sinus infection, bronchitis, and cpap

[somer]

Okay, so I suffer from recurring bronchitis. I currently have laryngitis (sp), sinus congestion, sinus drainage down my throat (I know, gross, and TMI), cough, sore throat. My question. It feels like it's dropping into my chest. Should I lay off of my CPAP while sick, or keep using it? Could it push the infection elsewhere?

[ozij]

Somer,
The instructions on my machine say a sinus infection is a contraindiction for using it.
Please ask your doctor about this, - or find an ENT how knows cpap. None of us can tell you whether in your case the infection can be driven deeper or not. You need a reliable reply from someone who knows exactly what is going on with you.

Take care, I hope you will feel better soon.
O.

[cflame1]

Have you ever done a sinus rinse?

[Dennisla]

I recently had a sinus infection and found that using cpap ( in my case apap) was causing the sinus pain to be worse.
What I did was temporarily lower my pressure to where I was able to tolerate without adding more sinus pain.
This helped me through the term until the infection cleared up. I did have a slightly higher AHI (5-7). But it was better than having a AHI of 50 without using anything.

-Dennis

[somer]

Yes. I've tried sinus rinse. I had surgery in 2002. Helped for a while, but low immunity has caused recurrence of sinus infections. Sleep apnea was a shock to all! I was only 32 at the time. Unusual for someone my age and size to have apnea. Anyway, I still struggle with sinus issues. I also struggle with sleep... even with CPAP. I wonder if my machine setting is right for me???

[sleepycarol]

It appears that sleep apnea can occur in all age groups and in all size and shape body styles. Yes, it is more likely to be heavier people with thick necks. I think for many of us, the only reason we were older when we got diagnosed was due to the lack of knowledge on the part of the doctors. I feel that I have had sleep apnea for many years -- probably dating back to when my kids were young. When I complained of being tired all the time -- I was told it was because of chasing 5 kids all day, I was working too hard, etc. Never did anyone mention that I could have a sleep disorder. I know for a fact that my health has suffered from the long term effects of sleep apnea.

How long have you been on treatment? If it has been only for a short time, you maybe one of us that it will take awhile to start feeling better.

What machine do you have? What pressure are you at? What type of mask are you using?

I suffer from severe allergies, asthma, and chronic sinus problems. I take allergy meds daily, year round.

Even with a sinus infection I keep using my machine. I have switched to full face mask on a few occasions to help with the congestion.

I have found out that there is a fine line between having the humidifier on, in pass over mode, and completely taken off my machine. It didn't take me long to realize that a huge part of my congestion last winter was due to over humidification. I found if I turned my humidifier way down it helped. In easing the congestion, helped to reduce the swelling, achiness, and duration of sinus congestion. This summer I took my humidifer completely off from my machine and didn't need any humidity. Once the cold settled in and the furnace had to be turned on, I continued to use my machine with no humidity. I ended up having sinus drainage that led to a sore throat, etc. I ended up having to go on antibiotics to fight it. I put my humidifier back on and am now using it in pass over mode.

I would suggest you play with different humidifier settings to determine how much humidity you really need. You might be surprised at the answer.

I would check with the doctor as well. If you have chronic sinus infections it could be that the infection is not entirely clearing up and you may have to take an extended round of antibiotics. On rare occasions I have had to take them for up to a month to clear the infection completely. Talk to your doctor and see if that could be your case as well.

Good luck and hope you get to feeling better.

[cpapqueen1]

Are you cleaning your mask, tubing and humidifier chamber? If not this could be causing your reoccuring infections. You may also want to consider decreasing the amount of humidity you are using.

[ycartf]

I have had sinus infections, usually at least once a year - sometimes twice, all of my teen/adult life (and most of my childhood) during which I would have lots of post-nasal drip, raw throat, zero energy, and feel really awful. Most of the time I ended up having to go to the Dr. (GP - sometimes an ENT) and get antibiotics, steroid shot, decongestant/cough suppressant syrup, etc. But I considered myself lucky, as the sinus infections were the only things I ever seemed to get sick with (aside from the flu once in my life and the very rare stomach bug that was gone in a few hours) and only once did it migrate south to my lower airway and become bronchitis.

This was increased to maybe 3 infections per year for an 8 year period during which the fire station I worked at (and slept at every third night) was infested with mold. Long story short on that is no one (the city) cared until after numerous complaints they finally looked at the increased sick leave occurrences by personnel at that station. They then had an industrial air-sampling study done of the air quality (during which the tech - once he saw the mold growth in our ceilings - went back out to his truck and wore a respirator back inside). They then condemned the station (a 30 year old building made up of renovated offices from a business previously located there years before) and built a new one. Once the station was rebuilt, I went back to maybe one infection a year - so good. BUT - since being put on CPAP in September of 2006 (and religiously using it) I have now not had ANY sinus infections/problems. And when I DO feel like I am getting a tickly throat or something (rarely now), I just get a good night of CPAP sleep that night (perhaps with my HH ramped up a bit extra) and the next morning it is only a memory. I do not know that CPAP does this for everyone, but evidently the decreased rest/oxygenation/lowered immunity resistance (had an AHI of 33 - mostly AI - with average duration of 30 seconds) and the chapping of tissues during snoring (which I was a CHAMP at) was a major contributor to my respiratory infections.

I LOVE CPAP !!!

Tracy

[roster]

...... Sleep apnea was a shock to all! I was only 32 at the time. Unusual for someone my age and size to have apnea. ........

I think it is common for young, slim people to have obstructive sleep apnea. Doctors have assumed they don't have it, so many cases went undiagnosed. I am slim and had osa in my twenties if not earlier.

[CamiTampa]

Okay, so I suffer from recurring bronchitis. I currently have laryngitis (sp), sinus congestion, sinus drainage down my throat (I know, gross, and TMI), cough, sore throat. My question. It feels like it's dropping into my chest. Should I lay off of my CPAP while sick, or keep using it? Could it push the infection elsewhere?

Somer, those sympthoms sound alot like what I was going through. I had (have) moderate copd. I was also an (active) smoker at the time. I would go see a pulmonary doctor about it soon. Also, most of the sympthoms went away when I quit smoking.

Good luck

[sam1234]

The CPAP therapy has virtually eliminated bronchitis from my life. I used to get bronchitis twice a year, without fail. I started using a CPAP at least 12 years ago and have only had one instance of bronchitis in that time. This was a fantastic side effect.