What can I add to humidifier water or external to help with sinus problem?

I have a Dream Station auto CPAM machine and am getting along well after my first week of use. My nasal passage have always sinus closed off at night when I sleep so it is increasingly difficult to breath except by mouth. I am using the nasal pillow mask and it seems to help keep the sinus open but not perfect.

I have tried using Sudafed for the congestion without much success. I am curious if there is anything I can add to the humidifier water that will help relieve this problem?

IN the alternate, I have read about essential oils and a pad sitting next to the unit to diffuse the essence in the intake air. Does anyone have experience with this and what is best to use?

Thank you

Rexlan wrote: ↑

Tue Mar 26, 2019 12:57 pm

I have a Dream Station auto CPAM machine and am getting along well after my first week of use. My nasal passage have always sinus closed off at night when I sleep so it is increasingly difficult to breath except by mouth. I am using the nasal pillow mask and it seems to help keep the sinus open but not perfect.

I have tried using Sudafed for the congestion without much success. I am curious if there is anything I can add to the humidifier water that will help relieve this problem?

IN the alternate, I have read about essential oils and a pad sitting next to the unit to diffuse the essence in the intake air. Does anyone have experience with this and what is best to use?

Thank you

Do NOT put anything besides water (preferably distilled) in your HH tank.
Some folks use the essential oils on a pad next to the air intake. I never would, but some do.

Are you using heated humidity? If so, what settings or how high do you have it?
Keep in mind that for some folks, higher humidity causes nasal congestion and therefore makes it harder to breathe.
Some folks need more humidity and some need less, so it's important to experiment with the settings.


Den

.

I assumed I should not add anything to the water and don't.

I have the humidifier set at 3 and a heated hose. It is comfortable, especially since I am new at this. I am also 73, overweight and sitting I have no sinus issue. When I lay down they block. The nose sprays work brilliantly but I don't use them because they only worsen the problem over time.

I read about the oils but thought that might just be a snake oil salesman thing.

Rexlan wrote: ↑

Tue Mar 26, 2019 1:54 pm

I assumed I should not add anything to the water and don't.

I have the humidifier set at 3 and a heated hose. It is comfortable, especially since I am new at this. I am also 73, overweight and sitting I have no sinus issue. When I lay down they block. The nose sprays work brilliantly but I don't use them because they only worsen the problem over time.

I read about the oils but thought that might just be a snake oil salesman thing.

Like I said, experiment with your settings. I discovered immediately upon starting that I did better with my HH turned off and just using cool, "passover" mode.......water in the tank but no heat. As dry as the air is where I live, it picks up some humidity as it flows through the tank. I route the hose under my covers next to my body to warm the air up a bit. Works fine for me.......year round.


Den

.

Rexlan wrote: ↑

Tue Mar 26, 2019 1:54 pm

The nose sprays work brilliantly but I don't use them because they only worsen the problem over time.

You can use them only at night for an extended period of time, or even alternating between nostrils, only open up one. (and, by 'nose spray' I assume you mean afrin type.)

The other thing to try is to vary the humidity settings on the machine, some peoples noses like lots of humidity, and some very little, or no added humidity at all.

Rexlan wrote: ↑

Tue Mar 26, 2019 12:57 pm

I have a Dream Station auto CPAM machine and am getting along well after my first week of use. My nasal passage have always sinus closed off at night when I sleep so it is increasingly difficult to breath except by mouth. I am using the nasal pillow mask and it seems to help keep the sinus open but not perfect.

I have tried using Sudafed for the congestion without much success. I am curious if there is anything I can add to the humidifier water that will help relieve this problem?

IN the alternate, I have read about essential oils and a pad sitting next to the unit to diffuse the essence in the intake air. Does anyone have experience with this and what is best to use?

Thank you

may i suggest flonase? it's otc.

and if you find flonase works for you and you have access to costco, their generic brand is cheaper and in my opinion, better.

good luck!

