@Caravanfan – I feel your pain re:stuffy nose. I too have always had issues breathing through my nose. I had septoplasty in 2013 to fix it, but honestly it just made things a bit better. I still get congestion, and almost year-round allergies don’t help.
My first struggles with CPAP back in 2012/2013 were brutal. I went through around 11 masks (had to pay out-of-pocket), and ended up with damage to my skin on my nose and persistent leaking and pain. I finally gave up and have been untreated for years.
My current attempt has been to just go all-in on nasal pillows. Last night was pretty rough, because there was some congestion. But I’ve been surprised at how some of the congestion I feel pre-mask has been alleviated by putting on the mask with humidity and giving it some time.
I’ve been at this for about 3 weeks now, and the longest stretch I have worn the mask at night has been just under 4 hours. Mostly, I make it about 2–2.5 hours. But I’m attempting to keep at it in hopes that I can teach my body to tolerate it for longer and longer periods.
The mouth-taping seems to have improved things in the past week. My overall time with the mask on has improved slightly, and I’m more comfortable (surprisingly). The chin strap wasn’t doing its job, and I was getting lots of air sneaking out of my mouth.
Note: Masks are tough to fit because they don’t always work for people. But if you give the nasal pillows a chance and still find that you’re struggling with pure nose breathing, there are masks that blend the nasal pillows with a mask section for the mouth. If you can get something that fits your face comfortably without leaking, it might be the way to go.
Good luck! (And keep us/me posted.)