Desperate Ready to Throw in the Towel 2

jj62:

In my experience – one body, mine – I’m wary about diagnosis of sinus infection given your symptoms. I agree with thorough cleaning of your humidifier, hose, and interface – molds, for example, can cause allergy. Another cause to make sure of is avoiding air that is too cold, as that may cause allergic-like reactions in the nasal passages, which may take a day or two to clear up, something to consider (including if out camping with a battery for example).

Unfortunately, as of four years ago at least, while lower sinuses may be tender to pushing into the upper cheeks, the clear diagnosis of infection in other sinus was CT scan which shows difference in density of the infected junk and body tissue. My nasal specialist advised that looking up the nose will not detect a sinus infection as you can’t see far enough up. Some people get headaches if the infection is in sinuses above the eyes. I’d expect sinus infection to have drainage, perhaps stuffy nose, which would mean you should use a full-face mask not nose/nostrils interface.

But I’m not a proper source of medical advice – see a good doctor.


BTW, you didn’t say whether you had a nasal mask or full face mask earlier, nor what became intolerable about it.

Part 2 re humidity:

Advice on humidity given in this thread seems contradictory – some say too much is bad, others say more is good, many users in this forum seem to crank it up until they get condensation some use an insulated hose, one supplier offers a heated hose. (Hard to get much more humidity in air than saturated but one can ingesting condensation drops as they will get into the mask – or worse the small manifold volume that most nostril interfaces have. And see next paragraph for another problem with condensation.)

Fisher & Paykel’s web site, http://www.fphcare.com/, has articles on humidity in the breathing passages. Your nasal and beyond passages are supposed to humidify the air while warming it, so some condensation should be evaporated as the air warms, though getting water in the nose from some activity like swimming is usually not at all comfortable. The article “Dew Diligence Is Recommended” from the “Dealer Provider” publication of “Ascend Media LLC” in 2006 looks like a good general description. It gives a desired value for moisture in the air entering the lungs and provides a chart that seems to show that value being achieved at 99% relative humidity. It makes a very good point that flow fluctuations from water in the tubing may confuse the auto CPAP machine’s evaluation of your breathing.

(One of the authors of that "Dew" [sic] article has a course on humidification here: http://www.homelinku.com/CourseCat/Catalog.asp)

I read in articles on humidification that it may help keep nasal passages open wider, but there was little detail.

bwell:

Re your concern about chemicals.
Vinegar is a food (in moderation .

There are other disinfectants:
Someone pointed to simple very hot water.
Alcohol is another (pure - usually 99% in the drug store, not "rubbing alcohol" which may have other things in it besides water.
Bleach is more active I think, may affect soft plastics.
Hydrogen peroxide is another, may also be too active.

There may be a difference among disinfectants as to what they kill, as in virus versus bacteria, I'd think for CPAP the risk you are trying to eliminate is bacteria.

Besides hot water, I use a bit of soap to loosen buildups, then rinse thoroughly.

Some supplier web sites discuss disinfection though probably more in hospital situation for re-use for other persons. Try Fisher & Paykel and Respironics web sites.

BigNortherner wrote:jj62:

In my experience – one body, mine – I’m wary about diagnosis of sinus infection given your symptoms. I agree with thorough cleaning of your humidifier, hose, and interface – molds, for example, can cause allergy. Another cause to make sure of is avoiding air that is too cold, as that may cause allergic-like reactions in the nasal passages, which may take a day or two to clear up, something to consider (including if out camping with a battery for example).

Unfortunately, as of four years ago at least, while lower sinuses may be tender to pushing into the upper cheeks, the clear diagnosis of infection in other sinus was CT scan which shows difference in density of the infected junk and body tissue. My nasal specialist advised that looking up the nose will not detect a sinus infection as you can’t see far enough up. Some people get headaches if the infection is in sinuses above the eyes. I’d expect sinus infection to have drainage, perhaps stuffy nose, which would mean you should use a full-face mask not nose/nostrils interface.

But I’m not a proper source of medical advice – see a good doctor.

BTW, you didn’t say whether you had a nasal mask or full face mask earlier, nor what became intolerable about it.

Mirage Swift II nasal pillow.....

jj62 said

<Mirage Swift II nasal pillow..... >

One possibility is to switch to full face mask (or F&P mouth device) to isolate a bit and let your nose recover.

It is good to have a backup for nose problems, but a mask is an expense, you need to choose one that will likely work for you, and fiddle with using it.

BigNortherner wrote:jj62 said

<Mirage Swift II nasal pillow..... >

One possibility is to switch to full face mask (or F&P mouth device) to isolate a bit and let your nose recover.

It is good to have a backup for nose problems, but a mask is an expense, you need to choose one that will likely work for you, and fiddle with using it.

Thats a great idea alternate them ocassionaly. I am going to check and see if my insurance company will pay for them.

Thanks,
Joe