Is Flonase addictive, in that your body compensates for it over time in any way?

tyrone747 wrote: ↑

Tue Mar 26, 2019 3:44 pm

Is Flonase addictive, in that your body compensates for it over time in any way?

i've used it for 3 years and use one shot in each nostril before masking up. every now and then i will take another squirt if i happen to be awake about half way through my night. that's so seldom that i couldn't even make a guess as to frequency.

of course, we are all different and what works for me may not work for thee.

here's some info for you-

https://www.rxlist.com/flonase-drug.htm#description

Flonase is a nasal corticosteroid. It's not addicting, and the steroid is supposed to stay in your nasal passages and reduce inflammation, not affect you systemically. But double check in with your doctor just to be sure there are no contraindications.

It might help but since you describe the congestion as positional and only at night, my money is on the humidifier settings. Try (make only one change every couple of nights) to turn the humidifier up one notch and see if it's worse or better (or the same) If it's not better, try turning the humidifier down one notch until you find your "sweet spot".

If the "sinus problem" preceded CPAP, then you may need to look at whether you are allergic to something like dust mites in your bedding.

Have you tried a Neti pot? A rinse before bedtime might help, especially if your symptoms present only at night. I use one from time to time for sinus issues and it seems to help clear congestion and irritation, at least for a short time, and even if it doesn't work tremendously well, I haven't encountered a downside - other than looking rather silly when you're 'flushing your face'.

The other thing to think about is allergy to pillows, bedding or something else in your bedroom. If you only experience congestion at night, it might well just be positional, but might be an allergic reaction.

Here are some options:

1. Pursleep makes essential oil kits that you put close to the air intake, I've used them and they are nice, although mostly I don't get congested so can't comment on effectiveness.https://www.amazon.com/Basic-Starter-Pa ... 076NPTM1T/

2. When congested from colds, I smear a bit of vicks vaporub on my nares. It helps.

3. There is this gizmo, which I haven't used, if you want a stronger hit of essential oils!

https://www.amazon.com/Infusion-Adapter ... 072F2BWZC/

4. There a vicks inhalers, I keep one by the bed and find it helpful at clearing me up when stuffy.
https://www.amazon.com/Vicks-VapoInhale ... 073WMG99X/

5. Flonase or its generic equivalent is good if you suffer allergic stuffiness. I use it a lot in the spring and summer.

6. DON't USE Afrin or similar nose sprays on an ongoing basis, as they will make things worse after a few days. Although there is some research showing that combining Flonase and Afrin prevents or delays the Afrin rebound.

Of course, experiment with different levels of humidity including none or just passover.

Good luck!

remstarcpap wrote: ↑

Tue Mar 26, 2019 10:50 pm

6. DON't USE Afrin or similar nose sprays on an ongoing basis, as they will make things worse after a few days. Although there is some research showing that combining Flonase and Afrin prevents or delays the Afrin rebound.

If you only use afrin type sprays *once* a day, (not as directed) you can use it for a month or more without becoming dependent on it.

Thanks for all the great suggestions.

I found WalMart had the Flonase equivalent and I bought it. Used last night and will try it for awhile. The humidity is set at 3 and seems good. I don't feel dry and I don't seem to leak or have a wet hose.

I am using the DreamWear nasal mask and find it difficult to lay on my side because the rear band slides up on my head and then I lose my seal. Tried the full face to start and that was a non starter. Hope I can get this sorted out because I like the nasal mask.

Rexlan wrote: ↑

Wed Mar 27, 2019 11:04 am

Thanks for all the great suggestions.

I found WalMart had the Flonase equivalent and I bought it. Used last night and will try it for awhile. The humidity is set at 3 and seems good. I don't feel dry and I don't seem to leak or have a wet hose.

I am using the DreamWear nasal mask and find it difficult to lay on my side because the rear band slides up on my head and then I lose my seal. Tried the full face to start and that was a non starter. Hope I can get this sorted out because I like the nasal mask.

cool. now, when you get a chance, could you read this-

viewtopic/t172378/Sticky--Newbies-PLEAS ... STING.html

and maybe fill in your equipment profile? on the chance that you need some more advice, it would be good if folks here could see your equipment at the bottom of each post, like you see on mine.

thanks!

I received and tried the Pur-Sleep oil recommended by remstarcpap last night and it is pretty nice. I used a small condiment dish and a cotton ball with 3 drops of the Spice - pleasant and easily lasted all night.

I bought the 3 bottle sample kit that also contains a small bottle of 9 other fragrances. This should last a long time.