Posted by - Sleepy Coote on December 03, 2002 at 20:50:24:

In Reply to: bloody nose posted by Jman on December 03, 2002 at 14:54:40:

Jman, definately mention this to your doctor. The nose bleeds are probably just from dryness brought on by all that CPAP air. But let your doctor make that assessment via a phone conversation if not an office visit.

Also use the search button at the top of this page to search sleepnet.com's forums for the terms "nasal irrigation" and "nasal lavage". Quite a few people who read this forum rely on these nasal irrigations to keep their nasal passages clear and moist.

Several years back my ENT recommended that I keep my nasal passages moist by spraying them throughout the day with saline. That was long before I ever heard of the acronym CPAP. Now that I use a CPAP machine I find myself "misting" my nasal passages most evenings before going to bed. I typically perform a complete nasal irrigation or lavage (which is much more thorough than simple "misting") once or twice a week.

Saline is really salt water---the kind your tear ducts produce. You can find recipies to make it yourself, thereby saving money. If you make it yourself, though, be sure to use distilled water and one of the purer salts (sea salt, kosher salt, or canning salt). Do not use iodized or table salt, however.

Also, be sure to keep your room, or better yet entire house, humidified.

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