Can the cpap change my sense of smell?

I have been on my Respironics, system one for several months now. When I am off the machine, during the day, and I inhale, I have a bad smell. If I stay off the machine for a few days, it disappears. I wash the soft pillow nose piece weekly along with the hoses so I don't think that is the proiblem. Can that constant pressure on the nasal membranes damage your sensory things in your nose?

luckyladyky wrote:I have been on my Respironics, system one for several months now. When I am off the machine, during the day, and I inhale, I have a bad smell. If I stay off the machine for a few days, it disappears. I wash the soft pillow nose piece weekly along with the hoses so I don't think that is the proiblem. Can that constant pressure on the nasal membranes damage your sensory things in your nose?

Most people "smell" the air "better" just after getting off the filter humid air provided by your cpap machine. This is NOT a reason to get off your machine. Your sense of smell is the least off your worries unless you happen to be a professional wine or tea taster.

You should maybe try a nasal wash or rinse--you might have some minor sinus infection or something going on in your nasal area. I use the AYR GEL Nasal Rinse system--it is little saline packetts that you mix in warm water and "wash out" each nostril. You can get it at Walgreens, CVS. Walmart etc. Try it and maybe that will help,

DON'T stop your therapy due to this----that is not a good thing to do--LOL!

Carrie

Thanks! I'll try the saline spray and see if that fixes it. And, OK!! I'll not get off the machine anyomore,LOL. Sure is nice to have this support site.

After ~10 months on CPAP, and ~2 months on a hybrid mask that allows me to actually breathe through my nose, I'm noticing all kinds of smells.

Many are good! Like food! I can smell and taste my food! I don't need the salt shaker for everything I eat now.

And my fiance, he smells good too .

But, hmm, I'm noticing some other smells that aren't so good. My sofa smells much more like my dogs than I thought .

My experience has been that the filtered air from the machine makes me very sensitive to the things around me when I wake up and take it off.
Fabric softeners and air fresheners from the day before could seem very strong. After a while the sensitivity decreases.

Your mileage may vary.