CPAP advice for allergy and sinus sufferers

[sleepsomnia]

I'm getting ready to start CPAP therapy fam and I could really use some insight.
I've been diagnosed with moderate to severe sleep apnea, and now I'm at the point of choosing a machine and setup. The thing now is that I've got year round allergies and chronic sinus congestion, so I'm a bit nervous about how CPAP might feel. Heard humidifiers and heated tubing can help, but I'm not sure what kind of mask or machine would be most comfortable given how sensitive my airways are. Also, has anyone here has had luck managing allergy/sinus flare ups while using CPAP?

 

[ryangold12]

I'm getting ready to start CPAP therapy fam and I could really use some insight.
I've been diagnosed with moderate to severe sleep apnea, and now I'm at the point of choosing a machine and setup. The thing now is that I've got year round allergies and chronic sinus congestion, so I'm a bit nervous about how CPAP might feel. Heard humidifiers and heated tubing can help, but I'm not sure what kind of mask or machine would be most comfortable given how sensitive my airways are. Also, has anyone here has had luck managing allergy/sinus flare ups while using CPAP?

Starting CPAP with allergies and sinus congestion can be rough, but using a humidifier and heated tubing really helps. A nasal mask or nasal pillows are usually more comfortable if your airways are sensitive, but its good to try a few to find what works. Also , managing your allergies with meds or sprays alongside CPAP usually makes things way easier... Have you checked with your doctor about that?

 

[Physio]

Doctors love pushing CPAP like it's one-size-fits-all, but if your sinuses are wrecked, strapping forced air on your face could feel like torture, sometimes the cure creates more misery than the apnea.

 

[Braille Chicken Whisperer]

I totally agree with that. I can’t tell you how many sleep studies I went through and how many things we tried and I slept worse with the machines than I did without. I found that getting a chair to sleep in was much better than a bed for me. Part of it has to do with my allergies part of it has to do a sleeping position. Also, replacing my pillow, when I slept in a bed, every year or two actually helped because pillows are great breeding grounds for allergens. Turned out what I really needed was oxygen at night. I still stop breathing and my heart will skip a beat, but at least my brain is getting that oxygen when I am breathing. It also helps with my sinus issues. But that’s only what worked for me personally. I encourage other people I know to experiment and find out what works best for them. Doctors don’t know everything. And if they can learn it, I can learn it.