Colds and such

[mamad7]

Good evening everyone! I have had my CPAP for 2 weeks and I use it every night, for the full night. I make sure to use the humidifier (with distilled water) and I do the "warm up" option as well as I personally feel it is more comfortable. I have come down with a cold. Cough, stuffy/runny nose, feel like crud, can't breathe. I can't necessarily blame it on my machine as my kids are sick with the same thing as well and I'm almost 100% sure one of the germ factories shared their cold with me Anyway, last night I had a harder time using the CPAP. I couldn't breathe and I am still new to using it so at times I feel like I am being suffocated mind over matter, right?! I ended up taking the mask off at 6 with plans to get up, but I passed back out...only to wake up gasping for air. UGH. So what is the best way to handle colds (or even the flu) with the CPAP? Vicks it up on my nose and try to sleep? I'm 29 weeks pregnant as well and we all know it isn't a good idea to just skip a handful of nights, pregnant or not! But I do have to say I felt even WORSE when I woke up gasping for air after I took off my dang mask, compared to when I just use it the entire time!

[LSAT]

Go to your pharmacy and get a NeilMed Nasal Rinse. Use it before bed and it, along with your humidifier, will keep you clear for hours.

[Julie]

Have you tried lowering (or even stopping) the humidification? It's not 'therapy', just facilitates C/Apap when necessary depending on local climate, seasons, etc. and humidity in your home. You can give yourself a cold or congestion if using it when you don't need it - if there's enough humidity in your place, but you need to experiment for yourself. I'm up in the Maritimes and only need it on dry winter days when central heating's on but not balanced by the weather.

[Rob K]

If your nose is plugged you can use a full face mask so that the cpap does it's job whether your breathing through your nose or your mouth. I keep one around just for colds.

[mamad7]

If your nose is plugged you can use a full face mask so that the cpap does it's job whether your breathing through your nose or your mouth. I keep one around just for colds.

I'll have to get one! I did notice that since I couldn't breathe I ended up waking up more times than not because my mouth opened up.

[Dog Slobber]

I can't necessarily blame it on my machine as my kids are sick with the same thing as well and I'm almost 100% sure one of the germ factories shared their cold with me

You can't blame it at all on your device, never mind "necessarily".

[zonker]

Good evening everyone!

hello, there! you may want to try flonase. it's an over the counter nasal spray that isn't habit forming. a squirt or two before masking up will help keep your nose open. after you get used to cpap and you stop picking up those pesky infections, you may find you sleep right through the night.

this reminds me of how i sort of felt smug that in the four years i've been on the mask, i've never had anything happen like sneezing into my mask. guess i shouldn't have been so smug! a few nights ago, i sneezed explosively as i was nodding off!

yuck.

[Janknitz]

I can't necessarily blame it on my machine as my kids are sick with the same thing as well and I'm almost 100% sure one of the germ factories shared their cold with me

You can't blame it at all on your device, never mind "necessarily".

Dog Slobber, you missed the humor. The "germ factories" she was referring to are her KIDS.

MamaD7, yes a full face mask is a godsend during a gooey cold. I crank up the humidity too. Your mouth will STILL get very dry in a FF mask if you are mouth breathing because of a stuffy nose, but you will be able to sleep without apnea. And, in my experience, my nose stays more clear with CPAP on than off when I have a cold.

[palerider]

and I'm almost 100% sure one of the germ factories shared their cold with me

It's a good bet... two legged disease vectors.