Sinus irritation or allergy?

[wydazy]

I've been using the Respironics (whoops previously wrote Resmed) for 3 months. I started with the small nose mask. I had a hard time adjusting and then switched to the dream mask which I think is wonderful. For the last two months I have been fighting what I thought was terrible allergy.

I am using allergy eye drops, nose drops, Allegra, Benadryl and saline. Two weeks ago I went to the doctor he prescribed Singular. My blood pressure was so high they didn’t want me to leave the office…then they put me on blood pressure medicine. His comment was I thought the cpap would help your blood pressure but it's worse. The Singulair helped a little for about 3 days. I asked for a steroid shot and it helped very well—for an entire day!! That day I laid down to rest and my eyes hurt when I moved them. I looked in the mirror and I had white discharge on my upper and lower lids…quite a bit. I thought “Pink Eye”! I went to the eye doctor he said it is part of the allergy and not actually pink eye but told me to use prednisone eye drops too. That has pretty much cleared up, though my eyes are redder than normal.

I’ve been researching this problem with cpap on this site and others and I know that many people have sinus allergy-like irritation from it. I turned down the heat on the humidifier to 2 last night and I thought it helped but I also I took chlorotrimeton with everything else so woke up feeling pretty well and had hopes I had found a solution, but by noon I was sneezing and itching again. I took more chlorotrimeton at noon and then I was kind of too sleepy to work, but I did anyway. Tonight I'll turn it up to 5 and see how I feel. I tried turning it to zero and my sinus had a burning sensation.

I’m wondering if I should go to the allergist. With so much written about the cpap and sinus irritation I’m hesitant to do that but I'm not imagining all this. I used the sinus rinse but it didn't seem to do anything and may have even irritated my sinus. I've never sneezed so hard, almost as if I can't control the pressure of it. I wish there was an easy solution..maybe it is dust mites or mold.. It is very dry here but we live in a log home and I know the logs have dust laying on them.

[BlackSpinner]

And what kind of mask do you use? What kind of machine do you use? What are your settings?

[GettingBetter]

I've been using the Resmed for 3 months. I started with the small nose mask. I had a hard time adjusting and then switched to the dream mask which I think is wonderful. For the last two months I have been fighting what I thought was terrible allergy.

I am using allergy eye drops, nose drops, Allegra, Benadryl and saline. Two weeks ago I went to the doctor he prescribed Singular. My blood pressure was so high they didn’t want me to leave the office…then they put me on blood pressure medicine. His comment was I thought the cpap would help your blood pressure but it's worse. The Singulair helped a little for about 3 days. I asked for a steroid shot and it helped very well—for an entire day!! That day I laid down to rest and my eyes hurt when I moved them. I looked in the mirror and I had white discharge on my upper and lower lids…quite a bit. I thought “Pink Eye”! I went to the eye doctor he said it is part of the allergy and not actually pink eye but told me to use prednisone eye drops too. That has pretty much cleared up, though my eyes are redder than normal.

I’ve been researching this problem with cpap on this site and others and I know that many people have sinus allergy-like irritation from it. I turned down the heat on the humidifier to 2 last night and I thought it helped but I also I took chlorotrimeton with everything else so woke up feeling pretty well and had hopes I had found a solution, but by noon I was sneezing and itching again. I took more chlorotrimeton at noon and then I was kind of too sleepy to work, but I did anyway. Tonight I'll turn it up to 5 and see how I feel. I tried turning it to zero and my sinus had a burning sensation.

I’m wondering if I should go to the allergist. With so much written about the cpap and sinus irritation I’m hesitant to do that but I'm not imagining all this. I used the sinus rinse but it didn't seem to do anything and may have even irritated my sinus. I've never sneezed so hard, almost as if I can't control the pressure of it. I wish there was an easy solution..maybe it is dust mites or mold.. It is very dry here but we live in a log home and I know the logs have dust laying on them.

I'm throwing in a vote to go to the allergist. Just about anything the allergist will do or prescribe will help reduce apnea or keep you breathing from your nose - which is also good.

I'm suffering with some allergic reactions/cold symptoms myself right now. Runny nose, sneezing and watery eyes. I take the Singulair before bedtime instead of in the morning because it also has been shown to reduce obstructive apnea events [1] and I want that medicine bump at bedtime. I use Flonase, which is a wonder-drug for me most of the time, also before bed because it has been reported to lesson the occurrence of obstructive events[2].

Right now, before bedtime, I'm sneezing and crine and blowng my nose. The CPAP humidity actually makes me feel better and I have a windo cracked for some fresh air. The kids let the cats in the house and I think that is what has me torn up right now.

Sometimes when I turn on the heat for the first time in the winter, I will have an allergy attack probably due to some bloom of mold or whatever that lives in the ducts and loves warm air. I try not to think about this a lot and steam clean as best I can.




[1] http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK195647/
[2] http://sleepdisorders.about.com/od/slee ... ergies.htm and http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14694248

[chunkyfrog]

Allergies, I concur. I was sick so much, half a dozen bad colds a year, for most of my life;
and bronchitis at least once, maybe twice a year! After the second bout with pneumonia,
my doctor finally turned his brain on, and I have taken an antihistamine
for around 30 years. Who knew all those "colds" were allergies? They were!
I now wonder if there really is such a thing as a "cold", as I just don't have them any more.

[wydazy]

I stated that I am using the respironics with with the dreamware mask with heated humidifier but I don't know how to get to the member profile to put those specifics in. I am using it set at 11 which is what the sleep lab recommended. I set the humidifier at higher heat last night and so far I feel good this morning but expect the allergy will return when the chlorotrimeton wears off. I do use flonase and sometimes it helps a little.

[R1200ST]

I have sever allergies, rhinitis, sinusitis, deviated septum. In everything you posted you talk about taking medications, numerous types, steroids etc. I used to walk that same road as you. Years and years of medications, to the point that Nothing worked.

I took a long look at myself and realized that I was trying to prevent the symptoms, and no prevent the ISSUE.

I now use a neti pot sinus rinse each night, using the squeeze bottle, and 90% of my allergic Rhinitis issues are gone. Just flat out GONE!

Most of the sinusitis issues are reduced to the point that I can tolerate them without medication.

It didn't happen overnight, it is not a cure all, I still suffer some minor issues during the Cedar Fever season here in Texas, but I am telling you with all honesty, that this works for me, and I used to be so incapacitated from my allergic problems that I was unable to function, due to dizziness, pain, coughing, etc.

What was the trigger point for me? I was driving my truck with my family, and had a sever vertigo attack and almost killed us all.

Good luck and try it. I swear it will work for you.

[OkyDoky]

I stated that I am using the respironics with with the dreamware mask with heated humidifier but I don't know how to get to the member profile to put those specifics in. I am using it set at 11 which is what the sleep lab recommended. I set the humidifier at higher heat last night and so far I feel good this morning but expect the allergy will return when the chlorotrimeton wears off. I do use flonase and sometimes it helps a little.

This might help you.
wiki/index.php/Registering_Equipment_in_User_Profile