What do your docs say about sinus symptoms/pressure?

[bdp522]

What you are describing sounds like it could be a sinus infection, I would see the doctor to rule out any infection before it gets worse. Once infection is ruled out, try the saline nasal rinse and any other suggestions.

Brenda

[thimarine]

I have had sinus problems lately with congestion waking me up an hour or two earlier than I usually get up. If I blow my nose, I get mucous and a little blood. I have no sleep doctor (my equipment is provided by the VA and I see a "tech" every 8 months and asks "how's it going?"), however, the VA Clinic doctor has prescribe Bactrim for me because the thought I had a sinus infection. I'm also taking Flonase, which helps. I've also started using the Neti pot but only when I'm really congested in the evening as it seems to cause more bleeding. My thought is that it may be flushing out some stuff, blood included, that's accumulated in my sinuses. Cranking up the heat on the humidifier seemed to make the congestion worse. So, my conclusion--- Nasal congestion, at least for me, is a byproduct of cpap and something I will have to address for as long as I live. As long as my numbers remain good, I don't see it as a major problem.
I guess my concern for you would be to make certain you don't have an infection.

Good luck.

[Fredman]

Hi all I had a post similar yesterday. Some good advice about using a "neti pot" flushing the sinuses with a warm salt solution. Basically a neti pot looks like a very small tea pot and you put the spout into one nostril, tilt your head, and start to pour (keeping your mouth open). The water enters the one side of the cavity and travels out through the other nostril. Google Neti Pot and there are videos and other information.

Haven't tried it yet, but I am going to as I am experiencing a stuffy nose usually early in the morning. Sometimes during the day which makes it hard to use my CPAP.

The premise of the Neti Pot, is that it cleans out the pollen and dust. A Saline spray is fine but it temporally moistens the nasal passages and not the cavities, nor does it clean out anything.

This is the link to the post viewtopic.php?p=255398&highlight=#255398

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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): CPAP, clean

[Country4ever]

Thanks everyone,
Fredman.....I've been reading up on the neti pot, and until I can get a "real" one, I'm using a make-shift one. My question is: Even after I'm done and blow my nose, if I lean over and turn my head a little, water continues to come out that was trapped in my maxillary sinuses. I'm wondering if this is bad? I'd hate for water to be left in my sinus, and then be a good medium for bacteria.

[Fredman]

Thanks everyone,
Fredman.....I've been reading up on the neti pot, and until I can get a "real" one, I'm using a make-shift one. My question is: Even after I'm done and blow my nose, if I lean over and turn my head a little, water continues to come out that was trapped in my maxillary sinuses. I'm wondering if this is bad? I'd hate for water to be left in my sinus, and then be a good medium for bacteria.

Yes that would be a concern I'd imagine, but that's why I believe the salt is to keep the PH in line with the body as well as I have been led to believe that saline generally doesn't allow bacterial growth. I could be wrong. But over time if it is not expelled or absorbed, what could happen? Good question.

[jules]

Have you considered the Oracle mask?

https://www.cpap.com/productpage/fisher ... -mask.html

[Claire]

Thanks everyone,
Fredman.....I've been reading up on the neti pot, and until I can get a "real" one, I'm using a make-shift one. My question is: Even after I'm done and blow my nose, if I lean over and turn my head a little, water continues to come out that was trapped in my maxillary sinuses. I'm wondering if this is bad? I'd hate for water to be left in my sinus, and then be a good medium for bacteria.

Can you eventually clear your sinuses of the extra water?

[Country4ever]

Hi Claire,
Yes, I think I can. I just have to do a little contorting first! I can feel it sloshing around in my maxillary sinuses, and just have to roll my head around to get it to come out of the exit. I've had 2 surgeries to make the "windows" to those sinuses larger, so I might have funky architecture.

[Bluebonnet_Gal]

I found this old post this morning after a search for posts that address ear pain at higher pressures. I woke during the night with ear pain after increasing the min pressure on my APAP to 13 (my titration pressure is 14). The good news - for the first night on APAP - no apnea events last night! AND, I maintained a fairly low leak rate. I'm already using Nasonex, once a day - in the morning. I think I'll try using it in the evening as well and see if that helps.

The thing I saw here that concerned me is mention of using a "makeshift" neti pot for rinsing the sinuses and concern that water remains trapped in the sinuses and the possibility of infection from this. No mention was made about what type of water is used. I just wanted to point out that when rinsing the sinuses, it's important to use either distilled water, or tap water that you previously boiled (and then let cool). I think use of distilled or boiled water is important in reducing chances of infection from the process of rinsing.

As to the question of ridding your sinuses of the water, I find that if I bend at the waist with my head at about knee level, most of it drains out. I do this several times in the 30 min to an hour after I rinse my sinuses and that seems to allow most of the water to drain out.

[nobody]

I have terrible sinus problems at night. My GP says that is why I feel pressure on my ears from the CPAP. I had been using sudafed every night to try to keep them clear but not only do I get tolerant to it but also my sleep doctor said to stop it because it can keep me from getting deeper sleep. He prescribed for me some steriod nose spray that doesn't reek of lillacs like flonase does and also some generic allegra but which I couldn't afford because my insurance thinks I should get the absolutely useless claritin or zyrtec OTC so they wouldn't pay for it. BTW, having the humidifier on even a setting of 1 will almost always make the congestion worse, so I just fill the tray up with water and let the air blow over it. It gets too dry if I don't use that at least. My sleep doctor wants me to see a ENT to try and look and see if there is anything wrong up further in my nose that he can't see. He said they could put a scope up in there and check it out. I'll probably go do that eventually.

[5aces]

Today is Sunday and believe it or not,I am booked for a sinus CT scan at 2:45pm!

July 30/08-started CPAP.

Aug.27/08-Respirologist Doctor from sleep clinic prescribed Avamys(fluticasone furoate) nasal spray and made a referral to see an ENT Specialist after I noted congestion and CPAP ineffectiveness.

Sept.02/08-ENT Specialist scoped my sinuses,ruled out my candidacy for OSA corrective surgery,recommended Secaris nasal gel and referred for an x-ray,completed on the same day.

Oct.10/08-ENT Specialist advised that x-ray results indicated a polyp in the right sinus cavity and the presence of sinus infection.Prescribed a 10-day course of Ceftin antibiotics and recommended NeilMed sinus rinse to be used daily.

Dec.03/08-Respirologist Doctor prescribed another 14-day course of Ceftin antibiotic as I was in distress from the ongoing sinus symptoms and CPAP use had been adversely impacted.(ENT appointment was unavailable at this time)

Dec.17/08-ENT Specialist,these Doctors are hard to book and I finally got in.Prescribed a stronger 10-day course of 400mg Moxifloxacin,arranged for sinus CT scan and requested a "fitness for potential sinus surgery" from my Cardiologist.Surgery is performed in-hospital under general anaesthesia.

Jan.04/09-CT scan today!

Jan.08/09-Cardiology fitness review.

Jan.30/09-ENT Specialist follow-up on CT results.

The reason I am being so thorough in this outline is to give future reference to a timeline of events,regarding new CPAP and sinus issues.
Note that this process is being somewhat accelerated on my behalf,as my employer has requested a MWT before I return to work.
Sinuses must be clear and CPAP use effective if I am to have any chance at passing this test.
Never did I think that this OSA condition would evolve into such a lengthy chain of events,at the mercy of the health care system.
Throughout this,I have been adjusting CPAP items to try and improve things,all to no avail.