Fungal infection?

I'm always surprised when someone says they are able to go a night without CPAP.

My AHI was only 14.1 and I just started CPAP in January. I think those factors probably make it easier for me to not use it. In addition, my fatigue is still off the charts, so sleeping without my CPAP for a couple of nights doesn't matter - with it or without it, I'm equally exhausted.

I'm actually very compliant. But, my sinuses win over all else.

If I leave it at 5 the tank will often run out of water by morning.

Someone had a question about this on another forum because she has to fill her humidifier during the night. A suggestion was made for her to add an in-line humidifier to her setup. That way she will have 2 humidifiers and should not run out of water. The poster suggested the F&P HC150. Just in case you find you need to make a change there...

I'm considering getting the in-line humidifier as a backup given the problems I'm having with my current humidifier. I like the idea of knowing I will always have a working humidifier available.


On a completely unrelated topic - how do you get the name of the quote author to appear in the quote heading? I can't figure that out.

James, check e-Bay. You can usually find a Fisher & Paykel HC 100 for about $50 complete (used) in good condition. I can run that baby on 2-3 max and be comfortable as sin whilst my integreated humidifier (Humidaire 3i) I've been having to run wide open 5.5-6 w/this cold weather. No rain out either! Of course, I take most of my hose under the covers w/me and that helps too.

I went to a Fisher & Paykel HC100 myself due to the fact that the Remstar unit didn't provide sufficient heat for me. Also the tank is a bit larger and I don't run out of water. So now I have better control on my stuffiness, not enough humidity and this thing on the end of my face slams shut. Plus it sits on the floor allowing the condensate to flow back into the chamber, with the wrapped hose the only problem I have is condensation in the mask when it gets cold in the room. I found mine on the Yahoo auction. Just an idea. Charlie

I purchased mine from these folks, http://auctions.yahoo.com/i:Fisher%20%2 ... :225292253
Charlie

James,

A few thoughts here. I believe you mentioned earlier that your building had previously had some mold problems. You more recently mentioned that you have a severe reaction to a friend's house where there are mold problems. You've recently had a major flare-up of congestion when exposed to cats.

Does the flare-up from the cats seem quite similar in nature to the ongoing problem you've had? Just a guess, but it is possible that you're undergoing an allergic reaction. (I think several folks here have pointed in that direction.)

Are you running any sort of air filtration in your home, especially in your sleeping space? If not, this might be something to look into. There are also devices out that pull air through and kill mold spores, if this is a possible problem. Hoping that commercial links are OK here, you might look at http://www.allergycontrol.com/ as having some examples of the sorts of things that are available.

This may prove to be just another dead-end in the maze you're running; I pray that you'll soon find resolution to your difficulty in this.

Hi, James
My sincere sympathy for what you're experiencing.

I may be off base here, as I usually live in left field anyway...

Couldn't the nasal interface be forcing whatever's going on further up your sinuses, causing it to spread? Maybe going back to the oral interface could show a difference?

I thought my current, first sinus infection was horrible! No known cause for that either. Yours is, of course, much more complex.

You didn't mention whether or not you have a runny nose.
(I do, and don't fare well with air blowing in the opposite direction.)

I don't know how you can tolerate the cpap air intake against what's going on in your nasal passages!
I have to mouth-breathe to get relief during the day.

I'm not trying to share your post, but comparing problems and outcomes.

I'm hoping to be able to read something from you in a few days that 'someone' there got on the ball and found some answers for you. You've lived through this far too long.

Take care, and live strong.

...as mentioned before, you need to go cold turkey on the nasal sprays and steroids.

use only a saline rhino rinse to allow your nasal tissues to regenerate. Obviously you are attached to the girlfriend and allergic to cats, buy your girlfriend a new puppy, gunny sack the cat and find the nearest river.

