" I was exposed to....who knows??)....I was not allergic to much of anything as a kid.....

This year has been exceptionally bad -- one of the worst and pollen counts are off the scale this year, so I expect that it would be worse.
That said, it's also my first spring on the hose. I started a year ago (a couple days ago) and noticed no increase in allergy symptoms last year. Ask me next year about this time (if the pollen counts are back to normal or below normal).....

Now for the drugs -- I use allegra, benedryl, flonase, singulair, and Astelin for allergies -- normally I get some mild reactions during the season even with the drugs, but again, this year has been miserable. I'm also one of those lucky people that has allergies all year around!!!

Good luck!!!
take care
cheers
goose

fehler · Post by **fehler** » Sun Jun 08, 2008 7:17 am

Thanks for the responses. I do have my humidifier on the lowest setting and so far i have not found any medication that works and i am meiserable.

Frank

MrRandom · Post by **MrRandom** » Sun Jun 08, 2008 9:12 am

Try just putting the water in the chamber but don't turn on the heat. I can't tolerate any heated humidity right now either or I get nasal congestion. I also agree with the others that this has so far been an exceptionally bad year for pollen and people who normally wouldn't have any symptoms (or minimal symptoms) might experience some problems this year.

[quote="fehler"]Thanks for the responses. I do have my humidifier on the lowest setting and so far i have not found any medication that works and i am meiserable.

Frank

bap40 · Post by **bap40** » Sun Jun 08, 2008 9:18 am

I'm gonna jump in with another observation about conditions this year. In addition to the allergies being worse, so are the tick's!!!!! Never had much of a problem in past years, but this year it is horrible, at least in my neck of the woods.

Machine	Mask

Additional Comments: Avg. AHI .4