airsense 10 and sinus pain

[Vajrabell]

I am trying a new Airsense 10 auto cpap that I bought and set up myself. In many ways I prefer it to the Dreamstation auto cpap. I like that the screen faces me instead of away and the algorithm works fine for me. And despite the official claims it's definitely quieter than my Dreamstation. But it burns my sinus passages fiercely. I started with a regular hose and humidity set to 4. Then I tried the heated hose on auto. Then the heated hose on manual set first to 4 than 5 than 6. The humidity helped some but the burning was so bad it kept waking me up and wouldn't let me sleep at all soundly. Once off the hose the burning and pain went away so it was clearly from the machine. But it's been every night I've tried it. It just might mean that I can't use this machine but, as I set it up myself I wondered if there was something else that could be causing the trouble. Any ideas what it might be? It was half set when I got it. I think my pressure numbers (7--10) were on the prescription the dr. sent to cpap.com because they were already set. I turned off ramping because I have never used it and didn't really need it. My epr is set to 1. Everything else seems to be on auto except that I took the humidity off auto.

If I can't fix this I'll have to return the machine and go back to the Dreamstation. I'd rather be able to keep and use it but unless I can figure out how to stop the sinus pain I won't be able to.
Thanks for any help you might have.

[Julie]

If your sinuses burn, why are you using a heated hose and why keep turning it up.... unless I'm missing something obvious?

[MrsRinPDX]

It's an old topic, but maybe it has some ideas for you. viewtopic.php?f=1&t=109463&p=1263071&hi ... n#p1263071

[Vajrabell]

I turned up the humidity because I thought that perhaps dryness was causing the pain. I didn't turn up the temp on the heated hose, just the humidity.The problem in having is not so much with congestion but with a dry painful burning sensation. In not getting it on the Dream station only on the airsense 10 so in trying to figure out what is causing it and is there something I can do about it or do just return the machine.
. The thread is interesting but I don't think relevant as it's mostly about a different problem but thanks for trying.

[Julie]

The 'thread' was posted by someone else.

[Pugsy]

Which sinus area feels dry and burning? Frontal sinuses or maxillary sinuses?
https://www.webmd.com/allergies/picture ... -sinuses#1

Or is it the nasal mucosa area inside the nose itself?
People often say sinuses when it's actually the nasal mucosal in the nostrils that they are talking about.

How quickly does this pain come on when you use this machine?

[Vajrabell]

Mostly maxillary. Not the nostrils themselves but the passages going from the nostrils to the maxillary as far as I can tell. And it' s worst on the empty side, not on the more full side although bad on both.
Here's the thing. It only happens on the Airsense 10 and not on the Dreamstation although they have the same pressure and very similar settings. So I want to know what is causing the problem on the Airsense and whether the problem can be fixed on the Airsense or if I just have to keep going with the Dreamstation. I don't understand why with the same pressure and humidity there should be such a difference. Is the difference in algorithm such that it is much harsher? If that's it than there's not much I can do. But is it some other setting that I can adjust?
Thanks.

[Vajrabell]

The pain takes a little while to develop. It's not instantly but maybe noticeable after about 1/2 hr or so.

[gogailg5]

so I would like to help those of you who may be having issue with nasal congestion that you feel only occur during CPAP use.
My issue was so bad, I had to use my inhaler just to breathe and I don't ever have to use it, unless I have an allergic attack brought
on by dust mice or dog dander.
After clean the hose with hot water and vinegar and washing every part....nothing worked. I knew that it was something inside the
machine that was causing my issues.
So I got a small bottle of Chlorhexidine gluconate 2% solution (am in the Peace Corps and it's part of my med kit). I added about 2
tablespoons to the water reservoir and fill the rest with water. I put the reservoir back in the machine, turn it on and force it
to run for 1 hour by closing off the mask.
IT WORKED PERFECTLY....I used my machine that night and no congestion at all.

[ChicagoGranny]

...
Chlorhexidine gluconate 2% solution ...

There really is no reason to run a humidifier tank with this chemical in it. Typical manufacturer's cleaning instructions are:

Wash the tub in warm water using a mild detergent.
Rinse thoroughly in clean water and allow to dry away from direct sunlight.

[chunkyfrog]

I believe the chlorhexidine solution is intended to sanitize questionable water.
Municipal water in most of the US is safe, and needs no additional treatment.
Distilled water is ideal for the tank, if you can get it.
Soap and water is sufficient for cleaning EVERYTHING washable in your cpap system.
Exposing your breathing passages to strong chemicals can be very hazardous.
Do not do that.

[palerider]

I believe the chlorhexidine solution is intended to sanitize questionable water.
Municipal water in most of the US is safe, and needs no additional treatment.
Distilled water is ideal for the tank, if you can get it.
Soap and water is sufficient for cleaning EVERYTHING washable in your cpap system.
Exposing your breathing passages to strong chemicals can be very hazardous.
Do not do that.

It's a topical antiseptic, it's not meant to be ingested.