Hay fever and CPAP

[symmit]

So the allergies have kicked in. Have had a few crappy nights so have knocked my minimum up from 8 to 9 after looking at the graphs and seeing it's been elevating a bit. Had a better night last night.

Anyone else suffer? This is my first summer coming up, so any tips will be welcome...

[Fredxx]

Yep, a few of us hay fever sufferers here, and it is definitely not nice with the CPAP.

If your nose is bunged up at night, Beconase or Otravine nasal sprays are good - beconase is the better option as it is designed for allergy relief and not as high in steroids as Otravine.

The other, and probably better solution...Sinupulse. Washing your nose out reduces the pollen and allergy effects, although for me, I still have to use antihistamine tablets for the other effects.

[Berneta]

Hay Fever

Hi, so far I've had one incident with hay fever. Then got my supply of of stuff out--SinuPluse--nose spray--scented incense--antihistime--kleenex--and closed windows. Seem to do ok at night with the windows closed and fans on. Soon we'll turn on the AC, and I won't have any problems I can't take care of. Hay Fever Season means War--so get a bunch of stuff and hope that something works. xxBerneta

[symmit]

Closed windows?

I'm working on the theory that the filters on the machine will keep the pollen out during the night, so going for more comfort and open windows!

[Fredxx]

pollen is very fine - the machine filters won't do much to keep them out

[Tigers Fan]

Is it possible to buy pollen filter masks for hay fever sufferers?

If it is, make a cardboard four sided pyramid section - size of machine filter air inlet to size of pollen filter - Sellotape it into position, fit pollen filter, presto!

Don't cut pollen filter to size of machine filter else it won't let enough air through.

TF

[silvercarper]

The grey foam filter on my Remstar is a pollen filter according to this

http://www.cpap-europe.com/remstar-washable-pollen-filters-o-13.html

[Tigers Fan]

Whoda thought? I had them down as spider filters and the white disposables as fine particle filters.

Perhaps pollen isn't so small after all!

TF

[Fredxx]

well, I guess as pollen grains are about the same size as fine dust, the filters will do the job of removing a sizable proportion of it, but some will still make it through.

To really stop pollen grains you would need a HEPA type filter, which are manufactured to a much finer tolerance than can be managed with open cell foam and prevent anything larger than 2 microns passing through. the downside of this, as implied by Tiger, is that you need a much bigger surface area for the air to pass through.

[James @ Intus]

If you use both types of filter, grey coarse and white fine, you will catch most of them. We can also special-order anti-bacterial filters which catch even more stuff.

I know of CPAP user who combine the machine filters with the SinuPulse and add a mechanical air filter in their bedroom to ensure a hayfever free night. Note that most pollen are released in the morning so you should be OK for open window until early AM.