Any suggestions??

Babbie · Post by **Babbie** » Tue Jan 09, 2007 12:54 pm

I have a friend who is having a hard time with cpap therapy. I've used cpap for well over a year but I can't seem to find an answer for her so am hoping maybe you all can think of something I haven't. She says when she uses her cpap her nasal passages just burn something awful and is very dry. She does use a heated humidifier (I don't know what machine nor mask she's using) and has the setting as high as it will go. That was my first question for her--if she was using a humidifier and how high the setting was. I told her to turn the humidifier on and leave it for 1/2 hour to an hour, then check to see if it was heating or if there was a malfunction. No, it's working. I suggested using Ayr gel - she says that helps for only a short time. I've run out of ideas for her. The one and only time I experienced something like this was when I was out of the country and didn't want to take my humidifier with me (huge mistake!). Thanks in advance to anyone who has an idea other than what I've thought of!!

Wulfman · Post by **Wulfman** » Tue Jan 09, 2007 1:00 pm

Do you know what kind of water you friend is putting in her humidifier? If she's using tap water and it's heavily chlorinated (or other chemicals).......fumes????

Den

Babbie · Post by **Babbie** » Tue Jan 09, 2007 1:02 pm

I forgot to add that to the list of questions I asked her (kinda felt like I was interogating her!)---yes, she just uses distilled water like the rest of us.
Kathy

Wulfman · Post by **Wulfman** » Tue Jan 09, 2007 1:05 pm

Does she clean her CPAP filters regularly?

I'm running out of questions.....

Den

Babbie · Post by **Babbie** » Tue Jan 09, 2007 1:11 pm

Ok - you got me there----that's one I didn't ask. She's even changed mask styles --has had the nasal pillows and tried a regular mask too. My last suggestion to her today was to maybe warm some distilled water before putting it in her water chamber but that was grasping as straws. Probably moot if she says the humidifier is indeed getting warm. I also suggested maybe she see an ENT - maybe she just has sensitive nasal passages. But I do feel bad for her - says she's getting very little sleep. We've all been there, done that so would like to try and help her. Thanks for the input, Den.

Goofproof · Post by **Goofproof** » Tue Jan 09, 2007 1:16 pm

If she is using a Nasal interface, she could be mouthbreathing and drying out. Also for a nasal interface, one that covers the nose instead of pushing air up the nose might be more gentle.

Or a FF mask. Jim

Catnapper · Post by **Catnapper** » Tue Jan 09, 2007 1:28 pm

I would suggest she try nasal irrigation before bed. The Neti pot will put some moisture up there and slow down the drying cause by the air flow.

Another suggestion is to buy the saline nasal spray that comes in a squirt bottle. She could keep it by the bed and use it as needed. Of course, she would wake up to do it, but it makes the nose feel much better, and maybe she could go back to sleep.

I like the one called Ocean because I like to think about having ocean spray in my nose. I am usually happy when that happens! There are lots of brands, and they all are about the same, I think. They may have preservatives in them, so I think some people would prefer the homemade version, which is a pinch of salt in a half cup of luke warm water. You can dump some in your hand and sniff it into your nose if that is easier.

Hope that is helpful to your friend.

Catnapper

Babbie · Post by **Babbie** » Tue Jan 09, 2007 1:39 pm

I believe she said she's tried both. I think she started on the nasal pillows and has now switched to a mask---thinking maybe the nasal pillows were the problem. I even asked if her mouth/throat were dry (I told you I interrogated her!!) thinking she was mouth breathing but she said she tapes her mouth. I hadn't thought of the saline nasal spray--I'll suggest that. Thanks, guys!!

Lyza · Post by **Lyza** » Tue Jan 09, 2007 1:56 pm

Do you think she is even trying or wanting to use the cpap therapy? and is just making up these excuses to get you off her back? I only say this cuz I have a coworker who was diagnosed at the same time as me, and she's been struggling as well. I got a new mask the other day and was telling her all about it, how she should try it, etc. Finally when questioning her about why she didn't use her current mask, where it hurts, claustrophobia, etc.... she admitted that she just flat out doesn't want to mess with any of it..

Babbie · Post by **Babbie** » Tue Jan 09, 2007 2:21 pm

Lyza - that's a good question. I guess I would call her more of an acquaintance (I see her at work) than a really close friend. But from what I've observed, I really think she would like to have the problem solved. I know it's easy to make excuses ---I did my share at the beginning too but I'm not getting that feeling from her. I think she just wants to be able to use it and get a decent night's sleep. I know at the beginning of my journey into the cpap world, I was in denial that I had to use this thing for the rest of my life but I've since seen the light. Thanks for bringing up the question.
Kathy

roster · Post by **roster** » Tue Jan 09, 2007 2:39 pm

She should fill her humidifier to the fill line at night. The next morning she should check how much water is left. She should turn the humidifier up one notch each night until most of the water is consumed at night. This will mean she is getting the maximum amount of humidity. Humidity is usually the key to keeping the nose from drying.

Hurricane · Post by **Hurricane** » Tue Jan 09, 2007 3:11 pm

This may sound strange but when I turned my humidifier up to #5 setting I felt more congested and irritated than on # 2 which I found works best for me, Maybe more humidity is always the answer, expierimenting seems to be the name of this game.
Hurricane

Hurricane · Post by **Hurricane** » Tue Jan 09, 2007 3:14 pm

Meant to say maybe not more humidity in above post

Linda3032 · Post by **Linda3032** » Tue Jan 09, 2007 3:35 pm

Hmmmmmmm.

Okay, ask her if she experiences the pain from hour one, or if it happens during the night.

Ask her if it's a constant pain, or if it's intermittant off and on during the night.

I'm grasping at straws here, but wondering if she might be getting droplets of rainout. When I get rainout, it stings and burns my nostrils.

blarg · Post by **blarg** » Tue Jan 09, 2007 5:00 pm

Something that hasn't come up yet is the possibility of rainout. (Or Linda3032 beat me to it I guess).

No matter how high she has that humidifier cranked, it's not going to do much if the moisture can't make it to her nose and gets condensed on the inside of the hose...

Does she have a hose cover? If so, if she can stand it, cuddling up with the hose for a night or two (and specifically making sure it's next to her in bed to warm it up) should make the air much more moist. The hose cover itself would also help reduce the condensation.

If that works for her, then an Aussie Hose may just do the trick. I'm cuddling up with my hose while my Aussie's on the way to lessen the rainout in my Aura. I wouldn't be able to do that without the fleece cover I made though.

Any suggestions??

Any suggestions??

dry nose