Three months of upper respiratory infection is driving me crazy… How can I make it stop?  

See your doctor or a pulmonologist! Three months can be doing one heck of a lot of permanent, long term damage to your lungs.


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Some people are like Slinkies... Not really good for anything, but they still bring a smile to your face when you push them down a flight of stairs.
Resmed VPAP Auto. Humidaire 3i, Simplicity mask, ResScan 3.7, S8 ResLink, Embla oximeter.

CrohnieToo wrote:

See your doctor or a pulmonologist! Three months can be doing one heck of a lot of permanent, long term damage to your lungs.

For the last 3 months I have seen an Allergist, Internist, pulmonologist and a sleep disorder specialist.  I’ve been on several kinds of antibiotics and decongestants, but as soon as I start to feel better and get off the meds.  The upper respiratory infection returns and each time it gets worst.

I am new to the sleep Apnea world and would like to know if this is common to CPAP users, and what could be done to prevent this terrible cycle.  

Do you have sinus congestion and post nasal drip w/this upper respiratory infection? It "could" be starting there. It "might" be worth a trip to an ENT as well. The problem might be fungal rather than bacterial or possibly viral, neither of which would respond to antibiotics. On the other hand, what was the longest antibiotic dosing regimen?

I had a recurring sinus infection that would temporarily respond to steroid injection into the high nasal passages, to 7 or 10 day antibiotic regimens - and then return. My sinus infection would take about a week then drop into my chest. It was my family doctor's PA of all people who cured it!! I don't remember the antibiotic but she scripted one for a full THIRTY days. And THAT cleared it up for once and for all. No problems since and it has been about 4 years now.

What type of mask are you using and what is your xPAP pressure setting? Are you using a heated humidifier? Just what are your symptoms specifically. Upper respiratory infection can cover a lot of ground and various symptoms.


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Some people are like Slinkies... Not really good for anything, but they still bring a smile to your face when you push them down a flight of stairs.
Resmed VPAP Auto. Humidaire 3i, Simplicity mask, ResScan 3.7, S8 ResLink, Embla oximeter.

CrohnieToo wrote:

Do you have sinus congestion and post nasal drip w/this upper respiratory infection? It "could" be starting there. It "might" be worth a trip to an ENT as well. The problem might be fungal rather than bacterial or possibly viral, neither of which would respond to antibiotics. On the other hand, what was the longest antibiotic dosing regimen?

I had a recurring sinus infection that would temporarily respond to steroid injection into the high nasal passages, to 7 or 10 day antibiotic regimens - and then return. My sinus infection would take about a week then drop into my chest. It was my family doctor's PA of all people who cured it!! I don't remember the antibiotic but she scripted one for a full THIRTY days. And THAT cleared it up for once and for all. No problems since and it has been about 4 years now.

What type of mask are you using and what is your xPAP pressure setting? Are you using a heated humidifier? Just what are your symptoms specifically. Upper respiratory infection can cover a lot of ground and various symptoms.

My ENT physician (I forgot to mention him) as soon as he saw me recommended the dreaded throat reconstruction operation “deluxe”  I got the impression that he wanted to cut me up like a Thanksgiving turkey.  I mentioned to my pulmonologist and a sleep disorder specialist the possibility of my CPAP machine causing these problem and I got a sort of blank look on their face from them.  

I use a Resmed CPAP machine with a nose pillow mask set to 15 psi on a five minute ramp. I have a heated humidifier that clog’s the hose with water each night… feel like I sleep in the rain forest at times.  Each morning I wake up with burning sinus passages that goes down to my throat.  Soon right after I get both nasal and chest congestions… very scary when I can’t breath!  I’ve also been on steroids (Prednisone) on top of the antibiotics for three months and have gained some weight due to the fact and its driving me crazy!  

I would tend to agree w/you and your other doctors. Forget extensive reconstructive surgery on your mouth! Correct a deviated septum, yeah, if needed. Remove enlarged tonsils that can be a constant or frequent cause of problems, yeah. But UPPP??? I'd have to be pretty darn desperate and, frankly, can't conceive of ever being THAT desperate! IF tonsils and/or septum are a problem, I'd seek out a different ENT! Or be brutally frank w/the current ENT and tell him septum and/or tonsils only. Nothing more radical.

Nasal pillows style masks do provide more direct air pressure into the nasal and sinus cavities. Have you tried or had any success w/a nasal cushion style mask instead? 15 cms pressure is getting a bit high for some using nasal pillows. A full face mask provides the least amount of direct pressure to the nasal and sinus cavities and even the nasal cushion style masks provide less direct pressure to the nasal and sinus cavities than the nasal pillows style.

You can turn your humidifier down lower to reduce that condensation in your hose. You can try "hanging" your hose above your head on the wall or the headboard of your bed. You can try setting your CPAP lower than the level of your mattress. You can try an Aussie heated hose. Even taking your hose under your blankets w/you can reduce the "rain out" (condensation).

Ayr Saline Nasal Gel and/or Spray can reduce that burning sensation in the nasal passages and help w/healing them.

Try any or all of the above and see if any of them help to bring relief.

I was started on a Resmed S8 Elite w/EPR and LOVED it. I love the easy access to nightly data via the LCD screen w/the fully data capable Resmeds. I've since been switched to a Resmed VPAP Auto (bi-level autoPAP).


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Some people are like Slinkies... Not really good for anything, but they still bring a smile to your face when you push them down a flight of stairs.
Resmed VPAP Auto. Humidaire 3i, Simplicity mask, ResScan 3.7, S8 ResLink, Embla oximeter.

TonyEsteves wrote:

For the last 3 months I have seen an Allergist, Internist, pulmonologist and a sleep disorder specialist.  I’ve been on several kinds of antibiotics and decongestants, but as soon as I start to feel better and get off the meds.  The upper respiratory infection returns and each time it gets worse.

I hope you are taking the FULL course of antibiotics. If you are stopping the antibiotics before you finish the full dose you'll never get rid of the respiratory problems. They'll become antibiotic resistant and you'll be "sharing" a nasty, antibiotic disease with others to whom you come in contact.