Is it in my head? I refuse to use Afrin any more even though it works because I end up in a week long battle with it. :( Saline is useless. A stuffed nose is not the best for the ol' CPAP. :(

Pesky Afrin! It can be very addictive, although what an awful taste. Have you tried Flonase or Nasonex? I think there's more nasal steroids out there, but I have had pretty good luck with Flonase. Saline mist does nothing for me either. Also read into nasal irriagation, it does help. Many great products available for congestion, so shop around.

hhopper wrote:
Keep in mind that steroid spays do not work instantly. It takes a number of nights use for them to start helping your sinuses.

My doc gave me some of this stuff and said it might take 2 weeks for it to be fully effective

This is the problem I have also but I have used Nasonex and singular for 2 years every night and even with cpap my nose always plugs. That's why my doc went with the full face mask for me. Mine are allergy related. Something I have to live with. You might have to switch to a full face mask. Good luck.

tiredteacher wrote:Pesky Afrin! It can be very addictive, although what an awful taste. Have you tried Flonase or Nasonex? I think there's more nasal steroids out there, but I have had pretty good luck with Flonase. Saline mist does nothing for me either. Also read into nasal irriagation, it does help. Many great products available for congestion, so shop around.

Is it dangerous to use Flonase every night? Are there any side effects? Is it addictive?

Flonase is not addicting like afrin. My doctor also told me to increse the humdifer.

I probably didn't spell Astelin right. I have just started using Astelin with Flonase for nasal allergies. The Astelin works kind of like Afrin, but is not bad for you. It also starts working immediately. It tastes awful, but it works pretty well for me. For the aftertaste, I just pop a few mints or chew gum.

Are you using a humidifier, I have had the problem you describe when I don't use mine, like when we were in Europe.

I too am having this problem. I have been using a Bipap machine for 4 nights now and every morning when I get up my throat and nose are extremely stuffy...I also cannot sleep for any long periods, or get any deep sleep because am constantly aware of machine and when do get to sleep awaken panicky fighting the cycling of machine. I have the humidifier water running on low as the moisture bothers me also and I do NOT have it plugged in to heat the water..any suggestions anyone?????

It's funny, I moved to the desert almost a year and a half ago and I've had a stuffy nose ever since. Using my CPAP (with the HH) has made it *better*.

So I'm afraid I don't have any suggestions for anyone who's already using a heated humidifier, but if you're not and you're having a stuffy nose--try it! It clears out my stuffy nose like that *snaps fingers* and it remains un-stuffy a good part of the next day.

I hadn't realized my HH won't work in Europe, hmm, that could be a problem as my husband is British.

a few years ago, I started getting congested at night, which would wake me up and I would toss and turn trying to get back to sleep. The congestion coincided with my moving in with my boyfriend and for a while I wondered if I was allergic to him. However, I realized that I was getting hot at night when I had never had temperature issues before. Before I lived with someone, I had full use of the bed and didn't have to worry about sharing covers. When I lived alone I could move to a cooler part of the bed when I got too warm -- not so easy when there's another body taking up half the bed.

What I also noticed was that my head was cold -- apparently my body was attempting to regulate body temperature by letting heat escape through the only uncovered part of my body: my head. In turn, my cold head made me cogested at night. The only remedy was to keep my head warm, so I started covering my head at night with a wool cap (cotten didn't work as well). Some nights I slept on a wool blanket, which iinsulated my head and back. For those of you who don't appear to have allergies during the day and only experience coongestion at night, I would suggest using a lighter blanket and trying to keep your head warm at night.

hhopper wrote:
Keep in mind that steroid spays do not work instantly. It takes a number of nights use for them to start helping your sinuses.

Steroid use, including nose sprays, are linked to greatly increased risk for cataracts and glaucoma. I would not use them.

HI Justcrach,
I always get a stuffy nose everynight but since I've been using the APAP with the humidifier I don't anymore. It's one of the perks. I do notice if I take it off during the night then I wake up with a stuffy nose. Don't know why. Maybe try and get a humidifier for you CPAP and I bet it'll help. Good luck.
MaryP

For me:
Flonase=Nosebleeds
It tears my nose apart inside.