Cpap, Nasal Congestion and filters

[Kenv]

My first Cpap machine was a Fisher and Paykel with a standard filter, for one reason or another I kept the machine on the floor alongside the bed. At some point I developed quite severe nasal congestion - I did not connect it with filtration in the cpap machine. I had the congestion for 3 or 4 years, used all kinds of nasal sprays and often considered surgery. A little over a year ago I was persuaded to purchase an auto-pap machine and decided on the Respironics M Series. This machine came with two filters, a black sponge pollen filter and a white fine filter. I wasn't sure if I needed the fine filter but I used it anyway. Within a couple of weeks I noticed that the white fine filter was grey, after 4 weeks it was very dark grey indeed. I didn't know what the fine filter was picking up but decided to take Respironics advice and put a new white filter in every 4 weeks. Gradually my nasal congestion began to improve, after a few months it was much improved. I began to wonder if the stuff the filter was picking up was mold spores (mold spores can cause nasal congestion) - I had no obvious mold in the bedroom but it made me wonder if the spores were coming from the carpet so I found a small table to lift the machine about a foot off the floor. I also began to use a dehumidifier to ensure the bedroom was really dry. The filter still gets some grey in it but nowhere as bad as it was. The big deal is that my nasal congestion has virtually disappeared - I breathe freely almost 100 percent of the time, only occasionally do I have a stuffy nose.
Anyone out there who have developed nasal congestion since going onto a cpap machine might want to take note.
Regards

[Julie]

Probably a very dumb question considering you use a dehumidifier, but are you using the humidifier on the machine? At what setting? If it's high, do you need to be told to turn it down ? A lot of people get congested by them, and not realizing they're not part of therapy, think they need to go on using them, or keeping them on high, but they're not 'needed' at all. I never use mine.

[desert rider]

Great Post!

As soon as I read this...

I kept the machine on the floor alongside the bed.

...I immediately thought: Dust Bunnies. (Thinking of my own room, mind you.)

We vacuum regularly, but rarely clean under the bed, which is Dust Bunny Central. When my cat snoops around under my bed she reiks of dust. So maybe it wasn't mold. Maybe you had a head full of dust.

[Kenv]

Julie, I did put my humidifier on about two thirds when my nose became congested because I though it would help. Now that my congestion has gone I no longer use the humidifier at all.

[Guest]

I use both filters (dark grey foam and white micro filter) on my Cpap machine. We moved from a dry climet to a humid area. My inside white filter is almost black. I change it every week. Is this mold? ko