New user - how to combat stuffy nose?

[joemomma]

Hey gang, new CPAP user here. I've had my AirSense10 for about a month. I need some help with my setup though - I'm getting a stuffy nose that is waking me up towards the morning time, a few hours before I get up. When I first lay down, everything is great. I sleep fantastic. But, in the early morning, I'm waking up with a stuffy nose - enough that it's waking me up. It's not every morning, but just about. I'm using the built in humidity - I have turned it down from the initial setting of '4' to '3', as I was getting some condensation in my nose mask. I also thought maybe the heat in the tube was too high - my supplier had it set to 81 degrees, and I've turned it down to 77 degrees. Any other ideas on what to check?

[Pugsy]

Did reducing the humidity from 4 to 3 help with the congestion or not?

Google "cpap rhinitis"

[joemomma]

I didn't really notice much improvement in my breathing with dropping the humidity level down, although it did improve the condensation. Most nights I don't get any, but I have noticed some a couple nights. I might need to drop it down another notch?

[zonker]

in case the humidity adjustment doesn't work, you may want to try an otc product called flonase. should be available at your local drugstore or grocery store.

if you happen to be a costco member, they have their own kirkland brand generic equivalent which of course is cheaper. plus i think actually works better than flonase.

good luck!

[babydinosnoreless]

I grew up in the desert southwest and have always lived in dry climates. Lots of people swear by the humidity but anything over 2 gives me a stuffy nose.

When I first got it, I was ready to toss the humidity tank out the window. I couldn't figure out how I was getting rainout in Phoenix, turned my humidity down but was still having a problem. Had my hose turned as hot as I could stand it and would wake up with a wet face. (Began to think I was drooling or something) Finally against all advice turned my hose temp down. Don't know why but it worked but rainout stopped. I keep my hose temp the same as my room temp.

[joemomma]

I had a great sleep last night, not sure what the difference was. I am using the prescription Flonase nasal spray already, doc prescribed it during my last head cold/ear infection a month or so ago.

[zonker]

I had a great sleep last night, not sure what the difference was. I am using the prescription Flonase nasal spray already, doc prescribed it during my last head cold/ear infection a month or so ago.

good work! (whatever that "work" may have been.)

as you press on in your journey, you'll find that we don't necessarily sleep the same way each night. i'm not saying that to be a debbie downer. i just wanted to put that out there, in case your next night isn't so good.

any chance of using sleepyhead software and posting some graphs?

good luck!

[nicholasjh1]

Hey gang, new CPAP user here. I've had my AirSense10 for about a month. I need some help with my setup though - I'm getting a stuffy nose that is waking me up towards the morning time, a few hours before I get up. When I first lay down, everything is great. I sleep fantastic. But, in the early morning, I'm waking up with a stuffy nose - enough that it's waking me up. It's not every morning, but just about. I'm using the built in humidity - I have turned it down from the initial setting of '4' to '3', as I was getting some condensation in my nose mask. I also thought maybe the heat in the tube was too high - my supplier had it set to 81 degrees, and I've turned it down to 77 degrees. Any other ideas on what to check?

YMMV, I live in a dry climate, so pumping up the humidity to 8 and heat to around 10 degrees above ambient temperature has helped me. I also increase pressure when my nose gets stuffy, but in a humid climate of course it may be way different. 8 is still almost "too dry" in my dry mountain air.

[joemomma]

I don't have Sleepy Head, but will look into it.

I live in middle Tennessee, so it's generally pretty humid for most of the year here (not so much in the winter, however).

[charlie1]

You could also try "Aromatherapy". Go to Cpap.com and under "comfort and Cleaning" and then to "Aromatherapy". Look for "Sinus Blaster". I have been using it for about a year now and have told others about it and they like it. It has worked for me. It smells good and my wife likes the smell also. You put the oil on a felt wafer and sit it in front of your machines air intake, don't add it to humidifier.