I'm a hopeless case it seems

I couldn't tell from your original post what type of therapy you use. If you use the autoset mode, then switch to straight cpap mode. If you are in the straight cpap mode, then switch to the autoset mode. Give it least two weeks. Then see if you notice a difference.

Sheriff

Okay, I've been doing some research and I found something called Rhinitis, it sounds like THAT may be the problem. Has anyone had that problem, if so what did you do to resolve it?

To answer some of the questions, I am on straight cpap with a pressure of 9. I use distilled water and change it nightly. I keep the mask clean and use mild detergent and warm water. I have severe OSA I use the allergy filters and the machine was purchased new. I switch between a mask that covers my nose and mouth to one that is called pillows.I had blood work done a few weeks ago and was diagnosed with iron deficiency anemia and I'm taking ferrous sulfate 325mg 2x a day. I notice the problem is much worse when I use the pillows. I switch between the two because for some reason the other mask just starts to be irritating after a few nights. Could it be that the pillows are causing a too direct air flow on my nasal tissues? I think it really may be Rhinitis, any thoughts?

So apparently it is most likely air borne problem. Maybe some type of pollen. You sound like me when I first start this therapy.
Are you using these filters: https://www.cpap.com/productpage/Respir ... -pack.html

They seem to have solved my problems. I got through all of last year using the above filters and NO sinus infection.

I wish you well..

(Allergic) rhinitis is hay fever. Period. So if playing with humidity, keeping the environment and machine filters relatively dust free hasn't helped, a trial of antihistamine might, though I'd possibly try it earlier in the day so the sleepiness factor doesn't affect regular sleep too much - but certainly ask your sleep doctor about it.

the generic claritin (loratadine) is available at walmart for about $5/30day supply and would certainly be worth a try at that price.
you haven't said if your nose runs while wearing the cpap or after it is removed?
if after removing the cpap is the problem it could be you are having a reaction to dust in the air which has been filtered out all nite long.

I don't believe it is caused by any pollens or such and I do use the allergy filters.

I found this article:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2225550/

The article's from 2008, the lab rats were.. rats, and the results said it was possible that Cpap could potentially cause some inflammation. So what? You're not a rat, the study's old (as they go) and it doesn't mean Cpap has caused inflammation(?) in you. If you have hay fever, an antihistamine can help, and clean filters, and if your humidity's too high that can also cause congestion, etc. If you're looking for a reason to not use Cpap, I guess you'll find some, but if you're committed, you'll find ways to make it work. Hopeless? That's a choice, not a sentence.

Google "cpap rhinitis" if you haven't seen the term already.
It's usually associated with humidity...either too little or too much (humidity needs are an individual preference and there is no right or wrong) but sometimes it triggers vasomotor rhinitis that defies figuring out the cause which makes it doubly hard to remedy.

Are you by any chance using a heated hose?

When you were experimenting with humidity levels and including turning it off entirely....was there any setting that offered some sort of improvement at all?

Pugsy wrote:Google "cpap rhinitis" if you haven't seen the term already.
It's usually associated with humidity...either too little or too much (humidity needs are an individual preference and there is no right or wrong) but sometimes it triggers vasomotor rhinitis that defies figuring out the cause which makes it doubly hard to remedy.

Are you by any chance using a heated hose?

When you were experimenting with humidity levels and including turning it off entirely....was there any setting that offered some sort of improvement at all?

Thank you Pugsy for responding. Yes I did google that term and I'm pretty sure that is where my problem lies. I have experimented with no humidity, and every setting in between all with the same outcome. I am using a heated hose and have tried different settings on that as well.

