Feeling stuffy again

NyNurse33 · Post by **NyNurse33** » Sat Sep 23, 2006 8:55 am

I just got over a cold on Thursday, but today I woke up feeling stuffy again. Any chance this is from cpap therapy. I have my humidity setting on 4 which on my machine is the only setting where you can actually feel the warm air. Maybe warm air is not good, but it seems to better with nasal pillow interfaces. I can't really think it is from cpap, b/c I have been using cpap since the 2nd week of August and this is the first cold I got. I don't feel half as bad as I did this past week, so that's a good thing. Maybe I'll be consistent with my flonase and saline spray for a couple of weeks.

DreamStalker · Post by **DreamStalker** » Sat Sep 23, 2006 9:22 am

I remember when I was a very young sickly kid, my mom used to use melt a dab of Vicks in water to place into a humidifier next to my bed for me to sleep at night.

Now I don't think you shoud put Vicks into your CPAP humidifier, but maybe leaving the jar open near the CPAP air intake. You would need to do a trial and error for yourself to adjust the strength ... just a wild thought so you need to ask your PCP to see if he/she approves.

- roberto

NyNurse33 · Post by **NyNurse33** » Sat Sep 23, 2006 9:25 am

ahh...good old vicks! My mom used to do put a dab in the vaporizer too. I still use it faithfully on me and my kids. Its a thought.

kavanaugh1950 · Post by **kavanaugh1950** » Sat Sep 23, 2006 9:30 am

melissa, are you sure it isn't allergies? I know the ragweed is out where I live and I have ben very stuffy! I always put some vicks under my nose before I put on y umff mask and it really helps a lot. pat

NyNurse33 · Post by **NyNurse33** » Sat Sep 23, 2006 9:35 am

I say I'm sure, b/c I went to an Allergist 2 years ago and had the whole skin test. This was how I got started with learning I had OSA, I went b/c of frequent headaches and lethargy, thought maybe it was allergies. The only thing I had a reaction to was dust mites and juniper (???). Well dust mites fine, but I do the same amount of cleaning all round year, so I doubt its allergies. Every September when my kids go back to school, they get a cold and sometimes I get it too. Another good idea with Vicks, thanks. I'm feeling better right now, just woke up initially with the stuffy nose, but definetly not like this past week. I couldn't smell or taste anything and couldn't wear my mask.

Gerald · Post by **Gerald** » Sat Sep 23, 2006 9:51 am

I've installed the fine filter just rear of the standard filter on my APAP to catch any dust mite debris....plus I've been experimenting with salt water rinses for my sinus passages. Do a little research on what's called a "netti pot" and you'll develop a system that might work for you.

My original problem seemed to be a thick sinus drainage that stopped up my air passage at night.

With the salt rinses...and higher filtration, I'm seeing pressure readings of between 6 and 7 on the APAP. I'm running the humidity setting on "2" and that seems to be just enough to produce only a minimal amount of "rainout".

I'm much more rested....and my blood pressure readings are going down.

Some of the above might help......

Snoredog · Post by **Snoredog** » Sat Sep 23, 2006 10:36 am

It is NOT just a saline "spray" you want to use, you should consider the saline rhino rinse with the Netti pot or baby ear aspirator, used regularly it will work better than any drug even the flonase.

Using the rhino rinse flushes out all the allergens that accumulate in the nasal passages which cause the congestion. When you flush those allergens out the congestion goes away.

Used every evening when you first start out then every other day then only 1-2 times per week is all that is needed. After while it takes less time than brushing one's teeth.

Humidifier: too much moisture causes the turbinates to swell to reduce the amount of incoming humidification entering the nasal passage. Turn down the humidifier. If you want warmer incoming air consider the Aussie heated hose. It will warm the incoming air without adding too much moisture allowing the turbinates to shrink back to normal relieving congestion.

justplainbill · Post by **justplainbill** » Sat Sep 23, 2006 10:59 am

Just to add to the last part of Snoredog's message, my understanding is that you should be using the lowest humidifier setting you can attain without waking up with dry throat (actually this may vary a bit from night to night so you want the lowest level of humidity where you consistently not wake up with dry throat). At this setting, in my experience, you probably will not feel warm air.

This being said, I cannot guarantee that this is behind your current problem. I do sometimes wake up with a sensation of moiture in may nose and sinuses, sort of like a cold or sinus problem but different. I do associate this in my case with moisture in my nose piece either from the humidifier or bacause I have not thoroughly dried out my nose piece between uses (which I will know because I will detect the moisture when I first start out at night).

Best wishes that this will clear up for you,
Bill

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NyNurse33 · Post by **NyNurse33** » Sat Sep 23, 2006 3:15 pm

Thanks snoredog and the rest of you for some really good advice. I will look into the rinses.

Jere · Post by **Jere** » Sun Sep 24, 2006 4:34 pm

One more idea to throw out there in the same vein as sinus rinsing.

I use a waterpik with a nasal tip (got on the internet). I make my own saline solution (quart of water - boiled - with two teaspoons of salt). I use about 6 oz at a time using a low setting on the waterpik. This has done a wonderful job of keeping my sinuses clear (and has cut down the number of sinus infection I get).

Good luck!