I get sinus/nasal congestion when i don't use the cpap!

[Alaska]

I did a search, but couldn't find anything specific to this issue so i thought i would ask the group. So far it appears to me that one of the benefits of the cpap with heated humidifier is that i rarely get congestion and hardly get colds any more. Almost every time i take a night off i wake up with a stuffy nose. Is it possible that i have some sort of allergy causing difficulty breathing that is interrupting my sleep more than my light apnea. I have been considering switching to a dental device because i travel a heck of a lot for work but I don't want to go back to being stuffed up. I used to get colds all the time before cpap.

Has anyone else had the same experiences, it sounds like most people have just the opposite experience. I asked my doctor and he didn't give me much of a useful reply. If i have allergies, I am unaware of them.

[nanwilson]

So don't go without your cpap.

[Country4ever]

I get the same benefit...........much clearer sinuses and eustachian tubes when I use my cpap. I wonder if, when we don't use it, the pressure in our heads builds up trying to breath around the obstruction and it leads to congestion? I found that clearer sinuses was a really nice "side effect" of using cpap.

[Alaska]

Glad to hear there are others with the same positive side effect. I wonder if one of the main reasons i wasn't sleeping well was the difficulty breathing due to congestion.

It took a while to figure this out, but my wife is pretty restless, i think she is dreaming of playing soccer or something and i haven't invested in a solid bed frame, which is one of our next purchases. I think that may help a lot as well.

[poppi2]

I used to always have stuffy noses and occasional sinus infections.

Since starting CPAP, I've had none of those problems. A great motivation for masking up each night. Earl

[BlackSpinner]

Yes cpap is much better than any over the counter medication for keeping the sinuses clear.

[big_dave]

I got instant relief from chronic sinus problems when I started CPAP three months ago, which lasted until about a month ago when the pollen started bothering me as it does every summer. Then I got hit with the worst sinus problems I have ever had. It took me three weeks to figure out the problem. I was using CPAP without a humidifier, which was OK until the pollen hit. I switched to my backup machine last week and got instant relief by using the humidifier. I also ordered a humidifier for my main machine, and will switch back to my main machine when UPS comes, hopefully tomorrow.

[Country4ever]

Big_Dave.........I'm glad you figured it out. I can't imagine not using a humidifier. It hurts so bad when I don't use it. I'm sure some humidity will help you alot.

[sol]

I've found sinus rinse and the drip dry spray helps
https://www.cpap.com/productpage/neilme ... r-kit.html
https://www.cpap.com/productpage/neilme ... spray.html

[ozze_dollar]

I continue to have blocked nose problems. You guys with S9's...for your humidifier,do you set it on auto or manual. What setting do you use. Mine has o to 6.
I am experimenting increasing each night.

[sol]

You guys with S9's...for your humidifier,do you set it on auto or manual. What setting do you use. Mine has o to 6.
I am experimenting increasing each night.

The auto or manual apply to the climate control using the climate line otherwise 0 to 6 is the humidity setting using the slimline.
I use the climate control on auto at 25C

[ozze_dollar]

You guys with S9's...for your humidifier,do you set it on auto or manual. What setting do you use. Mine has o to 6.
I am experimenting increasing each night.

The auto or manual apply to the climate control using the climate line otherwise 0 to 6 is the humidity setting using the slimline.
I use the climate control on auto at 25C

I used to do exactly that but I am not happy with it. I have increased my climate control to 27 deg and I am testing higher humidity.Tonight I will try 4.5

[ozze_dollar]

Went to sleep last night with the hunidity set at 5.0. Woke up in the morning with the worst sinus problem I have had for years. Back to square one.
I will probably put it back on auto.

[BadBreath]

I have always used nasal pillows, but initially I also bought a full face mask in case of colds or stuffy nose. Never had to use it. In five years of treatment I have never had a stuffy nose or cold. I have allergies, but they don't bother me anymore either. Sometimes I have a runny nose in the morning, cleared by one good blow. I think the key is nasal pillows.

[ozze_dollar]

I have always used nasal pillows, but initially I also bought a full face mask in case of colds or stuffy nose. Never had to use it. In five years of treatment I have never had a stuffy nose or cold. I have allergies, but they don't bother me anymore either. Sometimes I have a runny nose in the morning, cleared by one good blow. I think the key is nasal pillows.

Interesting. I often use nasal pillows but when my sinus starts to play up I switch back to mirage softgel. Its winter here in Australia,I am not looking forward to spring.