Using CPAP when sick/allergies

[sarajane82]

Any tips for what to do when you are sick and/or having major allergy issues? I had been doing really well and using my CPAP for an average of 8 hours a night, but last night was only 3 hours because I am either getting sick or having an allergic reaction to the season change. I am going to get another allergy shot today, but is there anything else I can do besides taking Nyquil or something before bed to make it easier? Is it good to raise or lower the humidity when you are sick?

[Perrybucsdad]

When my allergies are really bad, I often go visit my friend Mr Benedryl and that helps me quite a bit.

[jimnsc]

Your question is not that easily answered (IMO) due to not knowing more about your particular pressure and you. I'll use myself as an example as I also have allergies and a deviated septum.

- This has been my worst 'allergies year' ever.
- My Rx is 9 and my machine is set to 9 (low) and 11.5 (high). Nine (9) alleviates completely my deviated septum problem.
- I breathe equally as well through both nostrils at that pressure.
- I too, use nasal pillows (Swift LT) and attribute my success to getting my treatment directly into my nose.
- I was a mouth breather but have since trained my self to breathe through my nose - thankfully.
- I can go to bed sniffing and sneezing and stop within just a few minutes after beginning my treatment.
- Once I do stop I turn my machine off and back on so that those sniffles and sneezes won't be scored as hypopneas.
- I have minimal leakage and have all but eliminated the little exhalation puffs through my mouth.
- My AHI's average less than 2.0 (usually around 1.6 or 1.7)

In summary, my treatment has been better for my allergies than medicine has. Am I just lucky? I don't know but if so, I'll take it! Please compare each of my findings about myself to your own treatment to see if maybe something is different for you that may contribute to doing nothing to improve your allergies. Without knowing whether or not you're a mouth or nose breather and what pressure you have, I can only hope you get better.

Some folks keep a full face mask on hand to allow them to breathe through mouth and nose and still get treatment. I have one myself but rarely use it. Hopefully, something I have posted will help you or give you cause for thought. Good luck to you.

Jim

[Perrybucsdad]

Jim... that's quite interesting. I too have a deviated septum, and because of that, I thought I had to have a full face mask, but it appears that is not the case.

I have always been a mouth breather, but it's something I'm going to consider.

Thanks,

John

[Pugsy]

If ill with a cold and its nasal congestion I increased the humidity to max. If hot steamy shower helps...that sort of thing. Then I take whatever OTC cold medicine that gives me relief and lets me sleep. Nyquil is one.
Not the best sleep probably with the mask and machine but then when we have a bad cold...we don't get the best sleep anyway. I have had a handful of colds since I started on cpap...I have been able to continue using the nasal pillows with each. Some people feel better using a full face mask during this time. I don't/can't use FF mask so I just make the nasal pillows work.

[archangle]

In 7 years, I don't think I've ever had a night where I couldn't use the nasal mask due to clogged nose. I do remember a few nights of nose sprays, sinus rinse, etc. And a few nights simply not sleeping much. I guess it's possible that I've clogged up the nose with the mask and then simply breathed through my mouth unconsciously without benefit of CPAP.

CPAP seems to help clear my nose for some reason. It's not simply filtering out allergens, because it happens too fast. If I'm stuffy, I often get some relief a few minutes after putting on the mask.

In my case, I think sleeping in the recliner helps keep the nose open, too.

I have acquired a full face mask in the past year or two that I keep around as plan B for clogged nose nights, but have not had to use it.

[Janknitz]

I crank up the humidifer--ordinarily I don't tolerate that, but when I'm congested it helps a lot. Sometimes there is a night or two I simply cannot use the CPAP more than an hour or so because the congestion is so bad (I can't take most over the counter cold products), but sometimes, even if I just have to hold the mask up to my face with my hand, it will help clear the congestion enough that I can use it to sleep the rest of the night.

I definitely need a FF mask for this--nasal pillows are a no go when I'm full of congestion.

[sarajane82]

Thanks, all. I had turned the humidifier DOWN, thinking that a higher humidity would make my nose runnier and harder to deal with the pillows. I will try cranking it up tonight and probably take some cold meds to boot. I used to be a mouth breather before I started on CPAP but with the nasal pillows I have successfully been able to breathe through my nose - EXCEPT last night because of the cold/allergies.

[Muse-Inc]

Pillow-mask wearers, try one of the hybrid-style masks (pillow and oral cushion) for nights with terrible congestion; these masks allow for mouth breathing without loss of therapy air.