To Julie, I appreciate your responding but to reassure you I am NOT giving up because some 'choice' that I have made nor am I looking for a reason to stop CPAP, I've not even said I was giving up, I was voicing my feelings of hopelessness in regards to my situation. As I have stated before I want it to be successful, that's why I am on here looking for answers and possible solutions to my problem. I realize there are many out there who give up for what ever reason but that's NOT me. I have endured alot and am still trying but ya know after a while you start to think that maybe it's not working in my case. That to me is not by choice, it's by facing the facts that cpap is seemingly a two edged sword for me, I know it can help and possibly save my life but at the same time it's most likely causing a lot of misery in the process, so I have to weigh the quality of my life at the same time and constant sneezing and snot dripping like water out of my nose all day is no fun.I know you mean well but it almost sounds like blaming the victim type thing. I'm sorry, please realize I don't mean to sound disparaging, and forgive me if it comes across that way. But just trying to make you understand were I'm coming from. Again thank you for the input.

So has anyone who has had rhinitis caused by CPAP been able to overcome it in anyway?

I have had the symptoms that you are having but in my case I know that the definite cause was not enough humidity. It happened when I tried a low humidity setting and it has happened over the years when I forgot to add water to the water chamber and run out of water during the night causing me to essentially use the cpap without water for too long. Usually took about 3 days for the nasal mucosa to get halfway back to normal....miserable 3 days though.

The thing is...people can get the same symptoms when too much humidity is used.
That's why I asked if there was some sort of setting where the symptoms maybe weren't so bad.
It it truly is vasomotor rhinitis and nothing helps and everything is bad/makes the symptoms worse...bad situation for sure.

What setting are you using now? How long has it been at this current setting?
Using a heated hose....on automatic or manual?
How many hours of therapy are you averaging each night?
Have you gone for any length of time without cpap just to see if the nasal mucosa got back to normal? If so, how long did it take?
Do you take any meds to help you now with the symptoms?
Do you use something like Simply Saline nasal spray?

I am so sorry you are experiencing these problems. Here is my story very similar; unfortunately (for now) I am a CPAP-drop out. I had finally gotten the settings and masks and hoses and jaw strap correct with CPAP with the help of everyone on here for about 1 year. Then I started having nasal stuffiness all day every day. This was unfortunately attributed to the CPAP mask air rushing through my nose like a hair-dryer as someone stated. The minute I stopped using CPAP, my nasal stuffiness disappeared. I tried high humidity, low humidity, mask cozies, lower pressures, higher pressures, air cleaner in bedroom - you name it. Unfortunately I had to "pick my poison." Either breathe in the daytime through my nose or breathe at night. So I decided to get a MAD dental device from my dentist last week. The jury is still out on this and I do like it better than CPAP. But not sure it is effective. I still wake up as usual several times a night. I will revisit CPAP again as it gets colder in the winter and see if that helps. But as far as your rhinitis from all the air rushing in, I think it just affects everyone differently. I literally could not breathe the next morning through my nose. This happened to me as well. I am sorry it is happening. Have you stuck with it?

I wonder if a total face mask would help with the sensation of rushing air.

I have had allergies before to the point that I would sneeze and have a runny, watery nose for hours during the day, especially during pollen months. ALMOST every morning I was stuffy upon waking. However, I have had very little of that since I started cpap therapy using a nasal pillow. I keep my humidity on 3, since I turned to 4 once and immediately felt water in my nose. I breathe much easier and my nasal passages are better than they have been in years.

Before I would blame the therapy, I would first rule out allergies. You say that you are sure it's not something you are allergic to. Have you been tested? Regardless of what is causing it, wouldn't antihistamines help the symptoms? I would try Clariton or something similar to see if any of those type of drugs would help.

I would rule out something in your bedroom that is getting into your system due to the cpap use, such as molds, hair, dust, etc. Maybe, they are there all the time, but don't get blown into your nose, unless you use cpap. What if you go to a different location, like a friend's house or hotel? Do you have symptoms after using there as well?

For me, it's just the air going into my nose that made me so stuffy every day, to the point, where I was on Mucinex D every single day that I used CPAP.
I am definitely going to revisit CPAP in the winter, however, and hope that this may resolve with more humidity coming out of the air. Could it just be the rushing of the air no matter what directly into your nose? It may be a humidifer issue as well? As my sleep clinician tells me, "some people it's like a duck in water, and others, struggle. Let us know how you are doing.

you can take claritin before bed also