Cold with bloody discharge - should I still use the CPAP?

[larry63]

I left a call in to the dr.

I had assumed that it was not a good idea to use CPAP with a cold, but now I'm looking at the thing with devious eyes

I guess a bloody nose from a cold means that I've been simply blowing my nose too much.

I guess maybe I'll try it this after noon or maybe not.

Sounds in general that it's not a good idea to use CPAP during a cold anyway, so perhaps the point is moot.

But I've been eying this CPAP, wondering that if turned the heated humidify way up, if it would help my cold ...

But just wondering about the additional dangers of using it with an open nasal sore. Doesn't sound like such a good idea to me, and I'm not looking forward to cleaning the blood out of the mask!

Plus, I have a painful area in the upper part of the that nostril, So I guess I answered my own question.

[BlackSpinner]

I left a call in to the dr.


Sounds in general that it's not a good idea to use CPAP during a cold anyway, so perhaps the point is moot.

But I've been eying this CPAP, wondering that if turned the heated humidify way up, if it would help my cold ...

But just wondering about the additional dangers of using it with an open nasal sore. Doesn't sound like such a good idea to me, and I'm not looking forward to cleaning the blood out of the mask!

Plus, I have a painful area in the upper part of the that nostril, So I guess I answered my own question.

CPAP with a full face mask is a real blessing when you have a cold. Warm moist air is wonderful. Remember they put people with pneumonia on something like that. Plus you NEED the benefit of of sleep and O2 to heal.

[chunkyfrog]

My machine really helps me fight colds.
It's like this miraculous creature which helps me breathe, and only asks for electricity and supplies in return.
I love my little Dumbo.
--and he forgives me when I have to unhook to blow my nose.
The moisture is wonderful--I have very few colds, now.

[Shellie_p]

I have ALWAYS kept using mine with colds, in face often if my heads stopped up a quick shot of saline or a good rinse (saline) then put the machine on will keep my sinuses open until i wake up and take it off.

Bloody nose as in spots ? is most likely from blowing to hard or its drying out to much, if its more then the occasional spot on a tissue then yea calling the doc is always a great idea.

During the winter I get spots too cause the apartment is to dry and CPAP humidity only helps when your using it. lol. so I try to keep a room humidifier going as much as I can. Or if you have floor heat vents putting a container of water on them can help some but not as much as a humidifier will. Also get less dry skin when running it also. Now i gotta by a new one for this winter though!!

[larry63]

I left a call in to the dr.


Sounds in general that it's not a good idea to use CPAP during a cold anyway, so perhaps the point is moot.

But I've been eying this CPAP, wondering that if turned the heated humidify way up, if it would help my cold ...

But just wondering about the additional dangers of using it with an open nasal sore. Doesn't sound like such a good idea to me, and I'm not looking forward to cleaning the blood out of the mask!

Plus, I have a painful area in the upper part of the that nostril, So I guess I answered my own question.

CPAP with a full face mask is a real blessing when you have a cold. Warm moist air is wonderful. Remember they put people with pneumonia on something like that. Plus you NEED the benefit of of sleep and O2 to heal.

Well, first I want to mention that in general, turning up the heated humidifier is good for me - my mouth is less dry - I still don't know if I'm mouth leaking,
but I've read some articles that say that increased humidity helps to seal the mouth. Regardless, I feel more comfortable and less parched if I turn up the humidity to say 4 out of a scale of 0 to 6. It _would_ be really interesting if this is a way to at least partially resolve mouth leaks.


Well, the cold ended up turning into full-fledged sinusitis, with the cold sweats, chills, shaking, and those weird fever dreams. Like I have four ears, don't know if I'm awake or dreaming, or have a recurring dream where I have two piles of numbers on either side of a pole. Didn't have a thermometer, but i guess I was running a fever, huh?

Went to see the ENT and she suggested to still use the machine but wipe the mask down with alcohol. Strange. I thought that using alcohol was a no-no as far as
disinfecting xPAP stuff.

Anyhow, I never had a case of sinusitis before, so I'm kind of convinced that I initially had a cold, but then the CPAP pressure blew everything into my ears and sinuses.

After all, after I started CPAP I wake up every day with a mild headache, and mild ear ache and tinnitus.

Well, I guess every tx has its side effects.

Luckily, after a few weeks and 10 days abx was as good as new, except for the fatigue of course.

[BadThad]

Just to help you out....I rarely get colds or get sick anymore. I've been practicing Jala Neti for about 5 years:

http://www.jalanetipot.com/method.html

It is hands-down the BEST thing I've ever done for my health. I highly suggest you start using it and stop suffering.

[Slartybartfast]

And I, on the other hand, snort saline. I use 3.5% kosher or sea salt in water. That's equivalent to seawater. The saline you get in the nasal inhaler bottles is usually 0.65%, which is hypotonic (less salty) than your blood and tissues, which are about 0.9%. By using hypertonic (more salty) saline, you tend to dry out your nasal membranes, and the Streptococcus pyrogenes bacteria that inhabit the back of the throat, causing pharyngitis (sore throat) and extending up into the nasal passages can't tolerate high salt levels. That's why you're commonly told to gargle with warm salt water.

Anyway, I spent a lot of time in and under the water in my wasted youth. I snorted enough salt water over an afternoon, despite my sinus problems and allergies, my nose and sinuses felt better. It still seems to work for me.

[Muse-Inc]

Higher humidity, lots and lots of saline both take care of my cold-caused congestion most of the time. If it's really bad, I use my Grossan Nasal Irrigator...I use the Grossan BreathEase powder in the water, it's got Xylitol in it. Xylitol starves the bugs that inhabit our nose, sinuses, and ears and that commonly appear to invite colds, sinusitis, and contribute the chronic congestion issues. There is a nasal spray named Xclear that I have been using a few wks that has been reducing my chronic congestion; too soon to know if this might be a permanent 'cure' but it looks good so far. I leave at least a 30 min space between the saline and Xclear.

Bloody discharge can be from major inflammation too. I use my nasal steroid for a few says when I get bloody discharge and that usually stops the bleeding and reduces congestion. When I use the steroid, I use it several hrs apart from the Xclear.

[mars]

Hi Larry

Looks like lots of good suggestions above.

My right nostril bleeds without warning at any time, but, I do not know why, more often when I bend down to put my mask on.

What I do then is stuff a small piece of cloth up my nostril (I have a box of them ready), and relax and read for a few minutes until the nostril has created clot formation (called coagulation). I then quickly put my mask on, and settle down.

For really bad bleeding, I have found that dry air is less likely to initiate the bleeding again, warm moist air interferes with the clotting. Unfortunately, moist warm air is better for the rest of the inside of my head and throat. So I have to make a choice

Also. for me, I have found that although I love my full face mask, I cannot breathe through my mouth with it on - I must breath through my nose.

cheers

Mars

[PaJoe]

I use cpap all the time, if I can not breath through my nose with cpap I use saline spray to open things up. I rarely get colds and when I do I work very hard to keep them in my head and not let it progress to my chest and lungs. I will not keep my head very high while I sleep because I want to avoid post nasal drip which usually results in the addition problem of coughing too much, if it does get to that point I need to get help from the doctor with prescription drugs to avoid getting pneumonia. I go to bed a little earlier than usual because I usually end up getting up to spray the saline. They also have saline gels like AYR that may help keep the nasal passages open. Afrin works great for me, it will open everything up and even help with post nasal drip but 3 days is all I can handle it, then I must rely strictly with the saline spray. One thing that I have been experimenting with is using a chap stick to temporarily sooth sore, burning nostrils. It does help for short periods. I keep one in my tool box at work as well as one at home.