Couple Newbie Questions

[dmirguy52]

First off, after lurking for a little while, you seem to have a very good forum here, lots of knowledgeable and polite folks. I am *SO* glad I found you. I've been a user for 13 years, and only today thought of looking for others on the same journey.

I'm here because I have yet another sinus infection, I seem to get them often and they seem to last 3 to 6 weeks. Seems to have started about a year after I started with the CPAP. Took a while, but I put 2+2 together. Dr gave me antibiotics, I took em, came home, googled "sinus infections and CPAP use". YIKES!!!

Really cleaned my equipment tonight, much more extensive than the normal daily clean.

My first question is: are you really able to sleep without a machine?
I've used it every night since 2001, and only once been without (region wide power outage). Couldn't sleep at all.

My second question, pardon me as I'm asking before doing my due diligence; is there a consensus on this forum regarding CPAP usage and increased sinus infection?

Thanks everyone, glad I found you,
Bill

ps-off to bed now, and work tomorrow, but will check back when I get home...

[Pugsy]

Welcome to the forum.

What machine brand and model are you using?
Are you using a humidifier and if so, at what setting and which humidifier?

Sometimes people will have some "sinus" symptoms as a result of either the nasal mucosa getting too much added moisture or not enough added moisture. Often these symptoms get mislabeled as "sinus infections" because the symptoms are exactly the same.
Google "cpap rhinitis".

Of course there are people who are simply prone to sinus infections. I have been using the cpap machine since May 2009. No one sinus infection. I have had a couple routine common colds but they came and went in the normal length of time with no residual sinus problems at all.

Do you change your filters regularly?

Sleeping without the machine? I have done it all night only once and that is because I went on a little trip and forgot my long hose and didn't realize it until 10:30 PM. Too late to do anything about it. I slept...sort of... Extremely fragmented and poor quality.
Maybe a handful of other times I slept without the machine for partial hours of the night because I was battling a bad stomach bug...didn't really sleep all that much between the trips to the bathroom. Simply too sick to worry about OSA at the time.

[dmirguy52]

Welcome to the forum.

What machine brand and model are you using?
Are you using a humidifier and if so, at what setting and which humidifier?

Thanks for responding. Too ill for work, so just lying low.
I think this is what I have:
Machine: Resmed S9 Autoset
Humidifier: Resmed H5i
Mask: Mirage Activa
About 1 1/2 years old. Mask about 5 mos old. Replaced the filter 5 mos ago, not since.
I have had the humidity set to 4.5, though last night I dropped it back to 2 (we had a foggy, 100% humidity night).
I thoroughly cleaned everything last night and again this morning. I also found a spare filter and will replace it this morning.


I'm sure they are infections because of the fever and burning throat, and the sinus pressure headaches.
Also going to try the nasal cleansing thing I read about - either Alkalol, 8oz NeilMed sinus wash bottle, or Nettie pot. See what Walgreens has.

Thanks,
Bill

[Pugsy]

Well the fever pretty much eliminates simple humidity issues.
So sorry, I know that's a miserable situation. Years ago (long before cpap was even an idea for me) I went through several rounds of sinus infections. It got old real fast. Worse than a typical cold because it is so much harder to totally get rid of and takes longer.

[jamiswolf]

Hi Bill,
I traumatized my right frontal sinus while scuba diving many years ago. That left me vulnerable to infections and every time I'd get a "cold"...I'd end up with an infection in that sinus.

Years later while consulting with an ENT Doc for a deviated septum, he noticed poor drainage from that sinus (mri) and fixed it during the septum surgery.

No problems since, despite being on cpap for two years now. So my sinus infections were more related to a fixable problem. Since the repair (which was essentially enlarging opening to that sinus) I've had no problems. I'm fairly good regarding cpap cleanliness, yet not obsessive.

Bottom line is...repeated problems with sinus infection warrant a visit to ENT Doc. IMHO
Jamis

[Hawthorne]

I think changing and cleaning the filter(s) is extremely important in using a cpap. I change my foam filter every 2 weeks (and wash it to be ready for it's next round). I have several foam filters.

I also use the white fine filter because I have allergies. I change it every month. It is, of course, disposable (not reusable) so I keep a good supply of the white ones on hand too.

I've been on cpap since 2002 and have had very few colds or anything like that. I am not so fussy about my other stuff except for washing the mask pillows weekly and cleaning them with a cpap wipe every day.

[BlackSpinner]

My sinus infections and many sinus issues changed when I went on cpap. Lots of humidity and filtered air made mine very, very happy. I haven't had an infection in 4 years.