"please keep me updated about oximeters "
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CPAP Sinus Infection?
This is from a correspondence I've been having with Susan McCord, who gave me permission to share it with all you on the forum. Italicized emphasis is my own... Will be interested to hear what you guys think she should do:
"I've been sicker than a dog with this CPAP/sinus stuff since the day after Christmas. Nobody, including my sleep doc will really discuss it with me or else they just dismiss it. This has been going on, off and on, since shortly after I started CPAP in July.
Today I was at my cardiologist for a checkup, and was telling him about all this ongoing. Usually it goes away spontaneously in 2-3 days--this time it's hung on for 10 days so far. Can't stand it.
Anyway, cardiologist, who's also an internist prior, told me it's not uncommon at ALL for pts. on CPAP to have this and that I have an infection. I asked him why the MDs don't tell us about it--he and I have a VERY open relationship and he knows I can't stand having smoke blown up my ass--he told me it's because the sleep docs are so worried about compliance that they don't tell pts. about the possibility of sinus complications AND that it's not uncommon for them to avoid talking about it even if pts. bring it up. They tend to assign the sinus problems to something else.
I was mildly horrified and, frankly, I think he is too. He told me to talk to my PCP and get started on an antibiotic and whatever else PCP recs. He also said people usually stay off CPAP for a week or so till the infection clears. THAT scares me to death. I don't think I'm gonna do it. Internet says to d/c too, but I don't think I can......what do you think I should do???"
"I've been sicker than a dog with this CPAP/sinus stuff since the day after Christmas. Nobody, including my sleep doc will really discuss it with me or else they just dismiss it. This has been going on, off and on, since shortly after I started CPAP in July.
Today I was at my cardiologist for a checkup, and was telling him about all this ongoing. Usually it goes away spontaneously in 2-3 days--this time it's hung on for 10 days so far. Can't stand it.
Anyway, cardiologist, who's also an internist prior, told me it's not uncommon at ALL for pts. on CPAP to have this and that I have an infection. I asked him why the MDs don't tell us about it--he and I have a VERY open relationship and he knows I can't stand having smoke blown up my ass--he told me it's because the sleep docs are so worried about compliance that they don't tell pts. about the possibility of sinus complications AND that it's not uncommon for them to avoid talking about it even if pts. bring it up. They tend to assign the sinus problems to something else.
I was mildly horrified and, frankly, I think he is too. He told me to talk to my PCP and get started on an antibiotic and whatever else PCP recs. He also said people usually stay off CPAP for a week or so till the infection clears. THAT scares me to death. I don't think I'm gonna do it. Internet says to d/c too, but I don't think I can......what do you think I should do???"
Views: 23942
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Dave on
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You really should be careful getting addicted to afrin. It also not meant to be used regularly. Have you tried nasal irrigation?
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Permalink Reply by susan mccord on
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Kevin--Hi! I don't think you and I have cyber-talked before. At any rate, I'm the one who started this whole sinus topic, way back early in January. I'm still in active treatment after all this time, but finally making progress.
The reason I'm inserting myself into this at the moment is this: you mentioned having sinus infections ever since you were in boot camp. This just occurred to me, so please don't take it as a suggestion or a diagnosis--I'll NEVER do that to anybody again after what I've been through!
What I want to say is that somewhere in my endless search for answers for myself, I ran across something about people getting fungal infections that need to be treated differently than a bacterial infection. I know NOTHING about this other than that. But for whatever reason, it made me wonder if you've ever been tested for fungus involvement.
Interesting that you can pinpoint the origin of your infections to being in boot camp. I can do the same--my sinus problems (which I've NEVER had in 67 years!) began within a week of starting CPAP.
Hope you have an MD that you trust to help you climb through all this--it can be exhausting trying to deal with so much every day. I'm gonna send you a friend request which you can accept or not, as you prefer. Take care....
Susan McCord :-)
Kevin Barthelemy said:I'm not nearly as good about cleaning my gear as I ought to be, however, there doesn't appear to be any direct relationship between my cleaning of the CPAP, and my having sinus infections. For one thing, the pattern hasn't changed much, since I began using the CPAP; ever since Navy boot camp, I've had sinus infections on a regular basis.
