Visit with the ENT doc today

[givemesleep]

I decided to ask my PCP to refer me to an ENT since the pulmonologist that he orginally referred me to no longer took my insurance. The pulmonologist never checked for anatomical conditions that could contribute to my OSA. The ENT found a polyp in my left nostril and a deviated septum toward the right side. I also have enlarged tonsils. Interesting! I became suspicious while studying my sleep study, I had no apneas on my back, only hypopneas, but had 10 apneas when I was on my right side, and lots of hypopneas.

I have also been having trouble with my right ear having a clogged feeling several times throughout the day. He said that it was most likely due to the CPAP. He was also concerned about my allergies, he has put me on a Singular and Nasonex daily, currently I only take a Benadryl when I can't stop sneezing. He wants to try and get the swelling down in my nose and I have to have a CT scan of my sinuses.

He is not suggesting any surgery yet, he wants me to get to a healthy weight range and see what that does for the apnea and then go from there. I have lost 40 pounds since April so I am trying real hard to get there, I have 45 pounds to go to be in the healthy range.

I would be open to have the deviated septum fixed, but not so sure about the tonsils...the recovery sounds so painful

[Slinky]

And the polyp. Don't forget the polyp when considering the septum surgery.

Actually, it sounds like you've encountered a pretty darn good ENT. And, I'd keep on top of the ear/CPAP bit. He's quite likely right on about there being a connection.

[wlo2008]

And sometimes the surgerys don't take care of it just lesson the pressure. I had a friend who got her surgery and a year later was back on her xpap. I only qualify for a trecheotomy. And that was a no from me. LOL

[marshaeb]

In the meantime, you might try Breathe Right strips. I have a slightly deviated septum, too, and when I learned I had OSA and would have to wait some time for my titration study and then MORE time to get my equipment, I did what I could right then to make my breathing easier.

One was to elevate my head, because I remembered the sleep tech saying I could use two pillows if I wanted to (during the study), but that I shouldn't be too elevated, because it would very possibly keep the events from happening, which is of course why I was there.

The other thing I did was buy Breathe Right strips.... wish I'd done that long ago!! The moment I attached it, I could tell I was breathing better. Can't recommend them enough. Just as a side note, I've only been on the hose for a little more than three weeks, and that's not a lot of time to make sweeping statements about anything. But I've been checking my numbers every day, and my AHI has consistently been in the 1.8 to 2.0 range. Then one day, it jumped to 9.0. I thought about all of the variables I could, wondering what was different, and the only thing I could come up with was that I'd run out of the BR strips and hadn't gotten more. The 9.0 night was the night that I wasn't using the BR strip. Like I said, three weeks is an awfully short time to use for theories, but I will say that I got more BR strips that day, have been using them ever since, and my AHI is right back to the 1.8 - 2.0 range. Worth a try.

I hope everything goes well for you.

Marsha

[GuyK]

Hi Marsha - I've always been curious about Breathe Right strips. Do you know if they work well with oily skin?

[Snoredog]

In the meantime, you might try Breathe Right strips. I have a slightly deviated septum, too, and when I learned I had OSA and would have to wait some time for my titration study and then MORE time to get my equipment, I did what I could right then to make my breathing easier.

One was to elevate my head, because I remembered the sleep tech saying I could use two pillows if I wanted to (during the study), but that I shouldn't be too elevated, because it would very possibly keep the events from happening, which is of course why I was there.

The other thing I did was buy Breathe Right strips.... wish I'd done that long ago!! The moment I attached it, I could tell I was breathing better. Can't recommend them enough. Just as a side note, I've only been on the hose for a little more than three weeks, and that's not a lot of time to make sweeping statements about anything. But I've been checking my numbers every day, and my AHI has consistently been in the 1.8 to 2.0 range. Then one day, it jumped to 9.0. I thought about all of the variables I could, wondering what was different, and the only thing I could come up with was that I'd run out of the BR strips and hadn't gotten more. The 9.0 night was the night that I wasn't using the BR strip. Like I said, three weeks is an awfully short time to use for theories, but I will say that I got more BR strips that day, have been using them ever since, and my AHI is right back to the 1.8 - 2.0 range. Worth a try.

I hope everything goes well for you.

Marsha

FYI: I found they are the cheapest at Costco. They do work great and have been clinically proven to improve breathing. I use them on occasion under my mask.

Just as the BreathRight strips can open up your breathing, applying pressure in the opposite direction with a nasal mask that is too small can close them up.

Squeezing around your nose even down at the base should tell you if you have that problem. I had a deviated septum fix more than 25 years ago, while I can normally breathe fine, I use them at night when I think I might become congested.

oily skin: To the other poster, I don't have oily skin but using a Swissper pad with some alcohol should fix that. I use the Large BreathRight strips, they seem to work better.