CPAP With Pollen Allergies

I just finished with about 5 days of severe sinus issues due to spring pollen. I have never had this before anywhere to the degree I just had. I was lucky that the first night after the symptoms hit me I got in bed as usual, put on my cpap mask as usual not even thinking of my plugged up noses, etc. It was just the usual night time ritual. Much to my surprise within seconds my sinuses started to clear up a bit. Enough that I could breathe through my nose again. Yeah I know where the "stuff" is going, but I really didn't care since "I could breathe through my nose again". The next morning things were still good and my AHI during the night was 1.2. By noon-ish I was all plugged up again so I sat down to watch TV and stay inside away from at least some of the pollen. Then it hit me.....so I went to the bedroom and moved the cpap to the couch and sat there watching TV all afternoon with the cpap keeping my nose working again. My pressure is fixed at 7 and that seemed to work wonders for me. I did this every day until yesterday when I started to feel like the allergy was easing up. This morning I am about 98% back to normal.

I'm sure this wouldn't work for all, but it sure worked wonders for me.

edatlanta wrote: ↑

Thu Mar 21, 2019 5:15 am

edatlanta

Love the story, Ed!

I have a late friend (non-CPAPer) who contracted bronchitis. She said after her husband got up to go to work, she would put on his CPAP mask. Then, she would fall back to sleep for an hour or two and get some good rest.

BTW, Ed, why not see your doctor about those allergies? There are some easy treatments with rare side effects.

I've done this a few times.

I had a septoplasty / T. reduction in August. Wasn't 100% successful. In the first few months of recovery, occasionally now, my passages are so narrow I get plugged. Sometime a Nasal Breathe-Strip is enough to open them up. But when it's not, on the nose, the hose goes. And I'll watch some TV.

Whenever I use this breathing comfort therapy, I use my spare machine. This way it doesn't screw up my stats, I don't have to lug my regular machine downstairs, and I know my spare box is working just fine.

I also consider this an advantage of pillows, compared to a nasal masks. My P10s inflate my passages much better than my N10 ever did.

Also, consider that a too-high-for-local-climate humidifier setting can cause congestion and other issues.

Also, consider that a too-high-for-local-climate humidifier setting can cause congestion and other issues.

While the humidity setting being too high for the individual and cause congestion in some people....I seriously doubt it in ed's case since using whatever humidity setting he is using actually helps clear up his congestion.
Probably nothing more than usual spring allergies. Not every congestion issue is about too much humidity.

The extra fine filters help reduce the spores and pollen which irritate my passages.
Adding in a 24 hour antihistamine gets the crud close to zero.
Can you still call the allergies "seasonal" when they last all year long?

Pollen-time rituals:

• Ocean saline spray in the can NOT the squeeze bottle to wash out sinuses; use Grossan Nasal Irrigator if Ocean not helping much

• Use Spry nasal spray IF congestion lingers

• Change APAP HEPA filter weekly, every other day when pollen counts exceed 1000 & daily when counts >2000

• Change pillow cases often

• Wash face several times, esp after being outside

• Drink more liquids

• Play with humidifier setting, more might be helpful OR turn off depending on relative humidity

• Run car AC on MAX as it does not draw in pollen-laden outside air

• Change house HVAC filter monthly

• Last resort, Nasacort nasal steriod spray

ChicagoGranny wrote: ↑

Thu Mar 21, 2019 5:58 am

edatlanta wrote: ↑

Thu Mar 21, 2019 5:15 am

edatlanta

Love the story, Ed!

I have a late friend (non-CPAPer) who contracted bronchitis. She said after her husband got up to go to work, she would put on his CPAP mask. Then, she would fall back to sleep for an hour or two and get some good rest.

BTW, Ed, why not see your doctor about those allergies? There are some easy treatments with rare side effects.

This is the first time I have ever had an allergic reaction to spring pollen and I have lived in this same area for years, so this was something totally unexpected. I will definitely be ready next year.

edatlanta wrote: ↑

Thu Mar 21, 2019 5:15 am

I'm sure this wouldn't work for all, but it sure worked wonders for me.

