Sinus infections - too much humidity?

I've used my machine for a little over two weeks and now I have one of the worst sinus infections I have ever had.

Is there any way to avoid this? When I searched the threads for "sinus infections" I noticed that one person said that too much humidity causes sinus infections and another said that too little humidity can cause sinus infections. I've been using different settings between a 1.0 setting and 3.0 setting and settled at 2.0 or 2.5 for the past few nights.

I know that I need to dump my humidifier every morning and make sure it dries. I've been rinsing my pillows every morning and letting them dry. Any other recommendations?

Too much or too little humidity doesn't always cause a sinus infection....instead it provokes a response my the nasal membranes that mimics a sinus infection...or really more like a bad allergy attack.
Nasal congestion, runny nose, sneezies, sinus pressure so bad the teeth hurt (been there and done that myself) but it really isn't a sinus infection...it's just symptoms of the nasal mucosa not liking the humidity that is being delivered...either too much or not enough.

So you may or may not have a real infection...it might just be the nasal mucosa not liking the humidity that it is getting.
I get every one of those symptoms if I don't get enough humidification...found out the hard way when I forgot to add water to the water tank a few times and the tank went dry. No infection though. Each time it took a couple of days to get past the nasal mucosa being dried out. Since you are already using a relatively low humidity setting...try higher and see if it helps and it will likely take 2 or 3 days maybe to see if it helps or not.

Now if you are blowing brown, green, or yellow stuff out of your nose....go see a doctor as that does indicate an infection but if the drainage is clear..might not be.

Sometimes cpap use triggers vasomotor rhinitis (google it)..if your symptoms persist talk to your doctor as there are things that can be done but playing with the humidity is something you can do.

I am wondering if the vasomotor rhinitis you describe, Pugsy, is more prevalent with a pillows mask? I have a wisp but have been experimenting with a Swift FX for her the last 4 nights, and I have seen a big increase in symptoms. Also, is it common to need a change in humidity with different types of masks? Just trying to figure out why the big change between masks and symptoms.

oak wrote:I am wondering if the vasomotor rhinitis you describe, Pugsy, is more prevalent with a pillows mask? I have a wisp but have been experimenting with a Swift FX for her the last 4 nights, and I have seen a big increase in symptoms. Also, is it common to need a change in humidity with different types of masks? Just trying to figure out why the big change between masks and symptoms.

I don't know if mask type is a factor or not. It's a common complaint with all mask types...amount of pressure used might also be a factor.

goodcheer wrote:I've used my machine for a little over two weeks and now I have one of the worst sinus infections I have ever had.

Is there any way to avoid this? When I searched the threads for "sinus infections" I noticed that one person said that too much humidity causes sinus infections and another said that too little humidity can cause sinus infections. I've been using different settings between a 1.0 setting and 3.0 setting and settled at 2.0 or 2.5 for the past few nights.

I know that I need to dump my humidifier every morning and make sure it dries. I've been rinsing my pillows every morning and letting them dry. Any other recommendations?

What happens is that the sinus passages get inflamed and cause pockets of trapped air/moisture & bacteria to exist. These then rapidly multiply and cause an infection.
It all depends on your sinus passages. Mine like lots of humidity, when dry they crack and hurt like hell, the cracks also allow bacteria in where they are not supposed to go. Some people's sinuses like less humidity.

If you have had recent infections all the bacteria might not have been killed off, they might be hanging around waiting for the "perfect storm" conditions like inflammation to happen.

Pugsy wrote: Since you are already using a relatively low humidity setting...try higher and see if it helps and it will likely take 2 or 3 days maybe to see if it helps or not.

Now if you are blowing brown, green, or yellow stuff out of your nose....go see a doctor as that does indicate an infection but if the drainage is clear..might not be.

Sometimes cpap use triggers vasomotor rhinitis (google it)..if your symptoms persist talk to your doctor as there are things that can be done but playing with the humidity is something you can do.

Not to be gross, but it's very green with bloody streaks. I have had sinus surgery in the past and this level of infection is rare for me, but it has happened. I will definitely make an appointment with my ENT; I'm just hoping there is something that I might be able to do in the meantime. But I do think that vasomotor rhinitis could come into play even without an infection because the pillows are an irritation. I've started my steroid nasal spray which will dry everything out so I think that upping the humidity is a very good idea. I'll do that tonight.

BlackSpinner wrote:

goodcheer wrote: If you have had recent infections all the bacteria might not have been killed off, they might be hanging around waiting for the "perfect storm" conditions like inflammation to happen.

I haven't had a recent sinus infection but I did take antibiotics for a different problem a few weeks ago. I hadn't thought before that there might be a connection!

Until you can get in to see your doctor do whatever it takes to make yourself as comfortable as possible with the symptoms you are having.
Increasing the humidity, nasal rinses, saline spray, oral meds...whatever you normally do in this situation to get some relief from your symptoms.