Opinion on nose bleeds, continuing CPAP

NeedinZs · Post by **NeedinZs** » Thu Dec 27, 2007 8:48 pm

It was bound to happen....my first cold.

I am on about Day 5 of the cold, and have not been able to keep the mask on the past 3 nights. Started out with terrible burning up my nose, couldn't tolerate the air blowing against the raw membranes. Then the next couple of nights I didn't really feel all that congested, but about 20 minutes after putting the mask on, I was suffocating, because I could get no air through my nose.
Tonight I'm having nosebleeds. I'm currently using antibiotic cream, that seems to be helping some.

I don't think I can do a FFM because my mouth gets so dried out as well, and I don't have one on hand to try.

My main question is....do you think it's best to stay off the PAP another night or two (as bad as I hate to!) and let the passages heal up, before making them worse. That's my gut feeling.....but I can hardly imagine another couple of nights off! I miss the little guy.

I also feel like the drainage is getting all shoved back up in my head with the Cpap on.

Thanks for any opinions.

Gail

sleepycarol · Post by **sleepycarol** » Thu Dec 27, 2007 8:52 pm

I have you tried a NetiPot or the NeilMed rinse? One of those might flush you out enough or at least help so that you could use your cpap.

I haven't used them but WalGreen's had them on sale a couple of weeks ago and so I picked up both to try out when I feel a cold coming on. I didn't know which I would like better so picked up both a NetiPot and the NeilMed bottle.

Ocean Spray nasal spray helps me as well and has no rebound effect as it is just a saline spray.

Hope you get to feeling better soon!!

NeedinZs · Post by **NeedinZs** » Thu Dec 27, 2007 9:01 pm

Thanks, Carol.

I usually use the Simply Saline mist can, as I haven't been able to use a NetiPot, tried several times in the past. I have a deviated septum, not sure if that has anything to do with it, but it somehow hurts my ears and makes me dizzy.

I have been reluctant this time around to use the saline because the inside of my nose burns SO BAD, I can't imagine the pain...just breathing air makes it burn. I know, I'm a baby..

Thanks for the well wishes! Happy New Year to you and ALL!!

sleepycarol · Post by **sleepycarol** » Thu Dec 27, 2007 9:10 pm

Have you tried some Ayr Gel?

I am thinking that the saline spray shouldn't hurt as the ph is adjusted but won't swear to it. I know I used the saline spray after my packing came out after I had surgery for a deviated septum and I don't remember it burning any.

Someone mentioned ZiCam swabs on another thread that might be another option as well.

Slinky · Post by **Slinky** » Thu Dec 27, 2007 9:16 pm

Those nasal pillows REALLY AGGRAVATE the nasal passages! Any chance you have a nasal cushion to use instead?

NeedinZs · Post by **NeedinZs** » Thu Dec 27, 2007 9:20 pm

Thanks for the AYR-gel reminder....I am heading for it right now!

I'll try that out first, maybe I'll get brave enough to do the spray, if I tolerate the gel.

I started out using ZiCam, but then wondered if it was making my nose sore in side. This happened to another family member, maybe coincidence.

Thanks again!

Gail

NeedinZs · Post by **NeedinZs** » Thu Dec 27, 2007 9:25 pm

Thanks Slinky!

I think my mask posting is wrong, I need to change it.

I currently am using the cushion, Couldn't tolerate the air force with the pillows.
I had my nose cauterized years ago for nosebleeds by an 80 year old, blind ENT, and I think he burned out a little more than necessary!

Live and learn! That's the kind of mistake you don't make twice.

sleepycarol · Post by **sleepycarol** » Thu Dec 27, 2007 9:29 pm

Be careful with Zicam if you think it might make it worse.

I have severe allergies and take two different oral antihistimines for them -- Zyrtec and Singulair. Doctors have told me to carry Benadryl with me in case I have a reaction I can take it on top of the other two. Benadryl makes me very hyper and so do not take it after about 2 p.m. cause otherwise I am up all night with the jitters.

