Uh-oh, had a bad night

[opticalpopsicle]

I am about 4 nights into using CPAP. I took to it right away, I felt like everything was really comfortable right from the get-go, sometimes waking up thinking the mask was no longer on my face, or that the machine turned off, only to reach up and find everything was on and functional. I've always been a swimmer, so I guess I'm just used to breathing unnaturally sometimes.

Anyway, last night I put the mask on and literally struggled for an hour to breathe. I was so uncomfortable. I felt like the air was all Co2 and all stuffy and I had air hunger. I was so exhausted because I had worked late, but everytime I started to drift off, the work of breathing was just too much and I would wake right up. By then it was 2am and I just gave up and took the mask off and went to sleep without it.

The defining factor seemed to be that my left nasal passage was not patent last night. I don't have a cold, no allergies, at least not last night anyway. But that little bit of blockage was enough to make the mask feel like I was breathing through a straw. Strange that with mask off and nasal passage still blocked I could breathe comfortable, with mouth shut even. I tried valiantly to mouth breathe when the mask was on (full face), but didn't feel any less air hunger.

What do I do about this problem if it happens again? Decongestants? If I am getting MORE air with c-pap, then why does it feel like I'm getting LESS air?...........Uhg - so confused.

[Pugsy]

What pressure are you using? What is it when you first mask up and turn the machine on?

[opticalpopsicle]

Last night I had it set at APAP 8-20. The pressure stayed at 8 for this. My 90% pressure is usually 9-10ish.

[Pugsy]

Okay, can't blame minimum pressure and partially stopped up nose making it worse.
Since it was also partially stopped up even after the mask was removed we can't blame pressure on the turbinates.
So that pretty much leaves just swollen nasal mucosa that was annoying.
What we do is whatever it takes to open up the nasal passages.
Obviously with a full face mask you can breathe through your mouth but that doesn't help the perception of feeling partially suffocated with the nasal congestion. It is hard to wrap your mind around "it's okay to mouth breathe" when your mind is totally focused on "I can't breathe good through that nostril". I use a nasal pillow only mask and I have woke up with one side of the nose totally blocked and I am breathing just fine and getting enough air. In time your body will adjust but it does take time for the brain to not go into panic mode when things aren't entirely normal.

So you give it time and also treat the swollen nasal passages just like you would treat it if you weren't using the machine.
Netipot rinses for those that are into that sort of thing...Oral decongestants of some sort..even a little nose spray. Obviously Afrin itself works but it comes with its own problems. If it is allergies causing the swelling then deal with the allergies.
If it happens a lot then get your doctor to give you something like Flonase which can be used regularly but it doesn't offer the immediate relief that Afrin does.

Keep your nasal passages well hydrated during the day. Frequent use of something like Simple Saline will help keep the nasal mucosa happy so they don't tend to swell as much.
In general do what you would normally do to keep the passageway open. In time your brain won't focus so much on possible nasal congestion. Since you are new to this therapy right now the brain is hyper vigilant and having trouble adjusting to the fact that all this stuff on our face is good for us.

[lazer]

I know I'm going against the opinion of many others, however, a 1 squirt of Afrin per nostril OR even just troubled nostril JUST AT NIGHT can help immensely and should not give you any adverse effects in using Afrin. This by both word of mouth from my PCP and my own experience. Of course, give the neti-pot a try first as suggested. That is the most natural and best way if it works for you. Good luck!

[Pugsy]

I know I'm going against the opinion of many others, however, a 1 squirt of Afrin per nostril OR even just troubled nostril JUST AT NIGHT

Shhhhush...Don't tell anyone but I have been known to do that too.
I am very careful that I don't do it every night though. I have had to go through Afrin withdrawals too many times in the past and I don't want to do it again. 3 nights in a row and I start tending to "need" it so I back off. My doc also said there are worse things than "needing" it at night only. Given my past history and being known to get sort of dependent easily on Afrin I prefer to not give it a chance to take hold again. I know that given time I migrate to a little squirt here and there during the day...then another and before long....I need it during the day too. Hence I use the Flonase to help out along with liberal use of Simply Saline stuff to keep Afrin use to a minimum.

Each person needs to decide where they are in the Afrin use thing and use accordingly. If I can't breathe through my nose I can't sleep well at all. Would be the same thing if I didn't use the cpap machine. It is just me. My mind doesn't realize that I won't suffocate because I can always use my mouth to get air.

