Allergy Symptoms

S on LI
Have you tried AYR nasal solution spray before bed and in the am.? Helps with the dryness from the nasal pillows (as well as the heated humidifier).

[quote="Anonymous"]S on LI
Have you tried AYR nasal solution spray before bed and in the am.? Helps with the dryness from the nasal pillows (as well as the heated humidifier).

I had allergy problems before using CPap. I actually thought they would go away since I was now breathing filtered air, but they are worse and go on all the time, no matter which interface I try. I wonder if it could be the force of the injected air causing irritation inside the nasal passages and sinuses.

Lori, I don't have the red nose, just the constant dripping all day. Not very professional at work. The eyes watering seems to go away after a few hours, but they feel puffy sometimes throughout the day. I have also tried Claritin and Nasonex to no avail. Nothing seems to make it go away.

My husband has this moisturizing nasal spray that I'm going to try tonight. It is all-natural and even contains some aloe vera in it. Maybe it's a question of really replenishing some moisture to sinuses that are being dried out nightly. Like I said, I can't turn up the heated humidifier when using the Aura since it is one of the worst for building up the condensation, so maybe I have been drying out my poor sinuses. I am going to give this a shot tonight and see what happens. Sounds like a really good suggestion "Guest" gave earlier. Wish I knew who to thank if it works, but they stayed anonymous. Oh, well.

Good Luck. ALso - do you run a humidifier at home? Maybe just in general add some more moisture into the air?

Best,

Tom

Lori,

Where have I been that I missed this whole thread??? My guess is that it is not that you are "drying" out your nose, but that the rain-out from the Aura is running into you nose all night. Kind of like a kid that licks his lips in the winter and ends up with red chapped lips. Look for the AYR gel, or you can also use KY jelly... or any non-petroleum based lubricant. Actually plain Aloe Vera gel may be fine also. You need to protect that tender skin around your nares from the nightly Aura-Irrigation. This may also be the cause of your allergy-like symptoms... just a guess, but I can tell you my nose is a little red these days also.

My allergies (tears, runny nose) aren't worse on APAP, but I'm now actively doing something about them. I use a Grossan Hydro-Mate to irrigate my nose twice a day. (search for it on this site or web) I had house air ducts cleaned and bought an air purifier. Bought a hepa vacuum. Reluctantly bathe the dog once a week. It's all helping.

Wading,

I wish that were the answer, but I haven't been using my hh; and if I do, it's as a passover or set on #1 because anything higher does cause rainout, as you know, with our Auras. I started turning it on very low due to almost a burning feeling I was starting to get in my nose from what I thought was the cool air drying my nasal passages out. Now I'm thinking it did more than just create a "feeling" of burning, but actually did burn my sinuses.

I am going to try to moisturize my nose tonight and see if that helps at all tomorrow. And I think the irritation at the bottom of my nose comes from all the dabbing I'm doing with the tissue throughout the day, and then the nasal pillows being placed against it during the night, not allowing it to really breathe (no pun intended AGAIN). Maybe the AYR gel, which I have from the good old days of trying to break in my Breeze, would be wise to apply outside the nose, directly to the nares, and use the spray to moisturize the insides. When does this become fun? Oh, right, nobody said it was going to be.

I've had a really big problem with a runny nose. My doctor advised me to increase the heat on my humidifier that the problem is caused by the high pressure and dry air. It has made a huge difference. This morning was the first time in about 3 months I have not woke up sneezing and a running nose. I still have a little bit of a runny nose but nothing like I have had over the last 3 months. Tonight I will try increasing the heat again and see if that helps completely remove the problem.

Hope this helps someone.

I have allergies and an inner ear disorder (my balance system is wrecked!). I am on allergy shots and a low salt diet.

I was dizzy when I 1st used my cpap, I would roll on my back and go into a complete vertigo spin. I don't know if was coincidence or not, but I went back on my flonase nasal spray and it stopped. I hope! So far so good.