Much of my problem with infection, currently, is likely to stem from our long, drawn out process of moving. It's been, pretty much, work really hard, to the point of exhaustion, then several days of not being worth a copper dime, before another round. Moreover, I've just started seeing a new psychiatrist, and he's had me drop a couple of meds, without tapering off - then he added another mood stabilizer, which I took for the first time last night. While it is true that I didn't manage to start my CPAP before crashing, it's never caused me to be totally wiped out, like I've been all day today.
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Permalink Reply by SR McGlothlin on
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People, people, people - I can't believe what is going on in this thread. Yes, Susan has a sinus infection that took her medical providers months to diagnose. That is troubling and painful. But there is nothing to evidence that she "got sick" from her CPAP - people get sinus infections all the time. I travel across the US 100 days a year. Many times the climate changes (like Indiana to Arizona) cause sinus issues - and many times, have led to sinus infection - before I was on CPAP.
But to take her difficult situation and run down this path of conspiracy, cover-up, medical advice from people clearly not qualified, equipment care advice from people who clearly are not informed or educated in this area, and now talk of liquid DNA, and now Fungal vs Bacterial infections - GET A GRIP - all of you!!!
Yes, it is too bad that Susan got a sinus infection that took months to diagnose.
But encourage people to get qualified advice and instruction - not this. This thread is going to do far more harm than good.
Clean your equipment properly.
Use your equipment properly.
When you are sick, seek medical care.
When you have questions, as a qualified person. (and just because someone has figured out how to cut and paste - doesn't make them a medical professional, an expert in fungal infections, a CPAP equipment care specialist, or even the ever-common Genetic Engineer specializing in homeopathic applications for liquid DNA)
If you want to start a conspiracy theory - there are a lot sexier topics than CPAP use. Please place a modest amount of care into what you write. Your words may actually be read by someone who doesn't know better - someone that may not realize you are not a healthcare professional and believes that you are providing qualified advice. I read through this thread a number of times - and was so horrified, I had to say something.
Susan wanted a sounding board for her frustrations. That is understandable - and a valuable function this board serves. But then keep the thread as an discussion on "I am upset with my medical providers - they took four months to diagnose a sinus infection. And a sinus infection is even more difficult to deal with while on CPAP therapy".
If you take the time to read back through this thread - I hope you will see that this how so much bad information gets created. In fact, one may argue - it is because of so much bad information that proliferates the internet (some quite horrible) - that the GOOD information gets lost.
Poor Susan, she just started CPAP therapy - and she has now been delivered months of HORRIBLE advice from unqualified people - forget the sinus infection, the real long term damage for Susan has been the horrific instruction/advice provided in this thread.
Common sense please.
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Permalink Reply by Mary Z on
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SR, yes this has been a long thread with good information and bad. Most of us are able to judge for ourselves. Susan went to Doctors, to specialists she trusted. They treated her to the best of their ability. It has been a very complicated and lengthy process. She's a highly respected member of sleepguide. When something happens- a sinus infection, itching skin, it's a normal and good practice to look back and say what have I changed lately?, e.g., I started cpap, I traveled to a different climate, my stress level was very high, I changed washing detergents or bath soaps.
Susan did get some very good insights from a Dr. on the forum and was finally able to get on the road to recovery.
I think the give and take of ideas and experiences is what makes this forum so great. As I said most of us know what fits and what doesn't.
Welcome to Sleepguide, keep posting, SR.
Mary Z.
Mary Z.
SR McGlothlin said:People, people, people - I can't believe what
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Permalink Reply by Kevin Barthelemy on
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I find it interesting that you brought up fungal infections...the house we're still (after 2½ months) trying to finish moving out of, has so much mold in it, we couldn't help but recognize the fungus as a health issue. The primary reason for it being so full of mold was that the house had a hole in the roof for the first five or six years we were there. Once we discovered the hole (had to stand down the block to see it), the landlord had it repaired, but that lovely black mold was already all through the place. On top of that, the basement had flooded three times in the last 13½ years, resulting in most of our belongings stored in the basement getting moldy. Everything we pick up in the basement kicks up clouds of spores...and aside from my health issues, my wife is asthmatic, too.
I had an appointment scheduled with my doctor on Monday, but managed to forget (not difficult - my father just died), and will now have to get a new appt. I had intended to bring the subject of fungal infection up. It wouldn't be a surprise, if some of my problems stem from breathing in too much fungal material.
susan mccord said:Kevin--Hi! I don't think you and I have cyber-talked before. At any rate, I'm the one who started this whole sinus topic, way back early in January. I'm still in active treatment after all this time, but finally making progress.
