Dealing with nasal congestion while using a CPAP machine?

Hi, I recently started using a ResMed Autoset 10 and I was wondering if anyone else has issues with this machine/their own CPAP machine and nasal congestion?

I have always suffered from pretty bad nasal congestion when I sleep, but I feel like it's worse with my CPAP machine. I have a full face mask because I didn't feel comfortable using the nasal masks due to my inability to breathe out of my nose when I sleep. I have read that the humidifier should help with issues concerning dry mouth/throat and with nasal congestion, but I actually feel like the warm air makes breathing more difficult for me. Has anyone experienced this? I was considering using the CPAP without the humidifier or at least using it with cooler air. Can anyone chime in on their experiences/tips on how to deal with nasal congestion or general tips on how to get used to sleeping with the CPAP machine?

Also, I noticed that the default start pressure of 5.0 isn't necessarily the best setting for my breathing. Is there a way to change this without having a physician change it or is it stuck in the range that my physician programmed?

Would love to hear what others have done to adjust!

Here's the Clinical Manual for your machine...All the secrets to making your own setting changes. https://www.respshop.com/manuals/ResMed ... %20her.pdf

When I first started on cpap the warm air seemed to be uncomfortable. Sort of like sitting on the porch at 8pm in the summer here in Houston!

But I found that changes to that temperature would/could cause moisture condensation in the tubing which is most uncomfortable! I became used to it.

Shortly after I switched to a nasal pillows style mask and it doesn't seem to be near as noticeable as it was with the full face. I know you said you cannot use a nasal due to congestion. But I find the air pressure in my nose makes breathing MUCH easier with the mask on and machine on than it is throughout the day with no cpap. The humidity seems to really help with nasal passages in my case.

If local conditions are already relatively humid you may not need added humidity, or at least not at a high setting... I don't always need any at all and others like it all the time... up to you to experiment... more than is needed can cause congestion.

MNsleeplessnights2 wrote: ↑

Fri Dec 28, 2018 2:27 am

Hi, I recently started using a ResMed Autoset 10 and I was wondering if anyone else has issues with this machine/their own CPAP machine and nasal congestion?

welcome to the zoo! one of the things i've found to help with congestion is flonase. it's over the counter medication and can be found at your grocery store in the cold remedy section.

btw, when you get a chance, could you please read this?-

viewtopic/t172378/Sticky--Newbies-PLEAS ... STING.html

there is a lot of info in there regarding how to share some info that the experts here will need to help you out.

good luck!

zonker wrote: ↑

Fri Dec 28, 2018 11:11 am

MNsleeplessnights2 wrote: ↑

Fri Dec 28, 2018 2:27 am

Hi, I recently started using a ResMed Autoset 10 and I was wondering if anyone else has issues with this machine/their own CPAP machine and nasal congestion?

welcome to the zoo! one of the things i've found to help with congestion is flonase. it's over the counter medication and can be found at your grocery store in the cold remedy section.

btw, when you get a chance, could you please read this?-

viewtopic/t172378/Sticky--Newbies-PLEAS ... STING.html

there is a lot of info in there regarding how to share some info that the experts here will need to help you out.

good luck!

Thank you for the tips and thank you for pointing out the newbie sticky. Sorry for not doing my due diligence in setting up my account. I will update my profile accordingly!

Sorry to bump my thread, but I didn't want to start a new thread and flood the board with my posts.

I have read that waking up, while using CPAP, with a dry throat is a sign that the there are leaks present and that the therapy will not be as effective. Does this apply for full face masks that have good seals with minimal/no leaks? I am naturally a mouth breather and my nose tends to get congested despite using the humidifier attachment. If there are no leaks, the CPAP therapy should theoretically be working even if I breathe through my mouth, right?

MNsleeplessnights2 wrote: ↑

Mon Dec 31, 2018 1:29 pm

Thank you for the tips and thank you for pointing out the newbie sticky. Sorry for not doing my due diligence in setting up my account. I will update my profile accordingly!

oh, no need for an apology. after all, you weren't BORN knowing all of this. besides, some new members have reported that the sticky doesn't show up for them. i just like to link it so people can see it.

MNsleeplessnights2 wrote: ↑

Mon Dec 31, 2018 1:35 pm

Sorry to bump my thread, but I didn't want to start a new thread and flood the board with my posts.

