Dry Nose

Hey all, 2nd week on CPAP. I've had some good nights. But mostly bad nights.

We didn't buy the humidifier with my machine because it was $125. However, my nose is so dry in the morning. I get nose bleeds from the dryness and cracking. Is there some kind of nasal spray that you find works really well to keep the inside of my nose moist at night? Or something I can use in the morning? I have this fear to waking up with a pool of blood sitting in my nasal mask.

I'm still working out the kinks in the mask. I can't sleep on my back because of the stiffness in my back I get in the morning. So, I sleep on my side and I wake up to the mask leaking out of the bottom corner. Probably because when I go into a deep sleep my face falls towards the pillow.

I also figured out that I'm mouth breathing a little. I was thinking of trying the tape thing I read about soon. I don't really want to switch to a full face mask but I will if I have too. It seems like having one of those will make it harder to sleep on your side no?

Here is a post-op handout from an ENT Surgeon,regarding dry nose.Also used for ongoing sinus care:

:<--I use this one.

I'd suggest keeping an eye on cpapauction - perhaps you can find a used heated humidifier, either the one designed to work with your machine, or a stand-alone unit like the Fisher & Paykel HC100 or HC150 at an affordable price. One time I forgot to pack the humidifier chamber on a two night trip and had to sleep without; I found even two nights without humidification to be unbearable.

I use a FFM and I sleep almost exclusively on my side. I roll onto my back sometimes, but try to avoid it and, in fact, get fewer leaks sleeping on my side than on my back. I think when I sleep on my back that gravity sort of reshapes my face and makes my mask go out of adjustment. I use either a water pillow, in which case I place my head near the edge so the mask is off the edge a bit, or a foam rubber pillow (not memory foam, just plain foam rubber), in which case I just kind of smoosh the mask into the pillow.

Krazy,

I used a c-pap for over ten years without a humidifier and suffered mush as you are now. One for of relief that i found was to use a room humidifier to add moisture to the room . This proved to be pretty effective for me and could prove the same for you. set it up near your c-pap and try it. Do not use creams or moisturizors as they will only irritate your sinuses. When you can I would recommend a heated humidifier as this will help you improver your comfort level and that is very important in your therapy.

Dennis

Sleepy Taz wrote:Krazy,

I used a c-pap for over ten years without a humidifier and suffered mush as you are now. One for of relief that i found was to use a room humidifier to add moisture to the room . This proved to be pretty effective for me and could prove the same for you. set it up near your c-pap and try it. Do not use creams or moisturizors as they will only irritate your sinuses. When you can I would recommend a heated humidifier as this will help you improver your comfort level and that is very important in your therapy.

Dennis

We are going to start saving up for one. And I will be checking out Cpapauction as another member suggested. I really thought that there was enough humidity in the air since our heat is water based but I guess not.

5aces wrote:Here is a post-op handout...

"Nasal lubricants" ???? lol I'm not even going there!

There's this guy at work who has his nose so far up the boss's......

(Sorry. I went there after all...)

Ahh...if the nasal pillows are not a perfect fit,one must resort to the "nasal lubricants" to get that quality seal!
Somehow I believe you know that already...

Ayr Gel!! It works very well for me. I can't use a humidifier, so this has been a God-send.
Get it at the drugstore. You won't be sorry.