Allergies aggrivated by CPAP - anyone else have this problem

Robertmat · Post by **Robertmat** » Fri Feb 22, 2008 1:01 pm

I have a problem with CPAP aggrivating my allergies. I am currently trying CPAP for the second time in 10 years. When I use the machine (Resperonics with humidifier and a full mouth mask with nose pillars) for a few days I develop allegic reactions (sneezing, runny nose, wattery eyes). I am on Clarinex and Flonase to help with my everyday nasal congestion. I have tried using it dry (my Doctor's suggestion) and with the humidifer with distilled water (the equipment rep's suggestion) to the same end.

All the equipment, the foam filter and the allergy filter are brand new.

I have no trouble using the machine. I like sleeping with it and I like the white noise. The new mask is much more comfortable than the one I used 10 years ago.

Regarding the allergies, 10 years ago I was tested for cat, dog, mold, dust, grass and tree pollens. I tested positive for all. I had allergy shots for many years. I had cats 10 years ago but not today. I have FHW heat. I have a 160 year old house. i have tried it in other locations with the same reaction.

My theory is that my nose stuffs up as a defense and that it is able to keep the allergens from getting into my system furthur. The CPAP forces the allergins into my system causing these reactions.

Has anyone else experienced this and is there a solution? or should I just return the equipment which is now rented by my health plan.

Any help would be appreciated, Robert

Goofproof · Post by **Goofproof** » Fri Feb 22, 2008 1:07 pm

I find just the opposite, I have less problems after I hose up, it cleans the air better. Jim

ozij · Post by **ozij** » Fri Feb 22, 2008 1:29 pm

I had a temporary "sneezy, watery runny nose" reaction for a few weeks when I started, but somehow it passed.

Hindsight makes me think it may have been a reaction to having air blowing like that in my nose ("vasomotor rihinitis") - and I may have gotten used to it.

If you're reacting to allergens, you may want to add a HEPA filter to your setup. You could try a more thorough "de-allregenizing" of the room you sleep in.

An impotant addition to cpap therapy would be daily nasal rinses - e.g. the Neilmed system. If you do it an hour or so before bed you'll have cleared many of the allergens that accumlated in your nose during the day, and the cpap air won't be causing them to swrill around some more.

Nasal irrigation, by the way, makes the Flonase etc. more efficient too.

O.

WNJ · Post by **WNJ** » Fri Feb 22, 2008 2:45 pm

I’m allergic to dust / dust mites, plus a few pollens, and CPAP has helped my allergies tremendously.

If your allergies to dust are as prominent as mine, and if you haven’t already done so, you may want to rid your house of carpet. That made a huge difference for me.

Before CPAP, bedtime was worst for me, even with the dust mite covers on the mattress and pillows. I would wake up plugged up every day. Now, with CPAP and the white filters, I have little or no allergy problems.

I wonder if you have an allergy/sensitivity to something in the CPAP itself? Something out-gassing from the plastics, etc., used to make it?

Wayne

EricL · Post by **EricL** » Sat Feb 23, 2008 6:11 pm

I take zyrtec and flonase regularly, I used to have bad congestion in my lungs because of my allergies. The one awesomely positive aspect of the CPAP is that I am breathing flitered air all night long. I wake up in the morning and I am not congested at all, my sinuses are clear, and it's great for about 30 minutes. Then of course my symptoms come back. Not as bad as they used to be, but I notice a little change.

I think you are having issues with the material that mask is made out of. I do have one question, are you washing the mask regularly, and the water tank and tube at least once a week, no more than 2 weeks? That could be a problem if you aren't. Mold could start growing in the tube.

If you are, have you considered what you are using to wash them? I use Ivory soap for my daily mask cleanings. I hate to smell the fragrances in most soaps in my mask and Ivory cleans the skin oils from the gels very well and leaves no scent. I also picked up some natural, fragrance free dish soap from the local health food store that I use to soak my tube and other parts in for my weekly/bi-weekly cleanings.

