CPAP with a head cold?

Lucid · Post by **Lucid** » Tue Apr 01, 2008 12:59 pm

I started CPAP this past Friday and have been compliant since except for last night.

I couldn't breath through my nose at all due to a sinus infection/head cold.

I didn't try the mask at all (actually it was a nice rest for my nose.. it is pretty sore and raw: I think I have my mask too tight).

Do people still use their CPAP mask when sick?

Thanks from a newbie!

Wulfman · Post by **Wulfman** » Tue Apr 01, 2008 1:56 pm

MANY of the nasal mask/pillows users have a full face mask in their mask drawer for those situations.
Do a nasal rinse and use some Ayr gel......and get a full face mask for the next time.

Den

Claire · Post by **Claire** » Tue Apr 01, 2008 2:10 pm

I don't have a FF mask although am thinking about getting one for colds as Den said.

I recently had a flu and sinus infection. I used a neti pot (nasal rinse) 4-5 times a day. I only had two nights without CPAP. And since CPAP helps me heal, I don't want to lose a day.

Wulfman · Post by **Wulfman** » Tue Apr 01, 2008 2:20 pm

If a person is within the first few days/weeks, they can probably revert back to sleeping without their therapy air......although it's not the ideal situation.
Two weeks after I started therapy, I came down with a cough so bad that I couldn't hardly sleep.....let alone with a mask forcing cool air into my airway.....I had no other choice (that I knew of) at that point and went without CPAP for 10 nights. Every other bout of cold and flu I had that year, I was hosed up. I haven't been "sick" since Thanksgiving week of 2005.

At some point a person gets so used to sleeping with their nightly air that they can't imagine sleeping without it. It's kinda scary thinking about it, but it's true.

Den