Every doc but the ENT, now a sleep study

[Jerry_NJ]

My personal interest in this Community is my chronic night time (sleep time) nasal congestion.  I have tried the generic for Flonase (fluticasone) which didn't help much, not ow Astepro (not a steroid) which is a little more help, but none are as good as the over the counter Afrin (or similar) which can not be used for long periods.

This congestion led me to recognize I have some trouble waking up with a suffocation sensession. . This led me to purchasing a personal Oximeter (subject on the Heart Rhythm Community if you care to look) which led me to discuss with my primary care doctor and an at home recording Oximeter test, which led to an examination by a Pulmonary Specialist and thus for a Sleep Study tomorrow night.  

I do not know if any connection with my nasal congestion will be established, but I'll be sure to share if it does.

[Jerry_NJ]

Wow, guess I'm getting off easy by comparison.

I continue to use a prescription spray Astepro, prescribed by a Pulmonary Specialist not an ENT.  It seems to help some.

I got home bright and early this morning from the hospital, my sleep study was done overnight.  I had some trouble sleeping, felt like I was wired for a trip to Mars if not further into space.  I think I did enough sleeping for the test to record critical data... bet I have a confirmed mild (hope mild) obstructive sleep apnea problem.  I don't know it that is related to my night time nasal congestion, but it seems possible, and for some reason I had far less over night congestion - maybe I have something in my bedroom to which I am allergic.  I don't think so, as I have had congestion when traveling and staying in hotels.   I had a breathing monitor attached to my face, looks like the supplementary oxygen feed devices, but it was to measure breathing, not provide oxygen.  I though maybe that helped keep my sinus open, the technician didn't think so, but that's a question for the doctor, not the tech.

[helyanna]

I used Flixonase drops in my nose. It contains fluticasone  propionate.  After about two weeks, I felt swelling of the mucous membrane in the upper part of my nose. A few days ago I turned back to Nasonex. The problem has not vanished yet. On the last week an ENT doctor said that Flixonase can do such a side effect. That is not good, because I have not had swelling of the mucous membrane in the nose, only have had it in the sinuses. It is also possible that my original sinus problem has spread to my nose.

On the other hand, I have noticed that if I lie with my face down, I feel swelling inside my nose. Maybe the capillaries swell and leak lymph into the tissue. This does not happen at every time. Further, I have noticed that the veins on the backs of my hands are enlarged. I don't know why. Maybe my infection(s) has/have become worse.

During last few days (and sometimes previously) I have been thinking of a possible parasite infection in my sinuses. I have seen the sinus snot (which is very thick and scarce) under a microscope. Beside blood cells, there are weird things, eg. those resembling walled protozoan cysts or some spores. That is a crazy thought, and no doctor has taken it into consideration or will not consider it. Nobody knows what is the cause of my sinus problem..