Does congestion caused by CPAP linger all day or do I have a cold?

[willo]

Yet another newbie question that might be dumb.

I know that CPAP can cause congestion and nasal issues, and see lots of advice about alleviating it. (Humidity, allergy drugs, etc.) Here’s what my searching didn’t tell me:

When one gets congestion triggered by using CPAP, is that something experienced generally DURING (or right after) treatment sessions, or can it linger all day like allergy or cold symptoms do?

I ask because I’ve had three total nights of CPAP treatment, so I’m still early in the learning stage. I think i’m just coincidentally coming down with a cold simultaneously because I’m slightly stuffy, kind of tired, and feeling generally blah (but I also live with chronic pain and an autoimmune condition, so it can be hard to tell normal me from sick me, except for the phlegm. LOL) 

One of my kids is stuffed up, too, and it is suddenly cold and nasty weather with heating season ramping up here, so I’m not clutching at viral straws. Then again, I’d hate to think I’m ignoring something I should adjust with the machine if I’m mixing up a virus with CPAP side effects.

Can anyone enlighten me?

[mesenteria]

I wake up with at least one nostril 'plugged' most days, not all.  When I do awaken with a plugged nostril, it clears within a few minutes upon rising onto my hind legs, or very shortly upon my first morning nose-blow.  I have a deviated septum and some minor lingering sinusitis a lot of the time, and now that we're in the wood burning season where I live, it does tend to stiffen up a bit for the worse.

If yours lingers much more than an hour, you have something like an allergic response or seasonal/cold issues I would think.  I don't see why your stuffy nose, if due to PAP therapy, should last more than a couple of hours.  But, let's wait for others to offer their experience.

[OpalRose]

Stuffiness from Cpap use should clear up in an hour or two at the most after getting up.

I sometimes feel congested in the morning, but it tends to go away once up.  

As mesenteria stated, if congestion and stuffiness persists after a couple hours, it’s likely you are either suffering from allergies or a simple cold.

[willo]

Thanks so much for the responses, guys. I’ll just blame my darling children for bringing home another plague.

Naturally I’ve caught a cold. Cooking Thanksgiving dinner for 18 next week would be too easy otherwise...

[Mosquitobait]

I was regularly waking up with a stuffy head. Two general causes - too much moisture or allergies. I found getting the hypoallergenic filters (not the knock offs, but the BRAND names) made a big difference. Too much moisture is typically obvious because you get rainout or near enough to it. If it lasts to lunch time, definitely a cold.

[SarcasticDave94]

Maybe you can edit humidity setting to see if it helps congestion or makes it worse. I do this myself at times, even though mostly I have to run my humidifier on 8 of 8. Occasionally I need to back it down to less, but never less than 4 for me. My COPD for whatever reason likes a little humidity, which 3 or less is too little.

[Sterry345]

I had 2  turbinate surgeries and had my sinus passages inlarged. I have to use 12 hour nasal spray and to keep my head open I use Flonase each night before bed. I have lowered the humidity but no luck. If I lay down to take a nap, my head stops up.