how do i keep my CPAP from making me sneeze and constant running nose??

Answer 1

Get rid of it and have a surgery called Uvolopalatopharingoplasty

Edit: To all those who gave me a "thumbs down" rating..... - well if you like to look like a freak / astronaut wearing that CPAP mask then go right ahead! I'm sure whoever you're sleeping with just loves it!!! I had the surgery done and it works! That's the bottom line!

Edit 2:
Are all of you guys so afraid of a little out patient surgery that you have to give me all these "thumbs down" responses??????????????

Answer 2

Cpap Runny Nose

Answer 3

Don't ever take the sleeping pills route!!

1. They will damage your liver big time and you can get into serious health problems.

2. You will get hooked up on them and you won't be able to have a normal life any more if you don't take your pills everyday.

The sleeping pills industry is damaging our health by capitalizing on our ignorance, and by distracting people from effective and natural ways to deal with this problem. I had been taking prescription sleep medications [Ambien] for over 5 years. It stopped working and I simply took more. Still did not work. Nights were very difficult - medication put me to sleep but I would wake up after 2–3 hours with a strong sympathetic response (fast pulse, pounding heartbeat, wide awake alert). It was a very difficult cycle to break. I was really in bad shape due to lack of sleep.

After years of struggling I was able to cure my insomnia naturally and pretty fast. I followed the Sleep Tracks sleep optimization program, here is their official web -site if you want to take a look: http://www.insomniacure.net

Ohhh..and Good Luck!

Answer 4

A deviated septum with not cause constant sneezing and runny nose. Go to another doctor immediately or if you don't have any drug allergies or high blood pressure go to the local drug store and get a pack of Claritin D.

Answer 5

1

Answer 6

clean it weekly - if you have a water bowl
fill 1/3 with vinegar and the rest with distilled water
let sit 30 minutes and flush

make sure you fill with distilled water

clean your mask daily with warm (not hot) soapy water
and let dry - -

make sure your tube hangs so that no condensation
pools in a curve of the hose-

clean it with vinegar water if it has been left when you get up
where the water can trap in a curve - gotta kill the mold - !

then every time you get up - hang that puppy up so it will drain!

best of luck

BTW - my doctor, who also does that surgery, said surgery would not help me! wow!

Answer 7

In response to (Sven b, above) First off, i didn't give you a thumbs down but it looks like someone gave everyone a thumbs down. My answer includes surgery but when i read that option, I thought maybe that would be a little extreme. But now that you have brought attention to the surgery and about how it really might feel to have this equipment on you night after night; I have changed my opinion. So, yes, your answer was very informative. Especially to someone who has no first hand knowledge of the subject.

Now, continuing to my answer to this question..................

Your nose feels dry and stuffy. You can try using a humidifier to moisten the air from the CPAP device.

Your nose feels blocked up. Some people who have sleep apnea also have nose problems. Ask your doctor if you have a nose problem that can be treated with a nasal spray. Surgery is sometimes also an option. People who breathe through their mouths don't do as well with CPAP nose masks. A full-face mask that covers both the nose and the mouth may help these people (see the picture below). http://familydoctor.org/791.xml

The mask bothers your skin and nose. Because the mask must fit firmly over your nose and cheeks, it may irritate your skin. A different size or kind of mask may help. There are also special skin moisturizers made for CPAP device users. Some petroleum-based products can damage the mask, so ask your doctor for more information. Some people also benefit from using nasal pillows that fit into the nostrils and relieve pressure on the bridge of the nose (see the picture below).http://familydoctor.org/791.xml Using a regular CPAP mask one night and nasal pillows the next night may help you feel more comfortable.


The Surgery:

Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty for obstructive sleep apnea
Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) is a procedure that removes excess tissue in the throat to make the airway wider. This sometimes can allow air to move through the throat more easily when you breathe, decreasing the severity of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The tissues that are removed may include:

The soft fingerlike tissue that hangs down from the back of the roof of the mouth into the throat (uvula).
Part of the roof of the mouth (soft palate).
Excess throat tissue, tonsils, and adenoids.
See an illustration of the tonsils, adenoids, and uvula and an illustration of the hard and soft palate.

If an enlarged tongue is a factor in your sleep apnea, the surgeon may remove a small part of the tongue. This is called an uvulopalatopharyngoglossoplasty.

What To Expect After Surgery
You may need continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) after surgery. CPAP is a breathing device that you wear at night that helps you breathe more easily and prevents your airway from closing during sleep.

Some pain medicines can relax the throat muscles. You may have to avoid these medicines after surgery to make it less likely that your airways will narrow and cause apnea episodes.

Why It Is Done
Your doctor may suggest UPPP if you:

Have excess tissue in your nose, mouth, or throat that blocks your airway.
Choose not to use (or cannot use) CPAP.
Do not get better after using CPAP.
Do not want to have an opening made in your windpipe (tracheostomy) to treat sleep apnea.
Children usually do not have UPPP. For them, removing the tonsils and adenoids usually cures sleep apnea.

How Well It Works
There is no good evidence on how effective UPPP is for obstructive sleep apnea.1

UPPP may stop snoring, but apnea episodes may continue.2

Limited research indicates that about 40% to 60% of people who have UPPP see an improvement in their symptoms.3

Even if surgery successfully removes the blockage, you may still need CPAP after surgery.

Risks
Complications during surgery include accidental damage to surrounding blood vessels or tissues.

Complications after surgery may include:

Sleepiness and periods of not breathing (apnea) related to the medicines that are used to relieve pain and help you sleep.
Swelling, pain, infection, or bleeding.
Speech problems. The surgery may result in a nasal quality to the voice.
Narrowing of the airway in the nose and throat.
What To Think About
Before considering surgery, you should try CPAP.

You will need a sleep study after UPPP surgery to find out if your sleep apnea has improved. If you still stop breathing at night, you may still need CPAP.

Laser-assisted uvulopalatoplasty is sometimes used to treat mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea, although not all people benefit. This procedure is not approved by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine to treat sleep apnea.4

Complete the surgery information form (PDF)(What is a PDF document?) to help you prepare for this surgery.

Citations
Bridgman SA, Dunn KM (2003). Surgery for the treatment of obstructive sleep apnoea. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (1). Oxford: Update Software.

Malhotra A, White DP (2002). Obstructive sleep apnea. Lancet, 360(9328): 237–245.

Guilleminault C, Abad VC (2004). Obstructive sleep apnea syndromes. Medical Clinics of North America, 88(3): 611–630.

Littner M, et al. (2001). Practice parameters for the use of laser-assisted uvulopalatoplasty: An update for 2000. Sleep, 24(5): 603–619.


Author Paul Lehnert
Editor Kathleen M. Ariss, MS
Associate Editor Michele Cronen
Associate Editor Lisa Shaw
Primary Medical Reviewer Caroline S. Rhoads, MD - Internal Medicine
Specialist Medical Reviewer Jan Ulfberg, MD, PhD - Sleep Disorders
http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty-for-obstructive-sleep-apnea

Answer 8

Ask your doctor to prescribe you a CPAP machine that has a built in humidifier. It works wonders.