Need help for a new problem

Hi

My problem is that in the middle of the night I wake up because the inside of my nose is burning and dry feeling - very uncomfortable. By morning all is back to normal.

I am a 5+ year veteran of xpap use, and this is a new annoyance that I can't seem to resolve. For about 5 years, I have successfully used a Headrest mask, (notorious for rainout ) modified using a homemade headgear. My machine is a Respironics auto-bipap M series with heated humidifier set at 2. I also have the Aussie heated hose (to prevent the rainout), hanging over my head from a homemade hose holder. Then it has a low bend before attaching to the machine which is also lower than my head. Because I am just a little OCD, I never ever fail to fill the humidifier with distilled water, and it is usually still half full in the morning. I learned to keep my mouth closed the first night I used xpap, so that is not the problem. Generally speaking, I am much more likely to have rainout because of the nature of the Headrest mask. I know I can trun off the machine and spray some water in my nose, but that just makes me feel better and wide awake instead of stopping the problem.

Any ideas on what could be making this happen?

Thanks.

Catnapper - Joanie

Hi Catnapper,
When my nose gets dry feeling and burning...it was always from not enough humidity. If your machine is well used, it could be a humidifier failure. But you say you fill it daily...have you noticed it requiring less?

If all is working well, try turning it up. We're well into heating season and room humidity may be a factor.
Jamis

You might try some saline gel to soothe your nasal membranes.

Hi Joanie

I use the same mask as you. My allergies specialist (I have a perpetual rhinitis) prescribed to me ''Rhinaris spray''. He emphasized I needed to use it on day time and before going to bed to keep the sinuses from getting dry because that worsens the rhinitis.

So, I push 1 time on each nostril Rhinaris spray (not the Rhinaris which is an oil) before putting my mask on or I put some Rhinaris gel sometimes I use both products; this keeps my sinuses from getting dry. The good thing Rhinaris has is that it last for hours, longer than a simple saline rinse (ex neti pot or the other stuff prepared in a bottle). If my sinuses get dry in the night my nose get blocked and it wakes me up so I really need something effective.

I don't know if you can find Rhinaris in USA, in case you can't here is a link were you can find the information about Rhinaris and try to find something similar in USA. Rhinaris is sold without prescription.

On winter time I need to use it as prescribed (in the day and before going to bed) to keep the sinuses from dryness.

All the best!


Edit: I had forgotten the links LOL
http://www.medicinenet.com/propylene_gl ... rticle.htm
http://www.rhinaris.com/eng/rhimist_detail.php

Well hello old friend (as in time not age ). I have been having a similar issue, but only one night in the previous 6 years did it happen. The dryness was very painful, like dozens of pricks by hot pins. Never knew why it happened back then, but now I think it was related to humidity. A few months ago I relocated and during my travels I used an old machine without a humidifier, with plans to have 3 boxes of my belongings (all my worldly possessions including my regular cpap) shipped to my destination. The boxes are still in Ohio waiting for me to send postage. I've never been an allergy prone person, but my sinuses have made me utterly miserable the last few months. That burning and stinging is back to the degree I try to breathe shallowly because just the air passing through hurts like the dickens. I dread putting on my machine because I know the pain is coming. I hope to be getting at least my machine sent to me in the next few weeks. You know, as much as I prefer my Headrest mask, if another one was tolerable that was not prone to rainout, I think I'd want try to turning up the humidity. I've always preferred passover mode but I think that's about to change. Hope I don't run into the rainout issue. I'll be reading the suggestions for your problem in great interest.

Hi again and thanks for the ideas.

First I wondered if a malfunction of the humidifier was the cause, but water consumption has been consistent throught the years, varying with length of use each night.
I had been reluctant to turn it up because past experience had 2 bad outcomes - rainout and feeling way too hot. However, in desperation last night I did turn it to 3, with less of the dry burning sensation and only mildly too warm. I did turn off the heat and turn on an overhead fan to help with the too warm part. I often have to throw off the sheet and blanket in the night anyway, as some older women may recognize as familiar. Maybe tonight I will try 4 just to see what happens.

I have used saline spray many times and like it lots. I have never seen the gel, but a search shows it may be available around here or at least online. Thanks for that info. I will try that.

And Kathy, I am indeed your friend, both old and old. Good to hear from you. You know there is no mask like the Headrest, and none even close to being acceptable to a stubborn old woman like me. I have tried from time to time but can't find anything that suits me. You are so right that the dryness is painful - exactly like dozens of pricks by hot pins. Rainout is miserable too, but it doesn't usually hurt. I prefer rainout. I hope you get your humidifier back soon.

Another idea I have that I will try, maybe tonight, is to use the netti pot to add some extra moisture in the nasal cavities. I had serious sinus surgery some years ago that left the sinus area wide open, so that may be part of my problem too. The point of the surgery was to open the area so it could drain and dry, but that posed its own set of issues. Dry sinuses are better than infected sinuses, for sure, but still not ideal.

What still puzzles me is what happens in the middle of the night to make the problem occur. Things are fine early and late, so something must change. I also considered that the heated hose may be malfunctioning. To solve that question, I would probably have to buy a new one, but as you know that costs over $100 and some time to ship from overseas. I do have a backup machine that I have used for travel. It is still about the same age, but has less hours of use. I may switch to it.

Thanks for the ideas. I hope more will be offered.

Catnapper - Joanie