I have read that waking up, while using CPAP, with a dry throat is a sign that the there are leaks present and that the therapy will not be as effective. Does this apply for full face masks that have good seals with minimal/no leaks? I am naturally a mouth breather and my nose tends to get congested despite using the humidifier attachment. If there are no leaks, the CPAP therapy should theoretically be working even if I breathe through my mouth, right?

NO! we actually prefer it when a new person keeps to one thread. helps us find the info about you without having to go to separate posts. so, good work on that.

what you've read is true, up to a certain point. it does mean you are leaking. but there is no way to tell if the leaks are TOO much without more info from you. are the leaks waking you up? if not and they are small enough leaks, you may be able to ignore them.

i'll leave it to the experts here to discuss that with you more fully. what i can suggest is something that will lessen the dry mouth until you figure out the cause. i would recommend Xylimelts. these are lozenges that fit between teeth and gum. left overnight, in helps produce saliva. one side is sticky and adheres to the teeth.

these can be found in the oral health section of your local drugstore. they work really well for me.

MNsleeplessnights2 wrote: ↑

Mon Dec 31, 2018 1:35 pm

I have read that waking up, while using CPAP, with a dry throat is a sign that the there are leaks present and that the therapy will not be as effective. Does this apply for full face masks that have good seals with minimal/no leaks? I am naturally a mouth breather and my nose tends to get congested despite using the humidifier attachment. If there are no leaks, the CPAP therapy should theoretically be working even if I breathe through my mouth, right?

The potential loss of therapy pressure through mouth breathing/leaking only really pertains to the people using a nasal interface mask.
When using a full face mask the mouth is part of the circuit so the therapy pressure isn't lost.

Now the dry mouth...that's probably from mouth breathing or maybe you take some medications that can maybe increase dry mouth.
These machines simply can't always provide enough moisture to re-hydrate the oral cavity (the mouth) because they were designed to help with a much smaller cavity (the nasal cavity) because some people just get dry mouth easier than others for any number of reasons.
If you are using a relatively low setting on your humidifier you might be able to reduce the dry mouth somewhat with an increase in the humidity setting but it doesn't always work out so great. That's why you see so many full face mask users here who also use some sort of oral hydrating agent to help with the dry mouth.

Dry mouth is annoying and not good on the teeth...but if you are using a full face mask and your leak numbers are within manageable levels...your sleep apnea therapy isn't compromised.
Now if you were using a nasal mask like I use...we might be having a different discussion.

That is really interesting. I will definitely swing by my local pharmacy and check out Xylimelts and other means of keeping my mouth hydrated while I sleep! It is also reassuring to hear that mouth breathing with a full mask is alright as long as leaks are minimal or not present. Thank you both for your advice. Cheers and Happy New Year!

MNsleeplessnights2 wrote: ↑

Mon Dec 31, 2018 2:12 pm

That is really interesting. I will definitely swing by my local pharmacy and check out Xylimelts and other means of keeping my mouth hydrated while I sleep! It is also reassuring to hear that mouth breathing with a full mask is alright as long as leaks are minimal or not present. Thank you both for your advice. Cheers and Happy New Year!

you are most welcome. please come back to this thread and let us know how it's going!

MNsleeplessnights2 wrote: ↑

Mon Dec 31, 2018 2:12 pm

That is really interesting. I will definitely swing by my local pharmacy and check out Xylimelts and other means of keeping my mouth hydrated while I sleep! It is also reassuring to hear that mouth breathing with a full mask is alright as long as leaks are minimal or not present. Thank you both for your advice. Cheers and Happy New Year!

Just a heads up on "the other means". Xylimelts are special in that one side of the tablet is a glue, and you can stick it in place. My local drug stores didn't carry xylimelts. I wouldn't settle for the other means you may see. They don't have the glue. I had to get my xylimelts from Amazon.

djams wrote: ↑

Mon Dec 31, 2018 4:48 pm

Just a heads up on "the other means". Xylimelts are special in that one side of the tablet is a glue, and you can stick it in place. My local drug stores didn't carry xylimelts. I wouldn't settle for the other means you may see. They don't have the glue. I had to get my xylimelts from Amazon.

good point,sir! although i DID try one of those other brands just to see how it would go. as you say, no sticky side. also, it was quite large and i felt like i might end up swallowing it.

in the end, it didn't produce saliva as readily as xylimelts, so i didn't go back to them.

My doctor recommended one "PET" tablet at bedtime. Tiny red pills. In a pinch, use a Sudaphed, but that's overkill... and expensive!