New to Bipap runny nose

[Rreffner]

About 3 weeks since beginning therapy. Every day I blow my nose a lot. Clear mucous like. Everything else seems okay. Is this normal or should I see a doctor? Thanks

[Julie]

If you've got the humidifier cranked up but local conditions are humid, you're very likely doing it to yourself . Humidifiers are for personal comfort (e.g. in winter when central heat dries everything out, or if you like heated humidity), but you don't have to use it at all if it's counterproductive (and may cause congestion).

[Pugsy]

Actually with the System One humidification system and non heated hose if your area is rather humid the machine may not be adding much moisture at all to the air that is delivered. It doesn't crank out x amount of humidity on top of and irregardless of the ambient room humidity. This is why people come here wondering if their machine's humidifier is working properly...they have it set to maximum of 5 and not using any water to speak of and come to find out it's been raining there lately so the ambient humidity is already pretty high.
The system one machines have an ambient humidity sensor in the machine....and if the ambient humidity is already high the humidifier may not be putting out much moisture depending on the setting.
It can't take 70% ambient humidity and add another 70% (or whatever setting is being used) on top of things.
Instead if the ambient humidity is 70% and the setting on the machine is for 70% then the machine won't add any moisture to the air.

If using a heated hose system (on your System One the long hose will have a black coupling on the end that attaches to the humidifier lid) then the settings work a little differently but not by much. So to give you more specific ideas I would need to know if you are using the heated hose.

Google "cpap rhinits" and you will find that your nasal symptoms aren't uncommon at all.
If you aren't using a humidifier...use one.
Here's the deal about moisture added to the air...some people's nose likes a lot of moisture added and some people's nose don't like much or any. There is no right or wrong to humidity levels...there's only what works for the individual and makes their nose happy.

When the nasal mucosa are irritated by anything the response is pretty much universal which is congestion and/or runny nose. Works the same as a typical allergy response.

So if you are using a humidifier but it is set to a lower setting...try increasing the setting.
If you are using a humidifier but at a higher setting...try a lower setting.
If you are using a middle of the road setting ...toss a coin as to whether to increase or decrease but if playing the odds ..increasing is where most people tend to go.

In the meantime do what you normally would for a runny nose.....saline spray...maybe some decongestants if bad enough. Sometimes it takes a few days for the nasal mucosa to get back to normal after they have been irritated by either too much or not enough humidity.

[Rreffner]

Thanks for the responses. I have not been using the humidifier. I live in North Florida where it is hot and humid in the summer. But, that is outdoors. Maybe I should begin using it?

[Pugsy]

If you are using your air conditioner then your indoor ambient humidity levels are probably considerably lower than your outdoor humidity.
Since you have not been using any added moisture at all then I would suggest that you try using the humidifier at maybe a lower setting to start with.
Ultimately it depends on how dry the air is in your house and how much moisture you nasal mucosa needs to be happy. Something you will need to play around with to see what suits your needs.

[Rreffner]

Thank you. I'll try setting 1 tonight.

[Rreffner]

I ran the humidifier on setting 1 last night. I do believe it helped. Should I try setting 2 tonight or leave it on 1? Last night was the first time using the humidifier.

[Julie]

You've got to decide for yourself what works... experiment.

[Pugsy]

I would try a setting of 2 or even 3. The setting of 1 on the system one machine puts out very, very little added moisture.
I have used a System One machine and even at a setting of 5 (my nose likes lots of moisture) it can come up lacking. The system one humidification mode that these machines default to when the heated hose isn't attached just doesn't put out all that much added moisture no matter what the ambient humidity is.

In the meantime during the day use a lot of something like Simply Saline to help get the nasal mucosa rehydrated and back to normal. It may take a few days for the mucosa to return to normal. For myself it took about 3 days (I once experimented with a low humidity setting with disastrous results) for my mucosa to get back to normal. It was a miserable 3 days...and I get a rude reminder whenever I forget to top off the water chamber and I run out of water and end up using the humidifier with no water. Usually I do it about once every 6 months. I always have Simply Saline around the house for times like that.

[Rreffner]

Thanks everyone for all the good info and suggestions.

[JimP]

One more thought.

Verify that your machine has the filters in it. There should be two stacked in a slot on the back of the machine. Back...not bottom.

Without the filters, you might be pushing dusty air up your nose.

[Rreffner]

Tried setting 2 last night. Great nights sleep. Nose feels fine this morning. I'll try setting 3 tonight.

[Rreffner]

Used setting 3 last night. Everything seems to be working well. I think i'll stay at 3 for awhile. Thanks for ALL the help.