New To CPAP and it's Costing Me My Health

[Disgusted]

You sound like your sinuses are completely fried. When you say you have tried multiple nasal sprays, I assume you are talking about steroid nasal sprays and not OTC crap like Afrin or naturopath/quack medicine sprays? I use Nasacort AQ spray, have for years and it works well.

One thing that really helped my sinuses was taking massive doses of vitamin D, the prescription stuff called drisdol. A 100,000 IU a week for about a week. DRAMATIC improvement! Since vitamin D, my sinuses do not bother me that much. I really pushed the dose, my doctor rxed me 100,000 IU a week of the stuff, some docs will only rx 50,000 IU drisdol.

You can get the vitamin D deficiency test without a doctor's orders at that AnyLabTestNow! chain. They have the test for $99, no insurance or doctor involved. If it comes back positive, your doctor is basically negligent if they dont give you the prescription drisdol or its generic equivalent.

I did not get my vitamin D testing done at AnyLabTestNow! I did it thru my Internal medicine doctor. But since my levels came up he seems to have lost interest in my vitamin D issue and I may start getting tested once or twice a year at AnyLabTestNow! for vitamin D...its only $99.

I also keep my humidifier CRANKED TO THE MAX during from the late fall, the entire winter and until about May. I mean just crank it all the way up to where the dial wont go any higher. I actually like rainout in my hose in the summer, I get my best sleep in the summers because the humidifier works the best then and the humidity seems to smooth out my breathing and OSA. I cant use CPAP without a heated humidifier.

In all honestly though, your sinus symptoms sound severe and CPAP is certainly not the best thing for fried sinuses. Perhaps you should consider an alternate route out of OSA?

Perhaps a tracheotomy? Solves OSA completely. And while you are breathing OK after the trach surgery and getting some restorative sleep, then you could focus on maybe sinus surgery and get that resolved?

Another thing I find that helps my sinuses is suntanning. layin out in the sun an hour or more a day helps my sinuses a good amount.

Disgusted

[Mr Bill]

I am rushing so I apologize if someone else said this and I didn't see it. I don't have the same issues you have, other than allergies, so ask your doctor about nasal steroids. I spent 6-7 months trying every conceivable combination of nasal sprays and oral antihistamines/decongestants and I walked around like I had a constant cold. All day my nose dripped, and all night it was stuffy. I couldn't use CPAP because I couldn't breathe through my nose. I finally went back on nasal steroids (Nasonex) and all of these issues resolved.

I've quoted this because I did this before I ever knew I would get (or had?) sleep apnea. I had a cough caused by sinus drainage for over 20 years that would get worse at night. Then I found out I had asthma. But eventually I found out I primarily have GERD, acid reflux. The acid irritates the vagus nerve which in turn irritates the sinuses and no combination of antihistamines/decongestants, or steroids would make it go away. When I realized I had GERD, I elevated the head of my bed 6 inches and in one night most of my symptoms disappeared and after a few day it was >95% gone. So, you say you cannot sleep propped up because of neck and back problems. Could you stand to sleep on just a wee slope? You can hardly tell its there and unless you sleep on silk, you won't find yourself sliding down hill. Its worth a try if this is being caused by GERD or silent reflux.

[Nelliebear]

As a fellow nasal spray addict, I have a suggestion regarding them. I tried a system that I found online, called Rhinostat. It is a titration withdrawal system. You order the exact type of medicine that you are addicted to, then gradually dilute it with saline solution so you don't suffer the extreme rebound effects. It has really helped me. I now only use a very diluted solution to sleep at night with my CPAP. I only need about 2 drops before bed and it keeps me open enough to sleep.

[BlackSpinner]

As for the absurdity of a full face mask my concerns are valid. Having air blown past our nose or into our mouths is not natural in our environment as we sleep. This tends to dry out the mucus membranes. I have read throughout many posts on the internet that a segment of individuals are having problems with this “type” of way that air is delivered. I’ve also had this confirmed by my sleep study tech.

We breath while we sleep - this causes air to move past our mucus membrane every night of our lives. That is why they added an humidifier for comfort and to keep the mucus membranes moistened. How is breathing clean, filter humidified air not beneficial?
Sleep techs are trained to do tests, most do not have medical degrees and many do not have clue how cpap actually works. Neither do a lot of RTs, they are initially trained to work with complex systems to keep people and neonatals alive for short periods of time, it is like asking a space shuttle mechanic to fix you old VW.

And you are correct and as I have previously posted I have had chronic congestion prior to undergoing sleep study and CPAP. I vehemently voiced my concerns to my allergist and sleep study/pulmonologist Doc that CPAP could further complicate my congestion, as I have read on a great number of other posts. Three days into CPAP my lungs infected. I will go back to my profile and try to find the items you suggested needing updating.

Lung infections are not caused by CPAP therapy, however the stress that many people cause them selves by fighting adopting CPAP therapy will lower your immune system which will allow opportunistic bacteria the chance to grow.
Use your full face mask and the highest humidity you and it can manage. Trust me on this, when I had a case of pneumonia last winter it was much much easier to bear with cpap and more quickly over then previous bouts of pneumonia pre -cpap. In fact I sometimes wore it during the day while working on the computer because it totally reduced my symptoms to next to nothing.

[dukemom1]

UPDATE ON THE CPAP VAPOR CLEAR SINUS BLASTER

I agree, they do their product a great disservice by putting the word "blaster" in the title. It doesn't blast anything. It is identical to their normal aromatherapy, the sole difference being the only scent included is "Clear" - which is made up of eucalyptus, rosemary, mint and lime.

The last two nights I have tried "Peace" - which contains lavender and small amounts of marjoram sweet and clary sage and ""French Vanilla" - self explanatory.

It could not be easier to use. Place a single drop of the essential oil of your choice (Clear if you order the Vapor Clear for Sinuses) on small round 'diffusers' they provide.
Place the diffuser in a stand (also provided by the company) and place it in front of the air intake of your CPAP machine, taking care to not block the intake.

Then, breathe in the wonderful aroma and enjoy! Surprisingly the one drop is enough for you to reap the benefit, but not enough to annoy your sleeping parter should he/she be sensitive to fragrances.