sick for a month could not use cpap

[blueeyes]

I have had a sinus infection for about a month. Lots of coughing. I would sleep on the couch in a semi upright postion to prevent the coughing. I did not use my cpap and knew it was affecting my energy level. Every time I get brochitus or a bad cough I find it extremely difficult to use my Cpap. I am trying to figure out what to do if this happens again. Any sugguestions would be appreciated.

[icipher]

A bad cough is something that concerns me too. I have not missed one night of cpap use since starting, and I am scared to death of having to, as if my body won't remember how to breath right or recover on it's on from an apnea and start breathing again.

I'd say that if I had a really bad cough, I'd probably take a full dose of cough medicine.

[palerider]

A bad cough is something that concerns me too. I have not missed one night of cpap use since starting, and I am scared to death of having to, as if my body won't remember how to breath right or recover on it's on from an apnea and start breathing again.

I'd say that if I had a really bad cough, I'd probably take a full dose of cough medicine.

er, your body didn't know how to breath right in the first place, or you wouldn't be on cpap

I just add humidity, and that helps my breathing (I'm one of those few that don't use extra most of the time), sort of like taking a hot steamy shower, only it lasts longer.

[Sleeprider]

Hope you feel better soon. Get to a doctor for help if you haven't already...things should not last a month or more.

[ChicagoGranny]

I have had a sinus infection for about a month. Lots of coughing. I would sleep on the couch in a semi upright postion to prevent the coughing. I did not use my cpap and knew it was affecting my energy level. Every time I get brochitus or a bad cough I find it extremely difficult to use my Cpap. I am trying to figure out what to do if this happens again. Any sugguestions would be appreciated.

I just cough in the mask and cleanup the damage the next morning. You could still sleep on the couch with the mask on.

Here is some help with coughing - http://www.mayoclinic.org/symptoms/coug ... m-20050846.

Nasal congestion can cause a cough or make it worse; some more tips - http://www.mayoclinic.org/symptoms/nasa ... m-20050644

Everyone should make sure their pertussis vaccination is up to date. I know a couple who both caught whooping cough and suffered for six weeks. The lady broke a rib coughing.

[Macpage]

I have had a sinus infection for about a month. Lots of coughing. I would sleep on the couch in a semi upright postion to prevent the coughing. I did not use my cpap and knew it was affecting my energy level. Every time I get brochitus or a bad cough I find it extremely difficult to use my Cpap. I am trying to figure out what to do if this happens again. Any sugguestions would be appreciated.

Kids brought home RSV or the flu or something. The minute the dry, spasm coughing started I got an asthma rescue inhaler to go along with the Mucinex and nasal allergy meds. Just 4 or 5 uses really tamps down the urge to cough. Really helps right before sleeping. Not sure if it works for the productive type of cough, but if i don't use it with these type illnesses I'll rip an abdominal muscle. That said, xpap and allergy meds have seemed to make my illness bouts a lot less menancing than pre treatment. Have to remind myself of that right now though

Of course, consult the doc. What works for one may be poison for others. Feel well!

Best,

Mike

[zoocrewphoto]

Back when I had a really bad cough going on, my doctor prescribed cough syrup with codeine so that I could sleep with my mask on. I can do a few single coughs okay, but a whole coughing fit wasn't working with the mask on. My cough was almost to whooping cough level.

After two bottles of tha cough syrup, she switched me to tessalon perles, a pill that worked better and longer. Finally, I discovered what was causing the stupid cough in the first place. I have allergies and asthma, and I was reacting to a chemical spill that wasn't cleaned up fully. I couldn't smell it anymore, and I wasn't around it every day, so I wasn't aware of why I would cough for 2-6 weeks straight, then nothing for awhile, and then coughing again.

I still have some of those pills, but I rarely need them anymore.

You may need to ask for medication to help reduce the coughing at night. And you may need to find a different doctor who can figure out a long term solution for you. My old doctor had no idea why I was coughing. I had to solve that myself. My new doctor told me there were 4 main reasons for coughing when it isn't cold, flu, or serious lung problems - asthma, allergies, gerd, and post nasal drip. I have all 4. She decided that if we treat those, I won't need cough medication.

