Should I throw away my nasal pillows ?

[TrueBlue]

I've struggled with this CPAP thing for a few months now but a couple of months ago my sleep techs gave me some sleep pillows and I thought I'd struck gold! This was it, not more masks. These little pillows just sat so comfortably in my nose and I really thought I'd finally got it sorted. This was around 6 weeks ago and since then I have had the most horrible hay fever symptoms almost weekly. Some days are great and I'm fine and then it hits like a sledgehammer and its like I've got the worse cold, sneezing and blowing my nose continually, watery eyes and feeling very tired and irritable. I live in Melbourne, Australia, so hay fever is not unusual here but before I started using the nasal pillows I never really suffered with it. I mentioned this to my sleep techs who told me nasal pillows could give 'flu-like symptoms' but these should not persist. I still don't know whether the nasal pillows are responsible. Has anyone else had anything like this. I really don't want to have to go back to the mask !

[Pugsy]

I have similar symptoms if my humidifier isn't running at least at a setting of 3. Found out when I lowered the setting to 1 and another time I forgot to put water in the tank and it ran dry. I need the extra humidity.
Some people do better with less humidity but I think a good many people need more humidity because the nasal mucosa dry out and cause the congestion and itchy, watery, congested nose.

[TrueBlue]

Thanks for your reply but I have tried that and then get what I think they call 'rain-out' where water is dropping everywhere and the nasal pillows are making a very strange noise!

[Reine]

Yes I do have the very same symptoms that you mention plus I get deep sores in my nose that takes weeks to heal. I also like the comfort of my swift nasal pillow and I switch back in fort with the nasal mask in hope that I will adjust with the nasal pillows but after a few days with the nasal pillows the same things happen ,sinus problem. Yes I believe that the nasal pillows is the cause of your cold symptoms.

I started using the Neti-Pot daily and Rhinaris get in my nares before going to bed and that helps a bit with the discomfort. I'm also trying different setting with the humidifier but not much luck with that yet.
Thank you for your post, I hope that we will get some answers here. Good luck

[bdp522]

I'm not too familiar with your machine, do you have disposable white filters for your machine? It may be that the allergens blowing directly into you nose are causing problems. I would try to add a disposable white filter before the gray filter. If the disposable filters are not available you might try the in line bacteria filter to try and catch anything that might irritate the sinuses.

Brenda

[BlackSpinner]

Also make sure of what you are cleaning the pillows with. You might be allergic to the soap you are using which is why it is intermittant. Check your water, and all cleaning agents (one at the time).

[millich]

I have similar symptoms if my humidifier isn't running at least at a setting of 3.

Exactly!

Are you using a humidifier? If not, that may well be your problem. I feel absolutely terrible the next day (with runny, stuffy nose, sneezing, etc) if I don't run the humidifier high enough. All that dry air blowing up your nose irritates your sinuses.

[Guest]

I agree 100% with Millich. Went through the same experience. Need that moisture.

[Muse-Inc]

Also make sure of what you are cleaning the pillows with. You might be allergic to the soap you are using which is why it is intermittant. Check your water, and all cleaning agents (one at the time).

Ditto this! I wore the Optilife pillow mask for 20 months. In the beginning of CPAP, my nose ran copiously for about 20 mins every morning for several wks...big deal I was in the shower anyway . I had to put my humidifier at near max for those wks too or my nose would be runny all day. When my nasal passageways got used to the mini-hurricane , I was able to turn my humidifier to about halfway until winter when I need a higher setting. I was and am very sensitive to whatever reside is left on the pillows, so I washed in 7th Generation soap (for dishes), let sit soapy while I was in the shower, rinsed very well, sprayed with vinegar (disinfects AND gets rid of the soap residue), let sit for 2-3 mins, rinsed well, and let air dry. If I didn't do this, I woke up congested and had "allergy" symptoms all day long...very frustrating and annoying. Took me a while to figure this out. I'm now wearing the RespCare Hybrid mask (oral cushion with pillows) and still have to be careful of what I wash with. Although I use passover humidification now, I'm guessing I'll need more humidity come my first winter with the Hybrid.

[timbalionguy]

If you are experiencing rainout, consider getting an insulated hose cover, such as 'snugglehose'. There is also an electrically heated hose available, that is made in your country. In your case, the warmer air may help your problem.

I have had surprisingly few issues with the nasal pillows on my hybrid mask. Cleaning them is important IMHO. I use a cheap mild dish soap. Occasionally, I will use Dawn when the silicone persistently turns milky.

[roster]

I've struggled with this CPAP thing for a few months now but a couple of months ago my sleep techs gave me some sleep pillows and I thought I'd struck gold! This was it, not more masks. These little pillows just sat so comfortably in my nose and I really thought I'd finally got it sorted. This was around 6 weeks ago and since then I have had the most horrible hay fever symptoms almost weekly. Some days are great and I'm fine and then it hits like a sledgehammer and its like I've got the worse cold, sneezing and blowing my nose continually, watery eyes and feeling very tired and irritable. I live in Melbourne, Australia, so hay fever is not unusual here but before I started using the nasal pillows I never really suffered with it. I mentioned this to my sleep techs who told me nasal pillows could give 'flu-like symptoms' but these should not persist. I still don't know whether the nasal pillows are responsible. Has anyone else had anything like this. I really don't want to have to go back to the mask !

What model masks were you using before?

Have you evaluated yourself for mouthbreathing or mouthleaking?

[pagebypage]

Here in the West (of USA), with our dry conditions, I found similar symptoms to yours with nasal pillows. Nasal masks, too, but not as bad. The nasal pillows were a great fit and comfortable except for the allergy like symptoms.

First, be sure you change your filters often, with your problem, every few weeks. Second, I found the symptoms disappeared with a humidifier set at 4/5. Is Ayr gel available in Ausieland? It will keep your nostrils moist and works almost as well as the humidifier. It is like saline solution, but in gel form, that you smear inside your nostrils. These methods worked for me...

But the best solution for me was switching to a full face mask, and even better the Liberty FF (which even though called a ff, is really a hybrid).

[roster]

Here in the West (of USA), with our dry conditions, I found similar symptoms to yours with nasal pillows. Nasal masks, too, but not as bad. The nasal pillows were a great fit and comfortable except for the allergy like symptoms.

.......

But the best solution for me was switching to a full face mask, and even better the Liberty FF (which even though called a ff, is really a hybrid).

This problem has been discussed in many other threads and I have yet to conclude what causes the problem. However, I have often been suspicious that it is caused by mouthbreathing or mouthleaking while using nasal pillows or a nasal mask.

Now pbp's post makes me suspicious again. Some of you have heard me say a properly working CPAP system does not create any additional flow in the human airway (compared to a normal sleeper/breather). It only creates additional pressure.

But now if you are using nasal pillows or a nasal mask and are mouthbreathing or mouthleaking (an improperly working CPAP system), then there is additional (unwanted) air flow through the nasal passage. IMO, this could cause allergy symptoms.

Now back to pbp's post, he says the problem was solved by switching to a Liberty mask. So he is still using nasal pillows but the allergy-like problem is gone. But he no longer has the possibility of excess air flow through the nasal passage due to the FF design of the Liberty.

Is it possible some of you with the allergy-like problems are caused mouthbreathing or mouthleaking?