Brief history: Am a slim early 40's female paramedic/triathlete with chronic runny nose and 8year history of extreme fatigue - fatigue initially diagnosed as lifestyle problem (shift work/overtraining-I think not true) then diagnosed as depression (also I think not true)
Every night when I lay down, my nose blocks up within a few minutes. 8years later I finally complained to Dr, CT scan (narrow oropharynx) led to sleep study(medarate OSA). Am nose breather only and don't snore.
Issues1) initial CPAP pressure 6, within 6 months return of daytime symptoms, new titration study CPAP pressure 8, 6 months later return of daytime symptoms, now CPAP pressure 10
- does this plateau out?
- how long does it take?
(2) had 7 chest infection within the first 12 months on CPAP - presume it was nasal CPAP blowing bugs straight into my chest, have been infection free for 5 months. Just my immune system adjusting or something else? Any thoughts?
(3) Lastly and most annoyingly - have developed a chronic cough and my post nasal drip is much worse. People look at me like I am contageous with something !! I cough up about 6 clear mucus plugs per day as well as heaps of mucus strings and also constantly coughing to clear my post nasa drip.
-tried stopping CPAP for 5 weeks - reduced coughing up mucus plugs to about 2 per day but made me extremely tired again, not a viable option
-tried decongestants - work immediately on congestion but only for few days then no effect at all
-tried nasonex and all his cousins - no effect really
-tried nasonex plus rhinocrom 4% (a mast cell inhibitor) - some reduction in congestion and mucus volume coughed up!! (to the point where friends have commented that my cough is a bit better)
Have read some posts here and people have talked about sinus congestion but have not seen anyone post about a chronic cough as well, any help???
and any ideas on how to get relief??
Is turbinate reduction and septoplasty (yes broken nose as a kid) the way to go??
Thanks in advance for your input,
Lyndall