02-19-2016, 09:09 AM
Pick-up my CPAP Machine on Monday!
Hi everyone! I always knew that I snored thru the night, but when my wife was worried when I would stop breathing while sleeping, I knew I had to do something (not to mention waking up feeling tired and remaining that way throughout the day). I had my sleep study done last Wednesday evening and it was the best thing that I have ever done!! I fell asleep at 10:30pm, woke up and felt like I only slept an hour, looked at the clock and it was already 5am! I had so much energy that next day it was unbelievable. I dreaded the next week+ that I knew I would have to wait for the doc to write the script and to set up and appointment to go pick it up. I called everyday to make sure everything was going through. I am super excited to finally get it. I just had a general question: I am normally a mouth breather when I sleep but at the study they went with just a nasal pillow (which i was surprised worked!), but ever since then my nose is super dry and have been blowing blood out (more so the first few days) ever since. Is there anything to help with this?
If there are any other suggestions for a newbie please let me know!!! 
RE: Pick-up my CPAP Machine on Monday!
(02-19-2016, 09:09 AM)letsgobuffalo12 Wrote: Hi everyone! I always knew that I snored thru the night, but when my wife was worried when I would stop breathing while sleeping, I knew I had to do something (not to mention waking up feeling tired and remaining that way throughout the day). I had my sleep study done last Wednesday evening and it was the best thing that I have ever done!! I fell asleep at 10:30pm, woke up and felt like I only slept an hour, looked at the clock and it was already 5am! I had so much energy that next day it was unbelievable. I dreaded the next week+ that I knew I would have to wait for the doc to write the script and to set up and appointment to go pick it up. I called everyday to make sure everything was going through. I am super excited to finally get it. I just had a general question: I am normally a mouth breather when I sleep but at the study they went with just a nasal pillow (which i was surprised worked!), but ever since then my nose is super dry and have been blowing blood out (more so the first few days) ever since. Is there anything to help with this?
If there are any other suggestions for a newbie please let me know!!!
Good luck with your therapy. Finding the best mask for yourself can be a challenge. It sounds like a pillow mask is not going to work well for you? Pillows did not work for me as well. But I did find a good nasal mast. Mirage Activa LT.
Sleeping better since 01/13/2016 
Masks I have tried to date
AirFit F10-FFM, AirFit N10-Nasal, Mirage Liberty-Hybrid FFM, Mirage Quattro-FFM, Swift FX Nano-Pillow, Mirage Activa LT-Nasal, ComfortGel Blue-FFM, Amara View -FFM, Pilairo Q -Pillow
RE: Pick-up my CPAP Machine on Monday!
My sleep study never used a humidifier. Your machine will (should) have one. This will help a lot with dry nose/throat. I have mine set to 4. Right in the middle for an A10.
They make OTC nasal spray to relieve the dryness. Saline water like in a nettie pot works also to provide temporary relief.
As Mr. Nifty wrote, you may need to try different masks to get one you are comfortable with using. I started out with a Mirage Liberty, which I really liked, but as my pressure was turned up I had more leaks. I tried a P10 and never went back. Of course, with the P10 I had to also buy a chin strap. Oh well.. no one said CPAP was glamorous.
RE: Pick-up my CPAP Machine on Monday!
Be sure you have the humidifier and heated hose for your machine. If the DME doesn't offer it, use the nose bleed as the basis for medical necessity...call your doctor from the DME and have him fax a modified prescription that includes the humidifier. Most get it automatically, so don't sweat this.
The nasal pillows are absolutely the way to go. You will sleep better and get fewer leaks and enjoy a much smaller interface. Many of us like the Resmed Airfit P10 because it has a very quiet vent that won't blow on your wife or you. Nose bleeds are very uncommon with humidification. Good luck!
02-19-2016, 02:38 PM
(This post was last modified: 02-19-2016, 02:39 PM by green wings.)
RE: Pick-up my CPAP Machine on Monday!
I got a super dry nose at my sleep study as well. Using the humidifier on your CPAP at home will help with that a lot. (It needs distilled water.)
Indoor air tends to be dry in many places in the US in the wintertime. Some ways to combat nighttime nasal dryness in addition to using the humidifier in your CPAP machine are: warm shower right before bed, saline nasal spray, saline nasal rinses (Neti pot or other type) and avoiding drying medications (Tylenol PM, Benadryl, hydroxyzine).
Steroid nasal sprays like Flonase or Nasalcort can also help with more severe nasal stuffiness.
RE: Pick-up my CPAP Machine on Monday!
Hi letsgobuffalo12,
WELCOME! to the forum.!
Sounds like they didn't use humidity, or if they did, maybe it wasn't enough.
Much success to you with your CPAP therapy and good luck with your new machine.
trish6hundred
RE: Pick-up my CPAP Machine on Monday!
(02-19-2016, 02:38 PM)green wings Wrote: I got a super dry nose at my sleep study as well. Using the humidifier on your CPAP at home will help with that a lot. (It needs distilled water.)
Indoor air tends to be dry in many places in the US in the wintertime. Some ways to combat nighttime nasal dryness in addition to using the humidifier in your CPAP machine are: warm shower right before bed, saline nasal spray, saline nasal rinses (Neti pot or other type) and avoiding drying medications (Tylenol PM, Benadryl, hydroxyzine).
Steroid nasal sprays like Flonase or Nasalcort can also help with more severe nasal stuffiness.
Just FWIW, since 2008 I have not used any distilled water, never used a nasal spray, don't even know what a neti pot is, and take showers for cleanliness not humidity. Never a nose bleed or a problem. I'd avoid steroid nasal sprays unless you have a reason to use them.
This is simple. Why make it difficult?
RE: Pick-up my CPAP Machine on Monday!
It's not so simple for everyone. I was having problems with nasal dryness before I started using CPAP. I don't recommend more than occasional use of steroid nasal sprays.
RE: Pick-up my CPAP Machine on Monday!
Hi letsgobuffalo12,
Some people report that steroid sprays contribute to dryness. And as they say above getting the right mask is key.
RichB
RE: Pick-up my CPAP Machine on Monday!
Hello letsgobuffalo12'
It looks like the nasal pillow worked well for you in your study so I would wait until you try a nasal pillow with a machine that has a humidifier before you decide it won't work for you. I think the humidifier will take care of your problem with dryness. The pillow is really the way to go if you can tolerate it. I started with a full face mask and changed to a nasal pillow a few days ago. One of the best treatment decisions I have made so far. I couldn't believe how much better it is than the FFM. It is lighter, seals better and is more comfortable than the FFM was. My water usage with the humidifier has also dropped a great deal since I started using the pillow.
I have used Nasacort off and on for a while now. While it does relieve stuffiness, it has been my experience that it takes a couple of days to start working. I rarely use the Nasacort now. The air pressure and humidity of my CPAP usually take care of any stuffiness I may have.
Good luck with your treatment.
pupcamper
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