Usindg CPAP with a cold

Lions Guy · Post by **Lions Guy** » Wed Feb 08, 2006 7:33 pm

Hello all. I've been checking this site for a while now and have found a lot of very valuable info here. Thank you all for taking the time to educate the rest of us.
My question has to do with using CPAP with a cold. I was just informed that a Dr. and a DME Rep has told a friend that She should not use CPAP if she has a cold. When asked if they said why she said it was not good to keep breathing the same stuff over and over.
Now I have been a CPAP user for almost a year and find that with a stuffy nose a little Nasonex and tap up the humidifier a little does the trick.
Any other suggestions or experiences anyone would care to share?

Goofproof · Post by **Goofproof** » Wed Feb 08, 2006 9:16 pm

Using a FF Mask would help, that's the only kind I use due to congestion. It sounds like her Dr. has no idea of physics or how CPAP works. The volume of air on CPAP is more than you can breath in and the extra is vented. Doc isn't making sense.

I use Decongestant tabs before bed, but I'm not supposed too. I think treatment and breathing come first.

ozij · Post by **ozij** » Wed Feb 08, 2006 10:08 pm

When asked if they said why she said it was not good to keep breathing the same stuff over and over.

...Or maybe the friend herself doesn't understand.

There are some conditions - e.g. sinus infections - in which using CPAP is not recommended. Once you have a sinus infection you don't really want to blow all that puss and becterias further into you head. Anything more that a simple cold - ask you own doctor.

Like many others, I too have found the warm humidifed filtered air beneficial when I have a cold - my colds (about 2 and half of them in a year) have been easier to tolerate, and I got over them much faster - none of the long lasting residual congestion that I used to have.

O.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Feb 09, 2006 1:23 pm

A heated humidifier and heated hose with CPAP have been godsends for the 2 colds I've had since starting treatment 6 months ago. Both colds were of unusually short duration (for me).

The first was the worst. It didn't help to wake up in the middle of the night with my nose running like a faucet while wearing my Swift nasal pillows. Let me tell you, that was an ugly scene!

I switch to my backup "traditional" mask and moved to the La-Z-Boy so I'd be a bit more upright and after only 2 nights was feeling quite good again.

I agree completely regarding a sinus infection -- I've had my share of them in my life -- but a "simple" cold can benefit from treatment, IMHO.

WAFlowers · Post by **WAFlowers** » Thu Feb 09, 2006 1:31 pm

And that last was me, guested, after my laptop shutdown in the middle of a session.

I keep leaning my elbow on the docking station's power button.

NeurosurgeryNP · Post by **NeurosurgeryNP** » Thu Feb 09, 2006 7:20 pm

Not use CPAP because of a cold - never heard that one! I don't ever want to go a night without it and feel like the way I did pre-cpap - NEVER. I just use a full face mask when I can't breathe through my nose!

Lions Guy · Post by **Lions Guy** » Thu Feb 09, 2006 10:19 pm

Hey, thanks for the replies. I've come to the conclusion that she really isn't too excited about having to be a Hose head . So any excuse to either avoid and/or delay treatment will be thrown out.(If she only could understand how good she should feel).
I can't get her to come to this web site so I'm doing it for her.(Meddling little bugger that I am.) Any way as Toby Keith said "I will preach on!"