Nasal congestion

[dh37]

I have an Airsense 10. They started me off with a nasal mask, but I'm a partial mouth breeder, so I moved to a full face mask. I've adapted to CPAP pretty well (been on it for a couple years now).

Throughout my life I've had problems with nasal congestion. In 2013 or so, my wife pushed me to get my nose fixed (turbinectomy, septoplasty IIRC). That's made a pretty big difference.

While I don't think the etiology is predominently allergies, right now I have a flare up that's _probably_ hayfever---fairly sudden onset, 100% congestion. (I say "hayfever" because my impression is that the season is late summer/fall, and I've seen ragweed in my neighborhood.)

It's not pleasant, but I can mostly ignore it (makes eating boring, but I eat too much anyway). The one problem, though, is CPAP. It's less tolerable when I can't breathe through my nose at all. And if I don't position the mask perfectly, the mask tends to pull my mouth shut a bit.

Does anyone have any ideas for mitigation
* For the congestion (maybe nasal steroids...do I do that before bed, or is it more a slow-acting, this-will-take-days-to-help kind of thing?)
* To keep my mouth open more?

TIA,

S

[Dog Slobber]

Try:
- Nasal rinse before bed
- Nasal Steroids such as Flonase
- AntiBacterial Filter to filter pollen

[Julie]

If you use the humidifier at any setting above zero, turn it off altogether and see if that helps - humidity where it's not needed in an already humid location will cause congestion and is not mandatory for Cpap therapy.

[rcobourn]

In order of strength, as needed:

Saline rinse
Saline rinse with baking soda
Xlear (Amazon or Target) (saline with Xylitol)
Xlear Max (Amazon) (saline with capsaicin, look out)
Neo-Synephrine (regular strength)
Afrin (diluted to 50% or less with nasal saline)

Afrin full strength will open your nasal passages like you took a power drill to them, but you can become dependent on it, dilution helps.

I take Flonase (generic from Costco is cheap), and Allegra tablets (also available generic at Costco).

If all else fails, a couple of Benadryl will both open the nasal passages and knock you out.

Some of my issues were related to a blood pressure medication which I have since stopped, and most nights I don't need any of these. Staying better hydrated has also helped.

Good luck.

[Pugsy]

Flonase or those type of nasal steroids aren't fast acting and generally take several days of daily use to help with nasal congestion.

Afrin and those type are fast acting and would be used at bedtime only and only in small amounts and only short term because of the physical dependency potential thing but if only used at bedtime and only in very small amounts....risk is minimal. Just be careful.

Humidity....some people find that more humidity helps with the congestion and some people find that less humidity helps and it's all very individual and it's just something you have to play around with to see if it helps or not to change the humidity settings on the machine.

For seasonal allergy kind of congestion issues using one of the hypoallergenic filters might help since it helps filters out the irritants but if congested before bed...obviously not much immediate help.

For seasonal allergy kinds of congestion I would treat with whatever oral medication seems to help as well as adding in some sort of steroid spray and for emergency use since I also just have to breathe through my nose to sleep...some Afrin at bedtime only. More humidity helps me as well. Often I find I wake up breathing more clearer in the morning than when I went to bed.
The Afrin is only a last resort though. When the oral meds and something like Flonase or Nasocort don't work quite well enough.

Also use something like Simply Saline generously during the day and at bedtime. It helps keep the nasal mucosa hydrated and rinse out the irritants.

[zonker]

pile on for flonase. even better, the generic equivalent at costco, if you are near one and a member.

[Jstanfill]

My doc gave me some nasal spray really helps called
Fluticasone Propionate

[rcobourn]

My doc gave me some nasal spray really helps called
Fluticasone Propionate

That's Flonase.

[chunkyfrog]

Flonase is not so effective for us frogs; but Mucinex nasal spray works like gangbusters.
Ingredients sound a little scary, so we only use it when the clog is intractable.
I think I need to get more--the bullfrog kept my bottle last time I handed it to him.

[joshdog]

I understand, I have had the nasal surgery, RF turbinate treatments twice, been through all the meds listed in this forum. My nose plugs totally up, because of swelling caused by allergies. Only Afrin helped. There is a new treatment that can be done in an ENTs office that burns the nerves that make the nasal passages swell. It has been very successful but It sound dangerous. I have not read any complaints. I am considering it.

Joshdog

[rcobourn]

Flonase is not so effective for us frogs; but Mucinex nasal spray works like gangbusters.
Ingredients sound a little scary, so we only use it when the clog is intractable.
I think I need to get more--the bullfrog kept my bottle last time I handed it to him.

Mucinex is same drug as Afrin, in case one is cheaper.

[migraine-]

There's some evidence that if you take a steroid nasal spray concurrently with one of the decongestant sprays like xylometazoline (afrin) then it prevents the mucosal changes and rebound congestion. There's conflicting evidence about whether taking it only once a day at night helps to reduce rebound congestion or not.

I'm just putting this information out there because it exists, do your own research and discuss with your own doctor before making and decisions on what's right for you.