dry airways and not sleeping

[nina]

I am new to this forum and thankfully mu husband helped me figure out how to use this thing (in the middle of the night)
I cannot get to sleep and cannot find any helpful info anywhere on the net, can anyone give me some ideas of what works for you ?
My airways are VERY dry and it stops me from being able to get to sleep.
I have a humidifier next to me, but that doesn't seem to do very much good.
Thanks for any ideas !

[jonnell]

Hi my name is Jonnell my 4 year old has sjs.  We use a humidifier at night for her and put vicks vapo steam in the medicine cup to help her breath It seems to do the trick.       Hugs and Kisses    Jonnell and Jenna

[Linda196]

Hello and welcome, Nina.

Sometimes, if a humidifier isn't enough, you can try wringing out a piece of cheesecloth (or even a washcloth) and holding it over your mouth and nose, breathing through it, long enough to bring some relief.

Keeping a drink nearby and sipping when you are awake may help too, and there are oral sprays and gels available that last longer than water for moisturizing the mouth.

Theres also an OTC expectorant called Mucinex (generic Guaifenesin) that helps liquefy lung secretions and helps a lot of people with SjS, just be careful not to get the DM kind, because it can actually cause more dryness.

I hope you get some sleep, and come back to visit with us soon.

[Dolly Dimples]

   Dear Nina,  Not much advice can I offer,   but  I do find that if I spend about 10 mins breathing in over a bowl  of steaming hot water and filling my airways with moisture , just before bed I can at least fall asleep for a couple of hours..  I always have this difficulty when I have a cold!  Keep the humidifier going in the bed room before retiring too..     Cheers Dolly x

[lelole]

Hi,

You can get a thing called a sinurinse bottle (google it) for free... This was recommended to me by my ENT doc:

You make a saline solution out of 1 pint warm previously boiled water, one 5ml spoon of salt, and one teaspoon of sodium bicarbonate.  You use the bottle to slowly pump the water into your nasal passages and it comes out of your other nostril or your mouth.

If you use this about an hour before bed, it will moisten your nasal passages before you go to sleep, and prevent it drying out so soon.  If you use this in combo with the humidifier, you may find it helps...

Hope that helps...

Leah xx

[nina]

Hi and thank you so very much for this site and your replies, I'm so glad I found this place.
I've been reading all your previous questions and answers all morning !
I bought a "sinurinse" bottle today (not available for free on the internet anymore) and I used it immediately after I came home.
I think it's something you need to get used to, I felt I was drowning myself............
But the relief was instant, it's fantastic !!!!!!
Thank you for your support.

[irish]

You can also buy smaller personal humidifiers that cause the moisture to be closer to the space from which you breath your air and these really help a lot. Many times I sit up in the recliner with my humidifier and it really helps. Works better for me then to lie in bed.

Also, some people do use the Vicks to helps open their airways, however, if you are prone to reactive airways or airways that are really sensitive to smells,etc the Vicks can cause you to have breathing difficulty. I used to use Vicks when I was young but now if my hubby greases his chest I have to sleep elsewhere as I get severe bronchial spasms. Good luck and come back and visit. IRish