Vicki, Are you saying you use nasal sprays all the time or just occasionally? I was afraid to use Afrin nightly just so I could have open airways. I thought there was long term problems if you use them all the time.

Thank you for your thoughtful post Vicki. I'm going to try my first SNI tonite.

My doctor went ahead a prescribed both Rhinocort and Veramist (sp?) and said to try one and if I didn't like it, to try the other. It doesn't get much better than that in a doctor.    I normally rotate allergy medications throughout the year so I don't develop a tolerance, but mostly I take either the Cloro-triaminic types or Claritin. I just got my first prescription to Allegra and the same nice doctor said I could try Zyrtec if I wish. Do you have a preference?

Does anyone know how to get that "new machine" smell out of their respirator system? Mine smells like rubber, plastic, oil and having it jammed up my nose seems to enhance that for some reason. I let the machine run for several hours for a couple of days in a row, but it still smells pretty strong. There is no cleaning method for the unit that I have. I did eliminate the possibility that it is either the hose or the humidifier; it is coming straight out of the BiPAP.

I have definitely read that ANY kind of nasal spray can cause an imbalance in the way your sinuses work if you use more than four times a day. Even pure saline. But after fairly extensive net research, I can't find anything to indicate that a single evening SNI would be anything other than beneficial or neutral. I think the rumor comes from people that constantly use a saline spray to augment the humidity in otherwise dry sinuses and their sinuses respond by producing LESS mucus, because it isn't needed. When they stop spraying, the nose takes a while to re-adjust. This probably happens to a lesser extent when people switch from humid to dry climates. But this just doesn't seem to apply to Neti or equivalent.

I understand about trying to ignore it. I do fine if I'm reading, but when I turn out the lights I just seem to become WAY more conscious of the support system and mask. Once I start trying to figure out if I'm getting too much air or not enough or try to swallow or clear my throat, it just seems to start a stream of panic thinking. Please understand that my apnea had gotten quite bad before I was able to get treatment and then I had to wait and go through a lot before I could get this system. In the mean time, I have gone through a number of scares where I stopped breathing. Or couldn't breath. It's a hell of a way to wake up. I have dreams that I'm drowning and wake up to find out that they were pretty close to real. My wife has gotten where she has trouble sleeping too because when my apnea starts up, she starts counting the seconds until my next breath, or pushing on me to start my breathing, etc. I'm sure you are familiar. These days, she tries real hard to be asleep before I am.

Take care,

talyn

Yay! I did the SNI last night and this morning.

Neti pot, pre-mixed packets.

Very successful, not many complications.
It was easier to pour through from the right than the left.
Right to left poured right through.
Left to right had a tendency to build up pressure and run out the back of my throat instead.

Perhaps due to my septum being a little deviated?

It really helped, especially after I then used my nasal sprays.

Thank y'all for the good advice.

Talyn

Sleepjo,
I want to be clear that I use topical nasal steroids daily, not Afrin.  Using Afrin everyday is very bad and will cause a rebound effect.  I use topical nasal steroids to turn off my allergic response (which is what topical nasal steroids do), not to clear my sinuses by constricting the blood vessels (which is what Afrin does).   Different effects, different mechanisms.

I have to use my nasal spray daily to kill my immune response, if I don't I start sneezing and the shear factor involved in sneezing causes me to develop sinus infections.

Talyn, OK, now I understand a little more what you are feeling.  Try this:
1.  If you are using the ramp feature, turn it off.  It is designed to start out at a lower pressure than prescribed to help you fall asleep.  But since the pressure is too low, you could be having apneas which would feel uncomfortable.  I do not use the ramp for that very reason.  I am full pressure, all of the time.

2.  If #1 isn't an issue, then you are simply panicking.  Sometimes people think they have  to breathe differently when you use a CPAP, but you don’t.  Put your mask on and turn on your CPAP.  Try to relax and very consciously take normal, slow, deep breaths.  If you need convincing that you are getting air, put your hand up to the mask and you will feel the air rushing out of the exhaust ports and you will feel the air rushing out.  I do this pretty regularly and it confirms that everything is as it should be.

