I was 100% compliant until...

[Tigerlily]

I came down with the flu!

I have now slept withOUT cpap for 3 nights, because of cough, congestion, facial pain, fever & sweating. I've had this flu for 7 days now. I hope I can wear my mask tonight! My poor hubby had to go back to the sofa because I was SOOOO NOISY!!! He said I was waking myself up every couple of minutes. Not fun, not fun at all.

[khauser]

I hope you feel better soon.

I do suggest you use CPAP as much as you can. I know when I have a fever the last thing I need is some dang irritating thing grafted on my face, and the hose would probably be annoying too, but you'll get over the flu better and faster if you breathe during sleep.

What specifically is bothering you about using the cpap while sick? I love the CPAP when I have a cold ... it's the only time I tend to NOT feel sick (I can't use decongestants).

[jencat824]

I know it sounds hard to do, especially when you are so sick, but it helps me to get over colds & flu faster if I just wear my mask. I can wear nasal pillows & nasal mask when I've got a cold or flu, it seems to help with the congestion. Not logical I know, but it just works that way for me. You may want to try it, I've found you get well faster & feel better the next morning if you can use your CPAP.

Just a thought for others & for you the next time you are ill. Hope you are feeling better now.

Jen

[Tigerlily]

Well, the the first reason I did not use the TapPap was because the roof of my mouth was sore and itchy and I burnt my gums behind my upper teeth on hot tea.

So, I decided I would try my hybrid Mirage Liberty. I could only stand it for less than 10 minutes because my cheeks had sinus pressure and the mask was very uncomfortable, I was sweating because of my fever so the mask wasn't staying sealed and because I was congested I had to breathe through my mouth and so I kept drooling which would keep waking me and messing up the seal. Plus, my coughing can be pretty violent so trying to do that into the Liberty would seem....difficult. It's bad enough not wearing my mask.

I think I may be able to use it tonight though because my fever is better and face pain is better. I will use the NetiPot before bed. Wish me luck!

[kaiasgram]

Definitely, good luck tonight and feel better.

[KenH]

I use the new Wisp mask. My nose was stopped up and could not use Cpap. I have a HORRIBLE cough. The first night I could use it the coughing stopped within a minuet of putting it on. As soon as I woke up and took it off. Cough was back. I wanted to go back to bed.

[Janknitz]

When I'm too "gooey" to sleep with my mask because of sneezing and runny nose I don't sleep well at all. As soon as I possibly can, I crank the humidity all the way up and sleep with the mask again. I find that the humidity soothes my cough and can sometimes help with my stuffy nose (I use a FF mask) and I sleep much better than I used to sleep for weeks once a cold or flu got hold of me. Even if I have to rip it off now and then to catch a sneeze (yuck, TMI!), the time I spend in it is better than not.

[Stormynights]

Most of the time when I have a cold I can stay on the hose but I had one cold that I just couldn't wear a mask at all. It just happened one time.

[Kiralynx]

So, I decided I would try my hybrid Mirage Liberty. I could only stand it for less than 10 minutes because my cheeks had sinus pressure and the mask was very uncomfortable, I was sweating because of my fever so the mask wasn't staying sealed and because I was congested I had to breathe through my mouth and so I kept drooling which would keep waking me and messing up the seal. Plus, my coughing can be pretty violent so trying to do that into the Liberty would seem....difficult. It's bad enough not wearing my mask.

I think I may be able to use it tonight though because my fever is better and face pain is better. I will use the NetiPot before bed. Wish me luck!

Crank the humidity WAY up -- I use one of Karen's mask liners (I have 2) and then wash it out and dry it in the morning. The humidity really helps the congestion.

Also, a Dr. Ronald Hoffman suggests 50,000 IU of Vitamin D for 3 days for the flu. My husband did it, and it works.

[PreemieNrsTiffy]

I've dreaded the first time I come down with a bad allergy attack or cold/flu. I've only had the flu once that I know of but I get colds like everyone else. I have planned to get a full-face mask at some point in the future when my insurance allows (or I find a good sale). I think I would do better on the hose than off as I used to struggle with almost like a smoker's hacky cough and sneezing in the morning (never have smoked). I've not had any of that since I went on the CPAP except the time I accidentally turned off my humidity. I always feel so dried out and full of crud when I have a cold, I think going to my highest humidity setting during a cold/flu would be ideal.

[archangle]

Sometimes sleeping in a recliner may help. Also, sometimes turning the humidity down helps.

I keep a full face mask around just in case, but in 9 years, I've never been so congested that I couldn't use a nasal mask. The mask seems to clear out my sinuses.

[jab1972]

I had the flu a couple months ago and had the same problems you're experiencing, although severe congestion was my major conflict with hosing up. I normally don't use it, but I found that using afrin nasal spray before bed was enough to get a good night sleep on the hose. Don't use it for too many days, as it will cause rebound congestion, but in this case I found my midnight run to the 24-hour pharmacy well worth the effort. Feel better!

[Tigerlily]

Thanks you guys! Because I was feeling a bit better and because of your encouragement I went back to the TapPap last night.

Now however....

I have new symptoms and I'm pretty sure I have a sinus infection...going to Dr. tomorrow! So again, not sure if I should use my TapPap if it's a sinus infection and not just cold and flu congestion.

I don't want to make it worse...

[zoocrewphoto]

I have trouble with wet sneezes and coughing spasms that happen every 10-15 minutes. In those conditions, I just can't keep a mask on. I have to keep taking it off, and it is too frequent to keep it on.