sinus Congestion Issues

[Pinhead]

I've done a search and didnt find anything related to my issue.

I've been on CPAP for about 15 or so years and have never had any issues with it. Probaly 99.5% complient.

The last two or so years I have suffered for cronic sinus congestion. I started working with and ENT a few months ago he scoped my nose no issues, MRI minor issues and Allergy test no issues. Im going to see him again this week to figuare out the next step. Just wondering if anyone has had similar issues while using CPAP that I should make him aware of.

Thanks

[Pugsy]

Have you played around with the humidity settings to see if that makes any changes in your congestion issues?

If you don't use the cpap machine does it seem to make any change in congestion issues or nothing changes??

[ozij]

As Pugsy said: Humidity settings.
Also: Temperature.

You can control them separately if you go into manual mode.

Machines and humidifiers have changed in the past 15 year. Anything happened two years ago in that area?

[Pinhead]

Pugsy not sure if it changes when I don’t use the machine as I really can’t remember the last time I didn’t use it.. my current humidity setting was 5. Upped it to 8 and will see.

I don’t have a heated hose. I live in Florida didn’t see the need. I currently have a res med 10 which I’ve had maybe 5 years. Also have a resmed travel but have only used it two nights to check it out. We travel a fair amount and really didn’t notice any difference when we were in Arizona this summer.

It stays the same thoughout the day.

Thanks just trying to see if there’s anything I can discuss with the Dr. This week

[Pugsy]

Your congestion may be totally unrelated to anything that has to do with cpap use. We just don't know but there is a chance it might be related to humidity.

Google "vasomotor rhinitis"....tough diagnosis to make and treat.
Treatment is usually hit or miss trying different things to see if they help or not.
I don't know that this is what is going on with you but it is possible.

[Pinhead]

I really didn’t think it had anything to do with Cpap but thought I would ask. Reading information on Vasomotor Rhintis now thanks. That’s what the tech who did the allergy test mentioned also. However she didn’t know much about it.

Thanks again for the information

[KrisCrossed]

TL;DR a form of migraine can cause swelling and muscle tension in the sinus/ear area and muscles of the throat--generally one-sided--that makes CPAP therapy challenging.

As Pugsy said, your congestion might be unrelated to CPAP. I struggled with sinus congestion on CPAP and it was torment. As a new user I came to this forum to see if I could find a way to get CPAP to work--some nights my scores would skyrocket and I felt worse than before (heart issues, shortness of breath, brain fog). Most nights my scores were in the range of AHI 6-12 with daily nasal lavage & prescription decongestant sprays. I truly felt awful.

My ENT scoped and found minor structural issues. Sampled the tiny bit of discharge from the right and declared I had a sinus infection. 2 rounds of antibiotics plus prednisone. Life on CPAP was much better. Turned out that was an effect of the prednisone and it wore off. Symptoms continued to peak, then ebb, then build up and peak again. Eventually ENT diagnosed those annoying 3 day headaches I had as migraine and I found out that migraine can change form. I had developed vestibular migraine and the congestion was swelling due to the neurological inflammation. That particular swelling, along with increased tension in the muscles of my throat (always on the right side, occasionally both sides) affected my airway.

Migraine is complex but I was able to manage a primary trigger with diet. It took months, but my scores are now averaging about AHI 2.0 with some really great nights. And I no longer have any OSAs (6 months & counting).

Since migraine appears in many forms, I've listed some resources for anyone interested:

Heal Your Headache, by David Buchholz, MD
The Migraine Miracle, by Josh Turknett, MD
Migraine, by Oliver Sacks, MD (this one is a difficult read but illustrates some really bizarre manifestations of migraine)

Best of luck to you.