Using a cpap when you have a cold..

[Goofproof]

THere are times like this when you just can't use it. Just use common sense and don't worry about it.

Never for me. Never miss a night. CPAP is needed even more when I have a cold. Can't go without it. I had a bad flu with nasal congestion. Used CPAP every night. It was a blessing that reduced the severity and length of the flu.

The only reason not to use XPAP Every Night is you died before you got to your XPAP. Jim

[Muse-Inc]

On having cold/major congestion. I have periodic closing of one or both nostrils from congestion whether allergy or cold. This is what has worked for me since becoming a hosehead.

• Repeating what others have said, gentle nasal rinse. I have the Grossan nasal irrigator but find Ocean spray in the can (not squeeze bottle) really helps. At least an hr before bed so saline can drain out of my sinuses...sounds gross but it works.
  
  Hot steamy tea throughout the day helps. Too, lotta soup. Chicken soup with root veggies helps body deal with the pathogens. I eat coconut for its death-dealing effect on rhinoviruses dissolves outer membrane inducing death. Oh, avoid cold drinks as they facilitate movement of bugs from upper airways to lower (lungs). Sugar paralyses white cells for up to 12 hrs, so no sweets. If coughing a lot, try hot cocoa as Swedish studies show it to be more effective than most couch meds.
  
  If using nasal pillows, get a hybrid mask for these times, that way you can breathe via nose or mouth without losing therapy air.
  
  Humidity. I go up to setting 4.5 or 5, going less doesn't work for me YRMV.

[jjc155]

Had a cold two weeks ago, used my CPAP as I normally would and think that it actually helped. Definitely got much better sleep than I would have with out it which I think probably equated to a faster recovery. Plus the added humidity def didn't hurt.

J-

[klv329]

Alternating nostrils with Afrin, and saline nasal rinse.

[zorki1c]

The CPAP seems to keep my airway more open when I have a cold. I also use a BreathRite strip. That seems to help, too.

[yaconsult]

The more congested I am, the more relief I get from the cpap. The warm, moist air coming out of my nasal pillows lets me breathe much better with the cpap than without. I use cpap every single time I sleep - without exception.

[SewTired]

Hi... I have a cold and my nose is a tad plugged up.. I could not use the cpap last night.. any ideas ? I’m new using a cpap.

This is the only reason why I have a full mask. While I've not had problems using my nasal pillows with ordinary congestion, a full-on cold was a different story. I have 3 different full masks (included with the zero hour machine I bought from Craigslist) and they all suck for sleeping on your side, so be prepared to just sleep on your back.