Allergies and dry mouth are a real problem

Hi Big S,
It is sooooooooooo good to hear from someone who walks in that shoe! None of my family really realizes how miserable I get at times. It was a comfort to hear from someone who's been there,done that!
I am more fortunate than you I think,I had no allergies at all until about 30 years ago. I didn't have them as a child.I think at this moment I am feeling sorry for myself because i have such a hard time with C-pap and I'm so miserable right now with my allergies.
But, this too will pass,it always does.I just feel right now i cannot stand to sneeze one more time.
Thanks so much!

Thanks for the note sister, appreciated. Besides dryness, how are your allergies inside the gear? Does cpap offer a refuge? do you sneeze inside the mask? mine gave me a place to get away from respiratory type allergies but dryness was hideous. The docs didn't know what to do besides encourage and tell me what a great job I was doing. So like most others on this site, I felt like I was on my own. For me, the dehumidifier would have to go. You're asking a lot of your machine to make up from 35%. If your allergies calm down in the mask, try wearing it during the day when allergies are the worst for you. Not all the time,of course, but just for a break. Did you just move into your house? Why is there animal dander present? Also be aware that if your doc didn't find something that you are allergic to, then it's possible the shots won't help. I always had to seek out the places my allergies were manageable and then spend time at those places. This is the place you want to replicate within the mask, so that when you put it on, you know you can achieve rest from the world outside the mask. Since you have a dryness issue, start with humidity and temperature that is tolerable to you within the mask. If you don't mind the high humidity settings of the machine, keep it high and start to work in bedroom to find the "feel" you are comfortable with. Measure humidity in room and start to raise it and monitor windows and walls to make sure you're not condensing water. you'll be surprised how much better tweaking the cpap humidifier is once you start to control the air entering the little device. With my previous machine, I measured humidity coming into the mask for every setting on it and found variations in humidity as great as 15 percentage points for one setting. It was no wonder some nights were worse than others. Anyway, enough for now, need to find refuge in my mask.....

Big S, you hit the nail right on the head! I have been finding fefuge in the mask! Sometimes when I can't take it anymore,I put on the mask and get relief for a few minutes.Heaven on earth!!!
No,I don't have a new house, it's been 29 years since we built this house. I am very careful to keep it really clean though because of my allergies.
I am allergic to dust,cats and dogs,[though I've never had any] and mold.
I think my allergy dr. just doesn't know what to do with me. I use the neti pot,flonase and saline spray in between.
You mentioned raising the humidity in the bedroom,how do I do that,other than go out and buy a humidifier?
Thanks so much!

I would definitely stay out of houses where these animals live. Dander is one of those substances that gets everywhere because it is in the saliva. They lick their coats and shed just about everywhere. Bummer if you react to it. Don't buy that humidifier just yet. Not until you've eliminated the less expensive options. For me these included trying different sleep positions, eliminating OTC medications that contribute to and promote dryness, using simple saline solutions for nasal hygiene and incorporation of dry mouth mouthwash. These things may lessen the severity of your dry mouth to a tolerable level. Many of these things you are already doing along with the necessary cleaning of house and machine. If they don't help then you might consider something like a humidifier sized for your bedroom and keeping your cpap humidifier set at a level you can stand. Some of the members actually use more than one humidifier with their pap machines but I think this could be a more expensive option. My room humidifier was less than $40 several years ago, and I fill it once a day. All of these things I have mentioned has made donning my mask a more pleasant experience and helped me eliminate dry mouth in my restful place. We are having windows installed over the next day or so, but I'll still be checking out the thread to see what questions I can help with while this is being done. Good luck with this speed bump!

Thanks so much for all your help! Yesterday I opened the window in my bedroom for awhile let some cold air in,it was still dry though,but I slept a little better because it was cold.
Have a good night!

Big S wrote:I would definitely stay out of houses where these animals live. Dander is one of those substances that gets everywhere because it is in the saliva. They lick their coats and shed just about everywhere. Bummer if you react to it. Don't buy that humidifier just yet. Not until you've eliminated the less expensive options. For me these included trying different sleep positions, eliminating OTC medications that contribute to and promote dryness, using simple saline solutions for nasal hygiene and incorporation of dry mouth mouthwash. These things may lessen the severity of your dry mouth to a tolerable level. Many of these things you are already doing along with the necessary cleaning of house and machine. If they don't help then you might consider something like a humidifier sized for your bedroom and keeping your cpap humidifier set at a level you can stand. Some of the members actually use more than one humidifier with their pap machines but I think this could be a more expensive option. My room humidifier was less than $40 several years ago, and I fill it once a day. All of these things I have mentioned has made donning my mask a more pleasant experience and helped me eliminate dry mouth in my restful place. We are having windows installed over the next day or so, but I'll still be checking out the thread to see what questions I can help with while this is being done. Good luck with this speed bump!

Hi Big S,
Wanted to check back in and let you know that I am better and how much I appreciate your help.
I did go out and get that humidifier for my bedroom and it has really helped,along with the humidifier on the machine being wide open.
My dry mouth is much better and my allergies are better,most days.
Thanks again for all your help!

Sister, glad to hear you are doing better and I hope your success continues.

Thanks Big S,
I hope the very same for you! I just 3 nights ago started helping my husband on the road to sleeping better, I think he has apnea too,he has an appointment with my sleep dr. Jan.31st.
GOD BLESS YOU!!!