Nose Problems and Humidity

Tonight will be the end of my third week on CPAP, and this past week I've developed a sore right nostril. The last few nights, I've had to wear my nasal mask instead of the nasal pillows. When I saw my ENT the other day, he commented that my nostrils are dry, and that I have scar tissue (from NG tubes) in my right nostril. (My right nostril is drier than the left, perhaps because of this scar tissue.) The doc asked if I'm using my CPAP's humidifier. Yes, but I've had to turn it down to 1.5 to avoid getting a nose full of water. Even at this level, the nasal mask gets pretty wet. I'm using a hose huggy as well as a hose lift, and I keep my house at 77deg F running the A/C. In winter my bedroom is about 65deg, though I do have a humidifier on the furnace. I expect my nose issues to be worse come winter....

Anyway, I'm wondering if a heated hose will allow me to increase the humidity enough that my nose may feel a difference. Any other ideas? In trying to get my sore nostril healed, I've been using Ayr Gel as well as Bactroban ointment (which I also add to the Neilmed sinus rinse). I'm hoping that I don't have to give up the nasal pillows entirely due to the scar tissue....

TIA!

When MY ENT told me I had a dry nose, he recommended using lots of saline spray throughout the day and make sure I drank more water -- it helped.

twokatmew,

You might want to add a room humidifier to ease your problem. Until Three years ago I didn't have a humidifier for my cpap and the only thing that helped was one for the room. Also the setting is for heat and at zero you will still have humidified air only room temperature. It is also important to have a smoke free environment and clean your mask and hose at least once a week. If you use distilled water for the humidifier make sure you top it off everyday and it should stay clean.

Oh, I definitely have a smoke-free environment, as I have asthma. I also have a Rabbit air cleaner in my bedroom as well as a whole-house air cleaner on my furnace/ac. Pillows get washed in warm-hot water & mild soap daily, rinsed well and air-dried. I wipe down the seal on my nasal mask daily using citrus wipes and wash all its parts weekly. I do use distilled water in the humidifier, and I top it off nightly before bed.

I have pretty bad sinus problems and have been dealing with significant congestion lately, so I've added a decongestant to my mix of antihistamines, which is probably adding to the dryness. I've had to stop using the pillows entirely and switch back to my nasal mask, as I'm now getting a nose bleed in my right nostril. I've been using Ayr gel and Bactroban ointment, but it's not enough. I'll probably have to resort to the Neilmed sinus rinse again.

Anyway, I just ordered an Aussie heated hose and bid on a full face mask on cpapauction, so hopefully I'll have a solution soon.

Thanks all, for your help!