Atropic Rhinitis/Rhinitis Sicca and CPAP

I'm going for my 4th sleep test in another couple months. Couldn't bare the cpap test during 2nd and 3rd visit to the sleep lab. Just a little history.

I have Rhinitis Sicca as a result of my last surgery, it just means I experience very very dry nose all the time, and inflammation. I'm concious of this every waking minute. The inflammation comes and go during my sleep, causing congestion. I'm skinny as a stick, so I dont' quite fall into the usual apnea criteria. During my first visit to sleep lab last year, I was diagnosis with an AHI of 17, that by my sleep specialist opinion is mild sleep apnea. However, during my second visit, with cpap and nasal mask and no humidifier, my AHI shot up to 36. I went back for third test, this time with a humidifier and a full mask, I didn't last beyond 25 minutes for them to get enough test results. Since my Rhinitis Sicca has gotten a little worst, I'm guessing my AHI will likely be a little higher this year.

I just want to know if there's anyone out there, with Atrophic Rhinitis or Rhinitis Sicca, any kind of dry nose, who had success story. I'm going back for more test, because I'm hopeful. I doubt there's any other kind of solution to my sleep apnea.

Have you tried a heated humidifier? They are fairly standard attachments (or built-ins) with most machines and you set whatever level of humidity and heat you want. You pay a bit more for them ($100/or so) but most people use them.

GEt a good heated humidifier. I think the best is the F&P heated humidifier HC 150. It puts out a lot of humidity, more than the kinds that come with the machines. My guess is that it would be really helpful if you needed more humidity.

Sorry.....I posted this in the wrong place.

thanks, RosemaryB and Julie, I still have to wait roughly 2 more month for the sleep test. It's extremely a long wait here.

Mask questions, I've tried a nasal cup mask and a full mask (which is suffocating), have you guys tried nasal pillow. I believe it's basically two tubes, but don't know what comfort level that might be.

There's a style that goes inside your nose... called a nasal prong and then there's a style that just sits barely in your nose... usually has a larger area at the end of your nostrils and those are nasal pillows.

I was just recently reading about someone with this problem who was recommended a spray (instead of just saline). It's a rather strange sounding product name and not costly.
The name of the spray is" Euphorbium Compositum Nasal Spray" and although the ad I found for it doesn't say it, I got the feeling it was homeopathic or something along that line. The link I found that sells it is below. For what it's worth, I have no actual experience with this ailment, but I remembered about it because the person said it helped a great deal. You may want to look into it.

I found this on a product search.
http://www.zooscape.com/cgi-bin/maitred ... 7#MoreInfo

thanks Neverbetter, I'll look at it.