I use my Nasonex (and you have to trial and error find what works best for you.  I use Zyrtec) and have also found that nothing makes it work better than being applied directly to a squeaky clean mucosal surface.

Vicki


_________________
That which does not kill you makes you stronger-Friedrich Nietzsche
Friedrich must of had apnea.

I was on the machine awake for about an hour, then I drifted off and didn't wake up til morning. 6.5 hours.
I would have made it longer, but I had to deal with that whole alarm clock get ready and go to work thing. <smile>

I do feel better though and since I have been doing SNI every night, my daytime breathing has improved as well.

I just felt like sharing. If I'm gonna share my sorrows, I think it's only fair to toss out some of my joys and good stuff too.

Have a great day,

Talyn

I was on the machine awake for about an hour, then I drifted off and didn't wake up til morning. 6.5 hours.
I would have made it longer, but I had to deal with that whole alarm clock get ready and go to work thing. <smile>

I do feel better though and since I have been doing SNI every night, my daytime breathing has improved as well.

I just felt like sharing. If I'm gonna share my sorrows, I think it's only fair to toss out some of my joys and good stuff too.

Have a great day,

Talyn

Tayln,

That is great!!  That is why we are here, to help people and it is very rewarding when we can!!

Vicki


_________________
That which does not kill you makes you stronger-Friedrich Nietzsche
Friedrich must of had apnea.

I've been posting over in the thread on deviated septum recovery.  I had my surgery last Thursday, the 24th.  Today was my first post-op meeting with my surgeon and he cleaned out my nasal passages for the first time.  What a relief that was!  He also gave me the okay to begin using a sinus rinse.  I had read this thread prior to my surgery and bought the NeilMed Sinus Rinse kit in advance.

Well I just used it for the first time and "YOWZA!"  That thing rocks!!!   It was definitely a little strange at first, having the solution go up one nostril and fill up the sinuses and then begin draining out the other side.  It didn't hurt, it was just... weird. Ha!  My nose feels GREAT now!  Very soothing!!  I'll be using this 1-2x's a day for the next couple weeks while my honker keeps on healing.

Thanks for the thread and information on this subject!

Michael / MeanJoe

MIke,

Thanks for the compliment!  I learned about sinus irrigation from my ENT after my sinuses were roto routed.

Vicki


_________________
That which does not kill you makes you stronger-Friedrich Nietzsche
Friedrich must of had apnea.

I've noticed several people mentioning nasal irrigation for apnea and reflux or gerd in the same statement. I unfortunately have both. I have often wondered if my reflux is the cause of my apnea. My doc does not really respond to this but I feel they are definately related. Any input would be appreciated. Thanks!

I just heard that Iboprofen (Advil) has been associated with causing or exacerbating the production of polyps in the sinus cavities.
Has anyone else heard of this?
I have been taking Ibuprofen as part of my daily routine of anti-inflammatories for about 20 years and I am having more and more sinus problems.

Off to an ENT sometime soon.

I work for Dr. Scott A Cordray, the man that invented the Oasis Nasal Spray and Wash it is an amazing product.. Just try it, you'll love it!

I have pain in forehead, between the eyes, and under the cheeks. These are all areas where sinuses are located. But when I try irrigation, the water goes in one nostril, quickly comes out the other, and that seems to be it. The water is clear with little to no material in it.

Does the water go into the sinuses in the cheeks, etc.? Can you feel it?

Thanks in advance for any input.

Are you using pulsed irrigation or gravity?  Pulsed irrigation gets the saline to the far reaches of your sinuses since there is more force behind it.  I can feel it in my maxillary sinues, but I have been doing this for 13 years so I know my sinues intimately.

To can't eat can't breathe (if you are still around hopefully) yes OSA and GERD are related.  However, there is a question as to which causes which.

Vicki


_________________
That which does not kill you makes you stronger-Friedrich Nietzsche
Friedrich must of had apnea.

Hello, just searching the web and I found your comments for netti use.  I do not suffer sinus headaches until i use the netti  pot, but I want to keep trying for all the supposed amazing benefits.  Any suggestions maybe why this is happening?

very appreciative...

traci