sick all the time

[jconnor123]

Ever since I started using my CPAP machine I feel like I have been sick with cold symptoms. Runny nose, congested, stuffy head. Does anyone else get like that?

[turbosnore]

Close, when I was on CPAP (I have APAP now) with nasal mask. Only I didn't have running nose, but very dry mouth and throat.
The mouth-leak was later taken care by FFM, and the other symptoms (more or less) by APAP. Still feel like you described
every now and then, especially the stuffy head (except, of course, the running nose).

[Robadob]

I've had a little bit of a runny nose since I've started CPAP. Nothing terribly bothersome, just runnier than it used to be. It's actually less bothersome than the headgear marks on my face every morning.

[Julie]

Turn your humidifier right down, or off. You don't 'need' it as part of therapy itself, it's only for people who feel the need of it because of dry environments or throats (which often end up being a matter of needing a full face mask). Many people are affected in the way you describe.

[Songbird]

What Julie said.

Quite a few of us can't use heated humidification, or else our heads will get completely congested and we can't breathe through our noses. Sounds like you might be a member of that group.

Before I started using heat in the house for the winter, I learned from others here to use what's called "passover humidity" -- filling the humidifier in the machine but keeping it set at "0." As the air passes over (get it? ) the water, some moisture is picked up, but not so much that it affects the sinuses. Since I started using heat in the house (a forced hot air system), my nasal passages have dried out a bit, and after some experimentation, I've learned to turn on the humidifier to "1" maybe every 3rd or 4th night, depending on how much time I've spent in the house (like weekends). Since you're so congested, I don't think I'd even try that until your head's cleared up and stayed that way for a few days.

Good luck!
Marsha

[boston]

What Julie said.

Quite a few of us can't use heated humidification, or else our heads will get completely congested and we can't breathe through our noses. Sounds like you might be a member of that group.

Before I started using heat in the house for the winter, I learned from others here to use what's called "passover humidity" -- filling the humidifier in the machine but keeping it set at "0." As the air passes over (get it? ) the water, some moisture is picked up, but not so much that it affects the sinuses. Since I started using heat in the house (a forced hot air system), my nasal passages have dried out a bit, and after some experimentation, I've learned to turn on the humidifier to "1" maybe every 3rd or 4th night, depending on how much time I've spent in the house (like weekends). Since you're so congested, I don't think I'd even try that until your head's cleared up and stayed that way for a few days.

Good luck!
Marsha

Ive been stuffy for a few days now, i didnt even think the humidifier was the culprit, im gonna turn it off tonight and use passsover to see if it helps

[jconnor123]

Thanks for all the advice. I never really understood the term passover humidity till now. I will set it to 0 and see if that helps. Judy

[Sleepy Boy]

Hi jconnor123 I seem to be having the same kinda problems as you are. I have a post about sore throat etc. Last night I turned my humidifier down on 1, no sore throat this morning. I did wake up early with inside my nose burning a little, so I turned it up a 1/2, and the burn went away. Hope this is of some help to you. It seems that cpap brings on things none of us had before--but it's still better than the way we felt before cpap. IMO.