First Week on CPAP - Stuffed Nose

My nasal passages get restricted during therapy. Its like a stuffed nose but there is no mucus. It clears up in about 30-60 minutes after therapy stops. Last night I had to discontinue therapy early in the morning before I was ready to get up. What can I do about this.
( My AHI was 31 during the sleep lab with no central apnea. Last night my AHI was 1.1 , no obstructive, and the balance mostly central all with a duration of less than 17 seconds)

What is your humidifier setting?
Maybe it needs to be more or maybe less.
Google cpap rhinitis and you will see what I mean.
Are you using the Climateline heated hose or the non heated hose.

Humidity needs are very individual...too much and too little can both cause congestion and you just have to figure out which way it goes for your nose.
I usually tell people that if they are using an already low setting the try increasing the humidity.
If already using a higher setting then try decreasing.
If using a middle of the road setting...toss a coin.

Pugsy
Thanks for the reply. Your Google suggestion led me to a lot of interesting information. (PS I don't yet have a humidifier)

Reuven Gruber wrote:PS I don't yet have a humidifier

AHHH....That could very well be the main problem.
While I know that there are people who do just fine without a humidifier at all...most people will need a little bit of moisture to help with the drying effects of that air blowing up your nose. Some people like me...need more than just a little moisture.

If you can't get a humidifier immediately...you might try adding more moisture to the bedroom air if you can.
You might also try using some generous squirts of something like Simply Saline right before bedtime to help sort of rehydrate the nasal mucosa and maybe it might help them from getting so dry...sure wouldn't hurt.

If your insurance or DME doesn't/won't pay for a humidifier for your S9...I think I have a spare I could let go of for $50 plus shipping. I picked up a couple of spares locally from people who baled on cpap therapy and returned the machines after a week but weren't allowed to return the humidifier.
The $50 is what I have in them. Not trying to make money...just can't afford to lose money.
I might even have a ClimateLine hose I could throw in for free. It was donated and I need to check it out to make sure it works and doesn't have any holes in it....at least I think I have one. Let me know if you are interested and I will look further.

Pugsy

Thanks for the offer but the problem is that the trial (loaner) machine that they gave me doesn't have a humidifier. When I get my own machine (and pay the co-payment) then I can get a humidifier

Okay then.
Didn't realize this is a trial machine. I wish these places wouldn't do that...dispense a machine without the humidifier...it possibly could make or break the therapy and a person might never know that things could maybe go a lot smoother with just a little added moisture.
You need to be able to trial the entire setup...not just half of the setup and the half that potentially dry nasal mucosa could be a result.

So about all we can offer is that the stuffy nose could very well simply be from the nasal mucosa getting too dry from the air blowing into the nose and adding a humidifier should remedy the situation.

I don't use the built in humidifier. It''s too much trouble to keep clean.
I do use a saline nasal spray,, ...and Afrin when it really gets stuffy. ENT's hate Afrin. But they use it to open up the nose so they can get their pair of pliers and flashlight up there to get a look see. During the Winter when the heat is on, I use a Vick vaporizer near the bed.