Important "Nosey" CPAP Question.....

HOW IN THE WORLD DO YOU USE A CPAP WITH A NASAL PILLOW DEAL WHEN YOUR NOSE IS STOPPED UP?????? IS IT POSSIBLE???
I tried it the other night and again last night and had panic attacks everytime! What has been your experience with that one???  It seemed like reverse blowing your nose and I just felt  odd about that one....I even tried using saline first to unstop it....nothing helped.  Yes, it is gross but it is still a mystery question for my experienced cpappers.....I don't think you can add vicks to the water in the cpap can you??? I have to get well, I am supposed to get a flu shot this week! The way it looks right now....I doubt that is going to happen!
Ok any advice would be greatly appreciated.....Thank you kindly!!
Sher

I wish Weight Wise would give flu shots at the support groups so we don't have to run all over the city to get one!  Just a selfish thought.

I had this problem not long ago.  My nose was so stopped up and I couldn't breathe with the CPAP on.  So I skipped it that night.  You would think the pressure would blow a path for the air but it didn't.

Maybe someone with more experience can help us here!

I gave up trying to use the nasal masks. I use a full face mask. I never had success with the nasal. It bothered me, dried me out even with the humidifier. It was awful. Now, I might try it again when I get to decrease my pressure, but at 18 cm I cannot tolerate it.
Emily

Try some Afrin nasal spray.  I just bought some today since I am stopped up.  You can only use it for a few days or you get rebound congestion when you sstop using it.  The usual recommendation is no more than 4 days.  I will be snorting some Afrin at bedtime tonight!

NICKSAY ON THE VICKSAY IN THE CPAP......

Hijack---- Rita, you are postively too adorable as Raggedy Anne!  You just make me want to squish the stuffing out of you!  HUGS!!

Denise

Thanks girl. I wish someone would squish the stuffung out of me. LOL

I don't think there's really a lot that can be done but to increase the humidity.  I know they recommend increasing humidity during cold and flu season because keeping the nasal passages moist and lubricated helps protect from viruses.  Same could be helpful in preventing allergy attacks.  Also recommended is cleaning your nostrils with saline regularly.

Unfortunately sometimes using cpap when congested could push the snot (sorry to be gross) into your ear canals and cause problems there.  But depending upon how severe your OSA is, that might be a complication worth risking. 

The way I look at it is this:  If I had OSA that was severe and caused my O2 sats to drop putting me in danger of heart problems or severe daytime sleepiness, I'd suffer and use the machine.  If, however, I had mild OSA and had a low setting on the cpap, say under 10, I might skip a night. 

But that is just my unmedically trained opinion and you should do whatever you and your doctor feel is best for you!

And no, I'm not a doctor, but I play one on tv!

I also play Dr., way to much I think! I'm using saline, so I may switch to Afrin for a couple days. I already have heart problems and severe sleepiness, but I had it all before the cpap so I doubt I am going to hurt myself to much by skipping a couple days....I was just beginning to feel better energy wise too....Oh well, I know it won't be long. No one had ever addressed this situation in my CPAP class....oh wait, I didn't have a cpap class!
It is funny that you mentioned the ear deal. When I first started using the cpap. I had ear issues. I asked a few people and they said they had never heard of it...So I just thought I was a goofball or something. After a change in the setting, I don't have that problem anymore......Now that I know I could blow snot in my ears, I imagine I will have that too...I tend to pick up things I read!  Thanks for all the advice guys....I'm going to try the Afrin or do like I did last night and just hang the mask on my headboard again, I mean it's not like we are best friends yet anyway.

Sher

LOL!  I always end up in the goofball catagory too!  I work for a medical equipment company and I deal with a lot of cpappers.  It's hard to get used to--I mean it's not a natural thing to sleep with air blowing in your nose.