Bad cough and cold

TossinNTurnin · Post by **TossinNTurnin** » Fri Jun 06, 2008 9:56 pm

I'm finding it almost impossible to use CPAP with a REALLY bad cold and cough I have at the moment. Doesn't matter what humidity setting I have it set at, and my filters are clean and fresh. or which mask I use. (Nasal or Pillows)

But the therapy seems to TRIGGER my coughing. It starts a little tickle in my throat, and sets off horrendous coughing fits.

But, I've been faithfully using the therapy every single night since January and can't sleep much at all without it.

I'm really miserable and not sure what to do at the moment.

I don't know if a full face mask would be better, but I don't have one at the moment at the moment.

bdp522 · Post by **bdp522** » Sat Jun 07, 2008 4:52 am

You might want to try a nasal rinse before bed. Get those sinuses cleaned out well to keep the air from pushing all the mucous into your throat. I also keep a FF mask for times like this. I have found that the pur sleep clear helps ALOT when I'm all congested.

Brenda

TossinNTurnin · Post by **TossinNTurnin** » Sat Jun 07, 2008 6:12 pm

bdp522 wrote:You might want to try a nasal rinse before bed. Get those sinuses cleaned out well to keep the air from pushing all the mucous into your throat. I also keep a FF mask for times like this. I have found that the pur sleep clear helps ALOT when I'm all congested.

Brenda

Thanks Brenda. The congestion isn't the worst part of it. It's the coughing. The coughing is so violent it requires me to pull the mask off to cough as fully as I need to. I have REAL coughing fits.

I typically tape my mouth closed, but that's impossible to do as I practically blow the top of my head off if I do that right now. Last time I did (taped and coughed) I quite literally saw stars.

I am using a nasal rinse, but most of my problem has to do with what's going on in my chest so it really doesn't effect the coughing one way or another.

ozij · Post by **ozij** » Sat Jun 07, 2008 9:44 pm

I remember coughing fits at night from when I had 1-2 bronchitis attacks a year pre-cpap (haven't had any since starting). I don't think I'd tape during that kind of time: coughing is meant to clear your airways of something bothering it, taping keeps that clearing from happening.

I would say this is either Full Face, or recliner-sleep time.

O.

Comment: Pre-cpap I was living in an polluted apartment - those particles may have contributed to the bronchitis.

TossinNTurnin · Post by **TossinNTurnin** » Sun Jun 08, 2008 7:38 pm

Thanks.

Right now, the best I can do is not tape up and I pull the mask partially off during the coughing fit and put it back on. I'm awaking A LOT during the night, but it's the best I can do.

I guess I'll just have to tough it out.

I did use some of my husband's cough syrup with codine in it one night. I didn't get a prescription for it because, (I presume) I'm diabetic. But, I was just so miserable, I decided to take my chances, and it did allow me a good 4 hours, which felt like absolute bliss.