Eric

goose · Post by **goose** » Sat Feb 23, 2008 6:39 pm

I have also noted a lesser reaction to allergens since I've been on the xPAP. I use Allegra and Flonase regularly. I also use benedryl each night which has the additional effect of being a light sedative, but it apparently helps with allergies while I sleep. I can be slightly congested before I mask up and after about 5-10 min. on the machine I'm breathing well -- when I take the mask off, the congestion takes about 30 min. or less to reoccur!!

If you have been diagnosed with sleep apnea I certainly wouldn't give up on the machine. That's the last thing I'd be doing. There are far more serious afflictions at stake than allergies!!!!
There has to be an explanation -- your mission?? find it!!

Allergies are a pain to try to pin down, but there has to be something there that's causing the reaction. As has been suggested, an additional HEPA filter may be needed. There are other good suggestions here....

It doesn't have anything to do with allergies, but trying some aroma therapy may help also (one never knows). Contact the SleepGuy at http://www.pur-sleep.com for some pure essential oils and a diffuser. It may not eliminate the allergies, but it sure makes the treatment a bit more pleasant!!!! I will have to say that using Flonase does impact the sense of smell, so you may have to use more product than some -- I use 4 or 5 drops instead of 2-3....

Good luck in your search -- let us know how you're doing and what you find!!

take care
cheers
goose

Robertmat · Post by **Robertmat** » Sat Feb 23, 2008 7:12 pm

Thanks to everyone who offered some helpful suggestions.

ozij wrote:If you're reacting to allergens, you may want to add a HEPA filter to your setup. You could try a more thorough "de-allregenizing" of the room you sleep in.

The CPAP makes me susceptible to allergens after I have used the machine not while I am using the machine. So if I go to work I am allergic during the day. If I go to my friends’ house I am allergic to dust from his forced hot air wood furnace. It could be anywhere, not just at home.

ozij wrote:An important addition to cpap therapy would be daily nasal rinses - e.g. the Neilmed system. If you do it an hour or so before bed you'll have cleared many of the allergens that accumulated in your nose during the day, and the cpap air won't be causing them to swirl around some more.

Nasal irrigation, by the way, makes the Flonase etc. more efficient too.

I am going to try this.

EricL wrote:I think you are having issues with the material that mask is made out of.

My doctor mentioned this himself. I took out my old mask that caused the problem before and tried sleeping with just the mask on and no CPAP. This did not cause the reaction. I will try this again with the new mask before I give up on it.

I will also try cleaning the mask, tube and humidifier container on a daily basis so I can rule the mold questions out.

lifeartist59 · Post by **lifeartist59** » Sat Feb 23, 2008 11:02 pm

Some nights I get a similar reaction. I wondered if it is my sinuses reacting to the air blowing on them. I have very sensitive eyes due to bells palsy years ago, the one tears up all the time and I was told it was because the eye is so sensitive and thinks it needs all the tears...so could your sinuses react this same way? Just wondering, if so, wouldn't the flonase help this as well? I hope you find what is causing it and work it out, good luck!

Dgrendahl · Post by **Dgrendahl** » Thu Mar 06, 2008 4:07 pm

I've only been on CPAP since Sep of last. Allergies kick in for me somewhere around Feb. I have come down with the worst case I can ever remember!!!! I am on a nasal spray and ChlorTabs. I do hope this clears up soon. I don't know since when I've felt so rotten.

etolbert4427 · Post by **etolbert4427** » Sun Mar 16, 2008 2:19 pm

I used to get headaches when I used my CPAP machine, but I thought I had solved that by taking a series of herbs and a new cpap mask with cushions. However, recently I started getting a stuffy noise and read something about putting 5 drops of vicks vapor steam in my humidifier to help keep my sinuses open. Well, I did this and it kept my sinuses open. The next day, I noticed that the slight numbness that I felt after I used the cpap machine had turned into full blown not being able to use the left side of my face. I believe that by using the vicks I defeated the body's defense system which was protecting me from allergens. Now, I'm a little afraid to use my CPAP machine.