This past summer my daughter got into something (poison ivy or oak) and was itching really bad so I recommended she take some Benadryl. Make a long story short she ended up in the ER with an allergic reaction and they told her NOT to take it for any reason.

So even if something is deemed safe it doesn't mean you can't be allergic to it.

NeedinZs · Post by **NeedinZs** » Thu Dec 27, 2007 9:37 pm

That is weird about the Benedryl and your daughter! So glad to hear it turned out o.k. Sounds like allergies must surely be in your family genes.

(My mom has extreme allergies as well, you name it, she's allergic to it)

I can't stomach the smallest amount of Zinc, even with food, makes me extremely SICK, so since Zicam IS Zinc, allergy is a good possibility.

sleepycarol · Post by **sleepycarol** » Thu Dec 27, 2007 9:44 pm

Hope you get to feeling better soon!!

Is that your little girl in the basket? She is a sweety!!

NeedinZs · Post by **NeedinZs** » Thu Dec 27, 2007 9:50 pm

Yes, however she's no longer a baby.

I thought that picture best represented me. I was so tired, I could have fallen asleep in a laundry basket!

Treesap · Post by **Treesap** » Fri Dec 28, 2007 8:47 am

NeedinZs wrote:I had my nose cauterized years ago for nosebleeds by an 80 year old, blind ENT, and I think he burned out a little more than necessary!

You let an 80 year old blind man near your nose with a burning tool? You are braver than I am. YIKES!!

With the cooler, drier weather, I had problems a few weeks ago with soreness in my nose and nose bleeds. I started using the AYR saline gel with aloe. It worked so well, I decided to use it regularly.

NeedinZs · Post by **NeedinZs** » Fri Dec 28, 2007 8:56 am

Hee, hee , hee...Treesap.

Well, he wasn't literally blind, or literally 80, but it was the first time I had ever laid eyes on him, as he was a "travelling" ENT. The mountain town I lived in at the time had no ENT, so they just told me this Dr. was making appts. at the hospital for that day and he would take care of me.....

I was quite scared when I saw him, but I was only 20, and too scared I would hurt his feelings if I walked out. How dumb was that?

I must admit, it did get rid of my constant nose bleeds, but I did suspect he went all the way through to the back of my head!

AyrGel is helping, I'll keep at it, and humidifying.

Made it through half a night on CPAP, and feel pretty decent today.

krousseau · Post by **krousseau** » Fri Dec 28, 2007 3:23 pm

Watch out for the preservatives in saline products too. After years of nasal allergies sprays-meds-etc I cannot use any saline with preservatives in it-the buffered McNeil salt packets work well to mix up a batch of saline which I then use in a pump style nasal spray bottle. Throw away any left at the end of a week and mix a new batch. Make and store it in a glass canning jar-I use some of the distilled water for my humidifier to make it.

sharon1965 · Post by **sharon1965** » Fri Dec 28, 2007 3:57 pm

I usually use the Simply Saline mist can, as I haven't been able to use a NetiPot, tried several times in the past. I have a deviated septum, not sure if that has anything to do with it, but it somehow hurts my ears and makes me dizzy.

gail,
how badly deviated is your septum? my ent told me that i was getting nosebleeds because the delicate tissue inside your nose is designed in such a way that the airflow doesn't dry it out naturally...but if your septum is deviated, you have air hitting that tissue every time you breathe in...this was why i was so sensitive to scents like perfume and chemicals, too...the scented air would hit the tissue on the inside of my nose, along the crooked part, and since the tissue was already a little raw, this would start a sneezing fit...since i had it repaired i no longer have sneezing fits, congestion or nosebleeds (she did also electrically cauterize a really big vessel in there when she did my surgery, as chemical cauterization wasn't enough)

i've also found the NeilMed rinse much gentler and comfortable to use than the saline spray, especially before my surgery, when the spray would hit that vessel or raw tissue and start a nosebleed

i was also wondering if the deviated septum doesn't interfere with your therapy? it did for me; repairing it was the best thing i ever did