a little nervous - venting

[tuzacat]

Well, I am a little nervous here. I have had allergies and sinus issues for the past 30 years but they have escalated recently. For a year my mask of choice was the Swift FX but when my pressure got bumped up I started to have so many issues with mouth puffing I switched to the Hybrid. This winter I had some major sinus infections and suddenly I couldn't tolerate nasal pillows any more because of crusting inside my nostrils. So in desperation I ordered a Wisp and started taping and using a chip strap. I had good relief for a while and with the Wisp my AHI is usually below 1; once it even went to zero! I recently had a CT scan and consulted an ENT - I still have an active sinus infection. Unfortunately, I am allergic to a raft of antibiotics. The new therapy I will be trying is inhaling 2 different antibiotics and an anti-inflammatory through a nebulizer twice a day for a month. This stuff had to be ordered from a compounding pharmacy in CA and is supposed to arrive tonight.(Of course, my insurance doesn't pay for this.) The past couple of nights I haven't been able to use the Wisp - my sinuses just closed up and I felt like I couldn't get any air. I am able to tolerate the Hybrid better now but I am still having a closed up feeling but must be getting some relief through my mouth. Sigh...my AHI was up to 2.7 last night. I could feel sometimes before I got to sleep that I was inhaling and nothing was happening. Almost everything is reading CA. I am really concerned about having an allergic reaction tonight with this new stuff. I have benedryl at the ready. Don't really know how anyone can help - just need to vent...

[Pugsy]

Sometimes we just have to vent and it sometimes helps.
You are right....I can't think of anything to say to help.
So instead I will send you a big cyber hug and a shoulder to lean on for a little while to see if that helps a bit.
(((HUGS)))

[Julie]

Hi - I just wonder if you've played with the humidifier setting at all - sometimes it helps with congestion, sinus related or not.

[tuzacat]

Thank you, Pugsy! I needed that cyber hug! I was up at 5:30 - my little cat had an asthma attack - so with my issues and my sister who is staying with me at present and who has a horrible choking chronic cough - everyone in this household seems to be having breathing issues right now! Hopefully all will resolve soon!

Thanks for your thoughts, Julie, I have played with the humidity - I don't think it is that, though, because I am pretty stuffy even when I'm up and about right now.

I am so grateful to this community - where else can I talk about this kind of stuff where people REALLY understand? Thanks for "listening"!

[pootsie]

I know the misery of a sinus infection. You have my sympathies!

{{{{{more hugs}}}}}

[DreamDiver]

Not a doctor, but also have had sinus problems.
I've been using a product called Xlear. One of our Atlanta CPAP users group members told me about it.
It's a xylitol nasal spray that does a great job of cleaning out sinuses. They also make a nasal neti wash for getting all the way back into the sinuses.

Xylitol is a natural sugar that is naturally antibiotic/antibacterial. It's one of the reasons they use it in gum. It's a natural tooth decay preventive.

I steer clear of antibiotics when I can. It''s an off-the-shelf product, and while I don't know your circumstances, and I can't really tell you this would be good for you, I can say is that this stuff works for me.

[NightSky]

Crushed raw garlic has helped me fight off some infections. If you can't stand antibiotics it is worth a try. Peel one or two cloves and crush it with a garlic crusher. You can mix it in applesauce to cover up some of the garlic zingyness. Alternatively I sometimes mix it in a glass of V8. Of course there are a million recipes that use garlic, but I hear it has to be crushed and raw to be really effective. Yes, the downside is that you will have garlic breath. And even if it seems to help you still have to take it for multiple days. But I like it.

[khauser]

Crushed raw garlic has helped me fight off some infections. If you can't stand antibiotics it is worth a try. Peel one or two cloves and crush it with a garlic crusher. You can mix it in applesauce to cover up some of the garlic zingyness. Alternatively I sometimes mix it in a glass of V8. Of course there are a million recipes that use garlic, but I hear it has to be crushed and raw to be really effective. Yes, the downside is that you will have garlic breath. And even if it seems to help you still have to take it for multiple days. But I like it.

Dude, how do you get a mask to fit that nose I see in your avatar??

[DreamDiver]

Crushed raw garlic has helped me fight off some infections. If you can't stand antibiotics it is worth a try. Peel one or two cloves and crush it with a garlic crusher. You can mix it in applesauce to cover up some of the garlic zingyness. Alternatively I sometimes mix it in a glass of V8. Of course there are a million recipes that use garlic, but I hear it has to be crushed and raw to be really effective. Yes, the downside is that you will have garlic breath. And even if it seems to help you still have to take it for multiple days. But I like it.

If you add about a teaspoon of freshly-ground fennel seeds to the garlic and applesauce, your breath won't impale passers-by.

[Papit]

Nah. Go full bore sniffing pure minced garlic as deeply as you can and several times in succession. It's wonderful. Really. At least for me. Give it a shot and let us know how it does on your sinuses, etc.

[kteague]

Thank you, Pugsy! I needed that cyber hug! I was up at 5:30 - my little cat had an asthma attack - so with my issues and my sister who is staying with me at present and who has a horrible choking chronic cough - everyone in this household seems to be having breathing issues right now!

Was your sister prone to this before staying with you? Is there anyone (or any pet) in the house who is free of allergy type symptoms? Just hoping it's the run-or-the-mill sinus/allergy/cold crud that seems to hang around forever, and not something in the home you are all inhaling. If this persists and is chronic, it's at least something to consider. Hope you all feel better soon. What do you do for a kitty with an asthma attack?

