Sleeping with a cold

[Suetois]

I'm sure a lot of you have some ideas concerning how to sleep with a mask and a cold. My nose is runny *and* I'm coughing. I have both nasal and full-face masks available. The FF mask is a Mirage Quattro--which blows out if I cough while wearing it. I get rainout if I set the humidifier above 3, so more humidity isn't a good option for me. I took a cough suppressant with a decongestant at about 3:00 last night, but it didn't really help. Do I have to just resign myself to snoring and waking with an intense headache for a few days? Do I need to get a more sturdy FF mask to use during colds?

[pap4life]

I have the pillows mask and also the Quattro FFM. The pillows, actually works good for me if congested. I also use a Neti Pot and/or the NeilMed sinus rinse for congestion, just before bed. The antihistimine usually produces good results for me.
The rainout should be conquered by having the cpap machine lower then your head. (perhaps on the floor). The moisture droplets will run back into the tank.

[snuginarug]

Rainout can also be dealt with by a hose cozy. Works great for me.

[RandyJ]

I started with a cold 2 weeks ago, my first in over 2 years. I had just transitioned to a nasal mask the month before, but I had to go back on the FFM for 4 days or so; my nose was too blocked to feel comfortable with the nasal mask. One night was hellish; I kept sneezing into the mask; I'd have to sit up, take off the mask, blow my nose, wipe interior of mask, put mask back on.... it happened at least 5 or 6 times in an hour. My worst night on cpap, the only time I really was aware of being on cpap, actually.

I have the Mirage Quattro like you, and it did the job for me while I had the cold. I wear it snugly with a mask liner and anti-leak strap, and didn't have any issues with it not sealing. I did the saline rinses twice a day, which helped a lot. Also used decongestant to dry out secretions as much as possible.

I think you just have to get through those few days until you can go back to your regular mask.

[pap4life]

Yep, winter time is the time to cozy up. I made three of them last year. One for each length of hose that I have. 6'. 8' & 10' lenghts. I have less then $2 invested in them. Scrap flannel from cloth shop.

[cindjo717]

I have the Quatro FX and it is good only with the leak strap AND mask liner, otherwise it leaks like crazy.

[rlyndecker]

I am MASSIVELY congested & I only have the one mask that I can use (supposedly I am getting nasal pillows but this lady who is supposed to give me the stuff isn't really seeming to be too interested in helping me!) I tried to use my mask, it's the petite ____ it just goes over the nose.
TODAY, I am MISERABLE; my ears hurt like _____, my glands are super swollen but worse of all I can NOT breathe through my nose AT ALL!!!! I am SUPER congested. I came home & took a nap, I had to take the mask off after 5 minutes, I literally kept my mouth open the whole time.

Anyway, ever have this issue? What do you do? When I am this congested I put VICKS Vapor Rub on the nose & neck but I don't think I can with the mask???

THANK YOU IN ADVANCE for any advice! I am so new to the CPAP & have had so many issues with trying to get the "right" stuff. I need an advocate who can stand up for me

What is a cozy? How does that help?

[Janknitz]

I always have a really bad night or two like that with a cold. I try to clear myself up as much as I can--even just an hour or 2 on the hose is better than none. Once you get past the really gooey stage, the CPAP helps a lot. I put the humidity on 5, settle into my ff mask, and sleep great. But in the gooey stage, there's nothing to do but get through it.

[Linus]

I hope you are feeling better.

At all costs avoid an expectorant right before bed. If you take an expectorant before sleeping, you will be sure to develop more drainage and mucus.

My cold treatment that works for me and maybe for you is as follows:
I usually start out the morning with an expectorant.
In the shower I loosen congestion and use a neti pot to clear the nasal passages.
Other over the counter medication can be taken to suppress cough and inflamation. Sometimes this helps.
During the day, liquids are very important. Caffine will dry you out. If you drink coffee, be sure to drink extra water.
At night an antihistimine might help. I use a neti pot about 30 minutes before going to bed. Make sure that your nasal pasages are dry enough before going to bed.
With CPAP, sinuses are held open and this permits draining. Humidification is helpful. If you are having condensation issues, a hose wrap helps and so does a heated hose. Since you probably do not have time to order either while you have a cold, try lowering your machine like others suggest, and put as much of your hose under the covers with you if you can. This will keep it warm enough to minimize condensation.

A small glass of wine late at night with enough water to counteract the diuretic effect of the alcohol might help in another way. It will not affect your cold, but it might help you sleep better and you will not care as much about the cold.

I just got over a cold. I know what you are going through.

[Suetois]

Linus (and everybody), thanks for your reply(s)! It's just what I needed. I'm still stuffed up and coughing, and finally just gave up and got up at 4:45 this morning. At least my husband will be able to get a little sleep without me getting up to snuffle, cough, and reseat the mask repeatedly. I did figure out that the "rainout" was actually tears from my watery eyes seeping under the mask and causing trouble. (I already have my machine lower than my bed, and haven't had problems with the humidifier set at 3 so far this year, so I was wondering what was up with the rainout.)

I hope I don't catch another cold for a long, long time. This is pretty miserable.

[DocWeezy]

I hope I don't catch another cold for a long, long time. This is pretty miserable.

You have my sympathies....I just got over my second cold since having cpap. I hope you remain cold free for a long time too! It's pure misery and there's only so much we can do.

I don't know how long you've been on the hose, but I discovered that I don't catch nearly as many colds as I used too...I've only had two colds now in the past 14 months, and that's a record for me. This second cold also wasn't nearly as bad as I used to have all the time. I used to have a bad cold about every three months. I attribute it to becoming healthier and not being so severely sleep deprived.

However, I did discover that Breathe Right strips REALLY helped me when I was congested. They didn't do much at the worst of the cold, but they really helped for the lingering sinus congestion and I was able to more quickly resume using my nasal pillows mask because I could breathe through my nose better with them.

Weezy

[chunkyfrog]

Remember that an expectorant does little good unless you drink plenty of water.
Linus is probably right on about not taking it right before bed.
My Comfort gel full face is a nice mask for when I'm stuffy/snotty.
DH discovered it is easy to put the AA valve out of whack on his Fisher-Paykel Flexi fit 431,
but it realigns with a little tweezer work.--so far, so good.