Partners sinus problem.

[Bekfawcett]

Hi. I'm new to this group.
My husband started his CPAP treatment about 6 weeks ago and after a really shaky start he seems to be getting used to it. We had leaks etc in the beginning but its getting better. He has the mask that covers his nose and mouth and seems to be able to sleep most of the night now. His OSA is severe with the monitor recording him stopping breathing between 55 and 60 times an hour for around 26 seconds at a time.
I have a bizzare question for the husbands or wives of other CPAP users......I have had severe nasal congestion for the last 4 weeks. I had a 5 day course of antibiotics which havnt worked so my Doctor has prescribed me another 14 day course straight away. Is any other sleep partner having any problems or is this just a big coincidence? I just wondered if my husbands CPAP is dring out the air in the bedroom. I don't want him to feel bad, I just want to know if anyone else has had any issues.
Thanks

[Starlette]

First, I would go into the "User Control Panel" located at the top left of your screen and fill out information related to mask, machine,etc. so we know what he's set up with and will us help you.

Second, one recommendation is to raise the humidity up a notch to help get more moisture during this time. This has helped me when I've had sinus issues.

Starlette

[ButtermilkBuoy]

I have had severe nasal congestion for the last 4 weeks.

Your nose has seen the attention your husband's nose is getting and is acting up to get attention, maybe?

I am so sorry but it seems strange. What humidifier setting is your husband using? Maybe he has it set up high and the moist exhaust from the mask vents is blowing on your face??

[Pugsy]

It's unlikely that his cpap use has sucked moisture out of the air that you are breathing. The machine doesn't work that way. If it did we wouldn't be needing to add water to our humidifier tanks.

It could just be a coincidence that you are having the nasal congestion issues at the same time he has begun cpap therapy.
Might also just be a regular old sinus bug. Might be something related to your general room humidity which would depend on where you live and is it cold there and do you use a furnace which might dry your whole house room air out more than usual or maybe just the added usual particles that furnaces add to the air when in use.

In addition to the RX meds your doctor has advised you might do the usual stuff that we do for congestion...saline rinses or neti pot or oral decongestants or the RX med spray like Flonase. Treatment depends on the cause but his using the cpap machine isn't the culprit. All the machine does is suck in whatever room air is available and then add the extra water from the humidifier tank. There's nothing in it to remove or add anything to the general room air.

[Bekfawcett]

No I don't think my nose it trying to get attention. I'm just wondering if his machine dries the air in the room. It isn't blowing in my face as I only sleep facing the other way now for that reason. It's probably just a big coincidence like I said but I'm trying to look after him and work two jobs at the same time so can't afford to be ill.

[Bekfawcett]

Thanks Pugsy.
It's cold here so we ave a small electric oil filled radiator on overnight sometimes to stop his machine generating condensation. We are in the UK so we don't use a furnace, we have a gas fired combi boiler and radiators. Like I said, it must just be a coincidence. It's just that I've had it for four weeks already so wondered if it was something to do with the aching.

[Pugsy]

It's cold here so we ave a small electric oil filled radiator on overnight sometimes to stop his machine generating condensation.

I would imagine that if that little radiator is helping with his condensation that it is also probably drying out the air that you are breathing. When my nasal mucosa get dried out they swell up and I get congested pretty badly. When I lived out in Las Vegas I was all the time fighting nasal congestion feeling.
Try adding something like simply saline to your daily routine. Pretty much just saline water...even now I use it every night before bed and first thing in the morning. It's weird but the nasal mucosa respond to drying out by swelling up and that is what causes the congestion. We would tend to think that if they dry out they would shrink but they don't...they swell up trying to hold on to as much moisture as they can. When they swell up it blocks the air flow and we can't breathe easily and feel like crap.

[Bekfawcett]

Thanks Pugsy. That's really helpful. I've got some saline spray, I will give it a go. It's driving me nuts at the moment.

[BlackSpinner]

Thanks Pugsy.
It's cold here so we ave a small electric oil filled radiator on overnight sometimes to stop his machine generating condensation. We are in the UK so we don't use a furnace, we have a gas fired combi boiler and radiators. Like I said, it must just be a coincidence. It's just that I've had it for four weeks already so wondered if it was something to do with the aching.

Try putting a pot of warm (NOT hot) water on top of the radiator at night. Heating can suck the water right out of the air. If it helps you may want to invest in a room humidifier. Be sure to clean the water very regularly as bacteria love warm water.

[chunkyfrog]

Have you ruled out a "new" allergy?
Maybe something different in the air, room, or getting (awk!) --older!

[Bekfawcett]

Hi chunky frog.
I've stopped letting the dog upstairs in case it was an allergy as its worse at night. Also didn't want her near husband machine INCASE she chewed it! Lol. I'm hoping it passes. There are a lot of things going around at the moment but its just the length of time I've had it that made me start to wonder. Seem to have established it can't be anything to do with air change due to the machine so it must just be me. Husband seems to be starting with something tonight too. So many bugs and viruses going around and not everyone disinfects their hands as well as we do so aybe we picked something up. Thanks for all your help guys.

[-tim]

The CPAP won't dry out the air at all. It can increase the humidity slightly. It could be stirring up dust mites or providing them enough moister to increase their number or just blowing their dander around (the dust mites aren't the problem, its their leftovers). It could be moving pollen or mould spores around the room as well. A CPAP machine does move about 10 times as much air around as a normal breathing person.

Do you have thermometer that tells you relative humidity? Many of the low cost digital ones will show you that. You want your bed room humidity below 50% and some people like 30% or less. Your heating system won't dry out the air but if you have an indoor boiler, there is a chance that is causing your humidity to go way up. Drying closets (or whatever they are called) also can be a source of very high moisture. Cooking without venting outside can also be very bad for trying to control humidity.

I would start by cleaning the bedding with hot water and use a clothes dryer as well and do that every few days and see if things improve. If they do, the NHS has some advice for people with asthma that is useful to remove triggers and is UK specific and includes things like how to care for bedding and toys and other things. If I remember the UK terminology correctly, the asthma triggers aren't likely to cause you problems but the asthma irritants are the things that can be related to sinus related problems. -- unless you have allergies.

[Bekfawcett]

Thanks. I boil the bedding once a week but you have answered my question about wether the CPAP may be affecting me by saying the machine moves around ten times as much air. That's what I was more or less wondering although others seem to scoff the idea. It's only been since he started using the machine. I will just have to put up with it.
I've bought a little clock with a humidity thing on it.
Our boiler etc wont affect our upstairs as we have a combi boiler in the kitchen and no drying cupboards etc. also cooker has a hood. We are in the UK and have a large 3 floor house so we are well away from the gas boiler etc. thanks for your help.

[ButtermilkBuoy]

thers seem to scoff the idea

Still scoffing, but I sincerely hope your problem clears up quickly and never returns.

[BlackSpinner]

Thanks. I boil the bedding once a week but you have answered my question about wether the CPAP may be affecting me by saying the machine moves around ten times as much air. That's what I was more or less wondering although others seem to scoff the idea. It's only been since he started using the machine. I will just have to put up with it.

Yes it moves 10 times more air BUT only the air he is breathing, not the entire room air, nothing like a room air conditioner or an air cleaner does or even a tiny fan or a vacuum cleaner.

Like i said, if you are now heating the room it will feel drier. Trust me on this, it is one of the major issues in the Canadian winter, many many people have sinus issues at the beginning of winter due to the dryness caused by heating. You are used to a very moist climate, you have changed the climate in your bedroom.