Need more suggestions - congestion, sneezing, etc.

[bobbi4272]

Thank you to everyone who gave me suggestions a couple of weeks ago. I had sinus surgery in February and have had a lot of congestion, sneezing, sickness, etc. since then when I use my CPAP machine.

I've been using my machine for the last two weeks with varying degrees of success. One good piece of news is that my insurance company finally gave the okay for me to get heated tubing! I see my sleep doctor tomorrow morning and hope she'll have more advice.

So far, I've found that using the Quattro Air FF mask isn't working for me. I get a ton of leaks, not to mention the strap marks for 8 or more hours after waking up. Last night the leaks were so bad - my machine shut off twice and I didn't know it. If I can get to sleep, the leaks don't bother me but they drive me nuts when I'm trying to get to sleep. The only advantage to a full face mask is that I don't have as much mouth dryness but the dry eye bit is worse. I even tried taping my mouth shut one night when I used the Nano. I don't know if I could get used to doing that, but if I could then I'm sure it would help with the mouth dryness.

The Swift FX nasal pillows fit the nicest. I switched to a larger size pillow and that seems to help with the leaks but I experienced much more soreness, congestion and sneezing. It lasted for two days after using it. I've been using the humidifier set at 4C or 5C. Some nights it helped more than others.

I switched from the XS Nano nasal mask to the S mask. It helps with the congestion and sneezing but I still had a lot of leaks and it just wouldn't stay put. I think the headgear is the problem. There is no way I can loosen/tighten the straps to keep the bottom strap below my occipital bone. It keeps riding up. I was looking at cpap.com and saw the Wisp mask and the Eson. The headgear seems to be better suited to the shape of my head. Does anyone have any thoughts?

I'd also like some feedback on heated tubing. Is it better to get a stand alone heated tube that works with most machines or to wait until I decide on a new machine? I will talk to my doctor tomorrow about getting a full data capacity machine and if she has a preference. I'm leaning toward the PR 60 Auto and the S9 Autoset. I'm pretty sure my insurance won't go for that, so it will be out-of-pocket. I didn't want to get the tubing until I decide on a machine.

Am I crazy to think that with an APAP machine, the pressures would most likely be lower most of the time? When I sleep on my side, my AHI was 3.3 and on my back it was 28. My current pressure is set at 11cm/H20. I sleep on my side most of the time. If this were the case, does it make sense that I wouldn't experience as many leaks? I would love to think that lower pressures (for most of the night) would also decrease the congestion and sneezing episodes. Does this make sense or am I way off base? I seem to be hyper-sensitive to the air blowing up my nose.

I hope this message isn't too confusing. I feel like I'm rambling on. I'm still struggling a lot, but am somewhat encouraged because of this site. Thanks in advance for more suggestions. You have made me hope that I'll be able to find a solution that will work for me!

[Julie]

Have you tried raising, or lowering your humidifier setting to see how it affects congestion - it can make quite a difference to some people.

[bobbi4272]

Have you tried raising, or lowering your humidifier setting to see how it affects congestion - it can make quite a difference to some people.

Julie, Thanks for the suggestion. I have tried every setting. I seem to be more successful with setting the humidifier at 4 or 5. I feel like I'm sleeping in a swamp but it helps with the dryness at least. I'm hoping the heated tubing will make a difference in my congestion. It is better than it was, but still not good. Some days I feel like I've been drugged all day because I'm so stuffed up and sneezing.

I'm up early because the Quattro Air mask was leaking so badly last night. It kept turning the machine off. I switched to the nasal mask and couldn't go back to sleep.

[robysue]

Am I crazy to think that with an APAP machine, the pressures would most likely be lower most of the time? When I sleep on my side, my AHI was 3.3 and on my back it was 28. My current pressure is set at 11cm/H20.

Not crazy at all. The whole point of an APAP is that the pressure does NOT need to be at the highest level all night. However, with a titrated pressure setting of 11 cm, you probably will want to start with an APAP range in the neighborhood of something like 9-12 or 9-11 rather than starting a whole lot lower than your current setting.

I sleep on my side most of the time. If this were the case, does it make sense that I wouldn't experience as many leaks? I would love to think that lower pressures (for most of the night) would also decrease the congestion and sneezing episodes. Does this make sense or am I way off base? I seem to be hyper-sensitive to the air blowing up my nose.

