Dust and dust mite allergies with CPAP

General Discussion on any topic relating to CPAP and/or Sleep Apnea.
Im2tired
Posts: 44
Joined: Sat Jun 18, 2005 6:47 pm
Location: Illinois

Dust and dust mite allergies with CPAP

Post by Im2tired » Sun Aug 13, 2006 4:40 pm

After a couple of decades of nasal congestion I was dx'd with allergies to house dust, dust mites, mold and horses. I'm pretty sure I'm allergic to different types of pollen as well but my doctor didn't test me for that because he said there is no way to avoid it and the only treatment other than what I am already doing was allergy shots which are counter indicated because of all the medicine I'm on.

Anyway, I've been on CPAP therapy for a little over a year with less than desirable results. My last allergy dr. gave up and so I tried a couple of ENT's and in November had my turbinates zapped with RF frequency to shrink them. It took a couple of months but eventually I could breath better and had better results with the CPAP. Then started having more days with fatigue. Since I have a number of conditions that could make me tired (type 1 diabetes, hypothyroidism. rheumatoid arhtritis, celiac disease, and of course sleep apnea) it's not easy to say what the problem is.

Usually August is a bad month for me with the ragweed so I decided to try another allergy dr. that a friend had recommended. With the positive test for dust mites he recommended covering my mattress, box spring and pillows with mite proof covering as well as shampooing the rug to get rid of mites.
I bought all the stuff and I'm going to use it but my question is how much will this help when I already breathe through a mask all night? I read about the HEPA filter and white disposable filters and plan to get those as well. I read that someone who was dx'd with mite allergy relief before sleep apnea found that that was most of the cause of his fatigue! Of course I found this hopeful!

I was interested in other people's experience.

Laurie

Guest

Post by Guest » Sun Aug 13, 2006 6:04 pm

i would definately hold up on the carpet shampooing. I have been told shampooing a carpet gives dust mites the moisture they need to really multiply. Allergy sites sell a dust mite powder that might work better for you. If you could remove the carpet from you bedroom and replace with tile, that would be ideal, but maybe not practical for you.

Same goes for the mattress, vacuum well, and use dust mite powder.

As for pillow, an allergy pillow that can be washed in very very hot water is good.

and yes, you aren't breathing all that stuff when your wearing your cpap...a good thing