Nasal congestion! Need mask suggestions

Hi Margarite,

This is Greg, Robin's husband. Did you ever think about using

a nasal decongestant. I'm not suggesting OTC nasal decongestants at all.

I've been using a prescription nasal decongestant called

Nasacort AQ for years, just before I put my C-PAP mask on for the night, and it works incredibly well. I spray it in my

nostrils and take a finger and wipe the spray onto the lining

of each nostril. It works very quickly.

Nasacort AQ is a cortisone-type product that goes into only

the nasal lining of your nose. It does not build up cortisone

in your body, and is much safer than using OTC-type decongestants.

According to my doctor OTC's stop working after a while, so you keep using more & more. You don't build up a resistance

to Nasacort AQ, and it's safe for long-term use. I only use it at

bedtime with my C-PAP, and it has been wonderful.

Hope this helps…Greg.

I sometimes have the same problem with my moth opening while asleep with the nasal pillow. I have been looking into the unit from www.nomask.com .

It looks interesting and has some good write ups. Basically it uses a mouth piece to hole the nasal pillows in place and thus your mouth stays closed to hold the mouth piece in place.

It's worth looking at.

Have you tried that bandaid looking thing that goes on your nose and pulls your nasal passages open? I don't know it it would work with your type of mask. I use an older mask. I don't know what its called but I've tried all the newer stuff and the old tried and true has always worked for me. I also use a heated humidifier which helps.

When I have a cold, forget it. The air just burns my nose so I don't get much sleep when I'm sick. I have been using a cpap for 14yrs. My pressure is 16.

Try a different tack.

I use the Nepti-Pot on a regular basis and my sleep therapist swears by it. It's a low concentration salt water rinse of you sinuses. I suffer from a constant runny nose (I blame it on my blood pressure medicine) and it works like a charm for me. Also good for head colds!

Should be able to find one at any pharmacy.

j

Margarite,

I tried the Swift II nasal pillow and found that it increased my nasal congestion. I couldn't tolerate a full face mask, so I switched to a Mirage Vista - what a difference! My physician also gave me Flonase nasal spray which I used before bed, but found it kept me awake. I use it now once a day in the morning, which doesn't impede my sleep. The new mask is great in that it leaves my eyes free, no forehead pressure and allows me to watch TV or read before I fall off. I hope this helps!

I too suffer from constant nasal congestion and the doctor just gives me flonase which only works *sometimes* and I cant count on when. My personal experience with a full face mask is that if I breathe through my mouth then I get dry throat no matter what setting I have is set at. The other issue with a full face mask is the seal. If you have a relatively high cpap pressure as I do (15) the seal will be a problem. Of course facial features vary you may not have a problem at all.

I'm normally a nasal pillow user…though when I was down with The flu, had to resort to a full face mask.

Had gotten the FullLife from my DME initially…it made my nose bridge sore (I have a narrow nose bridge, which is apparently a problem)…so I got a Hans Rudoph 7600 v2 (?) mask from an online site (had them express ship it to me while I was confined to my home.) It was workable…though it left marks on my cheeks and the headgear wasn't that comfortable (though later I think some adjustment on fitting might help that, though I haven't had cause to have to endure a night with it again)

Meanwhile, I got the DME to exchange the FullLife for a Quattro … which I used for a couple of nights. And, now sits in my headboard waiting for the next time I need to use it.

Strange thing…before I settled on the ComfortLite II nasal pillows…I also didn't like the restriction of the forehead pad/strap…and there are certainly times where get annoyed with the forehead part of the ComfortLite II. But, I found that I hated the cheek contact of other nasal pillow systems more…and was have nose bridge issues with non-nasal pillow options.

The Dreamer.

The Dreamer.

Hi Margarite! Personally, I never found a chin strap that worked for me either. I prefer nasal pillows for the same reason as you described…NOT liking traditional mask straps and forehead pads. I noted your facial features as well as I could as the pictures on the web site are small…or is it that my eyes are old…and I think your face is similar to mine: a relatively short face, narrow upper lip and narrow nose bridge. I find most full face masks don't fit me to my liking and so my preference is the ResMed Mirage Liberty mask. Here is a picture:

http://shop.talkaboutsleep.com/full-face-cpap-masks/resmed-mirage-liberty-full-face-cpap-mask

I like it because I can tolerate nasal pillows, and with Liberty the nasal pillows simply attach to an oveal frame that encircles the mouth. NOTHING lays above the nostrils - meaning NO FOREHEAD PADS…no leaking in to the eye area. YIPPEE.

Make sure you use heated humidification for the additional moisture your nasal lining and mouth will need with any full face mask. I'd visit a local home healthcare provider first to determine your size and to try it on to make sure you will like the fit. Take your machine with you so they can hook it up to your pressure when you try it!

Let me know if you have other questions and good luck to you!

Nice to see you posting on the boards - sleep apnea equipment choices are an important topice here, so great you're taking advantage of all that sleep connect has to offer. Your posts are helpful to others as well.

Tracy