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Is CPAP effective if you're congested?
#1
Is CPAP effective if you're congested?
Hi All,

I'm chronically congested. I swallow and swallow and swallow post nasal drip (thin phlegm). I have tiny nasal cavities. I also have apnea according to in lab sleep study.  Will CPAP even work on me? Won't it just suffocate me by blowing phlegm over the airways?

I'm about to pay cash in the hopes it will work, but I'm not so sure. Looking at the Airsense 10 or Dream station.  Is there a less expensive way to find out if CPAP works for me? We're talking ~$800.

I'm paying cash because I didn't meet the insurance company standard for apneas per hour during the sleep study, and I'm desperate for a solution. Also, the thought of actually sleeping on my back at the sleep lab just to provoke more apnea events sounds terrifying.
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#2
RE: Is CPAP effective if you're congested?
Look at Supplier #33 in the commercial posts forum. A new Resmed Airsens 10 Autoset goes for $665 with free shipping. What was the result of your sleep study?
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#3
RE: Is CPAP effective if you're congested?
I believe your concerns on nasal congestion are valid. I think you should consult with a doctor also before you invest in a CPAP machine. They might already know how to manage nasal congestion and still use a CPAP machine.
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#4
RE: Is CPAP effective if you're congested?
I too suffer chronic sinus problems, post-nasal drip and can rarely breathe through my nose. For that reason, I use a full face mask and breathe through my mouth, which you would be familiar with if your nose is continually blocked.

As far as I know, CPAP/APAP shouldn't make post nasal drip any worse, but others with relevant experience might say otherwise. Mine actually improves after an hour or two on CPAP, perhaps because I'm lying down or because the machine has an ultrafine air filter that reduces allergens. Whatever the reason, while i am usually unable to breathe through my nose when I go to sleep, I frequently wake up later, breathing through a miraculously clear nose. Bonus!

Also, have you tried a Neti pot? I find it to help, although the effect only last for a few hours. The theory is that the warm saline flushes allergens/irritants out of the nasal passages, along with any dried mucous. I honestly don't know if those claims are true, but it helps me and there appears to be no significant downside.
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#5
RE: Is CPAP effective if you're congested?
(03-28-2019, 11:01 PM)nightlydrowning Wrote: Hi All,

I'm chronically congested. I swallow and swallow and swallow post nasal drip (thin phlegm). I have tiny nasal cavities. I also have apnea according to in lab sleep study.  Will CPAP even work on me? Won't it just suffocate me by blowing phlegm over the airways?

I'm about to pay cash in the hopes it will work, but I'm not so sure. Looking at the Airsense 10 or Dream station.  Is there a less expensive way to find out if CPAP works for me? We're talking ~$800.

I'm paying cash because I didn't meet the insurance company standard for apneas per hour during the sleep study, and I'm desperate for a solution.  Also, the thought of actually sleeping on my back at the sleep lab just to provoke more apnea events sounds terrifying.

I'll respectfully disagree with a couple previous posts. I have post nasal drip and chronic congestion, but have found positive pressure applied directly to my nose, using nasal pillows mask, helps to expand my nasal passages and promote an open airway. I apply the mask and turn on the pressure, and after the drainage stops I'm all clear.  My experience and that of others may not be a good prediction of what you might experience with therapy. One thing I have learned is that everyone seems to have an individual response to CPAP therapy, masks and what works for me, may or may not work for you.  Jump in and be ready to try different approaches to see what works best for you.

I agree using Supplier #33 to buy a Resmed Airsense 10 Autoset is the best way to get a new machine, or consider looking for a machine in your area on Craigslist, Offerup or similar market place. A used machine can be had for half price or less, and will let you try the therap with less out of pocket costs. Just be sure to get a low-hours machine that provides data and comes from a non-smoking household. Here is a good article on machine choices http://www.apneaboard.com/wiki/index.php...ne_choices
Sleeprider
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www.ApneaBoard.com

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INFORMATION ON APNEA BOARD FORUMS OR ON APNEABOARD.COM SHOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED AS MEDICAL ADVICE. ALWAYS SEEK THE ADVICE OF A PHYSICIAN BEFORE SEEKING TREATMENT FOR MEDICAL CONDITIONS, INCLUDING SLEEP APNEA. INFORMATION POSTED ON THE APNEA BOARD WEB SITE AND FORUMS ARE PERSONAL OPINION ONLY AND NOT NECESSARILY A STATEMENT OF FACT.
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#6
RE: Is CPAP effective if you're congested?
You say you have apnea but don’t meet your insurance company’s threshold AHI. What is their threshold?  And what was your AHI?

Do you have a copy of your sleep-study report?  If so, could you post it so the experts (not me!) could take a look and advise you about your next steps?  If you do post your report, be sure to remove personal information first. If you don’t have a copy, you can request one. That might be a good idea before you make a big investment. 

Have you been evaluated by an ENT specialist?  With problems similar to yours, I went to an ENT who flagged allergies and “silent reflux” as probable causes. I’m being treated for both with some good results already. 

Good luck!
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#7
RE: Is CPAP effective if you're congested?
AHI was 1.1 / hour and insurance wanted 5/hour or more.
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#8
RE: Is CPAP effective if you're congested?
(03-28-2019, 11:01 PM)nightlydrowning Wrote: I'm chronically congested. I swallow and swallow and swallow post nasal drip (thin phlegm). I have tiny nasal cavities.

Have you been treated by an ENT for this condition?

Quote:Will CPAP even work on me? Won't it just suffocate me by blowing phlegm over the airways?

You'll probably need a full face mask, but that's likely the only effect.
Sleepster

INFORMATION ON APNEA BOARD FORUMS OR ON APNEABOARD.COM SHOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED AS MEDICAL ADVICE. ALWAYS SEEK THE ADVICE OF A PHYSICIAN BEFORE SEEKING TREATMENT FOR MEDICAL CONDITIONS, INCLUDING SLEEP APNEA. INFORMATION POSTED ON THE APNEA BOARD WEB SITE AND FORUMS ARE PERSONAL OPINION ONLY AND NOT NECESSARILY A STATEMENT OF FACT.
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#9
RE: Is CPAP effective if you're congested?
I am somewhat in the same boat, and I agree with Sleeprider... I am allergic to almost everything in my house, and when I lay down, my nose usually gets plugged up... I tried with a full face mask, but I could not deal with it... as soon as I opened my mouth to breathe, my face would blow up like a balloon... I went to nasal pillows, and I find that once my pressure starts to ramp up during treatment, the forced air makes it easier to breathe through the congestion.
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#10
RE: Is CPAP effective if you're congested?
In the absence of additional evidence, an AHI of 1.1 would usually not lead a physician to recommend CPAP therapy. Fo example, did you have significant oxygen desaturation episodes, or did the study flag RERAs (respiratory effort related arousals)?  More broadly, what benefits would you hope to get from starting CPAP therapy?  I’m hoping that with a little more information, members of the forum could weigh in on the question whether CPAP is the right approach for you.
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