congestion question

[DebMA]

So, I finally have a cold! (i'm an early childhood teacher w/a number of kids of my own, so it was only a matter of time...)

This evening's question:
IF I can get my nose clear enough (with decongestant, steam and vapo-rub, not nasal sprays), will the pressure from the cpap nasal pillows keep it clear enough to breath all night?
(I don't have a FF option right now)

IF I can't get my nose clear, I assume I'll just end up opening my mouth during the night and probably turning off the machine?

Thanks from cold and soon to be even snowier MA (where we are expecting our third nor'easter tomorrow night!)

[Janknitz]

I just had my first URI after nearly a year. And I could not breathe when congested with the nasal pillows. I needed a FF mask for the really badly congested nights, and could deal with a nasal mask after, but I'm still not back full time to my beloved nasal pillows.

Not only did I have sinus congestion, but my nasal tissues were very irritated and sore. That made the nasal pillows very uncomfortable. Now I'm all healed up as far as that goes, but still having intermittent sinus congestion so that I have to wake up and change out of the nasal pillows during the night. This has been truly awful and it's taking a very long time to get back to normal.

I highly suggest you call your DME tomorrow and see if you can get a FF mask--it's something you should really have on hand for times like these. Maybe they will defer billing until your next mask replacement comes up.

[islandboy5150]

Yea, I like my quattro when it comes to congestion. FF is the best for me when I'm stopped up. I've been pleasantly surprised with the ff, where I can breath through my clogged sinuses suprizingly well with the humidifier turned up to 2 or more. I can blow the snot out better in the am when I get up too.

[bap40]

For me the nasal pillows seem to bust thru the congestion.

[Lizistired]

I've had a problem with nasal congestion since the temps dropped here. The humidity in my house is about 20% lately.
I have tried about every level on the humidifier.
When it dawned on me that I'm not congested during the day, I turned the humidifier OFF. Much better! I'll revisit it when the humidity levels change.

[Hephaestus]

First time poster, long time reader.

I have a problem with congestion also.

Previously I'd used a nasal mask but recently switched to a full face. It helps a lot! I don't always breathe through my mouth, but when the congestion is too much, I can choose to breathe through my mouth and continue my treatment. I've also found that the full face mask helps keep my mouth closed better than the hat/velcro strap method.

I tried the "tape the mouth" method for my occasional mouth breathing episodes, but my cheeks would start flapping and it would wake me up. Weird!