First head cold on cpap

chicagocard · Post by **chicagocard** » Thu Jan 12, 2006 7:59 am

I haven't "put on the hose" for three nights due to nasal congestion and subsequent mouth breathing. At what point do you forge ahead? My nares are still tender.

sleepylady · Post by **sleepylady** » Thu Jan 12, 2006 10:07 am

I would say it depends on how you feel. You may want to purchase a full face mask as a backup if this happens again. That way you can still use your machine, even with a bad cold. I'm actually planning to do just that when my insurance ok's a new mask in a couple of months.

I had two bad colds overlap for a miserable three weeks. In my case I used it every night even if I was coughing a lot. My reason being even some therapy is better than none. Plus the fact I can't go one night without it or I'll have major consequences. I've had 3-4 times since starting CPAP where I take the mask off in the middle of the night. I have put it back on as soon as I woke up, however, the damage had already been done and I was tired for literally days afterward. I don't even want to ever know what will happen if I go a whole night without it.

Melinda

chicagcard · Post by **chicagcard** » Thu Jan 12, 2006 10:44 am

Thanks for the advice. I haven't had a bad reaction to the nights off. My sleeep was miserable due to the cold itself. I would rather stay consistent with Cpap - it's still new and I'm learning.

stanta · Post by **stanta** » Thu Jan 12, 2006 11:44 am

I have had a cold these last few days and a combination of Alhe-Selzer-Plus, breathRites, and a saline nasal spray have helped me. You are right especially if new to CPAP to stick with it.

Good luck

Brian000 · Post by **Brian000** » Fri Jan 13, 2006 1:26 pm

Over the years, whenever I've had a cold I just crank the humidity waaaayyyy up and find it actually helps decongest me some. The first half hour can be pretty tough, but once everything softens up and my nasal passages clear some it's not too bad. I wear a mak, however; I don't think a nasal interface would be easy when congested.

mikemoran · Post by **mikemoran** » Fri Jan 13, 2006 2:28 pm

Had two colds this year, switched to my Ff mask and turned the humidity up high. Colds were much shorter than my wife's and never prgressed to their usual chest colds. I consider this a secret CPAP benefit. Sinus rinsing really helped too.

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