Need Afrin for CPAP

Fire-n-Gin · Post by **Fire-n-Gin** » Tue Mar 18, 2008 8:07 pm

Hi Gang! I'm new to this board and fairly new to CPAP. I seem to not be able to breathe through my nose unless I use a little shot of Afrin before donning my nasal mask. Obviously I know that long term usage of the Afrin isn't good, but what can I do? Sitting here right now, I can breath just fine through my nose, but when I lay down, I get plugged up.

Thanks, Rodd

RipVW · Post by **RipVW** » Tue Mar 18, 2008 8:17 pm

Hello & Welcome, Fire-n-Gin! Glad you found this forum--SO much useful info and SO many helpful people here!
Consider listing your equipment in your profile. Do you use a humidifier? I had to switch from a heated humidifier to a passive humidifier after I learned (on this forum!) that for some of us, heated moist air causes our nasal passages to swell.

"You are getting sleepy . . ."

Fire-n-Gin · Post by **Fire-n-Gin** » Tue Mar 18, 2008 8:35 pm

Thanks for the Welcome.

This is what I'm using...

REMstar Plus Machine
Fisher & Paykel HC150 Heated Humidifier
Fisher & Paykel Healthcare FlexiFit™ 407 Nasal Mask

Wulfman · Post by **Wulfman** » Tue Mar 18, 2008 8:45 pm

If you go up to near the top of the page to the Search function and do a search on "Afrin", you'll find a number of threads to read. I don't have any personal experience with it, but many of those that have say that it perpetuates the problem that it's supposed to remedy by it's rebound effect.

Like RipVW, I only use cool, pass-over humidification as my nasal passages close up very easily, too.

Den

deerslayer · Post by **deerslayer** » Tue Mar 18, 2008 8:47 pm

Welcome Fire . yep, i keep the afrin handy,but only use as a last resort. always aware of repeated use may bring on rebound. it's amazing how the simple gift of a clear,unobstructed breath is priceless ! i try to use saline spray a couple times a day. it seems being sedentary tends to stuff me up,but if i move around or exercise the sinuses become clearer. cpap has definitely helped big time to keep the head clear at night. then i wake up & take the mask off i start to sneeze and the cycle begins again

GumbyCT · Post by **GumbyCT** » Tue Mar 18, 2008 9:06 pm

Did you know that Afrin, & most other OTC nasal sprays will raise your BP? Read the bottle. My sleep doc says the way they work is to shrink the blood vessels but when it wears off - you get that rebound mentioned above.

Use saline Nasal spray if you must. Or consider reading up on using Netti pots.

You gotta breath & it may take time to get yourself of the OTC stuff. They say if need something to get a steroid script from your doc or see an ENT about getting the nose fixed.

Oh for me the HH helps tremendously.

JMMO,
GumbyCT

Fire-n-Gin · Post by **Fire-n-Gin** » Tue Mar 18, 2008 9:16 pm

Netti pots? Well I had to Google that one. Interesting stuff, but I use saline spray in the shower in the morning at it cleans me out pretty well (nasty, but you asked). I also had surgery done a few years ago to "open up my nose" and it is better, but not open enough for the CPAP. Maybe I just need more time to get used to it.

My BP has been up too and I just started a new Rx for that...

Is "HH" heated humidity? I was just getting ready to try it tonight with the heater off. Maybe that will help.

I also wonder if the pressure isn't high enough. I find myself having to open my mouth a few times when I first get into bed to catch my breath.

bap40 · Post by **bap40** » Tue Mar 18, 2008 9:23 pm

I also used Afrin nightly for a very long time. It seemed like I could breath just fine during the daytime, but come to bedtime it all changed and unless I used the spray, I could not breathe. My doc, told me to use a saline spray during the day and evening. He also prescribed a steriodal type of spray, Nasocort. That routine has worked very well to get me off of the Afrin for the most part. There are still times when I do have to give it a squirt or two, but those are few and far between. Afrin does have a rebound affect as stated above. The Nasocort helps with allergies and my doc thinks that is why I was having the nasal stuffiness in the first place. Seems to make sense to me.

GumbyCT · Post by **GumbyCT** » Tue Mar 18, 2008 9:27 pm

Fire-n-Gin wrote:I also wonder if the pressure isn't high enough. I find myself having to open my mouth a few times when I first get into bed to catch my breath.

Yes HH= heated humidifier.

Can you use the internet at the firehouse? Have a laptop?

Start at the Yellow Lite bulb - Our Collective Wisdom
viewtopic/t14303/New-To-CPAPtalkcom-Cli ... tbulb.html
cpaptalk-articles.php

READ cpaptalk.com FAQ
cpaptalk-faq.php

For Acronyms & Definitions
http://www.sleepnet.com/definition.html

sleepydopeydocgrumpydwarf · Post by **sleepydopeydocgrumpydwarf** » Tue Mar 18, 2008 9:50 pm

Hi,

I'm completely new to this site (first post).

I saw you're question about Afrin.

Stay away from it if you can. It caused me nothing but trouble. It's great stuff but do not let it become a habit. I didn't read the label and used it for years. The problem is that you then need to use it nearly every night.

I finally had sinus surgery to clear things up and was also on the nasal steroids for a while. I haven't used the Afrin in over a year.

Good Luck

Beulah · Post by **Beulah** » Wed Mar 19, 2008 7:56 pm

I'm the same way - breathe through my nose fine upright, can't at all lying down. I'm using Breathe Right strips every dang night under my mask. They really help me.

Paula

jasper · Post by **jasper** » Thu Mar 20, 2008 1:00 pm

I find that any mask that goes over my nose, like the Activa or F&P 432 or similar causes my nasal passages to close down somewhat. After I found the Optilife, I no longer have that problem. The air blowing directly into my nostrils seems to open things up. You may want to try a nasal pillow or prong type mask, and if you can tolerate the direct airflow, you may get a positive effect from it.

Capri · Post by **Capri** » Thu Mar 20, 2008 2:22 pm

Try nasal saline spray, then maybe Claritin (both are available OTC, Generic), then there are the Rx steroid-laced (generic) nasal sprays. I use fluticasone (generic Flonase)-I don't know what class of medication Afrin is, but I think it's a bad idea. I would sleep in a recliner with my CPAP and/or experiment with a heated humidifier (they can be had used for not too much $$) before using that. I also find not letting the cat sleep on my face also helps.

Cheers!
*******
Settings: CPAP 8cm, heated humidity, AHI=18

Main unit: ResMed S8 Elite, ResMed Humidaire 3i
Backup: ResMed S6 Lightweight, ResMed Sullivan Humidaire
Mask: ResMed Ultra Mirage FF
Backup: ResMed Swift II
Health Tools: ResMed ResScan Data Card, CMS-50E Pulse Oximeter, OneTouch Ultra glucometer, Citrus II spray mask cleaner
Software: ResMed ResScan 3.3, OneTouch, SP O2 Manager/Review

Machine	Mask

Additional Comments: straight cpap 12.20 AHI avg.0.79

Need Afrin for CPAP

Need Afrin for CPAP

Nasal congestion