Congestion with the BPap

I have now been on the BPaP machine for about a year and it has been a lifesaver. I have sinus problems and the machine seems to have made it worse - I heard that you can add Vick's Vapor to the water to help this problem, has anyone ever done this and how much do you use?

Don't add *ANYTHING* to the water!!

Check your humidity settings, also check your EPAP/CFlex settings and adjust those.

My sinus congestion has dramatically IMPROVED with Cpap therapy, so you need to look at your settings, and possibly your mask (trying a different one) first. Secondly would be to look at using an OTC allergy medicine (one that won't cause rebound effects - such as afrin), Vicks, etc.

edcmlong@att.net wrote:... I have now been on the BPaP machine for about a year and it has been a lifesaver. ...

Greetings! Welcome to the forum. You will want to fill out the equipment profile when you get the chance. That will allow us to provide recommendations and thoughts based on your setup. The following link provides more information on this:

wiki/index.php/Registering_Equipment_in_User_Profile

edcmlong@att.net wrote:... I have sinus problems and the machine seems to have made it worse ...

Since you've been at it for a year, you are almost certainly "adjusted" to the pressure by now. So, we need to see what we can do to help improve the situation.

First, as the previous person responded, you sometimes need to adjust the humidity. Sometimes too much humidity is a bad as too little humidity. I live in an area with fairly high relative humidity. So, I often will not use the humidifier.

Also, you might want to check your mask. Some masks press more onto the sinuses in the cheek and alongside the nose. That only makes matters worse.

Sometimes I need a saline nasal spray - but only very rarely (once a month, maybe) - do I use a nasal decongestant.

edcmlong@att.net wrote:... I heard that you can add Vick's Vapor to the water to help this problem, has anyone ever done this and how much do you use?

It might work, but I would not want to do that. The Vick's tends to leave a oily coat. That would end up on the inside of the humidifier, the host and also in me! Yuck!

But then that's me.

Hope this helps.

you can also check out

http://www.pur-sleep.com/products/produ ... category=2

If I turn my humidity on at all, I get stuffy/runny nose once I stop using it.

I still put water in the tank.