High Pressure contributing to Congestion?

I've had my system since 1/10, xpap pressure set at 17 C-Flex set at 3. The morning after I feel like I've got a head cold and feel worse. I've noticed that I have daytime congestion after therapy. I can reduce the feeling of congestion by taking an anti-inflammatory OTC (ibuprofen). I'm using an EasyLife Nasal Mask, it seems to seal ok, but the last two nights I can tell I've been mouth breathing as the dry mouth has been waking me up. I have the humidity set at 4 (goes to 5), last night the air still seems to be cool on my nose.

I've been attempting to keep my mouth shut by putting my tongue up on the top of my mouth, but my mouth still fills with air that needs to be exhaled. This is all very disruptive. Sorry but at this time the thought of taping my mouth shut doesn't appeal, as I fear I would swallow the air, and I don't want to do that.

I think I'm going to try a ff mask, this may help reduce the pressure going into my nose, I'm not sure. Other accessories I've got on my list is a longer hose, a hose hanger and hose cover. Hoping the longer hose and hanger will help me not worry about the hose so much, and remove the feeling that it's pulling on the mask. The cover to help with the warmth of the air.

I am concerned because my sinuses are also bleeding some and that's new. I have started using a sinus rinse as well, have seen some improvement in the sinuses, but it's the congestion that's getting to me. No, I've never used any sinus sprays. I do see my doctor (PCP) next week for something else, I'm going to ask her for a referral (though I don't have to have one for my insurance) to an ENT to check things out. I've always had issues with my sinuses, I sleep on one side and that side gets congested, turn over to the other side, and I can feel the congestion move to the other side. Having been reading about turbinates and such, I think I need to see an ENT.

Here's to ongoing therapy

Yeah, that's a pretty significant amount of pressure to deal with.
In many cases, too much humidity can exacerbate nasal congestion. You might try it at a lower setting or even Off ("passover").
Doing nasal cleansing before bedtime is a "must" for most of us.

Early on, I found that having clear nasal passages before going to bed and using the "passover" mode (water but no heat) has helped me to breathe through my nose at night.


Den

Wulfman... wrote:Yeah, that's a pretty significant amount of pressure to deal with.
In many cases, too much humidity can exacerbate nasal congestion. You might try it at a lower setting or even Off ("passover").
Doing nasal cleansing before bedtime is a "must" for most of us.

Early on, I found that having clear nasal passages before going to bed and using the "passover" mode (water but no heat) has helped me to breathe through my nose at night.


Den

Yes, I do the "cleansing" in the evening about 2 hours before bedtime, and I upped my humidity from 3 to 4 because of the bleeding/dryness of my sinuses, but I can lower it and see what happens. My room temperature is 68 while sleeping, hubby already sleeps mostly on top of the covers at that temp! I would have thought that the warmer humidified air would be better for my sinuses. I can breathe at that pressure because I think it pushes through whatever, but when I take the mask off in the morning is when the congestion is at its worse and I fight with it all day, feeling like I have a cold.