[rosacer]

blueeyes

Humidity from your CPAP will help you with your coughing. I don't have the study at hand but I have read the reason why people catch the cold on winter time is not because of the cold temperature but because of the dryness. It said the airways become dry and the bacteria and other crap find a big ope need door to into your body.

I think it is true. I haven't had a cold for years, I started trying to stop using the CPAP (I was declared free from sleep apnea) and since last November I have caught one cold/bronchitis and now again I have a nasty cold and it all started a couple of days each time I stops using the CPAP.

Dry air is no good for a lot of people. I'm giving up on stopping the use of CPAP for this winter because I don't want to catch another cold etc.

Last night I woke up congested, I toke the mask out, I cleaned my nose and I put the mask on again and slept all right. I have always used the CPAP even in the rare occasions I was sick and it helped.

Take care and be well soon.

P.s. if you are worried about the cleanness you can clean the mask each day with mild soap and or soaking it on vinegar diluted. All will be right.

Rosie

[blueeyes]

I do have gerd which is probably causing the cough. I sleep on wedge pillow and take prevacid twice a day but still cough at night. I am going to go back to doctor again I guess because It so hard to use cpap when you are coughing. Thanks for the suggestions everyone

[carojae]

I have had a sinus infection for about a month. Lots of coughing. I would sleep on the couch in a semi upright postion to prevent the coughing. I did not use my cpap and knew it was affecting my energy level. Every time I get brochitus or a bad cough I find it extremely difficult to use my Cpap. I am trying to figure out what to do if this happens again. Any sugguestions would be appreciated.

THIS!!
Me too, if I use my Cpap the crud gets pushed up into my sinus and eyes.
Right now my chest is SO congested and I have NOT been sick like this for some 13-14 years (*when I quit smoking)! My stomach is so sore from coughing and I fear ripping a muscle as another poster said (and I think I did, really).
There is a REAL fear in using my cpap with this cough as I can't even produce enough air to effectively cough and soon feel like I can't breathe - almost like I've been knocked out of air.
I have been sick for about a week now and OH do I want to get well. I started MUCINEX tonight hoping that will help me expel the goobers before my eyeballs pop out.
This is just my $0.02 Thanks for listening.

Jim

[zoocrewphoto]

There is a lot of crud going around. The flu shot isn't as effective this year as well. If you are feeling this bad and haven't been to a doctor, you probably should.

My only problems with coughing since starting cpap was due to a chemical spill that was in a car that I rode in for some longer trips. Came home sick every time. Cough medicine helped, and finally, I figured out what the problem was. We recleaned the car, and it never happened again. But I was able to sleep again with the cpap once I got treatment for the cough.

[Sheffey]

I don't have the study at hand but I have read the reason why people catch the cold on winter time is not because of the cold temperature but because of the dryness.

There may be some truth to this. But I live where it is humid year round. This morning is only the second time I have the heat on in three years and it is not dry in the house. Despite the humidity, we still have more people catching colds during the winter.

The explanation for this is that people spend more times indoors with other people during the winter. Cold viruses are therefore more easily spread.

There is also the factor that summer temperatures kill cold viruses.

[blueeyes]

carojae hope you feel better soon. It is hard to use cpap when you coughing so much even though we know we would feel better. There is so much stuff going around this year.

[Janknitz]

When I get bronchitis, I wish I could spend 24/7 on my CPAP. It's the only time I'm NOT coughing and I feel comfortable. I set the humidity up and actually sleep now that I have CPAP. Before CPAP it meant several nights in the recliner NOT sleeping.

Try adjusting your humidity settings (up or down) to see if it eases your coughing. It certainly helps me.

[carojae]

I'm not sure if I have bronchitis but I do cough up the goobers - especially when I first get up. I think mostly my upper respiratory (sinus, eyes, throat) parts have the major problems. I sit back in a recliner and then I go on a coughing spree. *my mask is a easy life nasal mask.

I've not been a fan of the humidity option, not sure why but maybe I should try again. I do occasionally put it on #1 setting. Is this too low?
I remember my respiratory therapist telling me he puts ice in his water tank and leaves the heat off (yes, he uses cpap too).

Anyway, it's nice to talk about this stuff. Thanks for listening.

Jim

ps and you too blueeyes. get well!