Using a cpap when you have a cold..

[Jbouc]

Hi... I have a cold and my nose is a tad plugged up.. I could not use the cpap last night.. any ideas ? I’m new using a cpap.

[greatunclebill]

THere are times like this when you just can't use it. Just use common sense and don't worry about it.

[LSAT]

It's easy to just go without it, but you really should try a Full Face Mask. With it you can breathe through your mouth withjout losing therapy.

[Wulfman...]

Try to keep using it. You may have to alter your humidity settings.......some people need more humidity and some people do better with less ( like cool, "passover" humidity works for many, too....HH turned Off ).

Also, try to do nasal cleansing before bedtime so as to clear the nasals passages as much as possible.


Den

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[remstarcpap]

I use a nasal mask (Airfit P10) and when I have a cold, I'll spray Afrin in one nostril to clear it, and sleep fine, the next night I clear the other nostril, and keep alternating. I use a pressure of about 11-12cm.

[jnk...]

I am still getting over a bad flu/cold/allergy storm. (I think Pugsy gave me her cold viruses over the Internet somehow in this forum. I just can't figure out how.) I used PAP every night, even through the worst. Did I have some miserable nights? Sure. But that would have been the case without PAP, too--probably worse.

I irrigated my sinuses about an hour before bed (to allow the salt-water to drain), adjusted humidity, adjusted pressures as needed (in my case upping the minimum on my APAP to overcome swollen sinuses), and then I let the PAP help me get over my cold. Bottom line is that my allowing bad sleep and bad breathing would have done nothing to help me overcome a virus. PAP pressure, humidity, and irrigation, on the other hand, helped me get over the cold. Almost. Soon. I hope.

Hey, just me.

[Chevie]

THere are times like this when you just can't use it. Just use common sense and don't worry about it.

Dude! That's when I need it the most. My colds don't last nearly as long since starting to use CPAP.

The pressure keeps my nose open. You may need to get a FFM and breathe through your mouth.

Hey, just me.

That seems to be your motto. Apnea killed your confidence? Surely you keep a check on your numbers.

[jnk...]

Hey, just me.

That seems to be your motto. Apnea killed your confidence? Surely you keep a check on your numbers.

It is my motto. Thanks for noticing! I have confidence in the right answers for me, but not so much for others. Some sleep docs tell some people to discontinue PAP during URIs. Maybe they know something for their patients that I don't. They got letters in front of their names and after, and I don't.

I don't pay much attention to my numbers, really, to tell you the truth. I glance occasionally to make sure nothing is going off the rails in the trending. But RM's algorithm seems to have things well in hand for me and my OSA, and has for years. So I see no need to monitor something closely that has shown no signs of variation for a very long time. I got better things to be obsessed about lately.

[Chevie]

[quote]Some sleep docs tell some people to discontinue PAP during URIs.[quote]

Stupid advice from doctors should be ignored. They have given me stupid advice before. One operated on the wrong bone according to a second surgeon who tried to straighten it out.

[jnk...]

I consider the ResMed dudes to be confident and balanced (not wishy-washy like me or overconfident like you).

And here are their words on the subject:

Stopping using your CPAP when you have a cold is not advised as it can make other cold symptoms such as a sore throat a lot worse. However if you are too uncomfortable, discontinue CPAP until cold symptoms improve and then resume treatment as soon as possible. Also if you experience ear pressure or pain, stop using your treatment as the air pressure from CPAP can force mucus back into the ear canal and can cause an infection. -- http://osahub.resmed.com/using-your-cpa ... realsleep/

[Chevie]

The ResMed dudes know the truth:

Stopping using your CPAP when you have a cold is not advised as it can make other cold symptoms such as a sore throat a lot worse.

Then, there are their lawyer dudes:

However if you are too uncomfortable, discontinue CPAP until cold symptoms improve and then resume treatment as soon as possible. Also if you experience ear pressure or pain, stop using your treatment as the air pressure from CPAP can force mucus back into the ear canal and can cause an infection.

balanced

A 5-gallon hat of brains on a fulcrum and a 5-gallon hat of manure at the end of the lever are not in balance.

[jnk...]

I still say "hey, just me," but here's a comment from one of the guys I personally respect the most as a general all-around smart dude and one of the founding fathers of PAP research:

Q: Normally I use a CPAP every night, but just came down with a cold. Should I continue using the mask?

A [From super-brain David Rapoport]: If you are able to use the CPAP and breathe through your nose, the mask may actually be good for your cold because the heated, moist air (produced by an optional humidifier, sold separately) is similar to that of vaporizers. . . . I recommend patients use the CPAP through a cold, possibly with a decongestant medication. It might be helpful despite nasal blockage. If not, it's no worse than not wearing it at all.

http://www.health.com/health/condition- ... 36,00.html
http://www.mountsinai.org/profiles/david-rapoport

[SnoringInOregon]

It depends on your cold symptoms.

Sometimes in the past when I have been congested I have had good results by doing a sinus rinse first. But you need to be very gentle. You don't want to force that mucus deeper into your sinus passages.

Once your nose is clear you can do CPAP. But if you're like me then your nose could clog up while you're on your CPAP. Then you won't do well if all you have is nasal pillows. YMMV.

[Goofproof]

Haven't missed a night of XPAP use in 12 years, due to a cold or sore throat or cough. Not planning on it either. Jim

[Midnight Strangler]

THere are times like this when you just can't use it. Just use common sense and don't worry about it.

Never for me. Never miss a night. CPAP is needed even more when I have a cold. Can't go without it. I had a bad flu with nasal congestion. Used CPAP every night. It was a blessing that reduced the severity and length of the flu.