CPAP and nasal congestion

[Seattleboy49]

Hi everyone,

I am still in my trial run for insurances purposes in regards to the CPAP. Everything has been going fairly well except the last two nights have been a real struggle because I have been real congested. As I'm sure others have discovered long before me, it kind of feels like you are suffocating when you are stuffed up a bit on CPAP.

So I figured I would ask what others do to deal with this issue? Decongestants? Sinus irrigation?

Thanks

[Julie]

Well, you're near the ocean, and with colder weather the humidity's probably gone up, so have you tried lowering your settings for it?

[Pugsy]

Are you using the heated hose or regular hose? At what settings for either?

With the heated hose the humidity being delivered wouldn't change but with a regular hose it might.
Have you just recently turned the furnace on?

[Bay50]

I have this problem too. Some of the remedies I try include: I use a humidifier with a climateline and adjust the heat. I have a hot drink (tea) before I get ready for bed--think steam. If that doesn't work, I try a Hall's lozenge with menthol. I also use two pillows and add more and prop myself up with them and sleep on an incline until the nose clears. One or all of these usually works.

[Seattleboy49]

I have a heated tube and at first I was keeping it on 2, but then brought it down to 1 as I heard higher levels can irritate sinusitis which I have.

I am thinking tonight I might put some Vicks vapor rub on my nose. I have been trying a new mask of late, the F&P eson nasal mask, so I could put some of the rub right under my nose without it rubbing off. Has anyone tried this?

How about putting some kind of decongestant directly into the humidifier water?

[zoocrewphoto]

I have a heated tube and at first I was keeping it on 2, but then brought it down to 1 as I heard higher levels can irritate sinusitis which I have.

I am thinking tonight I might put some Vicks vapor rub on my nose. I have been trying a new mask of late, the F&P eson nasal mask, so I could put some of the rub right under my nose without it rubbing off. Has anyone tried this?

How about putting some kind of decongestant directly into the humidifier water?

Don't put anything directly in the water.

I haven't tried to use the vicks directly on my nose at night, though I don't see any reason not to. I have use the vicks inhaler before bed, and that has helped.

[Pugsy]

How about putting some kind of decongestant directly into the humidifier water?

Not recommended that we add anything to the water tank.
While I don't think that particles could hitch a ride on the water vapor...at the minimum it will make a cleaning up mess...especially if someone adds some that contains some sort of oil.
What you can do is put some sort or aromatherapy oil on a cotton ball and set it right outside the air intake...that way you will be able to move it away if the aroma is too strong if you use too much.

Products like this work well.
This one happens to be specially formulated to help open the nasal passages.
https://www.cpap.com/productpage/cpap-a ... aster.html
They make other scents. https://www.cpap.com/cpap-comfort-clean ... herapy.php

Plus you can get some essential oils in your favorite scent from some other source if you like. I happen to like floral myself. Nothing like going to sleep smelling Magnolia trees....

[echo]

Products like this work well.
This one happens to be specially formulated to help open the nasal passages.
https://www.cpap.com/productpage/cpap-a ... aster.html

Mmmm yes Clear is my favorite!

For me, a neti pot helps. Taking Vit D also helps.

Do you use a fine-filter with your machine? That makes a huge difference for me. I can tell it's time to change the filter when I get stuffy after putting on the mask.
https://www.cpap.com/productpage/pr-sys ... -pack.html