Sinus Trouble

[brwn8484]

I had sleep study over a year ago. I was diagnosed w/ Apnea and prescribed CPAP. After 4 months of failed attempts to keep mask on due to sinus issues (Yes I told Doc's when I went for study,initially). I was told to see an ENT to see if there was another problem. Yesterday, ENT told me he wanted to do another sleep study? Seems like a waste of my time, since my sinuses are blocked 98% of time.

Has anyone else had Apnea caused by blocked Sinus and are there any new procedures to help....Other than another sleep study?

[Perrybucsdad]

Just curious, what type of device did/do you have and do you have the humidifier?

I know with me, when I use my APAP with the humidifier, it does wonderful things for my sinus's and actually clears them up nicely for me. Now granted, not everyone will respond this way, but I am just curious if you were using yours with humidity or just room air.

As far as the Apnea caused by congestion, I would think it's possible as I have a deviated septum and it was causing some of the apnea issues. The Dr decided to go the CPAP route with me as it was the least invasive and I am also on Coumadin so would have some issues with surgery.

I'm not sure how a new sleep study would help, but you said you are seeing a NEW ENT, so I have a feeling it is the ENT wanting his own new study vs a year old one. Did you question it with him and ask him why he can't use the older one and what he hopes to find anew with the new study?

- John

[PaJoe]

I had chronic sinusitis for many years before cpap, but after using cpap a couple months my sinuses improved. I need to keep my humidity set pretty high. If I do not use the humidity or have it set too low the next day or two it will seem like I have a cold. If I run more than one night without enough humidity my nose will bleed and then it takes several days to heal. Even with a stuffy nose, if I lay on my side one nostril will usually open from the pressure of the cpap . I have on a very rare occasion needed to use Afrin to get my nose open but I need to be very careful because Afrin will make my nose bleed as well.

[jackson0741]

I have very a bad sinus issues. My ENT did an operation for a Deviated Septum after the sleep study. I had to use the cpap last year and, three week ago I had other sleep study and now it gotten worse and I still have sinus problems. I was told that I could lose weight but my weight has not changed. It seems that my health has gotten worse than better because of the operation and cpap. Has anyone else had this issues

[RandyJ]

I had sleep study over a year ago. I was diagnosed w/ Apnea and prescribed CPAP. After 4 months of failed attempts to keep mask on due to sinus issues (Yes I told Doc's when I went for study,initially). I was told to see an ENT to see if there was another problem. Yesterday, ENT told me he wanted to do another sleep study? Seems like a waste of my time, since my sinuses are blocked 98% of time.

Has anyone else had Apnea caused by blocked Sinus and are there any new procedures to help....Other than another sleep study?

Has your ENT suggested saline sinus rinses? They are usually effective at reducing inflammation if used regularly; after a week or two of daily or twice-daily use, you will be surprised at how open your sinuses can be. Check out products by NeilMed (netipot, pre-mixed packets, etc). I use distilled rather than tap water, boiled tap water is ok.

They are the only thing that worked for me.

[moresleep]

I doubt your apnea is caused by blocked sinuses. If that were the case, you could use noseplugs and breath through your mouth at night. But, sinus infections and blockages will make apnea worse and can render nasal Cpap treatment completely ineffective. I had the same situation years ago. Nasal Cpap therapy did not work until I took care of my chronic sinus infections. In my case, antibiotics worked only temporarily. What really worked were a lot of sinus rinses to flush out the irritants and encourage the sinuses to open and drain. I did several or more rinses per day until the situation improved (Neilmed salt-soda packets). I still try to do a rinse or so a day, and more when I have a cold. I second what the other poster said about sinus rinses--they really do help. If, after getting rid of your sinus infections, you still experience stuffiness, coblation to reduce the turbinates may help, but be careful to proceed slowly with that, as you don't want "empty nose syndrome."

Your ENT is probably going to be a lot more help than your sleep doctor in getting nasal Cpap therapy to work for you.

Have you tried a full face mask? That should allow you to breath through your mouth while you battle with the sinus infections. Myself, I do not find full face masks as effective as nasal masks (I use the Swift II nasal pillow mask), but many people actually like them. While some people do well with a lot of humidification, for me, I experience less stuffiness with just a little humidification--humidifier barely warm--so I would advise experimenting to see what works best for you.

[scullingace]

I had sinus problems which made the cpap unworkable in the end surgery was the answer its still not 100% but a hell of alot better i also cut down on my milk consumption because of the mucous promoting aspects

[angcor580]

Good to read this discussion. I have actually stop using the CPAP due to sinus congestion. I am going to really try the NetiPot everyday since has worked for most of you. Basically I am stuck with a face mask since I am congested right now which I hate because of the leaks. Hopefully after using the NetiPot regularly I can switch to nasal pillows mask. This what the sleep specialist told me to do originally but I was too discouraged to try.

[FizzyWater]

I started CPAP this year, and when my Spring allegeries kicked it, I was in pure hell. And now that the Autum ones are kicking in, I'm right there again. Last night, for the first night in months, I just took the mask off so I could sleep.

Nasal pillows shoot air all over my face and it wakes me up. Quattro FX full-face mask leaks air all over my face (even though it worked perfectly in the DME office and my first night home) and it wakes me up. ComfortGel nasal mask leaks and I end up with sores on the bridge of my nose. Pseudafed works, but it ...wait for it...keeps me awake!