Maybe, maybe not. Whether a 1 or 2 cm drop in pressure for part to most of the night will help the nose really depends on the nose. If you were to have good luck with the AHI remaining nice and low with an APAP range of 9-11 AND the median pressure was closer to 9 than 11, you might then be able to further experiment with bringing the pressure down further.

One thing I do want to suggest: You say the Swift FX pillows are the most comfortable. When you use them, it is important to make sure that you have the pillows angled just right: When they are correctly angled, the jet flow of air should NOT hit any of the inside surfaces of your nasal passages. If the angle is even a small bit off, that air flow can hit the inside of the nose and it can indeed irritate the nose quite a bit. And an irritated nose responds by increasing congestion and sneezing.

[decatur11]

Bobbi, You asked about masks: I really liked my Eson but the triangle at the top was wide enough that the sides were extended into my eye sockets near the tear ducts. That was with the small size. The best thing about it is the F&P replaceable filter on the exhale port that dampens the huge breeze flowing out of the mask. Neither I nor my husband can sleep with all that uproar. With the Eson, though, I have been waking up with very swollen face and eyes in particular. I sleep on my side and the "lower' eye on the side I'd slept on would be practically swollen shut. I went in to my DME today to find a similar mask that doesn't stick into my eye sockets. I came home with a Wisp. It is at least as tall as the Eson up toward the bridge of my nose, but the top of the triangle is much narrower. I have a narrow nose - like I cannot wear eyeglasses that don't have the little pads for adjustment. The Wisp definitely does not lap over into my eye sockets so I am hoping I will have a decent night and not be so swollen in the morning. The downside with the Wisp is the huge breeze. I plan to place an Eson F&P exhalation filter over the holes on the Wisp to reduce the breeze and noise that accompanies it. I've taped one onto my Swift FX nasal pillows and it is a world of difference. I have also had a lot of sneezing but cannot connect it to any specific mask. I had a bad cold after my first two CPAP nights and I actually think the pressure - 11 for me -helped me breathe through the congestion. Just my experience with two masks.

[Bill44133]

Not sure if your sneezing and congestion is caused by allergies. I have struggled with sinus infections terrible this year.
The only way I have gotten a good nights sleep through this time of year is Benadryl. It has been my saving grace. The pharmacist told me that with
the other medication that I am on, Benadryl is safe. Sorry to hear of your struggles.

[bobbi4272]

I appreciate the feedback on the masks. I can definitely appreciate how the positioning of the nasal pillows can make a difference.

I saw my doctor Friday and she finally determined that I'm not tolerating CPAP. She agreed to put me on APAP although she didn't want to. I'll start another thread to explain.

Thanks for all of the info from everyone who posted. It sure is a lot of trial and error. I'm hopeful that I will eventually figure things out to where I can start feeling better.

[bobbi4272]

Not sure if your sneezing and congestion is caused by allergies. I have struggled with sinus infections terrible this year.
The only way I have gotten a good nights sleep through this time of year is Benadryl. It has been my saving grace. The pharmacist told me that with
the other medication that I am on, Benadryl is safe. Sorry to hear of your struggles.

Bill, I don't have any allergies, but I can certainly appreciate how you feel! I had sinus surgery this past February due to chronic sinusitis. I was absolutely miserable all the time. Now I only h ave problems with severe congestion and sneezing when I use my machine. Have you tried sinus rinses? I don't get as many infections now. It really helps me. As a an added benefit of the surgery, my AHI went from 33 to 22. I didn't have the surgery because of my OSA but it has made a difference.

[locust78]

Just touching on one of your many issues, strap marks, I've found that a quality emollient like cocoa butter can help restore the indents left by a night of strap pressure. I use Cococare 100% cocoa butter. It's pure butter & doesn't have unnecessary additives.

It may seem frustrating right now, but if you're patient & keep chipping away at your other issues, I believe that all this will soon be behind you & you'll be offering your advice to the next newbie on the block.

[jamiswolf]

So far, I've found that using the Quattro Air FF mask isn't working for me. I get a ton of leaks, not to mention the strap marks for 8 or more hours after waking up

Hi Bobbi,
I just started using the Quattro air after 1 1/2 years using the original Quattro FFM. It's a very easy mask to use, seals well and is comfortable...for me that is. I would suggest that either your mask is sized improperly for your face or that you are cinching the mask down too tight. And possibly both.
Good luck and hope the apap helps,
Jamis