closed nasal passages

Does anyone have any insight as to why the Airsense 10 doesn't keep my nasal passages open, while the REMSTAR Plus M series did?

I've been using cpap for 11 years. My HMO recently switched me from my old REMstar Plus M series (which I was very happy with) to an Airsense 10. I'm using the same headgear, nasal pillows (Opus) and air pressure. The only difference is narrower tubing with the new machine.

I have narrow nasal passages that close up when I lie down and often get stuffy (day or night). Using a CPAP with nasal pillows solved this problem, as the air pressure opened up my nasal passages and kept them open. When I could not breathe through my nose before bed, I looked forward to going to bed, because I could always breathe easily once I had my cpap on. At least I could with the REMstar Plus M series.

With my new Airsense 10, I now have to wear Breathe-Right nasal strips every night, and often that isn't enough -- I've had to use Afrin some nights, and sometimes went without sleep because I was too alert and anxious to fall asleep after trying too hard to breathe with the cpap. This is very discouraging, because I've become very sleep-deprived since using the new machine (which originally was set too high and had the Expiratory Pressure Relief turned off, and which also coincided with my getting off of clonazepam after 10+ years).

Some in this forum have recommended Flonase -- I used to use this before I got a cpap machine, and it didn't work for me.

Thanks in advance!

What was your humidity setting on the M Series machines and now on the AirSense machine?

I don't use humidification. (When I tried it on my old machine, the steam turned to water in my nostrils -- possibly because I had turbinate surgery years ago). I decided today to apply a nasal saline gel before bed tonight to see it that helps.

Pugsy wrote: ↑

Fri Nov 01, 2019 4:56 pm

What was your humidity setting on the M Series machines and now on the AirSense machine?

So you changed meds at the same time you changed machines? Specifically, you stopped taking a benzodiazepine that you had been taking for 11 years?

First of all, Afrin is evil. The rebound congestion is brutal!!!

I like Xlear Max (with capsaicin) , or to really open things up, Capsinol Original Formula.

Humidity helps, but yes too much can be worse.

Flex is not the same as EPR. What was your Flex setting?

When you got your ResMed, I hope you kept your REMStar.

If you did there's a couple thing to try.

Get the exact settings from it:

• Mode
• Pressure (or range)
• Flex setting
• etc

And then hope somebody that has experience with both, (AKA Pugsy) can help you dial-in the settings as close as possible on the ResMed to that of your REMStar.

Or:
Fire up the REMStar again, and see if your problems go away.

I don't believe your issues were brought on by a simple machine switch. It could be coincidental, your medicine change, or time to consider needing humidity.

You did say the with the new machine, was set to high. Perhaps now, your pressure is higher than your REMStar, which means more airflow, which means drier passages.

Thanks, ragtopcircus! I'm going to look for those products you recommend. Saline gel has helped to moisturize, and I've realized that very dry nasal passages were giving me the feeling of being clogged. However, last night I woke and my left nostril was completely closed up and I couldn't get it open again, so I ended up using Afrin in just that nostril. (Yes, I know it's evil; when I was growing up, my dad was addicted to nasal spray. I avoid it as much as possible. The left nostril is the one necessary for sleep and deep relaxation, so it was important to me to open it.)

I'll look into the other suggestions later; right now I have to go to work.

ragtopcircus wrote: ↑

Fri Nov 01, 2019 6:56 pm

First of all, Afrin is evil. The rebound congestion is brutal!!!

Long-term use is likely not good. Afrin can be great for short-term use. If rebound congestion develops, just discontinue in one nostril for a few nights while breathing through the other nostril. After rebound congestion is gone from the first nostril, discontinue Afrin totally, and the second nostril will soon clear.

ragtopcircus wrote: ↑

Fri Nov 01, 2019 6:56 pm

I like Xlear Max (with capsaicin) , or to really open things up, Capsinol Original Formula.

I like the occasional use of capsaicin nasal sprays. But, these products have never been tested for long-term usage (or even for short-term usage). They might cause permanent mucous membrane damage if used long-term.

TryingHard2Sleep wrote: ↑

Thu Nov 07, 2019 1:01 pm

. The left nostril is the one necessary for sleep and deep relaxation, so it was important to me to open it.)

What kind of rampant quackery is this?

palerider wrote: ↑

Thu Nov 07, 2019 2:03 pm

TryingHard2Sleep wrote: ↑

Thu Nov 07, 2019 1:01 pm

. The left nostril is the one necessary for sleep and deep relaxation, so it was important to me to open it.)

What kind of rampant quackery is this?

if you insist on talking like this, i'm going to request you start wearing a monocle.

maybe even a top hat.

zonker wrote: ↑

Thu Nov 07, 2019 2:07 pm

if you insist on talking like this, i'm going to request you start wearing a monocle.

maybe even a top hat.

PR is ahead of your game.

palerider wrote: ↑

Thu Nov 07, 2019 2:03 pm

What kind of rampant quackery is this?

The yoga type.

ChicagoGranny wrote: ↑

Thu Nov 07, 2019 2:20 pm

palerider wrote: ↑

Thu Nov 07, 2019 2:03 pm

What kind of rampant quackery is this?

The yoga type.

This is obviously from people who haven't studied anatomy... eh?

Does reading The Illiac and the Odyssey qualify?

Kama Sutra?

JPB