My doctor suggested a nasal spray. I tried spraying one into my congested nostril and it all ended up in the sink. I truly don't understand how a rinse is supposed to work if you're blocked up!

I use nasal steroids (fluticasone) and a daily non-drowsy antihistimine (generic zertec today, although I've tried Claritan and the other big one). It was about 6 weeks in the Spring before I could use the CPAP all night and I'm really hoping I do better with the Autumn allergies. I finally was starting to have weekends where I could stay awake and do something for myself.

[brwn8484]

Ok .. My Equipment Profile is updated. And yes I had humidifier on...but still developed sever sinus infection which has been with me ever since. That is why I went to ENT. Leading to this post. And to those of you who responded that I needed to continue to try to make CPAP work... 4 months is a long time. My sinus problems are severe and continuous, making the use of humidity and a fullmask extremely difficult. Yes... I know that all of you are experts now and think I am crazy... but I had sinus surgery 6 years ago and my wife said my snoring and breathing cessation were gone for over a year and a half.

But the sinus trouble returned. I have made 5 followup appointments with a sleep clinic professional and they told me to see an ENT or get a dental mouthpiece. i.e.... Professionals have given up and moved on to next cookie cutter box to put me in.

I just need some real helP?

[RandyJ]

I just need some real helP?

Here is your help:

I think if you do the saline nasal rinses for 2 weeks or more, twice a day, that you will see some real results. And it costs very little; if you don't want to outlay $15-20 for the NeilMed setup (bottle or netipot w/premixed packets), you can do it yourself even more cheaply. Send me a PM and I can give you details.

[RandyJ]

I truly don't understand how a rinse is supposed to work if you're blocked up!

If you are just starting out with a saline nasal rinse and you are so blocked that you can't get the saline to go up one nostril and come out the other, or through your mouth, you can use a product like Afrin to unblock first. As soon as the Afrin opens your nasal passages so you can breathe freely (5 to 10 mins usually), follow immediately with nasal rinse.

HOWEVER, YOU SHOULD ONLY USE AFRIN FOR 1 TO 3 DAYS MAXIMUM AS INDICATED ON PRODUCT. My ENT told me that this was ok, but only for a few days.

Usually, after you have been successful in getting the saline into your sinuses, inflammation should decrease after a few days and you should have less difficulty and won't need the Afrin any longer.

[brwn8484]

I have tried the Neti-Pot Saline rinse and still ended up with a severe Sinus Infection lasting over 12 months and no relief. Thanks guys..but again I tried and no help.

I wish you all well...but I have tried everything that has been mentioned so far and nothing working.

Here is a list of failed suggestions.....

Neti-Pot - Coincided with 12 month severe sinus infection leading to 3 courses of heavy duty antibiotics.. Leading to a follow-up sinus infection ... followed by another 12 month sinus infection.. followed by another 10 month sinus infection followed by ......... another sinus infection/suggestion for 2nd Third Sleep Study... AHHHGGGGGGGGGGG!

Steroid Spray - Currently on SteroidS Spray each night - helps but still have severe sinus infection and sleeping problems and sever snoring.

CPAP - Cant use because breathing is affected to point of suffocating - Currently unable to use mask. Recent results 1night out of 130 nights was able to keep mask on.

Currently on OTC daily allergy med plus Mucinex D. Have tried to wean myself of Mucinex D but cant as severe headaches due to snoring are result after no Mucinex D.

Mouth Piece - Not tried yet..but given nasal and breathing issues only a stark raving idiot would believe that a mouth piece would work at this point.

P.S. - i am going on my 14th year of severe snoring and Apnea. Doctors tried to tell me I did not have Apnea 14 years ago after initial sleep study and I have been going downhill ever since. Oh..Well . I thought I would see if this forum might give me some new avenues for relief...but guess not.

[BlackSpinner]

P.S. - i am going on my 14th year of severe snoring and Apnea. Doctors tried to tell me I did not have Apnea 14 years ago after initial sleep study and I have been going downhill ever since. Oh..Well . I thought I would see if this forum might give me some new avenues for relief...but guess not.

One of the first things you need to do is get a machine that will give you real data on what is happening. In your situation an S8 escape cpap is a useless brick, a decorative antique nightstand object. What you need is to upgrade to an S9 autoset Not only will you be able to see your AHI, leaks and other issues but it will be able to adjust to what ever amount of pressure you need.

Plus you need to work a lot harder to find a full face mask that will work. There are dozens out there to try. You can try any mask at your DME for free for 30 days. That is the manufacturers choice, not the DME's

[RandyJ]

I have tried the Neti-Pot Saline rinse and still ended up with a severe Sinus Infection lasting over 12 months and no relief. Thanks guys..but again I tried and no help.

Some people don't really try enough with the saline rinses. You really have to go at it twice a day, every day, faithfully. Sometimes it takes a week, sometimes 2 or 3 weeks before you see results.

Some people have to do it daily to keep the infections away, even when they have the infections under control.

If you have really tried it faithfully (and are not just dismissing it out of hand because you tried it once for 3 days and it didn't work), then good luck with whatever other remedies you may try.