Help. Old CPAP user coming back, Oxygen needed?
Me(history from 2015):
Oct 2016, Went to an ENT because I felt like the biggest problem for me was my sinuses. I frequently had trouble breathing through my nose. Breathright strips seemed to help me quite a bit, but my skin got irritated so I couldn't use them every day. I had already trying a bunch of sinus sprays and pills. They helped somewhat during certain times of the year. Had an alergy test. Mostly came back with Grass/weed allergies. Ended up getting Turbinate Reduction surgery, Tonsilectomy (they were huge) and Uvula. I guess this is called UPPP but didn't know this until recently. Tonsils were pain-full!!
Anyway..I think removing the Tonsils was good. The turbinate reduction didn't seem to help. It is still hard for me to breath through my nose. I notice it mostly sleeping but occasionally walking around. Then I end up breathing through my mouth if I can't breath well through my nose.
Feb.2017:
-ENT wanted me to do a sleep study, to see if the UPPP surgery helped with the Apnea. The results were actually worse. Although it could have been the actual place/day of the study that contributed. I wake up very easily (noise and movement) and it's hard for me to get to sleep unless I do my usual routine at home.
-ENT looked at results and found it hard to believe, and I told him I was hesitant to try CPAP again because it was hard for me to sleep the first time. So I was going to see how things went for a few months.
June 2017: Was having a real hard time sleeping, so I contacted the ENT. Again, sinus breathing issues. Probably worse because of spring time/allergies. They prescribed an APAP with humidification. They also prescribed 2L Oxygen, because the sleep study from 2/2017 recommended it. They said my O2 was below 88% with CPAP and no oxygen. I didn't notice that prior. Worried about whether I really need Oxygen, or if it was just because I slept so poorly.
July 2017: While I was waiting for the CPAP/apap, I tried the old Breathright strips that I hadn't used in 12 months. Slept much better. In fact, since that time, I have felt very good (sleep wise) and while awake. Makes me think the biggest issue is still my sinuses. I'm a little bit skeptical of the Oxygen, but the Dr. wants it. I figure I can try the CPAP with and without it, to see how it helps. Hoping that it's just an adapter that I can take off if I want to try without the Oxygen.
I did get a Contac CMS-50F so I could check my Oxygen level during the night with the Breathright on my nose. Seems like I'm still dipping below 90% while sleeping. (attached).
Anyway... looking for some opinions in a few areas. I get the machine in a week:
- Had a Resmed A10 autoset with p10 nasal pillows and Fischer Paykal Simplus. Simplus because 1/3 of the time it was really hard for me to breath through my sinuses.
- Tried the above for about 8 months on and off. Whenever I tried it consistantly I had trouble sleeping and felt worse during the day.
- End up giving up in Nov. 2015.
- I was diagnosed the above from a Pulmonologist. Regular daytime breathing was normal or above normal. Same with daytime O2 back then.
Oct 2016, Went to an ENT because I felt like the biggest problem for me was my sinuses. I frequently had trouble breathing through my nose. Breathright strips seemed to help me quite a bit, but my skin got irritated so I couldn't use them every day. I had already trying a bunch of sinus sprays and pills. They helped somewhat during certain times of the year. Had an alergy test. Mostly came back with Grass/weed allergies. Ended up getting Turbinate Reduction surgery, Tonsilectomy (they were huge) and Uvula. I guess this is called UPPP but didn't know this until recently. Tonsils were pain-full!!
Anyway..I think removing the Tonsils was good. The turbinate reduction didn't seem to help. It is still hard for me to breath through my nose. I notice it mostly sleeping but occasionally walking around. Then I end up breathing through my mouth if I can't breath well through my nose.
Feb.2017:
-ENT wanted me to do a sleep study, to see if the UPPP surgery helped with the Apnea. The results were actually worse. Although it could have been the actual place/day of the study that contributed. I wake up very easily (noise and movement) and it's hard for me to get to sleep unless I do my usual routine at home.
-ENT looked at results and found it hard to believe, and I told him I was hesitant to try CPAP again because it was hard for me to sleep the first time. So I was going to see how things went for a few months.
June 2017: Was having a real hard time sleeping, so I contacted the ENT. Again, sinus breathing issues. Probably worse because of spring time/allergies. They prescribed an APAP with humidification. They also prescribed 2L Oxygen, because the sleep study from 2/2017 recommended it. They said my O2 was below 88% with CPAP and no oxygen. I didn't notice that prior. Worried about whether I really need Oxygen, or if it was just because I slept so poorly.
July 2017: While I was waiting for the CPAP/apap, I tried the old Breathright strips that I hadn't used in 12 months. Slept much better. In fact, since that time, I have felt very good (sleep wise) and while awake. Makes me think the biggest issue is still my sinuses. I'm a little bit skeptical of the Oxygen, but the Dr. wants it. I figure I can try the CPAP with and without it, to see how it helps. Hoping that it's just an adapter that I can take off if I want to try without the Oxygen.
I did get a Contac CMS-50F so I could check my Oxygen level during the night with the Breathright on my nose. Seems like I'm still dipping below 90% while sleeping. (attached).
Anyway... looking for some opinions in a few areas. I get the machine in a week:
- Think I should try the CPAP/APAP without Oxygen, or only with oxygen? I was thinking of trying it both ways and testing my oxygen levels. Will the equipment they give me allow this? This is Apria and supposedly they are supplying all Resmed stuff.
- Suggestions on facemask type? I still have my old P10 and Fischer full face mask. The p10 was good, better for me than the full face mask, but sometimes I found the nasal pillows hard to breath through even at the largest size. I was thinking maybe Resmed N20 Nasal. During my sleep study, they tried a P10 and a Fischer Nasal mask and said I did better on the Nasal mask.
- Is there anything else I can do for my sinuses? To help? I have sinus rinse that I use occasionally and/or sinus saline spray bottle. Flonase type stuff. Really wish the Turbinate surgery had helped. I'm assuming losing weight/exercising would help. I've been walking about 10k+/day and bike ride on weekends. I can breath through my mouth. If I do this, my O2 levels stay higher when sleeping, but then I dry out a lot and I cough a lot.