So I started the second round of antifungals tonight (but not the antibiotics until the morning). About 3 hours after taking the first dose my tongue started feeling very sore. I looked in the mirror and discovered it had large patches of white on it! I brushed a lot of it off and then decided to take a picture to document it. Below is a link to the pic. Warning: Its _really_ gross so don't at look if your queezy. (Hey at least I didn't put in inline so that I could warn you first )

http://james.istop.com/sleep/tongue2.jpg

Any ideas what this is/means?

jskinner wrote:So I started the second round of antifungals tonight (but not the antibiotics until the morning). About 3 hours after taking the first dose my tongue started feeling very sore. I looked in the mirror and discovered it had large patches of white on it! I brushed a lot of it off and then decided to take a picture to document it. Below is a link to the pic. Warning: Its _really_ gross so don't at look if your queezy. (Hey at least I didn't put in inline so that I could warn you first )

http://james.istop.com/sleep/tongue2.jpg

Any ideas what this is/means?

Wonder if that is not the result of the antifungal medication?

Your doctor can do a culture chair side which will tell him in 5-minutes if it is strep bacteria or form thereof, of which they may script an antibiotic.

In the mean time, scrape it off with a spoon, Listerine, let it soak about a minute may help.

By any chance do you use a Reverse Osmosis water system?

Looks like oral thrush to me... If you used your toothbrush, you'll want to buy a new one asap!

I'd drop by your GP first thing in the AM and stick your tongue out at him and go lookie here, now fix this! ASAP!

SleepySandy wrote:On a completely unrelated topic - how do you get the name of the quote author to appear in the quote heading? I can't figure that out.

SleepySandy,

The format is as follows:

SleepySandy wrote: "Here is the text you want to quote". Then you must close the quote with [/quo.te]

Only remove the . between the o and t. When I remove the period from the above, here's what it looks like:

SleepySandy wrote: "Here is the text you want to quote". Then you must close the quote with

Hope this is understandable.

Regards,
Bill

Lyza wrote:Looks like oral thrush to me... If you used your toothbrush, you'll want to buy a new one asap!

I'd drop by your GP first thing in the AM and stick your tongue out at him and go lookie here, now fix this! ASAP!

Going to have to agree with you, sure looks like oral thrush:
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/oral-t ... DSECTION=2

Bless your heart (and tongue)! It perplexes me that with symptoms this evident that an ENT can't figure out how to help you. I agree that your doc should see it firsthand while in full force. Sorry no answers, just a note to say I feel for you and hope you find relief soon.
Kathy

kteague wrote:It perplexes me that with symptoms this evident that an ENT can't figure out how to help you.

I think its because until I started taking the antifungal again there was virtually no sign of it. I saw two different ENT's last week and neither of them even saw this. I mean I knew there was something very wrong because I could hardly breath but they just couldn't see a problem. Its amazing really.

Until last night when I started round two there was little sign that I could see of it on my tongue. Likewise in the nose there was little sign of it. Even now when the nose swells up its very hard to see any problem, swelling seems to mask it somehow.

This second round of antifungals seems to really be bringing it out this time. Strange that the first round didn't. Roof of my mouth and soft pallete seem to be affected a bit too. Its pretty gross.

kteague wrote:I agree that your doc should see it firsthand while in full force.

Went to my GP first thing this morning. He perscribed Nystatin to take treat the thrush. He also sent me for a blood workup.

I have to wonder how much of my airway this has affected. Clearly my mouth and nose have been hit pretty hard...

jskinner wrote:

kteague wrote:It perplexes me that with symptoms this evident that an ENT can't figure out how to help you.

I think its because until I started taking the antifungal again there was virtually no sign of it. I saw two different ENT's last week and neither of them even saw this. I mean I knew there was something very wrong because I could hardly breath but they just couldn't see a problem. Its amazing really.

Until last night when I started round two there was little sign that I could see of it on my tongue. Likewise in the nose there was little sign of it. Even now when the nose swells up its very hard to see any problem, swelling seems to mask it somehow.

This second round of antifungals seems to really be bringing it out this time. Strange that the first round didn't. Roof of my mouth and soft pallete seem to be affected a bit too. Its pretty gross.

kteague wrote:I agree that your doc should see it firsthand while in full force.

Went to my GP first thing this morning. He perscribed Nystatin to take treat the thrush. He also sent me for a blood workup.

I have to wonder how much of my airway this has affected. Clearly my mouth and nose have been hit pretty hard...

Check out that link from the Mayo Clinic above, it tells you all about it the condition. You want to aggressively fight it because it can infect your entire body, sinuses, nasal passages, esophagus etc. Think I read that unsweetened yogart can also help.

Looks like your GP's hunch was right all along.