New user... problems

[westy6]

I started using my ResMed s9 autoset the night before last. It was not real comfortable, but I attributed that to a learning/breakin period which I expected. I'm using a pilaro nasal pillow mask which is pretty comfortable. During the day yesterday, I started to experience feelings of sinus problems... stuffy nose, aches around eyes and cheekbones, etc. which I attributed to irritation from my machine use. When I went to bed last night, my nostrils were pretty much plugged, and I found I couldn't use my machine since I couldn't breath through my nose. Experienced blocked nose, sinus, and severe sore throat all night and continuing this morning. I really feel this was brought on from my machine use the night before... maybe not enough humidity, but it appears that isn't adjustable with the climate line tubing (machine automatically adjust humidity?). Not sure where to go from here.... By the way, my machine is set at constant pressure of 10 per my sleep study recommendation, and it was effective the first night since my ahi measured 1.5 (41 during my sleep study)

[PollCat]

Welcome to the group, westy! A couple of ideas come to mind: First, call your sleep doc and tell them what is occurring. Additionally, you may need to try using a nasal rinse to clean out the nasal/sinus passageways (I use the NeilMed nasal rinse once a day to help with this condition). Have you obtained the clinician's manual for your machine? This is helpful in learning how to control/adjust your machine to provide the best therapy.

Other forum members will have additional ideas on how to combat your issues.

[trish6hundred]

Hi westy6,
WELCOME! to the forum.!
CPAP therapy can take some getting used to.
You might find that you need to turn up your humidity a bit but hang in there for other suggestions and best of luck.

[iSnooze]

Welcome Westy6,

I want to stress what PollCat said about using a nasal rinse to clean out the nasal passageways. I don't do it daily like PollCat but whenever I can't breathe through my nose. It's very helpful.

I realize that you just started using the S9. I'm assuming (a terrible thing to do) that the S9 is your first cpap machine. Nasal pillows and nasal masks are great for most people, most nights, but when you have a cold or condition that requires you to mouth breathe, having a full face mask is useful. If your insurance only pays for one mask every 6 months, you'll have to pay for it out of pocket.

It is possible that your symptoms are not related to the cpap therapy. I live a few hours north of you and there is an odd cold virus going around that begins with a sore throat and then moves to a stuffed up nose and ends with lots of coughing. My colleagues are work shared it with me. I'd rather they share their pizza at lunch but I got the virus instead.

Also follow PollCat's advice about calling your sleep doctor to let him know what is going on.

Keep us posted on what happens.

[zonk]

maybe not enough humidity, but it appears that isn't adjustable with the climate line tubing (machine automatically adjust humidity?).

You can adjust temperature to your preference on auto mode and both temperature and humidity on manual mode, see page 2 for the instructions
http://www.resmed.com/au/assets/document...lo_eng.pdf

Whats the leak rate?
The machine display 95% leak on the LCD and ResScan shows more details and graphs so you can see whats going through the night

Mouth breathing can cause all sort of problems, the more the nose plugged, the more you,re going to open your mouth to breathe and allow air escaping out through the mouth

Full face mask allows you to breathe through your nose or mouth so if the nose is plugged, you can still breathe through the mouth and not compromise the therapy

Its important to tell your sleep doctor whats going on, they have seen many people before and you,re not going to be the last one

[Sleepster]

I would take pseudophedrine for the congestion and see a doctor. It sounds like you have a sinus infection that's being aggravated by the CPAP therapy.