Bad cold and Cpap = Useless

[MrSandman]

Have had a nasty cold for 5 days and haven't been able to use cpap because it makes me cough my head off. So the first two nights without cpap I slept sitting up and only for 4-5 hours but felt pretty good. The third night without and not feeling too good the next day and falling asleep watching TV. The 4th night,last night,today feel more depressed and tired and look tired according to coworkers who asked if I even slept last night.

The funny thing is that in some ways I felt a lot better those first two nights than I ever really do on cpap. Now it is catching up to me and I am tired and grouchy and more depressed.

I hope I can use cpap tonight because I was just starting to get good numbers with the Swift LT.

I sure don't miss the stomach pain and gas and chest feeling heavy and ear popping and pain that I have with cpap.

I do miss not falling asleep watching TV and waking up with a moist mouth instead of waking up with a mouth full of dried junk and hair and whatever else I suck into it in my sleep. I miss not looking as tired as I do without cpap.

[CorgiGirl]

I hear you, Browser. I had the same experience. The pressurized air triggered my cough reflex, so early in my cold I couldn't use the thing at all. Later, after the coughing had subsided a bit, I could keep the thing on between coughing fits.

I know that someone people can use their xPAP when they have a cold...my hubby is one of them. And some feel it helps their cold symptoms by clearing their nostrils. But not me.

Next time, I'm going to try a medicine called Tessalon Perles. It is supposed to "dull" or "reduce" your cough reflex. In my experience, docs generally won't prescribe it if you have chest congestion because that would be counterproductive to getting the crud out. Hopefully the next time won't be for a long while though...

[roster]

Browser,

You need to aggressively attack those cold symptoms and get right back to using cpap. Here are my suggestions: viewtopic.php?p=160144#160144.

Mutter,mutter, me trying to help a f@#%ing cat, mutter,mutter

[sleepycarol]

I hear you, Browser. I had the same experience. The pressurized air triggered my cough reflex, so early in my cold I couldn't use the thing at all. Later, after the coughing had subsided a bit, I could keep the thing on between coughing fits.

I know that someone people can use their xPAP when they have a cold...my hubby is one of them. And some feel it helps their cold symptoms by clearing their nostrils. But not me.

Next time, I'm going to try a medicine called Tessalon Perles. It is supposed to "dull" or "reduce" your cough reflex. In my experience, docs generally won't prescribe it if you have chest congestion because that would be counterproductive to getting the crud out. Hopefully the next time won't be for a long while though...

I recently had a bad cold and would NOT give up on cpap, although my coughing fits made for a miserable night. After a couple of nights I called the doctor and asked for the Tessalon Perles (you can get them in generic form as well) since she couldn't see me until on a Monday and this was on Friday. I was congested but her thought was it was better to be able to get quality sleep with the machine than do without it. She told me to take Mucinex along with the Tessalon Perles to thin the mucous down to help with the congestion. I had to go with a full face mask for a few nights but at least I was able to tolerate the machine. You might try it next time if you doctor will allow it.

[2girlsmom]

I had this problem until I discovered Mucinex Maximum strength. It has the same stuff as Robitussin plus the stuff in Delsym. It's a 12 hour pill so it lasts all night for me and helps with that tickle.

[CorgiGirl]

I take Mucinex on a daily basis and it helps with the copious mucus production from my asthma...but it doesn't do anything for my cough reflex. Glad to know it helps with yours, 2GM.

SG, I agree that it's better to use the CPAP all the time, but coughing fits made it impossible for me for a few days. I coughed forcefully enough to break the seal on my mask repeatedly. I figure it's better to get some sleep without it than to get none fighting it and the coughing.....

Everyone's different, so some of us may not be able to use our CPAPs when we get colds, much as we might want to.

[jules]

There are several formulas for Mucinex and Mucinex maximum strength. I suspect that 2girlsmom was referring to one with DM in it.

[sleepycarol]

I used the Mucinex (plain) when I was taking the Tessalon Perles since the Tessalon Perles were for the cough.

After a couple of days I switched to the Mucinex 12 hour DM. That helped control the cough at that point.

Like Julie pointed out there are several varities of Mucinex (and their generic equivalents) out there. Read you labels carefully and find the formula that best suits your symptoms.

[CorgiGirl]

And to make matters worse...most of the generic brands are a lesser dose of immediate release, not timed release. So you have to take them more often. I've stuck with the Mucinex brand name even though it costs more for that reason. I'm hoping that someday there will be a timed release generic!!!

[jules]

Research the FDA on this - this is one article I pulled up just now.

http://www.docguide.com/news/content.ns ... F7004F98DA

I used to get this med via Rx for several years. Adams then got it approved from the FDA for the time release OTC version called Mucinex in 2002. The Rx med I used to get was then not available.

The new product Mucinex was behind the counter at first (selected pharmacies only where I lived) and more expensive by far than the generic had been even at full price. I was able to order it from prohealth a little cheaper back then.

Adams fought all the other makers of this med in tablet form for a long time but finally we started seeing the immediate release tablets called Mucus Relief. I hear you can't get the immediate release stuff from Costco anymore and I haven't checked other sources lately.

[MrSandman]

Browser,

You need to aggressively attack those cold symptoms and get right back to using cpap. Here are my suggestions: viewtopic.php?p=160144#160144.

Mutter,mutter, me trying to help a f@#%ing cat, mutter,mutter

Thanks Rooster - my nose is wide open it is the tickle in the throat that is the problem. The air hits the tickle and I can't stop hacking.

I was able to use the Apap last night for 7.5 hours with an AHI of 10. Not a great night but better than nothing. VB% was 50ish for those interested. Biggest issue last night was fighting leaks with the Swift Lt and my mouth.

[MrSandman]

I had this problem until I discovered Mucinex Maximum strength. It has the same stuff as Robitussin plus the stuff in Delsym. It's a 12 hour pill so it lasts all night for me and helps with that tickle.

I have been taking the maximum strength Mucinex DM 1200 12 HR. Yes it has a cough suppressant but still couldn't stop the cough when that cpap air hit.

Thanks

[wongnog]

I don't have a FFF so I can't attest to whether pressurized air in the mouth might aggravate one's cough, but for me my nasal pillows and the heated humidifier really help clear my nasal passages. It also prevents me from breathing through my mouth so it helps with a sore throat. I just got a warm mist room humidifier because my house is too dry in the winter, and I find bringing the house humidity up to 30-35% really helps alleviate dry coughing too. Hope this tips help!

[sleepycarol]

I wonder if pursleep calm or clear would help with the coughing? Just a thought -- I know when I am congested they help and I did use them a couple of weeks ago when I had a cold.

In a previous post in this thread I accidently called Jules -- Julie. Sorry about that -- it was an honest mistake. Numerous members have similar posting IDs -- when in a hurry I can sometimes get the different, but similar, ID's confused.

[sheltie]

I have no idea why, but since I started CPAP about six years ago I haven't had a single cold. Not too bad for someone who had his left lower lobe removed 40 years ago and was always prone to bad colds and walking pneumonia. Whatever the reason, I'm happy.