The reason I'm inserting myself into this at the moment is this: you mentioned having sinus infections ever since you were in boot camp. This just occurred to me, so please don't take it as a suggestion or a diagnosis--I'll NEVER do that to anybody again after what I've been through!
What I want to say is that somewhere in my endless search for answers for myself, I ran across something about people getting fungal infections that need to be treated differently than a bacterial infection. I know NOTHING about this other than that. But for whatever reason, it made me wonder if you've ever been tested for fungus involvement.
Interesting that you can pinpoint the origin of your infections to being in boot camp. I can do the same--my sinus problems (which I've NEVER had in 67 years!) began within a week of starting CPAP.
Hope you have an MD that you trust to help you climb through all this--it can be exhausting trying to deal with so much every day. I'm gonna send you a friend request which you can accept or not, as you prefer. Take care....
Susan McCord :-)
Kevin Barthelemy said:I'm not nearly as good about cleaning my gear as I ought to be, however, there doesn't appear to be any direct relationship between my cleaning of the CPAP, and my having sinus infections. For one thing, the pattern hasn't changed much, since I began using the CPAP; ever since Navy boot camp, I've had sinus infections on a regular basis.
Much of my problem with infection, currently, is likely to stem from our long, drawn out process of moving. It's been, pretty much, work really hard, to the point of exhaustion, then several days of not being worth a copper dime, before another round. Moreover, I've just started seeing a new psychiatrist, and he's had me drop a couple of meds, without tapering off - then he added another mood stabilizer, which I took for the first time last night. While it is true that I didn't manage to start my CPAP before crashing, it's never caused me to be totally wiped out, like I've been all day today.
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Permalink Reply by 99 on
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My wife was diagnosed by a sleep clinic with Sleep Apnea and Acute Insomnia. She used to snore so bad that I could not sleep and had to sleep in another room....this went on for over 20 years. Recently we took her to an orthomolecular allergy clinic because of her sinus problems. She was allergic to milk, wheat, and many other foods. When we removed her intake of these foods her snoring and sleep apnea was reduced by about 90%; we were instructed to make a calcium gluconate and magnesium carbonate mixed with vinegar and boiling water to take before bedtime. The result is zero snoring and no sleep apnea. She didn't like the taste of the mag/cal drink so we tried all kinds of cal/mag solutions at healthfood store but this didn't work. We went back to the original formula but used red wine vinegar with the required 5% acidity and she didn't mind the taste as bad as the raw apple cider vinegar. I might add that the cal/mag drink also helped with the restless leg syndrome and insomnia. I tried the drink and after 10 minutes felt like I had a tranquilizer. If the drink causes loose bowels then drink only half the solution and the other half the next night until your body adjust to it. Do not keep the solution for over 24 hours.
1 Tbs Calicum Gluconate Powder
2 Tsp Magnesium Carbonate
2 Tbs of a vinegar with 5% acidity
8 Floz of boiling water
Mix first three ingredients together. When first three ingredients stop fizzing pour the boiling water into the mixture; cool down, stir, and drink.
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Permalink Reply by RockRpsgt on
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I am fighting a sinus infection now. I can't breath through my nose at all. It's horrible. I have to muscle through one more night of work.
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Oh Rock, I sure hope you get feeling better. Working when you're sick is such a bummer. When I was nursing you had to be communicable to take a day off, I'm sure your job is the same way.
Get Well,
Mary Z.
Rock Hinkle said:I am fighting a sinus infection now. I can't breath through my nose at all. It's horrible. I have to muscle through one more night of work.
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Well I just got home from the doc. I have the flue and a sinus infection. Lucky me.
Yes it is the same at my work Mary. Everyone else is also out sick. I was the only one that did not call in this week. Had I felt as bad on Sunday as I did last night I probably would have. everyone in my family has this "bug" that is going around. My daughters are the only ones that do not have it. They were already on antibiotics though.
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Permalink Reply by Jackie S. on
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I noticed since working overnights it takes a long time to heal. If i go into work with a lil cough or sore throat it's a full blown thing the next day. If i don't work at the onset of symptoms I'm ok. I love my job but working overnight really isn't all that healthy for several reasons as you know. Feel better!
