DanM

The causes of congestion can sometimes be difficult to pinpoint. I seem to experience congestion with extreme weather changes, when my allergies flare up, or if my nasal passages get too dry and start to swell. It might be worth talking to your doctor about if it continues to happen. For me, a steroid nasal spray seems to help keep things under control.

Hi WillingGrayPigeon9262. According to the manufacturers, the antibacterial agents and moisturizers in some soaps cause the mask material to weaken over time. The soap you mention in your last post sounds like a gentle option.

Hi wiredgeorge. The exhalation for that mask should be on the elbow joint and not the mask itself. Check out part H of page 2 at this link: http://incenter.medical.philips.com/doclib/enc/10670288/Wisp_Nasal_Mask_-_Instructions_for_Use.pdf%3ffunc%3ddoc.Fetch%26nodeid%3d10670288

I see. So lots of condensation in the mask and a clogged nose, which is not comfortable. I'm sorry it didn't work well for you, but I'm glad you can go back to the Simplus. Keep us posted if you try new masks or find a solution! I often use a steroid nasal spray, or I have chronic congestion that makes it difficult to use CPAP.

Hi wiredgeorge. Your story of attempting to switch from a full face mask to a nasal mask and the condition of difficulty exhaling is similar to others I have heard from patients. At pressures of 25/21, I suspect the volume of air going only into your nose may have contributed to both the feelings you were experiencing and to the nasal congestion. With the full face mask, you are able to open your mouth (even if only slightly) during sleep, allowing the air to enter and exit through both your mouth and nose. You have also mentioned using lozenges to help keep your mouth moist, which is likely very helpful with the full face mask. If you attempt a nasal mask again, you might look for a product called Cann-Ease or something similar that is designed for patients who use CPAP or oxygen. It helps keep nasal passages moist so they do not dry out and swell. Good luck!

So sorry to hear you are experiencing such discomfort. Please let us know how your visit goes with your doctor after the data review. Some patients report that slightly elevating the head or upper body helps with issues like this. Look forward to your next post!

Hi Albulak. Congratulations on completing your sleep study and on finding a way to relax yourself during the process! If you purchased a machine that automatically adjusts to your breathing, the hope is that the machine will detect any respiratory issues and attempt to correct them. Monitoring your progress by looking at the data from the machine will help. You may find helpful information on doing so by searching for Sleepyhead discussions on the Forum. Many CPAP users seem to like the software because it provides detailed information on your breathing during treatment. Best wishes, and please come back and let us know how you are doing!

Something like plain castile soap or Ivory generally works well. My equipment provider and a mask vendor I spoke with both said that plain Ivory dishwashing liquid also works well. Basically, any gentle soap that does not contain antibacterial ingredients should be ok.

Hi LOVE2Sleep. Pillows can "collapse" if they are too tight, so I wonder if you are tightening the head gear enough to compress them. They should be snugly in the nose only to the point where the cushion flares out and seals outside the nostrils. If nasal pillows continue to be a problem, you might consider a nasal mask that fits over the nose. Whatever you choose, you or your insurance company is paying for the treatment, and the equipment provider is likely reaping the benefit of payment. I encourage you to contact them and meet with a therapist to discuss proper fit and see if they can help you troubleshoot the problem. Best wishes!

Hi FaithfulAzureDove9863. Depending on how new the equipment is, you might just be smelling the plastic. However, if you suspect the smell is something more (electrical?), please contact the equipment provider and have the machine checked. It is not uncommon for machines and masks to have a slight odor when they are new, but this is usually not something that persists.