whatrdreamsmadeof · Post by **whatrdreamsmadeof** » Sun Mar 16, 2008 4:03 pm

I too have a multitude of allergies, Febuary is also my worst month, however the weather here is so crazy they were terrible in Nov. anyway,
I bought a vaporizer that cleans the air it also has 2 tanks one hot moisture and the other cool vapor.......got a latex matteress and pillow and it makes a big difference for me.....even with the humidifier on the remstar at 2 to prevent rain out at three, this has made a tremendous difference.
Worth a try anyway......good luck
E

Treesap · Post by **Treesap** » Sun Mar 16, 2008 6:46 pm

I've had the worse allergy symptoms ever this past week. Mine was complete stuffiness. During the day I couldn't even breathe through my mouth. I suffered for 4 days thinking it would go away. I knew it wasn't a cold because stuffiness was the only symptom I had.

I had been using spray nasal decongestants. On the 4th day, I saw the rebound effect and went to the doctor. She prescribed OTC Zyrtec and Rhinocort. The instructions on the Rhinocort said it could take up to 2 weeks to work. I was stressed because I need to breath NOW! And I CANNOT use a FF mask.

Thankfully, it got better that night. Only one side stayed stuffy.

It's really tough dealing with this kind of stuff while you are on CPAP.

_________________

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Julie · Post by **Julie** » Sun Mar 16, 2008 8:24 pm

Some people think their allergies are worse without realizing they have set their humidifiers on high and it's making them congested (too much moisture unnecessarily). Try lowering the humidifier intensity and see if that helps.

Kenv · Post by **Kenv** » Sun Mar 16, 2008 9:36 pm

I developed Vasomotor (Perennial) Rhinitis. I get a stuffy nose all year long but in spring and early summer I suffer very badly from a blocked nose. I did some experimenting using home made Vitamin C nasal spray in addition to Beconase or Loratidine. I found that the Vitamin C spray improved the performance of both of these. I actually found Loratidine plus Vitamin C nasal spray worked best for me - it was a very considerable improvement on what I had before.
If you want more information on it send me a PM.
Ken

jsmythe · Post by **jsmythe** » Mon Mar 17, 2008 6:51 am

I too suffered with my allergies after starting cpap. And like you, at first I thought it was the machine causing it. I went to an allergy specialist and was tested positive for almost all things that you listed. Started taking the shots. No improvement. I was taking 3 different allergy medications plus Nasacort and Astelin spray. Not even these helped very much.

I live in an older house with lots of dust problems and I live out in the country where it is allergy city. I suffered 24/7 with tearing eyes, runny nose, stuffy nose, sneezing. Was totally miserable!! I was changing my Ultra Fine filter every two weeks, (ins. paid for two a month) and keeping the foam filter clean everyday. So one day, I realized the dust problem was worse than I thought, and started cleaning my bedroom from one end to the other. I mean excessive cleaning! And when I started to change the filter, I realized that was the problem all along!! The pollen filter!!! It needed changing MORE often! Now, I change it every 5 to 6 days, I have not had any problems in almost two months and have not taken any allergy medications at all. I was taking Zyrtec, but don't need that now. I do not even have to use a nasal decongestant any more at all.

I also turned down the HH, that helped with the rain-out as well as the inability to breathe at times. Yes, I have to buy my filters, but I sure would rather do that, than to go through what I went through for so long with my nasal problems and the misery that I was in.

My allergies did not bother me when I was on the machine, it was after I turned it off and got out of bed to start my day that they began.

How often do you change your filters? They can be brand new and still need changing....

Allergies aggrivated by CPAP - anyone else have this problem

Allergies aggrivated by CPAP - anyone else have this problem

Allergies aggrivated by CPAP - anyone else have this problem

similar reaction at times

Allergies

CPAP and Bell's Palsy

maybe?

Mask