Rock Hinkle said:Well I just got home from the doc. I have the flue and a sinus infection. Lucky me.
Yes it is the same at my work Mary. Everyone else is also out sick. I was the only one that did not call in this week. Had I felt as bad on Sunday as I did last night I probably would have. everyone in my family has this "bug" that is going around. My daughters are the only ones that do not have it. They were already on antibiotics though.
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Hi Kevin--I haven't been on SG for a couple of weeks, at least. Wanted to tell you I'm so sorry about your dad's death. Had he been ill? Was his death expected?
Losing parents is tough, regardless of how old you are. Both of mine are dead, for many years now, and there are many days when I'd give anything to be able to talk to one of them, especially my dad.....so, my thoughts and prayers are with you and your family, and I just wanted you to know.
Susan McCord
Kevin Barthelemy said:I find it interesting that you brought up fungal infections...the house we're still (after 2½ months) trying to finish moving out of, has so much mold in it, we couldn't help but recognize the fungus as a health issue. The primary reason for it being so full of mold was that the house had a hole in the roof for the first five or six years we were there. Once we discovered the hole (had to stand down the block to see it), the landlord had it repaired, but that lovely black mold was already all through the place. On top of that, the basement had flooded three times in the last 13½ years, resulting in most of our belongings stored in the basement getting moldy. Everything we pick up in the basement kicks up clouds of spores...and aside from my health issues, my wife is asthmatic, too.
I had an appointment scheduled with my doctor on Monday, but managed to forget (not difficult - my father just died), and will now have to get a new appt. I had intended to bring the subject of fungal infection up. It wouldn't be a surprise, if some of my problems stem from breathing in too much fungal material.
susan mccord said:Kevin--Hi! I don't think you and I have cyber-talked before. At any rate, I'm the one who started this whole sinus topic, way back early in January. I'm still in active treatment after all this time, but finally making progress.
The reason I'm inserting myself into this at the moment is this: you mentioned having sinus infections ever since you were in boot camp. This just occurred to me, so please don't take it as a suggestion or a diagnosis--I'll NEVER do that to anybody again after what I've been through!
What I want to say is that somewhere in my endless search for answers for myself, I ran across something about people getting fungal infections that need to be treated differently than a bacterial infection. I know NOTHING about this other than that. But for whatever reason, it made me wonder if you've ever been tested for fungus involvement.
Interesting that you can pinpoint the origin of your infections to being in boot camp. I can do the same--my sinus problems (which I've NEVER had in 67 years!) began within a week of starting CPAP.
Hope you have an MD that you trust to help you climb through all this--it can be exhausting trying to deal with so much every day. I'm gonna send you a friend request which you can accept or not, as you prefer. Take care....
Susan McCord :-)
Kevin Barthelemy said:I'm not nearly as good about cleaning my gear as I ought to be, however, there doesn't appear to be any direct relationship between my cleaning of the CPAP, and my having sinus infections. For one thing, the pattern hasn't changed much, since I began using the CPAP; ever since Navy boot camp, I've had sinus infections on a regular basis.
Much of my problem with infection, currently, is likely to stem from our long, drawn out process of moving. It's been, pretty much, work really hard, to the point of exhaustion, then several days of not being worth a copper dime, before another round. Moreover, I've just started seeing a new psychiatrist, and he's had me drop a couple of meds, without tapering off - then he added another mood stabilizer, which I took for the first time last night. While it is true that I didn't manage to start my CPAP before crashing, it's never caused me to be totally wiped out, like I've been all day today.
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Permalink Reply by Daniel Quarberg on
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I also have had sinus problems that I attribute to my CPAP. Take note; 90% of the time is because of my not keeping up on the cleaning of the machine and parts.
I have been told by more than one RT that I should not use the machine while dealing with a sinus infection. I do find it difficult, however, I do have a full face mask and then it is not so bad as long as I keep the humidity on almost full volume.
I have been on CPAP since 2002 and in January 2009, I was diagnosed with pulmonary sarcoidosis. The sarcoidosis is in my lungs and left eye so far. This also causes difficulty in breathing and even more so when lying down. I look forward to bed time because with the CPAP on, I can breath easier than any time of the day.
I am a firm believer in the CPAP. It makes a world of difference in everyday living.
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