"fell off the wagon" - need support

[DozyDame]

HI all,

I am new..been on here reading posts for a few months...a little shy to post...
i got my CPAP machine in January 2014 -- i was in complete denial until May. After waking the headaches day after day and feeling like I had early stages of Dimentia...I decided to give it a try...it took me 3 weeks and a sleep aid from my DR to be able to be able to get used to the machine...but I finally did and after 2 weeks...I was sleeping with it every night and not needing the sleep aid ....and up until 4 weeks ago i had been using the machine nightly since May of this year, even when we stayed in a hotel or cabin over the summer.
Now I am having trouble again...anxiety, or what I am not sure...the past week I have a cold, so I have not even attempted to try it..
Is this common to stop / start / stop / start use of machine? And what do you do in case of a cold? Do users commonly use more that one type of mask? I use a nasal mask and I sleep on my side...( can NOT sleep on my back )...any support / suggestions would be much appreciated.

[palerider]

Is this common to stop / start / stop / start use of machine? And what do you do in case of a cold? Do users commonly use more that one type of mask? I use a nasal mask and I sleep on my side...( can NOT sleep on my back )...any support / suggestions would be much appreciated.

no, not common at all... when I have a head cold, I hook up the humidifier that I normally don't use, and the moist air helps keep things open, sort of like a nice hot shower does.

[Nooblakahn]

A lot of people use full face masks when they are sick rather than the nasal mask and pillows. I would certainly try to get a hold of one of those for when your sick. Personally I feel hung over the next morning when I don't use my machine so I'd want to be able to use it all the time.

Hang in there. Once you get used to it is like second nature. You'll get there!

[Julie]

On your back provokes more apneas... so it's certainly not something anyone here would tell you to do.

[msla]

I just power through the cold and keep the CPAP on.

[ems]

HI all,

I am new..been on here reading posts for a few months...a little shy to post...
i got my CPAP machine in January 2014 -- i was in complete denial until May. After waking the headaches day after day and feeling like I had early stages of Dimentia...I decided to give it a try...it took me 3 weeks and a sleep aid from my DR to be able to be able to get used to the machine...but I finally did and after 2 weeks...I was sleeping with it every night and not needing the sleep aid ....and up until 4 weeks ago i had been using the machine nightly since May of this year, even when we stayed in a hotel or cabin over the summer.
Now I am having trouble again...anxiety, or what I am not sure...the past week I have a cold, so I have not even attempted to try it..
Is this common to stop / start / stop / start use of machine? And what do you do in case of a cold? Do users commonly use more that one type of mask? I use a nasal mask and I sleep on my side...( can NOT sleep on my back )...any support / suggestions would be much appreciated.

Hi Dozy... I can totally relate to the start/stop use of the machine. I'm fine for a few months and then out of nowhere my mask starts to get annoying and no matter what I do, I can't seem to fix it. I usually stop for a few days and start again. It's not the best thing to do I know, but I sure can relate. I use only one mask, some rotate several. We are all individuals and do things differently.

I've been lucky so far and have not had a cold in several years. (knock, knock) Most people it seems use a full face mask when they have a cold. I'd try to use my mask if I catch cold but if I couldn't, I'd do without it for a few days. I hope you feel better soon!

[49er]

HI all,

I am new..been on here reading posts for a few months...a little shy to post...
i got my CPAP machine in January 2014 -- i was in complete denial until May. After waking the headaches day after day and feeling like I had early stages of Dimentia...I decided to give it a try...it took me 3 weeks and a sleep aid from my DR to be able to be able to get used to the machine...but I finally did and after 2 weeks...I was sleeping with it every night and not needing the sleep aid ....and up until 4 weeks ago i had been using the machine nightly since May of this year, even when we stayed in a hotel or cabin over the summer.
Now I am having trouble again...anxiety, or what I am not sure...the past week I have a cold, so I have not even attempted to try it..
Is this common to stop / start / stop / start use of machine? And what do you do in case of a cold? Do users commonly use more that one type of mask? I use a nasal mask and I sleep on my side...( can NOT sleep on my back )...any support / suggestions would be much appreciated.

Hi Dozy Dame,

I can also relate to the stop/start issues. The best advice I can provide is to simply not beat yourself for it and get back to using the machine as soon as you can.

The last time I had a cold, I found the pressure very soothing for my nose using the elan cloth mask. In the past, when I tried to use a full face mask, I found it very uncomfortable. Obviously, your mileage will vary.

49er

[chunkyfrog]

I still have a full face mask; but on the last few episodes of congestion,
I found that my usual mask was far easier to breathe through, and the humidity
almost immediately opens my nasal passages.

[Pesser]

Now I am having trouble again...anxiety, or what I am not sure...the past week I have a cold, so I have not even attempted to try it..
Is this common to stop / start / stop / start use of machine?

I have anxiety too. I'm always afraid that I'll stop because of it. I look into my room and look at the machine and often wonder how I'm ever going to sleep with this mess tonight. I take an afternoon nap or break with it; while listening to music with earphones...that way I don't hear the machine and I am not as afraid of it. For me it's more of a case of insomnia and simple anxiety. If you can't fall asleep with it because of anxiety try breathing with it during the day. Another thing I try is using it immediately after a nightly bio-break.

[SGearhart]

I would be leery if I had a cold too. Just the other night I had my first sneeze while using nasal pillows. . . The rebound of the mask after the sneeze really smarts!

[cnaumann]

For mild to moderate congestion, I highly recommend NeilMed Sinus Rinse. You can get it anywhere, and Costco has it super duper cheap. Use it with distilled water.

Using it feels a little like drowning or going off the diving board the wrong way. It is horrible in a water-boarding kind of way, but the results are worth it. (Really, it is not THAT bad, but it does feel weird and I am sure there are people that simply cannot do it.)

For a full blown cold, you will probably need a full face mask.

[archangle]

Using it feels a little like drowning or going off the diving board the wrong way. It is horrible in a water-boarding kind of way, but the results are worth it. (Really, it is not THAT bad, but it does feel weird and I am sure there are people that simply cannot do it.)

It's usually only uncomfortable until you get over the initial "drowning" reflex the first time or two. With water of the right temperature and salinity, I find it very comfortable.