Just a quick suggestion. I took a roll of Thinsulate I bought from a craft store and rolled my machine hose in it and then, with great difficulty, slipped my fleece cover over the whole setup. When I was done, I also padded the tubing of my Aura/Headrest in it being careful not to go to the airholes/vent holes. Hopefully I will be able now to just slide the hose out from the whole thing for cleaning. If not, I'll have to work on this a bit more, maybe slicing a seam down the whole padding and wrapping bands around it to keep it in place when put back on so as to be able to remove the hose when necessary for cleaning.

Last night, to try to help with this runny, irritated sinus situation I believe was coming from the drying out of my sinuses every night and not being able to use the hh with my Aura, I cranked the hh up to 3. Not one drop of water in my mask. It worked beautifully.

I spent $10 on the bag of Thinsulate. It seems to be a very efficient solution to rainout. It does take some time to do, but I saved $70 on the heated hose so far, not to count s/h charges.

Lori:

I tried hooking my Swift up with the velcro holder attached to the top buckle with it holding the rubber part of the tube from the machine. It keeps slipping out. Since that rubber end is so thick, how do you get it to stay in place?

I tried my Swift last night - Turned my HH up to 5 thought I'd at least see if I could make it thru the night. Got about 3 hours and then the pain in my sinus was too much. The mask is more comfortable, initially than my Nasal but my nose rebels after a few hours. Is this something that I will get used to?

I switched back to my nasal mask for the rest of the night and with my HH at 5 I got rainout. I woke up to gurgling in the hose and got some cold water in my face. LOL

I'm not sure if I'll beat the Swift or not Score: Swift 3, Tom 0.
I do want to try it again but I can see rainout will be a problem.

What form does that Thinsulate come in?

Best,

Tom

roztom, sounds like you'd benefit from the Aussie Heated Hose. That would eliminate the rainout problem.

SleepZone Heated CPAP Tube

Tom,

I am no expert, but I will try to answer your questions as best I can.

As far as the piece slipping out, yes, it does make it a tight fit to get the velcro to stay around the hose. You can, though, go to a craft store and buy some velcro and extend the piece so that you have plenty of room. It is VERY inexpensive to do, probably about $2.00 or so, and you'll have extra left over in the package.

Second, as far as the pain you're feeling from a nasal pillow, I can only think that it's from the delivery method of the air. With nasal masks, you breath in the air. With nasal pillows, however, it's what I call injected past your sinuses. That's why I thought I was having the problem; hence, the original reason for this thread. Are you on an auto or straight cpap? If you use an auto machine, my first inclination would be to suggest setting the lower number perhaps a bit lower than it is now, but not TOO low. For instance, if you're titrated at 10, you can start your auto at 8 or 9. That way, it isn't that much pressure all night running past the sinuses.

About rainout, I would imagine you read the post here that I just wrote before yours. If not, I would suggest you give it a read. Maybe that will work for you.

I don't know if this is something you "get used to," and talking to whoever is handling your care of your OSA may be a good suggestion. I am not used to having sinus problems, haven't my whole life, and just recently started experiencing this constant runny nose which I can only imagine is due to the nasal pillow use. I had tried using the Somnoplus for two nights and it stopped. However, I have a two-day welt at the top of the bridge of my nose that hasn't gone away from using it. So it's always something, no? I think I have extrememly sensitive skin.

Hope something I've said made sense. I'm sure others will put their more learned opinions in on the subject. Good luck, in any event. It's always trial and error, unfortunately, when it comes to finding what works (and a bit of lab ratting, too...).

Lori,
What does the Thinsulate look like? Does it come in a bag like the polyfill batting or am I barking up the wrong tree? I am going to try it. I want a heated hose, and I'm sure it is great with most interfaces, but so many people have said that they still get rainout with the Aura and heated hose that I have been somewhat hesitant. However, I won't hesitate purchasing the Thinsulate and giving it a try.