[Zen Knitter]

Tuzacat, I understand the stress of using a new med. I too am allergic to many drugs, and it causes me some concerns, especially if I need to take the med at night. But here are a few of the things I use for sinus problems/infections. The Vicks Co. Sells a vaporizer that is for nasal use. It just fits over your mouth and nose. It is electric and is a life saver for me every winter. I will admit that I do use it for long periods at very hi temps, breathing through both my nose and mouth. IMHO I think that the hi temps kill germs and viruses. I have made this suggestion to everyone I have known with sinus problems and every one has said it is a miracle treatment. Also there is a product called Olbas Oil, that is made in Switzerland, which contains only natural plant oils that you use a q-tip to put a drop in each nostril. Somewhat like a Vicks inhaler but on steroids. It is magical for clearing stuffy nasal passages. Hope this helps, and big hugs for comfort. Zen.

[tuzacat]

OMG YOU GUYS ROCK!! My nebulizer and meds arrived this afternoon but I won't be able to try them until tomorrow afternoon since the battery has to charge up before I use it. It's a little intimidating. One med has to be in the freezer, one in the fridge, and one stays room temp. One med can be mixed with one but not the other. Geez...

Pootsie -thanks for the extra hugs!

DreamDiver - I did try a xylitol nasal spray a couple of years ago but I am not sure if it was the same brand. Currently, I am using Alkolol and also a saline rinse with baking soda and baby shampoo (which is supposed to kill biofilms - whatever they are). This has definitely made me less drippy but I am still stuffy. I agree with you - I hate taking meds- especially antibiotics but at this point my home remedies are not working. I can't tell you the stuff I've snuffed up my nose in a spray or added to the neti pot to combat this. I am definitely open to trying things from H202, to colliodal silver, to tea tree oil, to oregano oil. So all suggestions are welcome; just will need to wait until I'm finished with this treatment before I do anything else topically. I will put the Xclear on my list of things to try. Do you find you can breathe clearly through your nose?

NightSky - I sort of feel like a science experiment right now because I've been doing a lot of herbs not only for my sinuses but also for arthritis. I've been rotating the herbs to try to fool the bacteria. I have taken garlic pills but not recently and not the crushed raw garlic. Good idea about the applesauce and the fennel seeds.

Khauser - I always appreciate your sense of humor when I read in this forum. There are so many of us who are anxious about our health and it so-o-oo helps to lighten up!

Papit - Am I understanding that you are actually putting the minced garlic in your nose or are you inhaling the fumes?

kteague - my sister has had her cough for some time. She has lived on California and Canada and had it in both places. Her doctor said it was food related. My sinus stuff is a combo of air born allergies and a bacterial infection. I have had this infection since January - real tired of it - I suspect I have actually had a version of it for years. Had sinus surgery in 2003 but was still stuffy afterwards.

What I am doing for Nikki is 1/4 of a 5mg prednilisone once a day. Newton's Homeopathic Cough/asthma Remedy, goat milk, Krill oil. She was on a half pill of the meds in the beginning but she became very depressed and I think it was just too much for her. When I started adding in the natural stuff she stopped coughing so much so I was able to back off the pill. She has some days I don't hear her coughing at all but she has started to escalate again- today so far she's coughed twice. Bummer! I feel so sad for her! I also have been trying a grain free diet. I'll be taking her to a holistic vet in a couple of weeks - it was the first appointment I could get. This morning I put a little necklace of magnets around her neck with the idea that it might help the inflammation.

Zen - Thank you for your suggestion about the vaporizer (and thanks for the hugs)! I was looking at them on line last week and I just wasn't sure if it would help or which one to get so this is just confirmation. I actually have Olbas Oil but I don't think I've ever put it in my nose; just on a cotton ball in front of the filter of the bipap. I will definitely try that tonight!

Again thank you all! Tuza

[DreamDiver]

DreamDiver - I did try a xylitol nasal spray a couple of years ago ... I am definitely open to trying things from H202, to colliodal silver, to tea tree oil, to oregano oil. I will put the Xclear on my list of things to try. Do you find you can breathe clearly through your nose?

Papit - Am I understanding that you are actually putting the minced garlic in your nose or are you inhaling the fumes?

I suspect Papit was joking about snorting garlic. It's painful enough raw on the tongue and throat. I can only imagine how painful it would be on sinus membranes.

As for H2O2, tea tree oil or oregano oil, I can only suggest you speak with a competent certified medical professional before putting any of these in your nose. These are mostly topical treatments - skin only. I've heard of oregano oil pills, but not the same with tea tree oil or hydrogen peroxide. You wouldn't put any of these things in your eye. It's a safe bet sinus membranes are similarly sensitive. Please be careful and do the research. Good luck.

[mystydragonfly]

I have sinus problems as well. Also had surgery years ago, but didn't seem to help. I use a product called Ocean Gel. It's a moisturizing gel for your nose. You put it up and around the nose, it's used to help soothe and relieve dry irritated skin aournd the nose and other dry areas.

I also used to use a prescription nasal spray called Flonase which also seemed to help.

One more item to look at is called MyPurMist. It's a handheld steamer which is doctor recommended for symptomatic relief of sinus congestion, allergies, colds, flu, cough, allergic asthma, croup, nosebleeds, dry mouth, snoring from sinus congestion and sinus headaches. I have tried this and it also seems to work pretty well.

Ocean Gel and MyPurMist are avaiable at the drugstore.

Hope this helps, I know how you feel.