[Roobin]

I find Breathe Right strips to be very effective for opening up the nasal passages....and they are 100% drug free

[lazer]

I know I'm going against the opinion of many others, however, a 1 squirt of Afrin per nostril OR even just troubled nostril JUST AT NIGHT

Shhhhush...Don't tell anyone but I have been known to do that too.
I am very careful that I don't do it every night though. I have had to go through Afrin withdrawals too many times in the past and I don't want to do it again. 3 nights in a row and I start tending to "need" it so I back off. My doc also said there are worse things than "needing" it at night only. Given my past history and being known to get sort of dependent easily on Afrin I prefer to not give it a chance to take hold again. I know that given time I migrate to a little squirt here and there during the day...then another and before long....I need it during the day too. Hence I use the Flonase to help out along with liberal use of Simply Saline stuff to keep Afrin use to a minimum.

Each person needs to decide where they are in the Afrin use thing and use accordingly. If I can't breathe through my nose I can't sleep well at all. Would be the same thing if I didn't use the cpap machine. It is just me. My mind doesn't realize that I won't suffocate because I can always use my mouth to get air.

Come to think about it, I haven't used the Afrin for over a month now. But after my doctor gave me the ok to use it "once per night" during congestion, I did use it each and every night for aprox. 1 week time frame then just gradually tapered back to every other night I think for the following week.

The "walmart clinic" brochure that had missed my "Sinus Infection" diagnosis at the time and sent me away with the OTC Afrin, nasal saline, and clariton did give a firm warning on it to ONLY USE AFRIN FOR 3 DAYS point blank! This is where my doctor who I got in to see the following week due to no relief and worsening symptoms not only prescribed me the antibiotic for the sinus infection but later told me that to keep my nasal passage as open as possible due to xpap treatment success that using the Afrin (just nightly) a squirt would not lead to the dependency concern in relation to someone using it multiple times daily for X number of days, weeks, ect...

That's all I was trying to point out.

[SleepDepraved2]

I find Breathe Right strips to be very effective for opening up the nasal passages....and they are 100% drug free

I use these...the Breathe Right Extra to be precise. I have always been a mouth breather and find that using the Breathe Right strips lets me breathe through my nose all night. I hope to get a nasal mask to use eventually.

I've always found that turning over and sleeping on a different side with the mask on and the CPAP working helps open up a blocked nostril.

[sydneyearly]

Evan after nose gel and non medicated nose spray I still have this swollen issue sometimes. One thing that helps me a little is to press with my thumb and forefinger on the bridge of my nose. Do a search for the acupuncture points for migraines. and use your fingers to press those points.

[sylvie]

I find Breathe Right strips to be very effective for opening up the nasal passages....and they are 100% drug free

I use these...the Breathe Right Extra to be precise. I have always been a mouth breather and find that using the Breathe Right strips lets me breathe through my nose all night. I hope to get a nasal mask to use eventually.

Me too. I love the BR strips Extra. But since I've gotten the Pilairo, I'm worried that the firm material might puncture the soft, billowy pillows of the Pilairo. I did sleep with the strips 2 nights with the Pilairo and had no problem, though. I experimented with sleeping without the strips while using the Pilairo and my AHI was still great, so I'll probably forego the strips for now. But if I wasn't worried about the puncture problem, I would still be using the strips--no doubt. I tried cutting the strips in half and cutting off the extra long bottom portion and the strips still worked like a champ--but I am still worried about punctures. I tried moving the strips higher also, but didn't think that was any good. If my AHI was worse without the strips, though, I would definitely take the chance and keep using the strips.

[Sir NoddinOff]

For the one month I wore a nasal mask, I used something like this: Snorepin - The Smarter Solution (Google it). There's several different brands on Amazon. Since I have very narrow nostrils, it worked okay, but it does require some getting used to when inserted... just a matter of how well you tolerate new stuff. Still it's no drugs or whatever.

[opticalpopsicle]

Thanks for all the stuff to think about everyone. I'm back to success after a few tweaks. 1. I reset ramp to start at 6 and actually used the ramp feature last night. Very helpful for comfort. 2. I turned on the AC high, well before bed to make sure it was freezing in my room when I went to sleep. And I turned off the humidifier. This way my air would be nice and comfortable and not hot, muggy, and stuffy and less likely to swell up my nose.

It worked! I was very comfortable! I am so glad I have a machine with so many features.

[opticalpopsicle]

Thanks for all the stuff to think about everyone. I'm back to success after a few tweaks. 1. I reset ramp to start at 6 and actually used the ramp feature last night. Very helpful for comfort. 2. I turned on the AC high, well before bed to make sure it was freezing in my room when I went to sleep. And I turned off the humidifier. This way my air would be nice and comfortable and not hot, muggy, and stuffy and less likely to swell up my nose.

It worked! I was very comfortable! I am so glad I have a machine with so many features.