Filtering out the pollen that's causing you sinus issues... Yup, that can certainly help. My allergies are why I use the hypoallergenic filter and an additional antibacterial filter in the hose.. (I don't care about any bacteria, but it does catch more allergens.)

Muse-Inc wrote: ↑

Thu Mar 21, 2019 1:14 pm

• Last resort, Nasacort nasal steriod spray

If you do try a steroid spray, also consider Flonase and Flonase Sensimist.

They seem to all be slightly different for me. Lately I've been alternating between them (after I use up a bottle, not every night). I do this in the perhaps mistaken belief that this will help me avoid building up a tolerance to any one of them. Read the labels, they each have a different steroid.

I've quizzed multiple doctors about the steroid component. They all assure me that these steroids are safe for long term use. I don't know about that. I remember reading the test results from an older steroid spray I was prescribed years ago (before these all went OTC). The trials were for only a maximum of 30 days IIRC. And yet we're expected to use these for months at a time during allergy season? Hmmm ...

SnoringInOregon wrote: ↑

Fri Mar 22, 2019 1:26 am

...assure me that these steroids are safe for long term use. I don't know about that...

I know they can accelerate the growth of cataracts. For me, it's last resort when I've gone days without breathing well. They detected the start of cataracts in 2004 . I use CAN-C by Innovative Vision Products since then and mine have not progressed,, in fact, they have reversed. 95% of my symptoms back then have disappeared. I do not use a nasal spray often because of their effect on cataracts.

Muse-Inc wrote: ↑

Fri Mar 22, 2019 3:36 am

SnoringInOregon wrote: ↑

Fri Mar 22, 2019 1:26 am

...assure me that these steroids are safe for long term use. I don't know about that...

I know they can accelerate the growth of cataracts.

Thanks for the heads-up about cataracts.

One of the doctors I discussed steroids with was my optometrist, unfortunately not an ophthalmologist. At the time I was more concerned about increased intraocular pressure (glaucoma). She said that wasn't an issue and that if I were concerned about pressure I could pop in any time for a quick test. Unfortunately it's not as quick to evaluate cataracts, can't pop in for a puff of air.

I will raise the issue again with my optometrist on my next visit. Maybe she will send me to the ophthalmologist again? Maybe today's newer steroids don't accelerate growth of cataracts like they used to?

palerider wrote: ↑

Thu Mar 21, 2019 6:23 pm

edatlanta wrote: ↑

Thu Mar 21, 2019 5:15 am

I'm sure this wouldn't work for all, but it sure worked wonders for me.

Filtering out the pollen that's causing you sinus issues... Yup, that can certainly help. My allergies are why I use the hypoallergenic filter and an additional antibacterial filter in the hose.. (I don't care about any bacteria, but it does catch more allergens.)

I do use both of the filters for my Dreamstation. When I got it the DME said the fine filter wasn't needed. I ignored that and have used both filters since day one. I did change both when this pollen issue hit and you could actually see pollen on the first filter. Filters are cheap, breathing issues aren't worth the discomfort of not using them....IMHO.

edatlanta wrote: ↑

Fri Mar 22, 2019 5:55 am

When I got it the DME said the fine filter wasn't needed.

That does fit with the general advice... "Ignore everything the DMEs tell you"

SnoringInOregon wrote: ↑

Fri Mar 22, 2019 3:53 am

Thanks for the heads-up about cataracts.

Muse-Inc wrote: ↑

Fri Mar 22, 2019 3:36 am

I know they can accelerate the growth of cataracts.

No^

You may be thinking about older generation steroid nasal sprays or Prednisone treatments.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Long-term use of topical nasal steroids (especially older generation steroids) has been shown to elevate intraocular pressure (IOP), but newer intranasal steroids are thought to have a minimal effect on IOP because of their low bioavailability.

...

New generation intranasal steroids (Nasacort, Flonase, Nasonex) can be used safely with <1% systemic bioavailability in normal healthy people.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4910615/