At my witts end!

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed May 07, 2008 7:24 am

I have been using a CPAP for about 3 years now. My congestion problem is getting worse and worse. I had a real scare last night. I chose not to use the Afrin spray. At about 12:30am while in deep REM sleep I woke up within a fraction of a second, sat up and ripped my nasal mask off while gasping for air, with heart pounding. Normally when I get stuffed up it is more gradual and I don;t wake up so violently. I am at my witts end here. I have been to ENTS with no luck. My congestion is a dry congestion. I almost never blow my nose. I find that it takes longer and longer for the Afrin to work and then it works for shorter periods of time now. I have had only minor improvement from cortisone sprays. If I could only breathe I would sleep like a baby. I have a heated humidifier. I have tried netti pots, saline sprays. I am afraid I will die in the middle of the night unable to breathe. I hate the idea of surgery. Doctors are confused about the DRY stuffiness. Most people have WET stuffiness.

Any thoughts or words of incouragement? I even tried acupuncture to no avail.

Gary

Catnapper · Post by **Catnapper** » Wed May 07, 2008 8:12 am

Hi Gary,

It occurred to me that the pressure of your mask could inhibit the circulation in your face and cause swelling that would feel like congestion. Do you wear a nasal mask or full face? My doctor once suggested that I use something like the Hybrid that does not press on the areas over my sinuses. Some people have edema that shows up quickly when pressure is applied. I have often had doctors press on my ankle to see if there is retained fluid in my legs. Even if your mask is not very tight, it would be putting light pressure on for a long time.

That may be a strange idea. I hope other people will give opinions about it.

KansasRT · Post by **KansasRT** » Wed May 07, 2008 8:16 am

Have you tried a F & P heated humidifier? THey tend to put out a higher level of humidification. Don't quote me, because I am in no way perfect, but I believe that they work on 33% humidification which is what the body does on it's own (when you are not blasting past with CPAP). I have been told that after a few days all of the congestion goes away.

CentralScrutinizer · Post by **CentralScrutinizer** » Wed May 07, 2008 8:19 am

How frequently are you using Afrin?

damncows · Post by **damncows** » Wed May 07, 2008 8:36 am

try sinus buster it seems to help my congestion. as added bonus when you go out rioting you my buildup a tolerance to pepper spray. good luck

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed May 07, 2008 9:15 am

Thank you all for your replies. I will try to answer all of them here.

1. I tried SINUS BUSTER. It did not work.
2. I have a F&P heated humidifier. Did not make any difference compared to my Remstar.
3.I do have a full face lying around the house which I will try using to see if the pressure on the nose/face could be a factor.

Further ideas are welcome. By the way, isn't DRY CONGESTION more unusual than wet congestion with CPAP use?

Gary

Slinky · Post by **Slinky** » Wed May 07, 2008 10:20 am

Actually, I would think that dry "congestion" would actually NOT be congestion but rather inflammation and swelling causing obstruction of the nasal and sinus cavities. As for what to do about that??? Good question. Would Ayr Saline Nasal Gel or Nasal Spray help w/something like that?? I do know you should never use any product containing petroleum but it would seem that a gel might help prevent the swelling from excessive dryness. Whether a saline gel would be the way to go or not is a good question tho. Maybe just a clear KY jelly?

And have you tried turning your HC 150 up higher? There are ways to avoid rain out if you run into that w/the 150 cranked up high or higher.

Kinda makes you think of what JSkinner ran into on a smaller scale, doesn't it?

-SWS · Post by **-SWS** » Wed May 07, 2008 10:34 am

Here's a relatively inexpensive experiment to try:
Some Very Interesting Nasal Inserts Sold on eBay

There seems to be plenty of positive user feedback about those inserts. I have a couple pair on order to try and so does DSM.

sleepycarol · Post by **sleepycarol** » Wed May 07, 2008 10:38 am

If you are using Afrin on a continuing basis you are getting the rebound effect.

Are you using the Afrin nightly? It would appear so according to the way I read your post. The night you woke up -- you had chosen not to use the Afrin and then had problems.

You must wean yourself off the Afrin in order to allow your sinuses to function properly. It will take time and WILL be worse in the beginning.

Julie · Post by **Julie** » Wed May 07, 2008 2:17 pm

Hi - stop using the humidifier for a few days, or at least turn it way down. It often causes congestion and many people have learned they don't need it as high as they've set it. Give it a chance and I bet you feel better soon.

Hawthorne · Post by **Hawthorne** » Wed May 07, 2008 2:55 pm

I use a "lubricating nasal gel". I am Canadian so don't know if there is an American equivilent. It is called "Secaris" in Canada. "Rhinaris" has the same ingredients - also Canadian but it may be available in the US. I put a bit, from a Q tip, in each nostril every evening and spread it around the nostil walls (not very much). It seems to keep my nasal passages open and clear all night. It may be like Ayr nasal gel and I suspect it is. I ordered some Ayr gel on Ebay but it has not arrived yet. I will know when it arrives and I can check the ingredients.

Snoredog · Post by **Snoredog** » Wed May 07, 2008 3:16 pm

-SWS wrote:Here's a relatively inexpensive experiment to try:
Some Very Interesting Nasal Inserts Sold on eBay

There seems to be plenty of positive user feedback about those inserts. I have a couple pair on order to try and so does DSM.

Hey fix yer link that one took me to a porno website (so I bookmarked it)

either that our yours didn't open!

Update: I got it now, it was behind the pop-ups or pop-outs

Hey for $10 bucks that is not bad, I'm stopping by Ace Hardware and getting some clear tubing used to be pretty good at sticking straws up my nose.

garyland · Post by **garyland** » Wed May 07, 2008 5:44 pm

Thank you all for your responses. I will listen to ANY suggestions. I do agree that my problem must be INFLAMATION where my turbinates expand and cut off my air. I will think about buying those nasal inserts. When you get yours, PLEASE let us know what you think. Some times I put vicks on the rims of my nostrils before going to bed. I think it helps a little. It does not burn or sting like you think it would. DO YOU THINK AN ANTI INFLAMATORY LIKE ADVIL WOULD WORK? I will crank down the humidity tonite. I usually keep it on 2 out of 5.

Gary

-SWS · Post by **-SWS** » Wed May 07, 2008 6:06 pm

Hey! As luck would have it those nasal inserts arrived in the mail today. I'll make it a point to walk around my wife's outdoor flower beds before going to bed tonight. That should get my nasal passages good and swollen since I haven't started taking Nasonex for the spring allergy season.

Tomorrow I'll report the results of those nasal inserts...

Snoredog:
.

NeedinZs · Post by **NeedinZs** » Wed May 07, 2008 6:35 pm

Have you tried Ponaris Oil Nasal Emolient?

Your drug store may have to order it. It really helped with my dry congestion.

RE: your avatar........didn't I use to watch you on Leave it to Beaver?

Mask

Additional Comments: I have been on an Xpap since July 2005

At my witts end!

At my witts end!

dry congestion

At my wit's end!